Enlisted into the 2/6th Battn in October 1914; served in Ireland during the Easter Rising; Killed in action on the 27th April 1917.
Albert was born in 1897 and enlisted on the 7th October 1914 at the age of 17. He served in Ireland during the Easter Rising and was admitted to the Field Ambulance at Curragh Camp in August 1916.
Albert arrived in France in February 1917 and was killed in action on the 27th April 1917. Albert is buried in Templeux-le-Guerard British Cemetery along with many men of the 2/North Midland Division.
Albert’s mother Kate received a well deserved pension.
Served with the 11th Battn and was wounded on the 1st July 1916
John was born in 1882 and enlisted in Mansfield on 10th September 1914 aged 31. He was a banksman (miner).
John received a gun shot wound in the peroneal (lower left leg) during the 11th Battalion’s assault on Ovillers when they suffered heavy casualties moving from the reserve in Authuille Wood to the British front line. They suffered total casualties of 518 Officers and Men. See here
John was transferred to the Reserve in September 1916 and discharged in July 1917. He was awarded the 1914/5 Trio and a Silver War Badge.
A pre-War Volunteer and Territorial who re-enlisted into the 5th (Reserve) Battalion in October 1914. Arrived in France in February 1915 and was killed during the Battle of Loos.
Many thanks to Cathy Bryant – who was John’s great granddaughter – for kindly sending the photographs
John serving with the 1/5th Battalion. The picture on the left is probably pre-WW1, whilst the picture on the right is likely after he re-enlisted into the 5th (Reserve) Battalion in October 1914 and was promoted to Corporal in December 1914
Pre-War Service
John (standing on the left) appears to have served with the 4th (Nottinghamshire) Volunteer Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys) Regt.
Note the 4th V N&D cloth badge on his right shoulder (example shown below) and the 3-tier ‘T 8 Notts & Derby’ badges that some of the other men are wearing. This post card was sent to his wife Lucy in Alfreton from Hindlow Camp in 1910.
Re-enlistment into the 5th (Reserve) Battalion in October 1914
John’s attestation into the 5th (Reserve) Battalion in October 1914 in which he states that he had previously served with the 5th Battalion for 4 years. Presumably at some point after 1910 John transferred from the 4th Volunteer Battalion to the 5th Territorial Battalion.
John was promoted to Corporal in November 1914 and signed the Imperial Service Obligation in January 1915 whilst the 5th (Reserve) Battalion in Swanwick. John was subsequently transferred to the 1/5th Battalion in February 1915 and proceeded with the 46th Division to France on the 1st March 1915.
Attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt during the Battle of Loos:
War Diary entry for the 14th – 15th October recording their attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt. The Battalion suffered 5 men killed and 42 wounded. Amongst the men killed was John Bradley.
Trench map showing the Hohenzollern Redoubt
Casualties suffered by the 46th North Midland Division
John’s body was not recovered after the War and he is Commemorated on the Loos Memorial to the Missing
Enlisted in October and 1914 and arrived in France in February 1915; discharged in April 1917 due to sickness from an injury inflicted by barbed wire.
Many thanks to Paul Nicholson (John’s Grandson) for additional information and kindly sending the photographs.
Enlistment and Arrival in France in February 1915
John enlisted into the 6th (Home Service) Battalion in Buxton on 6th October 1914 aged 19 and arrived in France with the 1/6th Battalion in February 1915. He would have been serving with the Battalion whilst they occupied Front Line Trenches at Kemmel, Ypres and during the Battle of Loos.
Wounding and return to England
John was injured in February 1916 when the Battalion were in reserve near to Puchevillers and provided working parties to the Royal Engineers.
Following treatment in France John was transferred to the 3rd Northern General Hospital in Sheffield.
Discharge and Pension
A Medical Board in March 1917 found that John was found physically unfit for further military service and was he was discharged in April 1917 having served 2 years and 179 days. John was awarded a military pension.
After the War John was awarded a 1914-15 Trio and a Silver War Badge
Enlisted on 15th March 1915 aged 22; served with the 3/5th, 29th and 5th Reserve Battalions; transferred to the 1/5th Battalion in January 1917 and was posted missing on the 24th April 1917.
