Category Archives: Officers

19th Trench Duty 17th-20th November 1915

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17.11.1915 LA COUTRE: 2/Lt V. T. G. HORE reported for duty.Hore VTG

17.11.1915 LA COUTRES: Battalion relieved 7th SHERWOOD FORESTERS in the LEFT SECTOR about 300 yards north of ESTAIRES – LA BASSEE ROAD.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Nov 17th. Still at Garrison House. Packed up in afternoon & set off to trenches at 4-30 p.m. near Neuve Chapelle. Not so wet as last lot. C Co. in reserve again. Dull day & very sharp frost at night. Slept badly at night. Feet cold.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

The LEFT SECTOR at Richebourg1915 trenches winter

 This photograph is believed to show men of the 1/6th Battalion, possibly in trenches in the LEFT SECTOR at Richebourg. This is part of a collection if items that belonged to Captain Edgar Heathcote and may therefore relate to men of “C” (Ashbourne) Company. Many thanks to David Wilkins for generously providing the photograph.

Crescent to Copse Street – S.10.B and S.10.C.

The War Diary of the 1/7th Battalion Sherwood Foresters provides greater detail on the distribution of men in this sector of the front line.Trench duty November 1915Richebourg map S 10.

On this day 14th November 1915

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14.11.1915 La Coutre: C Company relieved by 7th Sherwood Foresters and joined Battalion at LA COUTRE.

14.11.1915 La Coutre: 2/Lt T Grimshaw & 20 other Ranks arrived for duty.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Thomas Grimshaw

Grimshaw TGrimshaw T

On this day 6th November 1915

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6.11.1915 PACAUT: Battalion moved into Brigade Reserve at LA COUTRE. The 46th Division having taken over the trench line on the right of NEUVE CHAPELLE.

Captain EB Johnson proceeded to Base Depot and relieved Captain GS Heathcote 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Gilbert Stanley Heathcote was the brother of Edgar Horace Heathcote.

Richebourg MapRichebourg

Nov 6th. Rose about 8 a.m. Packed up in morning & set off from Calonne at 12-30. Got to Lacouture about 4 p.m. & billeted in barns. Fairly comfortable but not very warm. Misty & cold all day. 5th, 7th & 8th in trenches – 6th in reserve.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

On this day 5th November 1915

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5.11.1915 PACAUT: Notification received that Capt V. O. Robinson had been awarded the MILITARY CROSS for Conspicuous gallantry at HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT between the 13th & 15th October. The award is announced in the Supplement to the London Gazette dated 18.11.15.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Robinson VO

“Chesterfield hero: Captain Victor O. Robinson, aged 24 years, of the 1/6th Sherwood Foresters, who has been awarded the Military Cross. He is the youngest son of the late Mr William R. Robinson, twice Mayor of Chesterfield, and Mrs Robinson, of Field House, Chesterfield”

Robinson MC 1915

Nov 5th. Rose at 8 a.m. Signalling 10 till 12, others had bayonet fighting etc. Football in afternoon. Nice day but misty at first & cold at nights. Parcel from home again.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

On these days 1st-4th November 1915

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Novemrber 1915

1.11.1915 Bethune: 2/Lt. W. D. Jamieson reported for duty.

2.11.1915 Bethune: Draft of 35 Other Ranks arrived.

4.11.1915 Bethune: Battalion moved in billets at PACAUT.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

[PACAUT may refer to Pacaut wood which was close to Bethune]

Nov 1st. Running 7-30 to 8. Instn in signalling 10-30 till 12 & 2 till 3. Others had bayonet fighting, rapid loading etc. Dull again. Standing by from 6 p.m. onwards.

Nov 2nd. Same as yesterday. Rain nearly all day, so no running parade & lectures in billets, rifle inspn etc. Still standing by.

Nov 3rd. Same as Monday all day. Misty at first, but nice later. Finished standing by at 8 a.m. Went to picture palace at night – very good. 50 reinfts.

Nov 4th. Rose at 6 a.m. Set off from Bethune at 8 and got to Calonne about 11-30 a.m. Football etc. in afternoon. Misty at first but nice later. In barns.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

 William Duncan JamiesonJamieson

 Draft of Reinforcements

No record of this reinforcement has been found to date.

