Category Archives: On this day

On this day 13th May 1916

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13.5.1916 HUMBERCAMPS: Capt R Saxby took over Command and payment of Lr “C” Company.Saxby

 Captain Reginald Saxby

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

May 13th: 8am arrived railhead. Found limber & mens cart & proceeded 14 miles to Battn. Country much better than previously. Battn resting in a village HUMBERCAMPS. Comfortable billets – very pleasant to be back. War seems very quite here – there is no firing have heard a gun yet & have seen only 1 aeroplane. There are no shelled buildings, shell holes or dead & our chief work seems to be digging fatigues at nigh

[Lieutenant Josiah Taylor]

Same working parties required from Battn and in addition a party of 90 other ranks (25 from 7th Battn S.F. & 65 from Bde M.G. Coy) to bury cable for 137 Inf. Bde.

9 Officers arrived:-

  • 2/Lt J.W. POTTER (5th Battn)
  • 2/Lt D. CALLOW (5th Battn)
  • Capt R Saxby (6th Battn)
  • Lt J Taylor (6th Battn)
  • Lt G.S. RIVINGTON (6th Battn)
  • Lt A.H. GOODALL (6th Battn)
  • Capt R.H. PIGGFORD (8th Battn)
  • 2/Lt H, de MARTELLI (8th Battn)

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

 

On this day 12th May 1916

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

May 12: 3.45 pm proceeded down the line – 4 of us. Left Glossop and Simpson behind.

[Lieutenant Josiah Taylor]

Brig General C. T. Shipley returned from leave and assumed Command of the Brigade vice Lt Col. Goodman who proceeded on leave the same afternoon.

Each Battn had practically all available men engaged in digging at night, on clearing out Communication Trenches – 900 other ranks, on burying cable 800 other ranks.

8th Battn transport moved from GUADIEMPRE to HUMBERCAMP.

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

608 Pte Henry Greaves, a coal miner from Eckington and an original Volunteer and Pre-War Territorial with “F” Company returned to England pending discharge on Termination of Engagement.608 greaves

On this day 11th May 916

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10th to 18th HUMBERCAMPS: During this period the Battn dug communication trenches West of FONQUEVILLERS.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

May 11: 7 am arrived ROUEN. Stopped at REST CAMP. Dinner at Hotel de la Porte.

[Lieutenant Josiah Taylor]

11th: The 5th S.F. rejoined Brigade today from 3rd Armcy School and went into Billets in SOUSTRE.

The 6th Battn S.F. founded 250 men to work on clearing out trenches in rear of FONQUEVILLERS working by night.

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

On this day 10th May 1916

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

 May 10: 5pm left BOULOGNE.

[Lieutenant Joshua Taylor]

The 8th Battn Sherwood Foresters moved into billets in BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS. Their transport remained at GAUDIEMPRE.

The 7th Battn S.F. worked all night on the VIENNA TRENCH and cleared it all considerably.

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

Vienna Trench was a communication trench leading from BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS to the front line just in front of Foncquevillers.

On this day 8th May 1916

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We are joined by a new diarist; Lieutenant Joshua Taylor, a Solicitors Clerk from Buxton.

(Many thanks to Stewart Simpson for making this transcript available)

Taylor Joshua

Joshua Taylor was a Solicitors Articled Clerk in his Father’s business in Buxton and in 1911 the family lived at 4 Clifton Road. Joshua was Commissioned into the Notts & Derby Regiment in November 1914 from the Manchester University Contingent of the Officers Training Corps.

Joshua was appointed was appointed Signalling Officer and sailed with the 1/6th Battalion, 139th Brigade, 46th North Midland Division to France in February 1915.

He was transferred to England sick on the 11th August 1915 and after recuperating he was posted back to France in May 1916.

May 8th: 9.50 am left BUXTON. 5pm arrived FOLKESTONE. No boat – stopped at Pavilion Hotel.Royal-Pavilion-Hotel-Folkestone

[Lieutenant Joshua Taylor] 

 

On this day 7th May 1916

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7.5.1916 IVERGNY: Battn marched into billets and huts at HUMBERCAMPS.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

 

May 7th: The Brigade continued to march in accordance with the above OO & reached the following places.

  • Bde HQrs, 6th and 7th Battn at HUMBERCAMPS.
  • 8th Battn, MG Coy and 139/1 & 139/2 ™ Batts at GAUDIEMPRE.

It came on very wet during the march, the hour of the start for which was postponed till 1-30 pm.

There was a long halt of 3 hours near SAULTY waiting for dusk to cross the ARRAS-DOULLENS Road. All units got to their billets all right and found them roomy & sufficient.

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

On this day 6th May 1916

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6.6.1916 PENIN: Battn marched to billets in IVERGNY.

6.6.1916 IVERGNY: 2/Lt F.W.A. STUBBS rejoined from Hospital.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

May 6th: The Brigade moved in accordance with attached copy of Operations Order 55 and billeted the night as under

  • Bde HQrs at IVERGNY
  • 6th Battn SF at IVERGNY
  • 7th Battn SF at IVERGNY
  • 8th Battn SF at REBREUVIETTE
  • Bde MG Coy at CANNOTTEMENT
  • 139/1 & 139/2 ™ Batts at CANNOTTEMENT

The Division is now on its way to join the VIIth Corps having left the XVIIth Corps.

The billets are very good and everyone will be sorry to move.

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

 

On these days 1st – 5th May 1916

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2.5.1916 PENIN: Battn practised smoke attack with 139th Bde, (less 5th Battn) at TINQUES.

3.5.1916 PENIN: Capt V.O. Robinson to 3rd Army School of Instruction.

5.5.1916 PENIN: Lt E.M. JELLICOE & 2/Lt J.E. BARKER rejoined from 46th Divl School of Instruction.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

May 1st: Units cleaning up and training.

May 2nd: Brigade practiced an attack under a smoke cloud near TINQUES – see Operations Order X.

May 3rd: Attack (as above) was postponed today (at last minute) until tomorrow at the same hour. The attack was again practised but owing to the wind having changed the attack today was made from West to East.

May 4th: The exhibition attack under a gas cloud was carried out today. It was most successful & instructive. The smoke bombs and smoke candles gave a very efficient smoke cloud behind which the attackers came on

Two aeroplanes and a kite balloon observed our movements from above.

May 5th: Brigade preparing for move tomorrow.

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

 

On this day 30th April 1916

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Men taken sick during last week of April

1828 Pte Claude Hancock, a labourer from New Mills and a Pre-War Territorial who served with “H” Company was admitted to the North Midland Field Ambulance with scabies.1828 Hancock

1637 Pte Thomas Wheatcroft, a gas works labourer from Matlock Bath and a Pre-War Territorial in “E” Company was admitted to the North Midland Field Ambulance with scabies.1637 wheatcroft

2561 Pte George William Chadwick a plate former electrician from Bakewell who enlisted in October 1914 was admitted to the North Midland Field Ambulance with scabies. 2561 Chadwick

1490 Pte Jeremiah Thompson a miner from New Barlboro and Pre-War Territorial who served in “F” Company was admitted to the North Midland Field Ambulance with inflamed connective tissue (cellulosis) of the right knee. He was treated in the 12th Stationary and 9th General Hospitals before being transferred to England. He returned to France with the 2/6th Battalion in February 1917 and was wounded in December 1917. 1490 Thompson