Posted with 32 other men from the Army Ordnance Corps to the 1/8th Battalion in May 1917. He was killed in action on the 30th May 1917 aged 21.
Many thanks to John Hale and Helen Dye (Thomas’ Great Niece) for permission to use these photographs and associated text.
Thomas enlisted into the Lancashire Fusiliers (see cap badge), but first served overseas with the Army Ordnance Corps – as per his medal role (below).
At some point Thomas was transferred to the 1/8th BattalionSherwood Foresters and was renumbered 76435. He was posted to “A” Company.
[The 7**** number system was started in September 1916 to move men from N&D Territorial Battalions to N&D Regular and Service Battalions. I then think that it continued to be used when men from other regiments joined the N&D. I don’t know what date 76*** was used, but early 1917 I would guess. Looking at the medal roles it would seem that the 32**** system was used to move men from 1/8th to other N&D Battalions, but Thomas stayed with the 1/8th]
On the night of 29th/30th May 1917 the Battalion’s positions near the railway station in Lievin suffered a trench raid by the Germans; enduring a heavy barrage, the raiders were eventually repulsed at a cost of 3 killed, 2 captured and 7 wounded. Thomas was found dead at his post, having been posted as sentry.
[Courtesy of John Hale]
It’s difficult to pin-point where the raid took place, but on this trench map from May 1917 “Crocodile Trench” can clearly be seen snaking into the British front line (shown in blue).
LEAD Technologies Inc. V1.01
Thomas’s body was moved from Lieven Station Cemetery in 1925 and he is now buried in Loos British Cemetery XIX G 7. Thomas was the Son of Mr and Mrs T Sherratt of 62 Highland Rd., Shavers End, Dudley, Worcestershire.
He now rests peacefully with his comrades from the 1/8th Battalion, 139th Brigade, 46th North Midland Division.
[LIEVIN STATION CEMETERY, on the North-West side of the railway station, was used in 1917 and contained the graves of 48 soldiers almost all from the 46th (North Midland) Division]
Thomas is commemorated on the Memorial to the men of Gibbons who joined the forces in the Great War.
Transferred from the Bedfordshire Regiment to the 2/6th Battalion in March 1918 and was later killed in action with “D” Company the 10th Battalion on 22nd September 1918
Edward’s wife received a pension and later remarried. They had three children together.
At the time of his death the 10th Battalion were involved in the attack at Gauche Wood and suffered heavy casualties.
The 26**** numbering system
James was part of a group of 18 men from the Bedfordshire Regiment that were transferred to the 2/6th Battalion on the 11th March 1918 and issued with a 260000 number. Its is not clear how many of these men were serving with the Battalion on the 21st March 1918.
Army Service Record of 260019 CSM Thomas Alfred Stafford confirming his transfer to the Notts & Derby.
Served with the 1st Nottinghamshire Volunteer Rifle Corp (1901-1908) and 1/7th Battalion (1908-1916). Suffered a shell wound whilst in trenches at Hooge in August 1915 and discharged in May 1916.
Oct 12th 1914
Dear Chum
Glad to hear you have got over your ta…..ing (?) jab, and are well again. All the boys wish to be remembered to you with kind regards from Mrs Cot and myself.
Good old Robins
Alfred William Hinds was driller from Nottingham and enlisted into the 1st Nottinghamshire Volunteer Rifle Corp in May 1901. He served with them until transferring to the newly established 7th Battalion Robin Hood Rifles in May 1908. Up to August 1914 he attended many of the annual camps.
On the 28th of February 1915 Alfred was sent to France with the 46th North Midland Division. He was serving in the front line trenches near Hooge when he suffered a shoulder wound in the right shoulder on 4th August 1915. He was transferred from the 10th Casualty Clearing Station at Abeele to the 25th General Hospital in Etaples before arriving at the 46th NM Base Depot in November 1915.
Alfred was eventually transferred to England in December 1915 and transferred to the 3/7th Battalion at South Somercotes in Lincolnshire. Alfred was eventually discharged in May 1916 aged 37.
