Category Archives: Honours and Awards

On this day 19th March 1917

19.3.1917 ST AMAND: Lieut GKK MAUGHAN vacated the appointment of Adjutant. The Divisional Commander presented Military Medal Ribbons to Pte Miles and Pte Taylor.

2077/240401 Pte George Miles, London Gazette dated 26.4.9172077 Miles MM

2149/240438 Pte Bernard Taylor, London Gazette dated 26.4.19172149 Taylor

Both men were later killed in action during August 1918 in the Gorre Sector.

 1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]


To be completed

139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]

On New Years Day 1917

1.1.1917 Gazette: Lt Col Edward HALL to be a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). 1453 Sergeant William MARCHINGTON awarded DCM.1452 Marchington

1.7.1917 Despatches: The following were mentioned in the Despatches of Field Marshall Sir Douglas Haig.

  • Lieut.-Col Edward Hall DSO
  • Surgeon Major Arthur Wilson Shea
  • Captain Edward Mallalieu Brook-Taylor
  • 508 Drummer Albert George Askey

Hall Shea Brooke-Taylor

Edward Hall, Arthur Wilson Shea, Edward Mallalieu Brook-TaylorAskey

508 Drummer Albert Askey (right)

1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]

1453/240125 Sergeant William Marchington only served overseas with the 1/6th Battalion and was disembodied in July 1919.

Jan 1st 12am SOUASTRE: A ten minute bombardment of the enemy line carried out to which the hostile artillery replied an hour later.

139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]

On this day 2nd December 1916

2.12.1916 SUS ST LEGER: CAPT CB JOHNSON vacated appointment of Adjutant. LIEUT GKK MAUGHAN appointed Acting Adjutant.

GOC Division [Major-General William Thwaites] inspected BRIGADE & expressed his satisfaction at the soldierly appearance & steadiness of the Battalion on Parade & congratulated the Battalion on the “March Past”, also presented MILITARY MEDAL ribbons to the following:-

  • 570 CSM DAKIN GW. Company Sergeant Major George William Dakin. For gallantry and devotion to duty on the 1st July 1916, when in the attack on Gommecourt. A tinsmith from Ashbourne who enlisted in April 1908 and previously served with 2nd Volunteer Battalion (1902-08).
  • 71 SGT HOPKINS W. Sergeant William Hopkins. For gallantry and devotion to duty on the 1st July 1916, when in the attack on Gommecourt. From Bakewell who enlisted in April 1908 and previously served with 2nd Volunteer Battalion.
  • 1450 SGT WOOLLEY CW. Sergeant Charles William Woolley. For gallantry and devotion to duty on the 1st July 1916, when in the attack on Gommecourt. Died of wounds on the 24th April 1917. A farm labourer from Matlock who enlisted in June 1911.
  • 1464 SGT LONGSON W. Sergeant Wilfred Longson. For gallantry and devotion to duty on the 1st July 1916, when in the attack on Gommecourt. A shop assistant from Chapel-en-le-Frith who enlisted in June 1911.
  • 2323 CPL STROYAN A. Corporal Arthur Stroyan. For gallantry and devotion to duty on the 1st July 1916, when in the attack on Gommecourt. A Striker And Turner In Chirt Quarry, Ashford.
  • 1936 Lc Cpl SMITH VS. Lance Corporal Vernon Samuel Smith. For gallantry and devotion to duty on the 1st July 1916, when in the attack on Gommecourt. A tube drawer from Chesterfield who enlisted in May 1913.
  • 1644 Dvr CHATTERTON J. Driver James Chatterton. For gallantry and devotion to duty on the 1st July 1916, when in the attack on Gommecourt. From Birchvale and enlisted in April 1912.
  • 1790 Pte DAWES S. Private Samuel Dawes. For gallantry and devotion to duty on the 1st July 1916, when in the attack on Gommecourt he did good work as Company Runner. A coal miner (pony driver) from Chesterfield who enlisted in February 1913.

