Category Archives: Officers

On this day 18th October 1915

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18.10.1915 VERQUIN: Bn addressed by Maj.-Gen. STUART WORTLEY.

Captain EM Johnson returned.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Oct 18th. Rose at 7 a.m. fell in for inspn at 8-30, but dismissed till 10-30, then inspected by Gen. Stuart – Wortley, who made a congratulatory speech afterwards & promised us 10 days rest. In afternoon went to concert by pierrots – very good. At night went with McT. & had a feed. Nice day except for cold wind.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

 1507 Pte. Joseph William Marsden

1507 Pte. Joseph William Marsden, a grocers assistant  from Bakewell was transferred to England on this day following his wounding following a shell burst.1507 Marsden

Joseph had originally enlisted in November 1911 aged 17 and lived on Monyash Road. He was attested by Lieut. Herbert Cliffird Brooke-Taylor and served with “D” Company. He was posted to the 6th Reserve and then to the Command Depot at Ballyvonare before joining the 5th Reserve Battalion in December 1916. Joseph was eventually discharged on the 24th August 1917 in consequence of “being no longer physically fit for war service”.

In fact Joseph was suffering from neurasthenia, which we now know as ‘shell shock’, and he received a pension of £30.1507 marsden pension

On this day 17th October 1915

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17.10.1915 VERQUIN: 2/Lt WH Holderness joined for duty.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

William Harold Holderness (WO374/34089)

Oct 17th. Rose at 8 a.m. Church parade with 5th batt at 10 a.m. & communion after. Got packs back again. Had a walk round with McT again. Nice day again. 50 reinf.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

On this day 16th October 1915

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16.10.1915: VERQUIN: Details joined Battn. Capt EMB Taylor to Command C Company.

Brooke-Taylor EMEdward Mallalieu Brook-Taylor

Draft of 50 NCOs & men joined from Entrenching Battalion.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Many of the men that formed this draft had arrived in France with the II Reinforcement on the 26th June 1915 and has served with No.2. Entrenching Battalion. Amongst these men were:-

  • 170 Sampson Bennett
  • 2160 William Hallows
  • 2493 Fred Moorcroft
  • 2609 Arthur Collier
  • 3105 James Brocklehurst
  • 3192 Harry Bellamy
  • 3256 Harry Mee
  • 3562 Alfred Bailey
  • 3441 James Bradley3105 Brocklehurst

Army Service Record for 3105 Pte James Brocklehurst recoding his departure from Southampton on 26th June and arrival in Rouen on the 29th June with the II Reinforcement. A Nominal Roll dated 23rd July 1915 records him joining No. 2. Entrenching Battalion with his subsequent transfer to the 1/6th Battalion on the 16th October 1915. James was killed 5 weeks later in the trenches at Richebourg.

Oct 16th. Got to Sailly about 1 a.m. had hot tea & then slept in a field till about 4-30 a.m. Set off again & got to Verquin at 7 a.m. Some billeted in barns, but No.11 platoon in a kind of wash house. Had breakfast & then slept till dinnertime. Cleaned up in afternoon & had a walk round later. Nice day. Had a fire & some straw at night so very comfortable. Got a parcel from C’field.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

On this day 15th October 1915

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15.10.1915: Major John Eaton Blackwell took over Command of 8th Sherwood Foresters vice Lt.-Col. George Herbert Fowler (killed in action).Fowler

15.10.1915: Total casualties:-

  • Officers wounded 2 (2/Lts JL Percival & GF Gardner)
  • Other Ranks killed 13
  • Missing believed killed 1
  • Wounded 48

Bn moved to billets at Verquin.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

The names of the dead and wounded can he found here.

Oct 15th. Slept on dump till about 6 a.m. then drew rations & went back & relieved 4th Leics in reserve trench. Many dead & wounded in front of their trench, but as morning was misty S.Bs. fetched them in till mist cleared. Shells & whiz bangs at intervals all day. Much bombing about 6 p.m. Relieved about 10 p.m. by Grenadier Guards. Very glad to get out. Only had bread, biscuits, jam, bully beef for 3 days, & only water to drink – no fires. 7th & 8th Sherwoods charged & took Hohenzollern Redoubt, but lost many men. (About 6000 cas in div).

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

HohenzollernThe bodies of all of the men of the 1/6th Battalion who were killed in action were not recovered or identified after the War and they are now commemorated on the Loos Memorial.

The fact that so many bodies were not recovered is a testimony to the severity of the fighting and only Bernhard White from Grassmoor, who died in a casualty clearing station in the Chateau at Vermelles, has a known grave.

