Locre 16.4.15: London Gazette A/Sergt.-Major W SEATON to be 2/Lt April 1st. 2/Lt W SEATON to be Captain.
War Diary [WO/95/2694].
On this day 16th April 1915
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2nd Trench duty 15-19 April 1915
Kemmel 15.4.15: Returned to trenches for 4 days. 8 NCO’s & men killed, 14 wounded (10 at duty)
War Diary [WO/95/2694].
See main site for more information.
We went in the trenches again on APRIL 15th for 4 days and on the 16th the Germans sent us a grenade from their trench mortar, and I had the narrowest escape in my life. One dropped close by 8 of us, not 4yds away, and never injured one, we all got a good shaking.
[1415 Cpl. Alfred Afford]
15th April 1915. We were taking things easy until night when we went into the trenches going in the same trenches as before. We got in the trenches without any casualties but I hadn’t been in 5 minutes when I was fetched to go out to an engineer about thirty yards from the German trenches. He was shot through the head but was living. They carried him down on a board to the dressing station. It was laughable to see what stocks of bread our men took with them to the trenches.
[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]
Apr 15th Breakfast in bed at 9 a.m. Service in a field at 11 a.m. Grand day. Set off to trenches near Kemmel at 7-30 p.m.
[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]
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1875 Pte Percy Brittain suffered a GSW in the knee and admitted to 13 General Hospital. Transferred to England on ‘HMHS St Andrew’ on 18.04.15. Returned to France with II Reinforcement on 31.6.15.
On this day 14th April 1915
No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694].
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14th April 1915. Church parade in the morning, also pay 10 Francs per man. At night another fatigue party went out, Kirk going with them. Back by 11-30, no casualties.
[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]
Apr 14th. Breakfast in bed about 9 a.m. Turned out for church parade at 10-30 but cancelled owing to rain. Paid 10 frs each at 12 noon. Band played in village in evening.
[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]
On this day 13th April 1915
Find working parties during rest. No 2364 Sergt JH Fletcher killed 13/4/15.
War Diary [WO/95/2694].
2364 Sergeant John Fletcher a stoker from Doves Holes was shot by a sniper as he was entering the trench. Reverend Hales buried him in the “Chateau Ground” later that day.
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On Tuesday night APRIL 13th we went on R.E. fatigue at 6.30 and got back at 1.30. The road we went on is strewn with dead bodies of French soldiers and cattle of all kinds. The open space in front of the trenches is known as the Sahara Desert.
[1415 Cpl. Alfred Afford]
13th April 1915. Another fatigue party went out at night but I was excused – Lamb taking my place. They had one casualty Sergeant Fletcher being killed on the road going up to the trenches.
[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]
Apr 13th Breakfast in bed about 9-30 then got up. Bathing parade in afternoon. Felt a bit fresher after it. Carrying barbed wire entanglements up to trenches at night.
[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]
On this day 12th April 1915
Locre 12.4.15 am: Relieved by 8th Bn & returned to billets.
1st Trench duty 7-12 April 1915
Casualties 1 Officer Lieutenant I Davies slightly wounded (at duty).
5 N.C.O.s and men killed 8 wounded.
4 being killed & 1 wounded by one H.E. shell (‘C’ Company) in one garrison of 1 Sergt / Sergt Dakin & 12 men – Sergt Dakin reported in for coolness.
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
The shell fell on 9 Platoon of “C” Company comprising Sergeant 570 George Dakin and 12 men; killing four men outright and wounding one other. The men killed were:-
- 1592 Pte. Walter Blake aged 20 and a corset worker from Ashbourne who enlisted in March 1912.
- 1457 Pte. Frederick Bull aged 26 and a photographer from Ashbourne who enlisted in June 1911.
- 1814 Pte. Albert Harry Harrison aged 19 and a gas fitter from Ashbourne who enlisted in March 1913.
- 2717 Pte. Percy Madin aged 23 and a bricklayer from Cross Street in Brampton who enlisted on 14th October 1914.
For a full account of this trench duty please see the main site here.
On this day 7th April 1915
Kemmel 7.4.15: The Battalion took over G & H trenches from the 8th Battalion. The two battalions working in paris and remained in trenches four days.
