13.31917 C in C’s list: MAJOR R SAXBY seconded for duty as Town Major AMPLIER MORVILLE.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
To be completed
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
On this day 13th March 1917
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Category Archives: On this day
On this day 12th March 1917
No record in the 1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
To be completed
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
On this day 11th March 1917
No record in the 1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
To be completed
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
On this day 10th March 1917
10.3.1917 10.10pm: Battalion relieved by 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters and moved into Brigade Reserve in GOMMECOURT. Dispositions:
- Headquarters at K.4.B.6.3.
- “A” Company in the old German second line between STEIN and PILIAR GRABEN
- “C” Company in REIGLE STELLING
- “D” Company in HELMUT TRENCH
Casualties n addition to those already quoted:-
- 2/Lt Leslie Johnson slightly wounded (at duty)
- 8 Other Ranks killed
- 2 Other Ranks missing
- 38 Other Ranks wounded
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
To be completed
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
Casualties for 6th-8th March 1917
full list can be found here
The eight men killed in action were:-
- 3841/241246 Pte. George Buckberry aged 22 and the son of Fredrick and Annie Buckberry of 18 Wesley St., Annesley, Woodhouse in Nottinghamshire. Enlisted in February 1915 and arrived in France with the V Reinforcement in November 1915.
- 7642/242439 Pte. Samuel Sykes aged 26 and the Son of William and Harriett Sykes of Rushley Cottage, Dore near Sheffield. Previously served with the Derbyshire Yeomanry and possibly arrived in France with the 29th Reinforcement in January 1917.
- 20028/242620 Pte. George Watson aged 22 and the brother of Thomas Watson of 8 Lambert’s Row, St. Peter St., Old Radford in Nottingham. Previously served with 1/7th Battalion (3564) and 2/5th Battalion (20028) before arriving in France with the 26th Reinforcement in December 1916.
- 5253/241877 Pte. Alfred William Weller aged 22 and Brother of Mrs. Bertha Bowrah, of 14, St. Martin’s St., Lewes Rd. in Brighton. Possibly a Derby Scheme recruit and arrived in France in 1916.
- 3879/241260 Pte. Ernest Palfreman aged 23 and the Son of Joseph and Mary Ann Palfreyman of Clay Cross; husband of Emma Jane Palfreyman of 71 Long Row, Clay Cross in Derbyshire. Enlisted in February 1915 and arrived in France in 1916.
- 1937/240332 Pte. Thomas Pickering aged 24 and the Son of Mr W and Mrs J Pickering of 5 Starporth Lane Terrace, Hasland in Chesterfield. Enlisted in May 1913 and arrived in France with 46th Division in February 1915.
- 2114/240422 L/Cpl. Samuel Barker aged 19 and the Son of Annie Fowell (formerly Barker) of Dig St., Ashbourne in Derbyshire, and the late Isaac Barker. Enlisted in February 1914 and arrived in France with the 46th Division in February 1915. Had previously suffered with trench foot in April 1916.
- 4267/241421 L/Cpl Bernard Millington. Enlisted June 1915 and arrived in France with the V Reinforcement in November 1915.
All the men were buried next to each other in Foncquevillers Military Cemetery Row 3D
The two men missing were:-
- 4407/241499 Pte Fred Gould who was aged 26 and the Son of John and Charlotte Gould of Bankside in Youlgrave Derbyshire. Fred’s body was not recovered after the War and he is now Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. Enlisted in July 1915 and arrived in France with the V Reinforcement in November 1915.
Interestingly, the Graves Registration Unit in January recorded the recovery of one unidentified British Soldier from 24.D.1.6. which is located in the barbed wire belt close to the BURG and it is tempting to speculate that this might have been the body of Fred Gould.
- 1678/240209 Pte. Christopher Blankley who was made a prisoner of war. Enlisted April 1912 and arrived in France with the 46th Division in February 1915. Had previously been wounded at Kemmel in May 1915.
On this day 9th March 1917
9.3.1917
12.50am: “B” Company holding KITE COPSE and trenches running SW from corner. BURG strongly held by enemy.
3.50am: MAJOR ASHWELL DSO wounded in KITE COPSE. Major CB JOHNSON assumed Command. LIEUT DS FOX slightly wounded (at duty).
5.40am: KITE COPSE evacuated by us without loss. Identification of 91st R.I.R [91st Reserve Infantry Regiment] obtained.
Cyril Benton Johnson
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
To be completed
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
On this day 8th March 1917
8.3.1917: Letter “B” and “C” Companies attacked KITE COPSE and the BURG.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
To be completed
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
Although the area has returned to farm land the position of Arrow Copse has not changed over the last 100 years and evidence of the fighting can still be seen with the recovery of a British water bottle from the area of the BURG (below).