2951 Pte John Edmund Nadin2951 Nadin photo

On this day John Edmund Nadin was transferred to hospital in England suffering from piles. John was a labourer from Dove Holes and enlisted on the 17th October 1914. He arrived in France with the II Reinforcement on 29th June 1915. He later returned to France with the 9th Reinforcement in May 1916 and was mortally wounded on the 1st July 1916 with a gun shot wound in the head. He was transferred to England, but died of his wounds on the 4th July at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Netley.2951 Nadin

3431 Pte Percy Cooke

On this day Percy was admitted to the 1st North Midland Field Ambulance suffering from scabies. Percy was a loader from Staveley and enlisted on the 28th October 1914. He arrived in France with the 46th Division in February 1915. He was later wounded on the 1st July 1916 with a gun shot wound in the shoulder. He was transferred to England and returned to France with the 29th Reinforcement in January 1917. He was made a prisoner of War in July 1917 whilst serving with the 1/5th Battalion.

3431 Cooke

On this day 30th October 1915

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30.10.1915 Bethune: Temporary Lt. K. H. Bond joned for duty. Draft of 15 NCOs and men arrived from No. 2 Entrenching Battalion.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Oct 30th. Running 9 to 9-30, then instn in signalling till 12 & also from 2 till 3 p.m. Others had route march in morning & kit insp at 2-30 p.m. Paid 10 frs afterwards. Dull again.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

Kenneth Hills Bondbond

 Reinforcement from No. 2 Entrenching Battalion

Amongst the men who joined the Battalion on this day was 3035 Pte. John Warren a miner from Clay Cross. John had originally enlisted into the 6th Reserve Battalion in October 1914 aged 31. He transferred to the 1/6th Battalion on the 26th June 1915 and arrived in France 3 days later. He was initially posted to the Entrenching Battalion and promoted to Acting Corporal.3035 Warren

On this day 28th October 1915

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28.10.1915 BETHUNE: HM King inspected 1st Army. Battalion provided 1 full Company & 1 full platoon towards 139th Brigade representative Battalion, which was Commanded by Lt/Col.- G. D. Goodman. His Majesty’s horse reared and fell at inspection of Royal Flying Corps.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Oct 28th. Paraded at 7 a.m. Set off at 8 a.m. to Hesdigneul 10-30 a.m. Reviewed by H.M. King George V, Sir J French etc. Gave three cheers.   Many troops present – great sight but unfortunately rain at intervals again. King injured later.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

On this day 26th October 1915

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26.10.1915 LAPUGNOY: CAPT A. J. HOPKINS took Command of Battalion.

Battalion moved to new billets in BETHUNE.

Oct 26th. Rose about 8 a.m. Packed up in morning & set off at 1-30 to Bethune. Got there about 4 p.m. & were billeted in estaminets – fairly comfortable. Nice day

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

 1522 Drummer Benjamin Stubbins1522 Stubbins

Benjamin Stubbins suffered from varicocele and was admitted to the 3rd Stationary Hospital in Rouen and then two months later to the 6th General Hospital. Hi was finally discharged to the 6th Depot on the 14th January 1915 and struck of the roll of Drummer. He rejoined the 1/6th Battalion ‘in the field’ on the 16th March 1916.

Benjamin had been wound previously on the 6th August 1915 and was to be wounded again on the 7th/8th October 1918, at which time he was transferred to England.

1522 Stubbins letter

Benjamin was a labourer at the Hardwick Colliery Company and lived with his parents on Lockerford Lane in Stonegravels. He enlisted as a Drummer on the 3rd January 1912 aged 15 years and 9 months. As such he required a letter of authorisation from his parents.

On this day 25th October 1915

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25.10.1915 LAPUGNOY: Fatigue party relieved by a similar party.

Captain A. J. Hopkins and Lt. J Tolson joined for duty.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Hopkins AJ

Arthur John Hopkins

Arthur had returned to England on the 12th May 1915 and was transferred to hospital due to eczema. Tolson 1915Joseph Tolson

Oct 25th. Rain nearly all day. Fell in for a lecture at 10 a.m. but dismissed. Another fatigue party for trenches (gas cyls) left in afternoon but I was exempt (res. Sigr) very glad. First fatigue party returned about 8-45 p.m. very wet. Parcel from Pinxton.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

On the day 24th October 1915

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24.10.1915 LAPUGNOY: Lt. Col.- G.D. Goodman to temporary Command of the 139th Brigade. Capt F.M. Dick to Command Battalion.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Oct 24th. Went to communion 8 a.m. & church parade with 8th battn at 10 a.m. & also voluntary service at 6 p.m. very nice. Rather cold again.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

Goodman

Godfrey Davenport Goodman Dick FM

Frank Mackenzie Dick