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
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On APRIL 7th we went in the trenches for our first real experience, and very quiet it was compared with other parts of the line.
[1415 Cpl. Alfred Afford]
7th April 1915. We were having one or two inspections and preparing for the trenches all day for at night we are to relieve the 8th out of the trenches. Stretcher bearers had their rifles and ammunition taken off them. At 7-45 we fell in to go to the trenches at Kemmel. We marched to Kemmel which is about four miles from Locre. From Kemmel we marched to the trenches by platoon. Here there is about 2,000 yards of open country which is swept by fire all night long. As you march along you come to Jack Johnson holes in the road which would easily bury two or three horses, first one then another tumbling in them with it being so dark. When the star shells go up, which are very bright, everybody has to lie down wherever they are. We took H2, 3 and 4 trench. We were very lucky to get up without casualties. On our left are the Royal Scots. On the right were C Company of our Battalion, A Company being in reserve. All the men were put to their posts and then they began to find their dugouts which were not very good.
[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]
Apr 7th. Bayonet practice in morning. Set off to trenches at 7-30 p.m. to Kemmel. Very risky had to cross open country for about ¾ mile. (1st time).
[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]
On this day 6th April 1915
No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694].
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On Easter Monday APRIL 6th our platoon went up to the trenches on fatigue from 6.30 p.m. [to] 1.a.m. on Tuesday morning with our 8th Battalion, and we were under very heavy rifle fire. Before we could get to the first line of trenches we had to go over 1200 yds of open ground, the Germans kept sending up starlight’s and it was on this open ground where the Germans spotted us, they sent a volley or two.
All round this place there are churches and all kinds of other buildings burnt and blown down. This place is called Kemmel.
[1415 Cpl. Alfred Afford]
6th April 1915. Nothing else but inspections all day. In the morning we had a look through.the windmill while it was working. Rained very hard at night.
[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]
Apr 6th. Rose about 9 a.m. Boot inspn & bayonet practice. Dull day.
[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]
On this day 5th April 1915
Locre 5.4.15: The Battalion with the 5th Battalion marched to billets.
War Diary [WO/95/2694].
On APRIL 5th we marched off again to a place called Locre in Belgium, a distance of 5½ miles, we are within range of the Germans big guns.
[1415 Cpl. Alfred Afford]
5th April 1915. We left Bailleul at 9-30 a.m. for Locre which is just behind the firing line. On our march we saw a New Mills man who is in the Royal Engineers. While in Bailleul we saw two or three that we knew who were in the Cheshires. On our way we passed an aerodrome. We got to our billets on the top of a hill near a windmill. We could see for miles around. We could see Ypres in the distance.
It was a pretty sight to see the country round and it seemed a pity that it should be devastated by war. At night as you stood on the hilltop you could see our artillery firing and you could see the shells bursting over the German trenches. You could also see the Germans firing from just beneath their observation tower. It was a pretty sight to see the German star shells bursting over our trenches.
**Royal Garrison Artillery was quite near us. Just behind there is a 15 inch naval gun which has done a great deal of damage.
C and D Company went out on fatigues to our trenches, not a very pleasant experience. The 8th Battalion went in Saturday night and have lost so far – one killed and four wounded. Rained very hard all night. Our billet was a loft on the top of a pigsty, not a very pleasant smell. You could see the sky through the roof and there were holes in the floor.
[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]
Apr 5th. Moved on again to Locre (Belgium). On fatigue at trenches at night, & got back about 1 a.m. Tuesday. Risky job.
[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]
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**It’s most likely that George Bagshaw meant a battery of the Royal Marine Artillery, which were equipped with 15-inch howitzers.
On this day 4th April 1915
Bailleul Easter Day 4.4.15: Service & Church parade
War Diary [WO/95/2694].
4th April 1915. EASTER SUNDAY I had one of the best breakfasts that I have had in France – eggs and bacon. After breakfast saw them bring two spies in, also saw wounded coming in. Church parade.
[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]
Apr 4th. Easter Sunday. Went to Communion 8-30 a.m. in a hall. Matins 11.a.m. Band played in market place in afternoon. Went in cemetery in evening & saw graves of men died of wounds.
[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 