On this day 7th March 1917
7.3.1917: The frontline held by “B” and “C” Companies was E.23.D.7.9. – E.23.D.9.7. – E.23.D.70.45 – E.23.D.5.2. – BRAYELLE GRABEN to E.30.A.6.9. – E.30.B.2.8. – E.30.B.3.5. 
Trench map showing the location of the ‘frontline’ (small circles) and Battalion HQrs (large circle)
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
To be completed
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
On this day 6th March 1917
6.3.1917 10pm: Battalion relieved 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters in LEFT GOMMECOURT SECTOR. HQrs in old German 3rd line, E.29.A.8.3.. “B” and “C” Companies in front line, “A” in support (PIGEON TRENCH) and “D” Company in LANDSTURM GRABEN.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
To be completed
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
On this day 5th March 1917
5.3.1917 FONQUEVILLERS 8.30am: HQrs, “B” and “C” Companies moved into GOMMECOURT.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
To be completed
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
On this day 4th March 1917
4.3.1917 SOUASTRE: HQs, “A” and “D” Companies moved to FONQUEVILLERS with HQs at the BREWERY.
2/Lt AL PALMER wounded.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
4th FONQUEVILLERS: Enemy retired to a line east of BEIZ WOOD and in front of ESSARTS. Some sharp fighting took place around PIGEON WOOD where two platoons of the 8th Sherwood Foresters were heavily counter attacked and were withdrawn after they had inflicted a number of casualties.
5th Sherwood Foresters held from SE corner of BEIZ WOOD – RETTEMOY FARM – LANDSTURM GRABEN.
8th Sherwood Foresters held LANDSTURM GRABEN – PIGEON WOOD – LA BRAYELLE FARM.
6th Sherwood Foresters HQs and 2 Companies in GOMMECOURT – 2 Companies in FONQUEVILLERS.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
The first skirmish with the retiring Germans
“Pigeon Wood” was captured during the afternoon, after some fighting and an unpleasant sort of game of hide and seek, and we also occupied Rettemoy Farm, and “The Z”. Evidently thinking that we were too close on his heels, the enemy delivered a determined counter-attack about 6 p.m. against “C” Company, who were holding the trench line in front of La Brayelle Farm, forcing them to withdraw slightly.
During this attack Lieut. Duff [William Peter Duff] did magnificent work in holding off a bombing attack, and L.-Sergt. Sansom gallantly held on to a bombing post which was cut off, until he was rescued by a party ably led by Corpl. Street, who went forward under heavy fire, and opening fire on the attacking enemy, enabled the post to withdraw. Sergt. Henley also did splendid work in holding his post against a strong bombing attack, until he was eventually wounded in the head, dying the next day [306367 Joseph Henley won the Military Medal].
The Battalion suffered a great loss the same day by the death of Lieut. Abrams, who was killed during the afternoon whilst reconnoitering near La BrayeIle Farm. Thinking, apparently, that the coast was clear, he was walking across the open with his batman when a Boche machine gun suddenly opened fire on them at close range, killing them both instantaneously. “C Company” then came under the command of Lieut. A. Bedford.
The casualties that day in other ranks, were seven killed and 17 wounded.
1/8th Battalion Battalion History
1/8th (Nottinghamshire) Battalion Casualties
- Lieutenant Reginald Arthur Abrams aged 28 and son of Edward Arthur and Elizabeth Abrams of 82 Southmoor Rd., in Oxford.
- 305805 Pte Percy Faulkner aged 20 and son of Walter and Alice Faulkner of Keeper’s Cottage, Carlton-on-Trent in Newark.
- 306103 L/Cpl Reuben Marriott aged 19 and son of Mary Ann Marriott of Pountain Head in Gedling.
- 328004 Pte Joseph Myatt aged 28 and son of George and Mary Myatt of 48 Stansfield St., Old Radford.
- 307600 Pte Sydney Cooper aged 18 and son of lewis and arabella cooper, of 104, high st., derby.
- 307066 Pte Herman Chandler Rimes aged 20 and son of Ernest William and Julia Rimes of Nottingham.
- 306447 Pte Samuel Irving Preece aged 24 and son of Harry John and Annie Elizabeth Preece of 74 Belle Vue Rd., Ramsgate in Kent.
- 306367 Sergeant Joseph Henley.
1/5th (Derby) Battalion Casualties
- 203441 Pte Frank Redgwell aged 28 and son of Mr and Mrs Redgwell of Great Totham near Witham in Essex.
- 6565 Pte Jesse Dawson aged 34 and son of James Dawson of Nottingham; husband of Louisa Elizabeth Dawson of 12 Pole st., Nottingham.
- 2907 Pte Bertram Riley Wright aged 21 and son of George William and Mary Wright of 49 Granby St., in Ilkeston.
- 200521 Pte Herbert Smith.
Original burial report recording the names of the 12 Sherwood Foresters killed on the 4th and 5th March 1917 along with an unknown German solider
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 