Enlisted in June 1915 and served with the 2/8th and 2/6th Battalions. Made a POW on the 21st March 1918.
Walter enlisted in Newark into the 8th Battalion on the 1st June 1915 and was issued the service number 4053. It would appear that he was posted to the 2/8th Battalion because he received dental treatment at Watford in November 1915.
Walter would have served in the Easter Rising in April 1916, before embarking to France with the 59th Division on 27th February 1917. He received his 6-digit number (306284) in March 1917.
On the 29th January 1918, Walter with 5 Officers and 142 Other Ranks were transferred to the 2/6th Battalion – see here. In February 1918 Walter attended a school of cooking before returning in March, just several days before the start of the ‘Kaiserschlacht’ – the German Spring Offensive on 21st March 1918.
Walter was serving with “A Company” when was he captured and was interned in Parchim POW camp. He was finally disembodied in March 1919.
Enlisted in December 1915 into the 3/6th Battalion. Possibly served in Ireland with the 2/6th Battalion and likely to have arrived in France with the 59th Division in Spring 1917. One of the few survivors of the first day of the Kaiserschlacht (21st March 1918), but was severely wounded by a gas shell.
A ‘Londoner’ who was posted to the 2/7th Battalion, the Robin Hoods, in July 1917 and captured during the ‘Kaiserschlacht’ on 21st March 1918
Charles was awarded the BWM and VM
Unfortunately, not a lot is known about Charles Augustus Humphries. He was born in Islington on the 5th August 1880, but there does not appear to be any census or birth records for that precise date (note: the birth of a Charles Augustus Humphries was recored in Islington in 1881).
It is not known when Charles enlisted into the British Army, but he was part of a contingent of approximately 65 men that were transferred to the 2/7th Battalion Sherwood Foresters on the 28th July 1917.
These men were given the service numbers 72093-72158. A service record for Charles does not exist, but a record for 72152 Pte John William Moore, from Paistow in East London, does exists and from this we can draw several conclusions.
Army Form B. 103: Casualty Form – Active Service
John Moore was posted to the 2/7th Battalion, the Sherwood Foresters on the 28th July 1917 along with the 64 other men. This appeared to happen at the 63rd Infantry Base Depot. John had originally served with the 47th and 43rd Training Reserve Battalions at Sandhill. It’s possible that Charles also trained with one of these Battalions.
Medal Role
Charles only served in France with the 2/7th Battalion from July 1917, therefore taking part in the 59th Division attack on 26th September during the 3rd Battle of Ypres.
2/7th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters War Diary
Trench Map
The 2/7th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters were responsible for capturing the ‘S’ Area, whilst the 2/6th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters were responsible for capturing the ‘R’ Area.
Red Cross recordRed Cross record
Charles was made a prisoner of war on the 21st March 1918 during the German spring offensive. It is not known when he was repatriated.
Robert enlisted in October 1914 into the 2/6th Battalion and arrived in France in February 1917. He was wounded in April 1917 and granted leave to the UK in September 1917. Robert was recorded as ‘missing in action’ on the 21st March 1918 and later died of his wounds on the 14th April.
Bernard attested in December 1915 and was mobilised in January 1916. He arrived in France with “B” Company, the 2/6th Battalion in February 1917 and was made a prisoner of War on 21st March 1918.
Record of capture
Repatriation list
Hospital admission list
Pension card
Bernard was repatriated in August 1918 and admitted to The King George Hospital on Stamford Street in London. He was discharge in December 1918 and awarded a pension. Bernard died in 1971.
King George Military Hospital
George Hospital, ward {c. 1915-1918} Credit: Wellcome Library, London.
83786 Pte George Robert Yeomans, Lewis Gunner, B Company, 2/6th Battn, aged 20 from Upper Marehay.
“We were holding the line on March 21st 1918. I was wounded in the left leg by a gun shot and taken prisoner a few hours afterwards. My leg was amputated April 8th 1918 at Cassel Germany”
George attested into the 3rd Battalion The Sherwood Foresters in April 1917 arrived in France on 5th December 1917. He was initially posted to the 11th Battalion, but was then transferred to the 2/6th Battalion and posted to “B” Company.
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 