Both John (242122) and Victor (242335) were original members of the 2/6th Battalion and are buried next to each other in Templeux-Le-Guerard British Cemetery.
John was the husband of Louisa Brown of 141 Fairfoot Rd., Bow in London. He was born in London.
Victor was the son of Richard and Louisa Bonsall of Monyash, Bakewell in Derbyshire.
Hancourt: The Battalion marched to L.3.c.7.8. and took over the front line from the 2/5th Lincolnshire Regiment
[WO-95-3025: 2/6th Battalion War Diary]
The 2nd Derby Militia were raised 12th January 1855 and designated the ‘Chatsworth Rifles’ on 22nd May 1855. They became the 3rd Battalion, the Derbyshire Regiment on 1st July 1881 finally amalgamating with 5th Battalion on 1st April 1891.
[The images of the writing slope box were kindly sent by Luke Kreciala]
Francis was born on the 28th April 1821 in Coed. He moved to Glapwell House near Chesterfield when his father inherited the estate. He was Commissioned into the 2nd Derby Militia as a Lieutenant on the 14th December 1863; promoted to Captain on the 14th December 1867 and retired in 1872. He died unmarried in December 1883 at the Hotel Valley in Anglesey.
Undated list of Officers of the 1st Derby and 2nd Derbyshire (Chatsworth Rifles). Note that Francis Hallowes is not listed, but his relative Thomas Richard Francis Brabazon Hallowes is (note misspelling of his surname). TRFBH Hallows was Commissioned into the 6th Dragoon Guards in 1873.
It took six days for the 59th Division to travel by train from their training areas in England to Southampton Docks. This mobilisation used 35 trains.
It took over 6 days to move the Division from Southampton to Boulogne.
Amongst the other men granted leave extensions were:-
203731 L/Cpl William Davey – 11th Battalion – from Nottingham. William attested in December 1915 and was mobilised in April 1917. He was posted to the 5th Reserve Battalion for training. William arrived in France in October 1917 and was posted to the 11th Battalion. William was discharged in February 1919 and died in March 1923. His widow – Mabel Elizabeth – was awarded a pension,
102925 L/Cpl Peter Copeland – 11th Battalion – actually served with the 2/6th Battalion after transferring from the KOSB in Spring 1918.
72184 Pte James Isles – 9th Battalion – James had previously served with the ASC and 17th Battalion (Welbeck Rangers).
24836 Pte William Kirkbridge – 15th Battalion.
120008 Pte Jonas Thornley – 8th Battalion.
61536 Pte Frederick Twigg – 9th Battalion.
Samuel was one of approximately 93 men who were transferred to the 10th Battalion Sherwood Foresters from the Royal Flying Corps [date currently unknown]. He was subsequently posted to 1/6th Battalion.
His Medal Index Card records that he served overseas with the Royal Flying Corps before his transfer.
Edward appears on a wounded and sick list [H.A.29805], which records that he was admitted to the 12 (St Louis USA) General Hospital in Rouen on the 2nd October 1918. It is most likely that he was wounded during the 46th North Midland Division attack o the Hindenburg Line – see here.
A very poignant letter from the mother of Herbert Henry Smith from Mansfield to the War Office and received on the 11 February 1918
“Dear Sir, I would thank you very much if you could kindly forward to me any belongings of my son, Pte HH Smith of the 1st Batt Sherwood Foresters……..he died through wounds received in action on his was way down to the main dressing station on November 20 1917”
The Infantry Records Department of No. 6 District (Lichfield) were not instructed to dispatch Hebert’s belongings to Sarah (his mother) until 15th March 1918 and she finally received them around 25th March.
Herbert is buried in Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery and Commemorated on St Lawrence the Martyr Roll of Honour.
Sarah Jane Smith received a pension for the loss of her son.
Herbert was called up for Service on the 16th November 1916 and posted to the 5th Reserve Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters two days later. Following training in Saltfleet he embarked for France on the 4th October 1917 and arrived at the 14th Infantry Base Depot. He was posted to the 1st Battalion and joined them ‘in the field’ on the 18th October.
At the time of his death the 1st Battalion were holding the front line trenches near to Bellevue and were being heavily shelled. During the month of November the 1st Battalion lost 2 Officers and 21 other ranks killed, 63 other ranks wounded.
Samuel’s Army Service Record services and it is recored that he was transferred to England on the 26th June 1918 and discharged later that year. This would date the list to June 1918.
This is a first for me…..having looked through 1000s of service records for men of the 1/6th and 2/6th Battalions, the Sherwood Foresters, this is the first record of a numbered reinforcement to the 2/6th Battalion.
203142 Private Cornelius William Sharp, a 28 year old lace maker from Nottingham attested in December 1915. He was mobilised in November 1916 and posted to the 5th Reserve Battalion in Louth.
After basic training he embarked for France on 19 July 1917 as part of the 7 Reinfocemt [sic] for the 2/6th Battalion.
Cornelius was posted missing in action on the 27th September 1917 following an attack on Passchendale Ridge – see here – he was one of 26 men missing that day.
He was the son of William and Louisa Sharp and the husband of Edith (née Foster) Hardy (formerly Sharp). In 1911 they lived at 5 Furlong Terrace Middle Furlong Road Meadows Nottingham. He was the father of Ida May Sharp.
*By ‘original’ I mean before Conscription started and they were issued with Territorial Force Regimental numbers
Joseph Hughes was a print works labourer from Birch Vale, near New Mills in Derbyshire. Joseph married Sarah and they had three girls; Dorothy (b 1907), Annie (b 1908) and Gertrude (b 1910). He enlisted in October 1914 and most likely arrived in France with the 2/6th Battalion in February 1917. He only served overseas with the 2/6th Battalion. According to the sick list (above) he suffered from slight myalgia (muscle aches and pains).
Joseph was later captured on the 4th December 1917 during the Battle of Cambrai and interned in Limburg POW Camp.
Joseph was discharged in May 1915 aged 32 and received a pension.
It is possible that Joseph attended the reunions of the 2/6th Battalion held in Bakewell during the 1930s. Joseph died in July 1963.
Percy Walker enlisted in July 1916 and was posted to the 1/6th Battalion in France in August 1916 according to his Medal Index Card. He would later serve with the 15th Battalion and was wounded (GW) with VI(I) [gunshot wound of back and spine (simple flesh contusions and wounds)] and IX(I) [gunshot wounds of lower extremities (simple flesh contusions and wounds)] – see ‘wounded and sick’ list above.
The undated ‘sick and wounded list’ ties in with the 7th-12th May 1917 record of the 31 Ambulance Train (above), which conveyed Percy Walker from Nesle to Rouen on the 12th-13th May 1917. Note: from April to June 1917 Nesle was the site of No. 21 Casualty Clearing Station.
At the time of his wounding the 15th Battalion were holding the front line and support trenches.
Percy was discharged in January 1918 aged 35 years and was awarded a Silver War Badge and a King’s Certificate of Discharge. He also received a pension.
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 