Kemmel 3.6.15: Relieved by 5th Battalion – to bivouacs (all 4 Companies)
War Diary [WO/95/2694].
JUNE 8th. We were relieved by our 5th Battalion and S.L.I. at 12 p.m.
[1415 Cpl. Alfred Afford]
On this day 8th June 1915
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On this day 7th June 1915
No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694].
The wounded men were:-
| 2061 | L/Cpl | Albert Cragg | 7.06.15 |
Wounded in the field and transferred to England. Discharged due to wounds on 7.6.15 (para 392 XVI KR). |
| 3341 | Pte | Ernest Pearce | 7.06.15 | Wounded in the field. |
| 1400 | Pte | George Bailey | 7.6.15 | GS wound in both thighs. Rejoined Battalion on the 13th June. |
On this day 6th June 1915
No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694].
| 2251 | Pte | George Gibbons | 6.06.15 |
GSW in hand and admitted to 2 CCS and 2 General Hospital. Returned to duty. |
On this day 5th June 1915
No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694].
Men wounded included:-
| 3220 | Pte | Edgar Greaves | 5.06.15 |
Wounded in the field and returned to England. Discharged due to wounds on 5.6.15 (para 392 XVI KR). |
On this day 4th June 1915
No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694].
JUNE 5th, At 10.30 p.m. we had a platoon of kit. Shropshire Light Infantry came in for instructions and they are going out tonight with us.
[1415 Cpl. Alfred Afford]
Men wounded included:-
| 1687 | Pte | Willie Coleman | 4.06.15 | GSW in scalp and admitted to 1st NMFA and 4 General Hospital. Transferred to England on 6.6.15. Returned to France on 4.3.16 with 6th Reinforcement. |
| 2144 | Pte | Bradshaw Goodwin | 4.06.15 | Gunshot wound in chest and admitted to 1st NMFA, 2 CCS and 2 General Hospital. Returned to England on 10.6.15. Retuned to France on 10.9.17 with 38th Reinforcement. |
| 2146 | Pte | William Harrison | 4.06.15 |
Wounded in the field. |
8th Trench Duty 3rd to 8th June 1915
Kemmel 3.6.1915: Returned to trenches for 5 days. Casualties: Killed 3 other ranks, wounded 1 Officer and 8 OR.
Headquarters at HOWITZER FARM. Took over L5 & L7 & M1, M2 & VIERSTRAAT.
5th Shropshire Light Infantry attached.
The men killed were:-
2140 Pte. Robert Ball a locomotive fireman from Fairfield near Buxton.
3205 Pte. George Fell a coal miner from Clowne.
2051 Pte. Walter Houghton a plate layer from Darley Dale.
They are buried next to each other in Kemmel Château Military Cemetery (Row D; 28-30).
Details of the wounded men can be found here.
On this day 1st June 1915
No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694].
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By June 1915 two of our Diarists, 3289 Pte. George Beardsley and 2381 Pte. George Bagshaw and had already left the Battalion due to sickness.
George Beardsley was sent to 46th Divisional Convalescent Depot at Havre. He rejoined the 1/6th Battalion at Poperinghe on 1st August.
George Bagshaw was transferred to England on “HMHS Asturias” and was treated for gas poisoning in Hospital at Aintree*.
*This was most likely the 1st Western General Hospital in Fazakerley.
George was later to return to France were he won the Military Medal in 1918.
Information from “British Gallantry Awards: The Shewood Foresters” by Clifford Housley. Miliquest Publications (Jan 2000); ISBN-13: 978-0952964834.
On this day 30th May 1915
30.5.1915: Relieved by 5th Battalion – to bivouacs and SEIGE FARM.
War Diary [WO/95/2694].
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MAY 30th. We had 8 put on the casualty list besides 5 K.R.R., four of our men were very serious, our platoon Commander was wounded, all except one was wounded by trench mortars.