For more information see the ‘Lost Cemeteries of Hohenzollern’.

 

The ‘Official’ Casualties for the 46th North Midland Division 13th – 15th October46 Division Casualties Hohenzollern

On this day 12th October 1915

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12.10.1915 Fouquereuil: Capt EB Johnson to hospital sick. Capt CJ Wheatcroft to Command “D” Company.

Johnson EB

Captain Evelyn Brownlow Johnson

Wheatcroft cjCaptain Cyril John Wheatcroft

Battn (less details) moved out in fighting order and occupied support trenches EAST of VERMELLES branching of GORDON ALLEY and HULLUCH ALLEY.Gordon Alley

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Oct 12th. Paraded for deficiencies 10-30 a.m. Took packs to store 1 p.m. Set off to trenches (fighting order) 3-30 p.m. Stopped & had tea about 6 p.m. near Sailly. Got to support trenches near Vermelles about 10-30 p.m. & relieved Guards. Seemed a long way. Nice day.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

We started our trek from the rear areas on the eleventh of October, and by the night of the twelfth – thirteenth, we were in our jumping off positions. All seemed to be fairly quiet, the battle that started on September the 25th seemed to have died off.

[2305 Pte Frank Longson]chateau_vermelles

On this day 11th October 1915

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11.10.1915 Fouquereuil: 2/Lt JGJ Hutton joined for duty.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

(Joseph Gilbert Jermyn Hutton)

Oct 11th. Route march in morning and bomb instruction in afternoon again. Another fatigue party for trenches but I was not included again. (carrying bombs). Very nice day. Parcel again.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

On this day 8th October 1915

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8.10.1915 FOUQUEREUIL: Lt TL Darbyshire to hospital sick. Ordered to stand to 7 pm stand down 11pm (counter attack on Guards’ Division).

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Oct 8th. Rose at 8 a.m. Church parade at 9-30 & route march after till 1 p.m. Musketry 2-30 till 3 p.m. Standing by from 6 p.m. onwards. Nice day again.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

 

On this day 6th October 1915

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6.10.1915 MAZINGARBE: Bn moved to billets at FOUQUEREUIL. 2nd Lt H W Higham joined for duty.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]higham

Medal Index Card for Harold Woolf Higham

Oct 6th. Rose about 6-30 a.m. & set off at 8 a.m. Got to Fouquereuil about 1 p.m. Seemed a long way. Cleaned up in afternoon, & had a walk round after tea. Dull day but no rain.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

2403 Pte William Nadin, an engine driver from Buxton, was transferred to England and later served as a loco driver with the 20 Light Railway Company Royal Engineers. William had previously served with 2nd Volunteer Battalion Derbyshire Regiment and reenlisted in September 1914 aged 35.Light Railway Company RE

 

On this day 25th September 1915

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“I hardly know how to tell you that Leonard was killed in action today. He was with the 7th Battalion (Robin Hoods) in performance of his duties as Brigade Intelligence Officer. I have just had a wire to say that he was killed while in one of the second line trenches – probably, but I do not know, by a German sniper.

I was asked some little time ago to nominate an Intelligence Officer for the Brigade, and I named Leonard, as I was struck with the intelligence and keeness with which he carried out his work.”Brown WL graveDuring the evening of the 25th the 1/7th Battalion ‘stood to’ as the 1/8th Battalion made a ‘demonstration’ against the Germans. It was most likely during this action that William Brown was shot by a sniper.

Sept 25th. Heavy bombardment by our artillery, so stood to from 4 a.m. onwards. Rose about 7-30 a.m. & had breakfast. Rifle inspn 10 a.m. Paid 20 frs at 2-30 p.m. Dull day & showers at intervals. German trenches taken at Hooge, La Bassee & Neuve Chapelle & also on French front.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

On this day 22nd July 1915

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Maple Copse 22.7.1915: CAPTS F. M. DICK, E. B. JOHNSON and LIEUTS J. S. SAMPSON and J. L. PERCIVAL joined from England having joined bivouac day before.

Casualties – wounded Officers nil – O.R. killed 3 wounded 19.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Dick FMFrank Mackenzie Dick

Johnson EBJohnson EB 2

Evelyn Brown Johnson – The Bourne, Ashover

Sampson JS

John Stephen Sampson

Percival JLJohn Lakeman Percival

The men killed in action were:-2142 Frank Hallam

  • 1563 Pte. Harry Depledge
  • 2142 Pte. Frank Hallam
  • 1301 Pte. Alfred Gent 

All three men are buried in Maple Copse Cemetery.Hallam-Gent-Depledge