Category Archives: On this day

On New Years Day 1917

Leave a reply

1.1.1917 Gazette: Lt Col Edward HALL to be a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). 1453 Sergeant William MARCHINGTON awarded DCM.1452 Marchington

1.7.1917 Despatches: The following were mentioned in the Despatches of Field Marshall Sir Douglas Haig.

  • Lieut.-Col Edward Hall DSO
  • Surgeon Major Arthur Wilson Shea
  • Captain Edward Mallalieu Brook-Taylor
  • 508 Drummer Albert George Askey

Hall Shea Brooke-Taylor

Edward Hall, Arthur Wilson Shea, Edward Mallalieu Brook-TaylorAskey

508 Drummer Albert Askey (right)

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

1453/240125 Sergeant William Marchington only served overseas with the 1/6th Battalion and was disembodied in July 1919.

Jan 1st 12am SOUASTRE: A ten minute bombardment of the enemy line carried out to which the hostile artillery replied an hour later.

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

On this day 31st December 1916

Leave a reply

31.12.1916 TRENCHES: CAPT VO ROBINSON rejoined from duty at 14 Infantry Base Depot. 2/Lieut FWA STUBBS rejoined as reinforcement from England. 2/Lieut FW HIPKINS rejoined from Divisional School.STUBBS

Frederick William Arthur Stubbs

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

The last man wounded in 1916 was 4109/241358 Pte William J Stevenson of “A” Company who later served with the Labour Corps.

31st: Enemy field battery shelled Green Street in the afternoon. A fortnight of bad weather has caused most of the inverted trench in the sector to fall in and the Communication trenches in the left sub sector. Nottingham Street and Lincoln Lane and St Martins Lane in the right sub sector are almost impassible.

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

39th Trench Duty 30th December 1916 – 3rd January 1917

Leave a reply

30.12.1916 SOUASTRE: Battalion relieved 5th Battalion in same sector, distribution of Companies under:-

  • Letter “A” Company Support (Bluff dug outs)
  • Letter “B” Company Centre Sub-Sector
  • Letter “C” Company Left Sub-Sector
  • Letter “D” Company Right Sub-Sector
  • Headquarters THORPE STREETRight Sector X1 1916

30.12.1916 SOUASTRE: 2/Lieut R EVANS to 3rd Army School.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

30th: Centre Company of left sub sector shelled by 4.2 during the afternoon. 6th and 8th Battalions relieved the 5th and 6th Battalions in the front line.

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

On this day 29th December 1916

Leave a reply

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

29th: Enemy bombing party stopped by our Lewis Gun fire in the early morning. Hostile artillery,  trench mortars and rifle grenades active during the afternoon.

The only man killed was 4404 Pte William Serginson.4404 Serginson

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

On this day 28th December 1916

Leave a reply

28.12.1916 SOUASTRE: Capt CVHC BLACKWALL to 2nd in Command Divisional School. Lieut BE JOHNSON rejoined from leave.

Blackwall CVHC

Charles Henry Cheetham Blackwall

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

German Raid

After an intense bombardment commencing 3 am the enemy attempted a raid in strength on our centre and left sectors. A few Germans entered our trenches in two places but were immediately ejected.

2/Lt J Barnes was seriously wounded by a bomb thrown by a German on our parapet whom he was firing at with his revolver, he died in the evening in the 1st North Midland Field Ambulance.

Our casualties were 2 killed, 4 wounded and 2 missing. Our trenches were badly damaged by the heavy bombardment.

1/7th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]

28th 3am: Enemy artillery & trench mortars opened a very heavy bombardment of our line, particularly on the Communication Trenches & Support line on the left Sub-Sector. After about forty five minutes intense bombardment a party of the enemy estimated at 40 strong commenced to enter our trenches. between Leicester Lane & the Gommecourt Road.

Lincol LaneThey were apparently held of by the wire and retired on being fired on by Lewis Guns. One or more of the enemy entered entered our front line at the top of Lincoln Lane but were immediately driven out.

A patrol of 3 men also entered our left Companies trench but retired almost immediately.

The casualties were:-

  • 1 Officer & two other ranks killed (2/Lieutenant James Valetine Barnes, 5195 Pte Edward Leonard Ledger, 1549 Corporal Fred Smedley)
  • 4 other ranks wounded
  • 2 other ranks missing

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

On this day 26th December 1916

Leave a reply

26.12.1916 SOUASTRE: Battalion relieved by 5th Battalion and moved to billets at SOUASTRE into DIVISIONAL RESERVE.

Casualties for tour  – NIL

During rest Company dinners were held in SOUASTRE.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

No record in the 139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]

On Christmas Day 1916

Leave a reply

No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694]

25th: A quite day

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

No working parties were furnished by the Battalion on Xmas day. A wet day. A Parade Service was hld at 11am at which Xmas Carols were sung. Holy Communion was celebrated afterwards.

A smoking concert was held in the concert hall at 7pm when carols were sung.

1/7th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]