3.6.18 London Gazette: SURG-MAJOR AW SHEA awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal. 166/240017 RQM Sergt W Barker awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal
Arthur Wilson Shea DSO
166/240017 RQMS William Barker DCM
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
3/6/18 GORRE SECTOR: Quite day. Megs showed less activity at night. Three patrols went out.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
The following Officers and NCO were mentioned in the Dispatchers of the Field Marshall Commanding in Chief for gallant service in the field:-
Surgeon Major AW Shea
QM and Hon Captain WD Jamieson
2207/240469 Sgt John Peter Middleton
Military Medals awarded to Cpl EH WHITE, Pte A KNOWLES and L/Cpl W THOMPSON, all “D” Company for Conspicuous Gallantry during enemy raid near HULLACH on Jan 2nd 1917.
5.2.18: CAPT GKK MAUGHAN and 240018 CSM BENNETT awarded the BELGIAN CROIX DE GUERRE.
170/240018 CSM Sampson Bennett a Rifle Corp Volunteer and Pre-War Territorial from Burbage
Gardyne Keith Kilgour Maughan
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
1 Jan 1918 HONOURS & AWARDS: The following were included in the New Years Honours List:-
Military Cross Capt (A/Major) W SEATON
DCM 240029 Coy Sgt Major TW SLATER
Mentioned in Despatches
Cyril Benton and Evelyn Brownlow Johnson
2381/240552 Sergeant George Potter Bagshaw
356/240029 Thomas William Slater (believed to be)
4/5.11.1917 HILL 70: Four Officers and 125 Other Ranks raided the enemy trenches capturing 3 prisoners and inflicting severe casualties in the enemy.
Military Medals to CPL SIMMONS, SGT HELLIWELL and PTE NADIN in connection with the operation.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
4/XI/17: Raid carried out by “B” and “C” Companies 6th Sherwood Foresters at 8.40 PM under Capt GKK MAUGHAN. The detail of this is fully dealt with in the attached report (Appendix II). The extreme darkness of the night was found to be a serious hinderance to the operation, but not withstanding this, 3 prisoners were brought back to our lines. The enemy, when encountered at close quarters, surrendered without fighting. Hostile barrage was heavy, but came down very late and was chiefly behind our front line.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
2496/240604 L/Sergeant John Edward Stevenson aged 31 and son of Edward and Mary Stevenson of 6 Smiths Yard, Union St., Ashbourne in Derbyshire.
2238/242626 Pte Royal Murray aged 36 and the adopted son of the late Mrs A Lineker. Previously served with the 1/8th Battalion.
242507 L/Cpl Harrop Wycliffe Bingham from Tibshelf and buried in Lapugnoy Military Cemetery.
3797/241224 Pte George Harry Barber Simpson aged 26 and the son of George Goddard Simpson and Annie Simpson, of “Stoneleigh,” Hayfield Rd. in Chapel-en-Le-Frith. George was wounded during the raid and died of his wounds in a German Field Hospital; He was a Postman from Chapel.
3074/240880 Pte William Henry Brailsford was born in 1892 and was a resident of Clay Cross. He was a collier by trade and enlisted into the 2/6th Battalion in October 1914. He arrived in France on the 11th June 1916 as part of the 11th Reinforcement to the 1/6th Battalion.
2106/240416 Pte Charles Louis Metcalfe aged 20 and the son of Mrs A Metcalfe of 3 Werneth Avenue, Hyde, Cheshire.
1832/240291 Sergeant Moses Salt aged 20 and the son of Mr and Mrs Daniel Salt of Spring Bank, Peakdale, Derbyshire.
4499/241542 Pte Charles Albert Ormerod from Macclesfield.
George Simpson’s body was later recovered from a grave behind the German front line along with the bodies of three other British Soldiers. The Germans initial mis-recored him as serving with the 5th Reserve Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters (which he may have done whilst in England).
2.9.1917 FOUQUIERES: CAPT HH JACKSON awarded Military Cross for Gallantry in connection with the raid of 13th August.
Humphrey Henry Jackson
London Gazette: Lieut EMB Taylor to be Captain at 18.8.17.
Edward Mallalieu Brook-Taylor
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
2/IX/17: At 4.55 am enemy put down heavy barrage of artillery and trench mortars of various calibre’s on our front and support lines and CTs of right sub sector (Map 36c NW ref A28C & G4B).
At 5am barrage lifted off front line & four parties of enemy, totalling 170 men attempted to raid our trenches in G4b. He only succeeded in entering one or our posts, all the garrison of which had been wounded. A few of his men appeared to cross our front line between the posts, but the majority were driven back before reaching our trenches. One prisoner was captured by us, whereas the enemy failed to secure identification. Our casualties were slight.
Prisoner stated that raiding party consisted of 150 men of the “Army STOSS TRUPP” and 20 men of 22nd Pioneer Battalion. His statements appeared unreliable.
Army STOSS TRUPP = shock troops or stormtroopers
The 22nd Pioneer Battalion appear to be part of the 19th Ersatz Division
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
Died of wounds leading a wiring party
25.8.1917: The following were awarded decorations for gallantry in connection with the raid on the 15th August:-
1504/240138 Sgt Thomas William Spencer was a machine attendant from Matlock and a Pre-War Territorial who enlisted in November 1911. He arrived in France with the 46th Division in February 1915 and served throughout the War. He was wounded on the 3rd October 1918 during the attack on Ramicourt where he also won a Bar to his Military Medal.
3819/241233 L/Cpl Francis William Hobbs enlisted into 2/6th Battalion in February 1915 and served with A Company in 1/6th Battn. MM, LG 9.7.17 (for Gallantry on 23rd April 1917 at Fosse 3 De Lievin) and Bar LG 18.10.17 (for action on 18th August 1917). Previously wounded on the 30th May 1917.
3023/240853 Sgt Samuel Hadfield enlisted in October 1914 and arrived in France with the 46th Division in February 1915. Served with “D” Company and had been wounded earlier in the War. Samuel had previously enlisted in 1897 and served in the Boer War of 1899-1902 with the Coldstream Guards; awarded QSA and six clasps, KSA and two clasps.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
5.8.1917: 2/Lt VH ARMITAGE MC awarded the Belgian Decoration “Chevalier de L’Ordre de la Boutonne”
Vernon Hay Armitage
C in C’s list No 145
To be Captain: Lieut CJ Wheatcroft
To be A/Capt: Lieut J Tolson and HH Jackson
To be Lieut: 2/Lt DS Fox
Cyril John Wheatcroft, Joseph Tolson, Humphry Henry Jackson and Donald Storrs-Fox
5.8.1917 St Elie Sector: Battn relieved 5th Battn in RIGHT SUBSECTION.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
4/5 August: 8th Sherwood Foresters carried out a raid on Enemy trenches in G5C.
3014/305888 L/Cpl Herbert Taylor was missing presumed killed during the raid
5th Aug: Philosophe heavily shelled during the evening (over 350 shells fell)
Amongst the 1/5th Battalion men killed were:-
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
21.7.1917 FREVILLERS: Battalion held sports day in conjunction with 139th Machine Gun Company and 139th Trench Mortar Battery.
3182/240935 Corporal Percy KNOWLES awarded Military Medal for Gallantry on the 1st July 1917.
Percy Knowles was an assistant press machine operator from Matlock who enlisted in October 1914 and arrived in France in 1916. Percy was promoted to Sergeant and only served overseas with the 1/6th Battalion. He survived the War.
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 