Category Archives: On this day

On this day 22nd October 1917

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22/10/1917 HILL 70: Battalion relieved by the 1/5th Battalion and moved into RESERVE in MAZINGARBE.

1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]

22/X/17: Artillery activity again above normal. During the evening enemy barraged trenches of left sub section and then mimicked our SOS rocket signals. This brought down our barrage. Inter Battalion reliefs.

139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]

241204 Pte John William Dawes died of wounds3752-daws-grave

John William Dawes enlisted in January 1915 and was the husband of Charlotte Durance (formerly Daws) of 11 Lime St., Bulwell in Nottingham.

On this day 21st October 1917

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21/10.1917: Lt.-Col. BW VANN MC proceeded on special leave to England. Major VO ROBINSON assumed Temporary Command of the Battalion.

1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]

21/X/17: Artillery activity above normal about 200 rounds being fired on the sector. A fighting patrol of 7th Sherwood Foresters under LIEUT EMMETT MC entered enemy front line at H.28.d. and explored it for 150 yards without encountering any Germans. They remained there for 5 hours and returned at dawn. The trench was found in fair condition.Emmett 1915 copy

Reginald Boutwood Emmett

139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]

On this day 19th October 1917 – Capt Joseph Tolson was mortally wounded

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Joseph Tolson in January 1916

19.10.1917 HILL 70: Capt J TOLSON wounded whilst examining his wire in front of the QUARRY. Lieut FS ROWLAND took over Command of Letter “B” Company.h32d

Rowland

Frank Skinner Rowland

1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]

19/X/19: Quite day.

139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]

On these days 17th and 18th October 1917

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No record in the 1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]

17/X/17: Very quite day except for usual shelling of LOOs. Two 6″ trench mortars were put in line in order to commence systematic wire cutting. Hostile artillery rather active at 8.45pm.

18/X/17: Intermittent artillery activity during day and night. The new 6″ TM’s commenced wire cutting.

139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]

On this day 16th October 1917 – 1/7th Battalion casualties

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265187 Pte Albert Ernest Barker died of wounds aged 21265187-barker

Son of John Thomas and Annie Barker of 22 Mona St., Beeston inn Nottinghamshire

45-october-1917-raid

Albert was one of the leaders of Notts and Derby in an attack on a German position when he was badly wounded. Mrs. Barker received very comforting letters from the chaplain and Captain of the Company. The letter reads, ‘When I took command of the company I realized what a fine straight boy your son was. I was wounded the same night that he was and were both sent to the same hospital. Whilst he was here I visited him frequently, every day. The boy was very ill when he arrived here, but he was so brave and cheerful all the time. All my sympathy goes out to you, he was such a brave lad. You must always remember he lived each day like he died a very brave and gallant Englishman.

See Nottinghamshire Roll of Honour

268062 Pte George William Keetley was killed in action

keetley

Son of Mrs C Keetley of 63 Dorset St., Old Radford in Nottingham

keetley-barker-1917

Both men’s deaths are recored in the 1/7th Battalion War Diary

On this day 16th October 1917

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16/10/1917 HILL 70: Battalion relieved 1/5th Battn in the line.

London Gazette Second Lieutenants to be Lieutenants as from 1.7.17:

  • R Evans (d of w)
  • T Greaves
  • KH Bond MC
  • FW Hipkins
  • VTG Hore
  • WA Lytle MC
  • E Kershaw MC
  • WT Stephens
  • FS Rowland MC
  • WL Cooper

october-1917-officers

Second Lieutenant to be Lieutenant from 26.7.17: AF Briggs

1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]

16/X/17: Movement above normals on tracks behind enemy’s lines. Inter-Battalion reliefs during night.

139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]

On these days 11th – 15th October 1917

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No record in the 1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]

11/X/17: Hostile artillery more active on left sub section, probably owing to our 4.5″ howitzers cutting wire in H26d.howitzer-h26d-1917

12/X/17: Considerable individual movement behind enemy’s lines of men in marching order. This possibly point to a relief. Six patrols were out during the night.patrols-12-october-1917

13/X/17: Exceptionally quite day, except for a light barrage of 77 mm and 105 mm on left sub sector at 12 noon. Six patrols out during the night. The enemy does not appear to send out patrols.patrols-13-october-1917

14/X/17: Hostile artillery active during the night in reply to our harassing fire on communications. Enemy has dug a trench in advance of his front line in H32d, but does not appear to occupy it.h32-1917

15/X/17: Some gas shelling of LOOS otherwise little hostile activity. Enemy’s attitude appears to be entirely defensive. Considerable movement of small parties – some of them in marching order – behind enemy line.patrol-15-october-1917

139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]

On this day 10th October 1917

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10/10/1917 HILL 70: Battn relieved by 1/5th Battn and proceeded into SUPPORT.

1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]

10/X/17: Much digging behind enemy front line H26d. Inter Battalion reliefs during night.

139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]

On this day 9th October 1917

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9/10/1917: Major W Seaton proceeded to England for transfer to RFC.

seaton

seaton-mic

1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]

9/X/17: Considerable distributed artillery fire on left sector. This appeared to be registration. Otherwise quite.

139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]