Category Archives: On this day

On this day 5th March 1915

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5-8.3.15 (Ploesteert): The Battalion attached Headquarters A & C Companies to SOMERSET LIGHT INFANTRY and B & D Companies to 1/RIFLE BRIGADE in trenches and working parties.

BreastworksBreastworks held by the London Rifle Brigade, Ploegsteert Wood. 1914-15. Imperial War Museum © IWM (Q 11743).

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5th March 1915: Line piquet all day. Never seen as much mud in my life. There was a grave nearby with about 75 N.C.O.’s and men buried in it.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]

The graves that George Bagshaw refers to are most likely those of 42 men the 1st Battalion SOMERSET LIGHT INFANTRY CEMETERY who were killed in action on 19th December 1914. The men had died during an attack by the 11th Brigade on the "German Birdcage" east of Ploegsteert Wood, which had failed with heavy casualties, many of which had been caused by the British artillery firing short.

On this day 4th March 1915

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4.3.15 (Terdeghen): Battalion marched to S. SYLVESTRE where with the 5th Battn it was inspected by the Colonel – Gen. Sir H. L. SMITH-DORRIEN. Then enbussed for BAILLEUL (where Band left). Then marched to OOSTROOVE FARM near PLOEGSTEERT and billets. There attached to 11th Brigade – Brig. Gen. HASLER.

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MARCH 4th. Inspected by General Smith Dovien at Terdeghem and then rode in motors to a place called Armentieres 3 miles from the firing line, this is in Belgium. And here we were billeted in an old roofless barn.

[1415 L/Cpl. Alfred Afford]

4th March 1915. We were inspected by Smith Dorrien. Reveille at 6-00 a.m. Left Terdeghen at 8-00 a.m. Marched two miles, went by motor bus to Bailleul and then marched seven miles to a farm near Dieppe. Never had such a march in my life, what with cobble stones and mud -awful. The mud was up to the knees in same places. When we got there we were all tired out and to crown it all B Company was made line piquet for 24 hours. That is have your equipment on all the time and be ready for anything. At night the artillery was firing and one shell dropped about 100 yards from our barn. Ready for home any time. Here we got one slice of bread besides the biscuits.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]

On this day 3rd March 1915

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March 19153.3.15 (Terdeghem): Telegraph to Division from H. M. The King.

Telegram March 1915WO/95/2694

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Stretcher drill. Rained very hard all day. Toothache very bad all week. Getting rather anxious as to what is happening at home. Wrote letters every day and found out that none of them had gone.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]

On this day 27th February 1915

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27.2.15 (Havre): The Battalion (less 15 & 16 Platoons under Captain Hills) entrained at GARE MARITIME in early morning.

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Hills

Hills LG 1914Captain Raleigh Hills, 2nd in Command of “D” Company. Born in 1880 at Leamington in Warwickshire he died at Bakewell in 1937.

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Left Havre at 5 p.m. for a place unknown 24 hours train ride and there billeted in an old barn, 16 miles from firing line, at this place we have to walk about with rifles loaded. On the retreat from Mons the Germans landed as far as here. Steenvorde is the name of the place.

[L/Cpl 1415 Alfred Afford]

We were up at 2-30 and marched on to the dock station. B Company were the fatigue party for the loading. There was only cattle trucks for the men. The whole battalion and transport were on one train. We left Havre at 6-00 a.m. The railway went through the streets at Havre. There was forty three men in the truck that I was in. The train was rather slow, in same places men could jump off the train, run after it and jump in again. At night when we tried to sleep we were in a very cramped condition. On our way we passed Rouen and I saw Gartsides by the side of the line, it made me wish that I was going there instead of where I was.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]

On this day 26th February 1915

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26.2.15 (Le Havre): The men were fitted out with skin waistcoats and extra stores were drawn.1915 C Company

Believed to show Captain Edgar Heathcote and men of Buxton half of “C” Company with their newly issued wool coats. Picture published by R & R Bull of Ashbourne.

Picture courtesy of David Wilkins

We arrived at Havre about 3-00 a.m. after an uneventful night. At Havre they had a revolving searchlight, which lit the bay up for miles. We disembarked at 9-00 a.m. We went into a shed on the side of the docks, staying there until next morning. We were not allowed to go out. We had nothing else only biscuit, bully beef and cheese. There was a good Y.M.C.A. there. While we were there the 4th Black Watch marched into camp just outside Havre. In the afternoon we had our fur coats issued out to us, which came in very handy at night as we slept on the floor.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]

On this day 99 years ago

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Embarkation

The North Midland Division starts on the “The Great Adventure”

More more details see here.

25.2.15 (Braintree): The Battalion left by 2 trains at 5 a.m. and 6.40 a.m. First Reinforcements made up by 71 from Reserve Battalion left at Braintree under JE Symonds.

25.2.15 (Southampton): The Battalion embarked Headg, A & B Companies and Transport on “MAIDAN” C & D Companies under Major Hall on “KING EDWARD”.

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Symonds

John Symonds

On this day 23rd February 1917

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564 Sergeant Robert Smith died aged 46, but there are no details.

564 SmithRobert was a Pre-War Territorial and is buried in Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery in Saulty, which was the site of the 20th and 43rd Casualty Clearing stations.

Smith CensusIn the 1911 Census Robert was living in Wellfield Road in Matlock and was a stone mason by trade. He was a widower with 6 children.

564 SmithRobert arrived in France with the 46th Division in February 1915 and is entitled to the 14-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals.

On this day 17th February 1917

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2590 chadwick

2590/240653 Robert Henry Chadwick aged 42 died of ‘cardiac failure due to fatigue’ in the 1st North Midland Field Ambulance and is buried in COUIN NEW BRITISH CEMETERY.

Coulin

Robert was a quarryman by trade and the son of Mr and Mrs George Chadwick of Bakewell. He had enlisted into the 6th Reserve Battalion in October 1914 and arrived in France with the II Reinforcement in June 1915.

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Also wounded that day by gas poisoning were:-

  • 3850 Pte. J W Ball (“B Company).
  • 3221 Pte. Leonard Arthur Barnard (“A” Company) a pony driver from Staveley. Enlisted in October 1914 and arrived in France with the 46th Division in February 1915.
  • 3714 Pte. Joseph Cox (“C” Company). Enlisted in January 1915 and arrived in France with the IV Reinforcement in October 1915.241311 Crawley
  • 3997 Pte. Arthur Crawley (“C” Company). Enlisted in February 1915 and arrived in France in 1916. Discharged in June 1918 due to shell shock.
  • 2927 Cpl. Charles Greatorex (“B” Company). Enlisted in October 1914 and arrived in France in 1916. A tape weaver from Wirksworth.
  • 4218 Pte. Albert Kirk (“A” Company) Enlisted in March 1915 and arrived in France in 1916.3734 Lynam
  • 3734 Tom Lynam (B” Company). Enlisted in January 1915 and arrived in France in 1916.4281 Redman
  • 4281 Pte. William Redman (“B” Company). Enlisted in January 1915 and arrived in France   with the 6th Reinforcement in March 1916. Suffered severe gas poisoning and shell shock and was discharged in April 1918.4281 Redman 2
  • 4204 Pte. Ernest Smith (“D” Company”). Enlisted in March 1915 and arrived in France with the  IV Reinforcement in October 1915.
  • 4124 Pte. Arthur Warren (D” Company). Enlisted in March 1915 and arrived in France with the  IV Reinforcement in October 1915.
  • 2928 John Else Gratton (“B” Company). Enlisted October 1914 and arrived in France in 1916.