Category Archives: On this day

Pte A Smith

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2/6th Battalion at Buxton 1914-15 nd later Epping in 1915

I’m not sure where I came across these on the internet – so apologies for posting without due acknowledgement/permission, but they are so good that I couldn’t resist…..

The 2/6th Battalion at Empire Hotel in Buxton – November 1914 – February 1915

The move to Epping

Transfers from the 2/6th Battalion to the Kings Liverpool Regiment

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Probably in August 1918 from the 14th Infantry Base Depot

Reduced to cadre and disbanded: 31 July 1918

Following the disbandment of the 2/5th and 2/6th Battalions some of the men were compulsory transferred to the Royal West Surrey (Queen’s) Regiment and posted either the 1/22nd or 1/24th (County of London) Battalions (The Queen’s) in August 1918 and allotted new regimental numbers.

In addition, at least 59 men were transferred the 1st, 8th or 12th Battalions of the Kings Liverpool Regiment and allotted the numbers 99636 to 99715 – see below.

An unknown casualty list……..

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But can they be identified?

During a recent search through some Army Service Records for 6th Battalion men I came across this partial list, which I believe is a casualty list?

Does it refer to 6th Battalion men…….? I’ll let you decided…..

241190

240153

240826 Satterfit, John. Enlisted in October 1914 and arrived in France in February 1915. Wounded at Kemmel in June 1915.

242533 Gray, Alfred. Enlisted in early 1916 and arrived in France with the 28th Reinforcement in January 1917.

241244 Moore, Richard. Enlisted in February 1915 and arrived in France in 1916. Wounded at Gommecourt on 1st July 1916.

241298 Cooper, Frederick. Enlisted in February 1915.

240696 Hampson, Frank. Enlisted in October 1914 and arrived in France in 1916.

240331 Smith, Vernon L/C. Enlisted in May 1913 and arrived in France in February 1915. Wounded by shrapnel on the 1st July 1916 at Gommecourt “I came through the bombardment all right till about 4.30 in the afternoon, then the shell came which did for me. I shall never forget it as long as I live; only God knows how I came through it”.

Alfred Gray was the last man of the group to arrive in France so this list must be from after January 1917. Interestingly Vernon Smith’s Army Service Record survives.

Vernon’s service record shows that he was wounded three times: 17th June 1916, 1st July 1917 and 3rd or 4th (?) November 1917. Interesting the 1/6th Battalion raided the German trenches that night – see here

The 1/6th suffered 22 casualties, including 14 other ranks wounded. I believe that this casualty record refers to these men.

4685/241638 Pte Joseph Ollerenshaw a farm worker from Hope Village

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Served in the 2/6th and 10th Battalions

Joseph Ollerenshaw was born in 1895 in Bradwell in the High Peak. In the 1911 Census he is recored as living at Stumperlowe Grange Farm in Fulwood and was a farm worker.

Joseph enlisted into the 3/6th Battalion in December 1915 and was subsequently transferred to the 2/6th Battalion. His 4-digit Territorial number was 4685.

Joseph was serving with the 2/6th Battalion, 178th Brigade, 59th Division when it was sent to Ireland in response to the Easter Rising in 1916.

“Dear father & mother just a few lines to you hoping that you are all quite well as it leaves me very well. We are somewhere in Ireland and we are having some very fine weather now. From your son Joseph”

Joseph proceeded to France with 59th Division in early Spring 1917.

At some point Joseph transferred to the 10th Battalion, which could have been when the 2/6th Battalion was disbanded, in May 1918 or he may have been wounded and following recovery posted to the 10th Battalion ?

Joseph was discharged in March 1919 and received an Army pension due to ‘synovitis of the left angle’ that was attributed to active service.

Joseph Ollerenshaw married Elsie Pye in Stockport, Cheshire in April 1922 when he was 26 years old – see here – they had one child during their marriage. He died in 1960 in Stockport, Cheshire at the age of 65.