We were relieved at 12.30 a.m. by our 5th Battalion, and were billeted at a farm just behind the firing line.
[1415 Cpl. Alfred Afford]
Siege Farm was located at N.16.c.2.8. on the road from Kemmel to Ypres (now the N331). Close by is La Laiterie Military Cemetery which was begun in November 1914 and named after a diary farm.
On these days 22nd-25th May 1915
No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694]
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Whit Sunday, MAY 23rd. We had Church Service on enlined Picket, this is if they want reinforcing one Company every night. We have just had (7.30) two German Taubes over, two of our Guns drove them back, and two of our aeroplanes followed them over their own lines.
MAY 24th. Whit Monday we were inspected by General Sir H. Plumer. Early this morning the Germans started using gas again, and with a very strong wind the people in the village 7 miles behind the firing line were drove out of their houses, and there was a very heavy artillery duel all night through.
We went in the trenches on MAY 25th at 11 p.m., where we relieved our 5th Battalion in K 2 , B trench.
[1415 Cpl. Alfred Afford]
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22nd May 1915. We were inspected by General Plummer our new General. Everything as usual.
23rd May 1915. Church parade. Everything as usual.
24th May 1915. I slept near the door and just where my mouth was there was a hole. In the early morning I wakened in a dazed condition, my throat burning, and my head going all round. I couldn’t understand it because I had been having such good health. I struggled through the day as best I could and we were told that there had been a heavy dose of gas along the line and it had been felt our way. It didn’t strike me then what I was suffering from. I wrote my usual letter with much difficulty and went to bed early thinking I should be much better next morning.
25th May 1915. I wakened up next morning feeling worse than I did the day before. I struggled on through the day until afternoon. We were to go in the trenches that night. I felt so bad I went to the doctor. He couldn’t understand it. He took my temp and it was 101. He didn’t know what to do at the finish. He sent for a motor ambulance and I was taken to the hospital at Logre. When I got there my temp was 102 .
[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]
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May 22nd. Breakfast at 7-30 a.m. on train. Arrd Rouen about 9 a.m. & rode to No3 Stationary Hospital. Seen by doctor there & sent to convt camp. Grand day. Slept on a sring bed – quite a treat. Concert 6-30.
May 23rd. Breakfast 7-30. Whitsunday. Service 8-30. On fatigue till 12. Saw doctor 9-30 a.m. & sent to No6 Gen Base. Grand day again.
May 24th. Roll call 6 saw doctor 7 a.m. Breakfast 8 a.m. Set off at 9-30 toappear before Medical Board. Verdict 1 month at Conv Depot. Retd there 2 p.m. Sports in afternoon & after tea. String band present (Whit Monday) then distn of prizes & concert at Y. M.C.A. Grand day again.
May 25th. Breakfast 7 a.m.Paraded at 8 a.m. & saw Colonel, then on fatigue till 12. Went to doctor for medicine 2 p.m. & 5 p.m. Grand day again.
[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]
On this day 21st May 1915
Kemmel 21.5.1915: Relieved by 5th Battalion & to bivouacs & SEIGE FARM.
Casualties OR 3 killed & 7 wounded.
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
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MAY 21st. We are being relieved tonight by our 5th Battalion, on being relieved we went and billeted under canvas about 4 miles from the firing line.
[1415 Cpl. Alfred Afford]
21st May 1915. We had two wounded and then at midnight we left for our billets at Kemmel being well received by the old woman.
[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]
May 21st. Went to convent at 9 a.m. Left about 10 a.m. Rode to Clearing Hospital at Bailleul. Left rifle & equipment there & then to station. Left there at 1-15 in Red Cross train arr. St Omer 4-15 p.m. Boulogne 7-15 p.m. Nice dinner & tea on train. Saw 4 train loads of new troops. (K’s). Dull day. Left Boulogne 8-30. Etaples 9-30 for Rouen.
[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 