Also see this post

On this day 7th August 1916

7.8.1916 BELLACOURT: 1680 Sergt R Wagg awarded D.C.M. foe gallantry in connection with the operations of the 1st July.1680 Richard Wagg

Wragg DCMWar Diary [WO/95/2694]


7th: A few rifle grenades fired into ‘Nameless Sap’ by the enemy during the afternoon. Our front trenches swept by searchlight and machine gun fire intermittently during the night

139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]

On this day 15th June 1916

15.6.1916 LONDON GAZETTE: Mentioned in dispatches by C-in-C for Gallantry & Distinguished Conduct in the field:-

  • Lt Col. Godfrey Davenport Goodman
  • Capt Cyril Benton JohnsonJohnson CD MID
  • 158 C.S.M William Goddard and later to win the Military Medal on 19th February  1917 (posthumously).158 Goodard MIC
  • 456 C.S.M Henry Holland and later to win the Distinguished Conduct Medal in July 1917.456 Holland MIC
  • 2388 Segt Thomas Hunter and later to win the Military Medal on 11th November 1916.2388 Hunter MM 1916 2
  • 1464 Sergt Wilfred Bernard Longson and later to win the Military Medal on 11th November 1916.Longson Military Medal 1916
  • 1644 Drummer James Chatterton and later to win the Military Medal on 11th November 1916.

But why were these Officers and Men “Mentioned in Dispatches”?

LG 15 June 1916Haig 30 June 1916names June 1916

The London Gazette from 15th June 1916 records the individuals Mentioned in Dispatches by General Haig on the 30th April 1916 and lists men from all four Territorial Battalions


Here is the evidence:-

  • The service records for Cyril Johnson, Henry Holland, William Goddard and James Chatterton all record that the men were Mentioned in Dispatches on the 30th April 1916, which is consistent with the London Gazette.
  • James Chatterton was wounded on the 12th March 1916 and was transferred to Hospital in England on the 17th March 1916. He did not return to France until the 16th July with the 15th Reinforcement.
  • James Chatterton, Wilfrid Longson and Thomas Hunter had their Military Medal announced in the London Gazette on 11th November 1916.London Gazette November 1916
  • William Goddard had his Military Medal announced in the in the London Gazette on 19th February 1917 because it was awarded posthumously.MM Postumosly 1917

Despite the fact that “British Gallantry Awards: The Sherwood Foresters” records that these NCOs and men received their awards for gallantry during the attack at Gommecourt on the 1st July 1916, this seems unlikely when all the evidence is reviewed, in particular the service records of 1644 Drummer James Chatterton who was not even present on that day.

It would therefore seem likely these individual acts of gallantry and distinguished conduct occurred whilst the 1/6th Battalion were holding the front line trenches in front of Vimy Ridge.

Chatterton’s wounding suggest that his act of gallantry occurred between 10th and 12th March 1916 during the first trench duty and specifically when the Germans exploded a mine under the French trenches on the right of the 139th Brigade.

On this day 3rd June 1916

3rd June 1916: LONDON GAZETTE Lt.-Col. GD GOODMAN appointed C.M.G.

Sgt M J Unwin (2230) awarded MILITARY MEDAL.2230 Unwin MM

War Diary [WO/95/2694]


June 3rd: Relief by 138th Infantry Brigade commenced (see copy Operations Order No 59 attached). The 138th Brigade Machine Gun Company relived our Company this evening and the 138th Light Trench Mortar Batteries also relieved ours. Relief was completed without incident by 11.30 p.m. A short bombardment of the enemies front line was carried out at 12 midnight. There was no retaliation.

139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]

 

On this day 3rd February 1916

3 February 1916 2006 Wright


3.2.1916 COULONVILLERS: Brigade Ceremonial Parade at GORENFLOS. 4 Lewis Guns received for Lewis detachment.

Lewis Gun


LONDON GAZETTE (Supplement) d/- 14.1.1916: 2006 Private WRIGHT. A, 1/6th Bn Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Reft (T.F.) AWARDED DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT  MEDAL.

2006 Wright

War Diary [WO/95/2694]


My Company had been detailed to unload the transport wagons from the train and not far off was the steady drumming of artillery fire, the rise and fall of the very lights. We were back. Our journey into the unknown fairyland was over, but the experience had been worth it, but the re-entry into the battle area was a terrible shock.

[2305 Pte Frank Longson]

 

On this day 12th January 1916

12.1.1916 London Gazette: No 2006 Pte A Wright awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal for Gallantry

War Diary [WO/95/2694]


2006 Pte Albert Wright

(believed to be the first Gallantry Medal won by an other rank of the 6th Battn)2006 Albert Wright2006 Wright2006 Wright September 1915


1364 Pte George Ollerenshaw, a porter from Buxton, was transferred to England for reason unkown. He later returned to France with the 6th Reinforcement.

On these days 13th-18th December 1915

No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694]


2077  Miles2077 Pte George Miles, a paker stainer from Disley and a Pre-War Territorial of “H” Company, was admitted to the 1st North Midland Field Ambulance with influenza. 2077 Miles 2

George was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry (London Gazette 26.4.1917). He died of wounds at the 22nd Casualty Clearing Station on the 15th August 1918.