306314 Pte James Arthur Godber from Huthwaite. A reserve stretcher bearer who served in Ireland with the 2/8th and in France with 2/6th Battalions.

James Arthur Godber was 28 years old and married to Mary. They lived at 104 Blackwell Street and James was a miner at New Hucknall Colliery. He had served in Ireland with the 2/8th Battalion where he was wounded with four bullets that were never removed. He was still serving with the 2/8th (or 3/8th) Battalion at the time of the Territorial Force Renumbering in the Spring of 1917. James proceeded in France in the summer of 1917 and was posted to the 2/6th Battalion. He was killed during the Battle of Cambrai on 2nd December 1917.

Although the letter states that “it would comfort those at home to know that he had a decent burial in a British cemetery” his body was not recovered after the War and he is Commemorated on Cambrai Memorial at Louverval. Mary died before she could received a pension.

Enlisted December 1915; Served with overseas with the 2/6th and 2nd Battalions

Enlisted in May 1915 and was in the 28th Reinforcement to the 1/6th Battalion in January 1917. Later served with the 5th Battalion and the Army Service Corps.

Discharged due to sickness in April 1918 aged 34. Awarded a pension for “deafness and incontinence of wine”.

Served with the 1/5th Battalion in France from 1916; wounded twice with “A” Company, the 10th Battalion.

Jack seated left with the three men that appear to belong to the Robin Hood Rifles.

Jack has a 4-digit Regimental number indicating that he arrived in France before the 1917 Territorial Force renumbering. He was still serving with the 1/5th Battalion at the time if renumbering. At some point he transferred to the 10th Battalion. Jack was later wounded in April 1918.

A pre-War Territorial who arrived in France in March 1915 and was killed in action on the 4th October 1917.

Post card sent from Sergeant William Henry Drabble to his mother Alice from Braintree in early 1915. The message describes a planned Inspection by the King, which occurred on the 19th February 1915.

William would have first served with “H” (Southwell) Company and then with “B” (Newark and Southwell) Company when they merged in early 1915.

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William is buried in Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe (grave ref. II.U5) along with his 3 comrades that died during that trench duty.

“Our most unpleasant experience undoubtedly was on October 4th when we got caught in the bombardment connected with an attempted Boche raid on the 7th Battalion whom we were relieving … B Company unfortunately got mixed up with some of the shelling and lost several men, including Sergt. Drabble, who was killed.“

[The Sherwood Foresters in the Great War 1914-1919, 1/8th Battalion]

“Information has been received by Mr. and Mrs. Drabble, Easthorpe, Southwell, that their eldest son, Serge. W. H. Drabble, Sherwood Foresters was killed in action on October 4th, two days prior to his 23rd birthday. Sergt. Drabble was offered a commission in February last, but he declined. For nearly 12 months prior to the War, Sergt. Drabble was assistant with Mr. G. T. Smith, grocer, Bridge Place, Worksop, by whom he was highly esteemed. Of a very genial disposition, he made many friends amongst the young men in the town. He was a keen footballer and a member of the Worksop Thursday Team. The news of his death will be deeply felt by his friends in Worksop, and their sympathy will go out to his parents in their bereavement.“

[Worksop Guardian 2 November 1917]

After the War William’s mother received a pension.

Enlisted into the 8th Battalion in August 1914, arrived in France in June 1915 (1st Reinforcement), transferred to 2/8th and 2/6th Battalions, wounded and made a Prisoner of War on 21st March 1918. Disembodied in March 1919.

In the 1911 Census we can see that Ellis is a 19 year old coal miner living with his extended family in Newgate Lane, Mansfield.

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Service with the 1/8th and 2/8th Battalions: 1914-1918

Ellis enlisted into the (2/)8th Battalion in August 1914 and signed the Imperial Service Agreement at Mansfield. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in December 1914 and arrived in France in June 1915 with the 1st Reinforcement.

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It would appear that at some point in the Summer of 1917, Ellis was transferred to England (possibly through being wounded) and he married Edith Brough. However, his wounding is not mentioned on his Military History Sheet.

Ellis returned to France and was posted to the 2/8th Battalion on 20th September 1917 and later transferred to the 2/6th Battalion in January 1918 when the 2/8th Battalion were disbanded.

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Kaiserschlacht – the German Spring Offensive: 21st March 1918

A “Next of Kin” record for Ellis Hudson, which records that he wrote home in April 1918 and that a Red Cross List from September 1918 records that he was in Munster II POW Camp. It also records that he had been wounded in the fingers and shoulder.

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Repatriation and Discharge: Jan-Feb 1919

Ellis was repatriated to England in December 1918 and following a letter from his pre-War employers, “The Bolsover Colliery Company Limited”, he relinquished his unexpired portion of the 2 months released Prisoner of War leave and returned to work.

Ellis was awarded a pension died in October 1975 aged 83.

A bit of a rogue or a ‘wrong ‘un’……..

Frank Shelton was born in Chesterfield in 1891 and was a pipe moulder by trade. He enlisted into the 6th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters early in 1908. He was married to Hannah and they lived in Brewery Street close to the Hospital

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Frank enlisted into the Grenadier Guards in August 1908 and achieved a 3rd Class certificate of education in October 1909. However, it would appear that Frank suffered from a lack of military discipline and was eventually discharged due to ‘misconduct’ in May 1912.

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Frank enlisted into the 6th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters in August 1915 and was issued the Regimental number 4516. His 4-digit number on the medal index card records his entitlement to the BWM and VM and suggests that he arrived in France in 1916.

At some point (before the 1917 Territorial Renumbering) Frank was transferred to the 1/6th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment where he rose the rank of acting Sergeant.

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Frank was eventually discharged in March 1919 and received a pension.