Category Archives: Soldiers

On this day 26th October 1915

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26.10.1915 LAPUGNOY: CAPT A. J. HOPKINS took Command of Battalion.

Battalion moved to new billets in BETHUNE.

Oct 26th. Rose about 8 a.m. Packed up in morning & set off at 1-30 to Bethune. Got there about 4 p.m. & were billeted in estaminets – fairly comfortable. Nice day

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

 1522 Drummer Benjamin Stubbins1522 Stubbins

Benjamin Stubbins suffered from varicocele and was admitted to the 3rd Stationary Hospital in Rouen and then two months later to the 6th General Hospital. Hi was finally discharged to the 6th Depot on the 14th January 1915 and struck of the roll of Drummer. He rejoined the 1/6th Battalion ‘in the field’ on the 16th March 1916.

Benjamin had been wound previously on the 6th August 1915 and was to be wounded again on the 7th/8th October 1918, at which time he was transferred to England.

1522 Stubbins letter

Benjamin was a labourer at the Hardwick Colliery Company and lived with his parents on Lockerford Lane in Stonegravels. He enlisted as a Drummer on the 3rd January 1912 aged 15 years and 9 months. As such he required a letter of authorisation from his parents.

On this day 22nd October 1915

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

Oct 22nd. Rose at 8 a.m. Told to report to signalling sergeant at 9– 30, then instructed in morse code etc, till 12 o’clock. Others had running, bayonet fighting, & bombing same as on 20th. At night went with McT & had a feed. Nice day, but cold wind.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

–Court of Inquiry–

1/5th Battalion bombing accident

Held over the accidental deaths of 1620 Pte Samuel Joseph James (Long Eaton) and 2128 Pte William Moult (Albert Village) and the accidental wounding of 2195 Pte Harry Leslie Seckington, 2386 L/Cpl John H Wall (discharged 1916), 1706 Pte Arthur Richardson (discharged 1916) and 2447 Pte James Caulton (transferred to 21st Battalion) at LAPUGNOY on the 21st and 22nd October 1915.Grenade accident

The first Accident on the 21st OctoberJames accident

Three witnesses stated that Pte James was in the process of throwing a No. 1 bomb when it exploded in his hand as he turned the cap around to “fire”.

The second accident on the 22nd October

Moult accident 2

2470 Sergeant T P Leese stated that the Bethune bomb used by William Moult was faulty and suggested a number of reasons for this.Bathune bomb

Typical example of a Bethune Bomb fitted with a Nobel lighter, No. 10 fuse and detonator.

[For more images of Bethune bombs]

On this day 18th October 1915

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18.10.1915 VERQUIN: Bn addressed by Maj.-Gen. STUART WORTLEY.

Captain EM Johnson returned.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Oct 18th. Rose at 7 a.m. fell in for inspn at 8-30, but dismissed till 10-30, then inspected by Gen. Stuart – Wortley, who made a congratulatory speech afterwards & promised us 10 days rest. In afternoon went to concert by pierrots – very good. At night went with McT. & had a feed. Nice day except for cold wind.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

 1507 Pte. Joseph William Marsden

1507 Pte. Joseph William Marsden, a grocers assistant  from Bakewell was transferred to England on this day following his wounding following a shell burst.1507 Marsden

Joseph had originally enlisted in November 1911 aged 17 and lived on Monyash Road. He was attested by Lieut. Herbert Cliffird Brooke-Taylor and served with “D” Company. He was posted to the 6th Reserve and then to the Command Depot at Ballyvonare before joining the 5th Reserve Battalion in December 1916. Joseph was eventually discharged on the 24th August 1917 in consequence of “being no longer physically fit for war service”.

In fact Joseph was suffering from neurasthenia, which we now know as ‘shell shock’, and he received a pension of £30.1507 marsden pension

On this day 7th October 1915

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

Oct 7th. Rose at 8 a.m. Inspn of rifles, boots & clothing at 10 a.m. till 11 a.m. Fell in for fatigue in afternoon but dismissed again. Band played as usual.

Had a walk round after tea with McTear. Very nice day.

50 reinfts.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

2716 Pte. Lancelot Sylvester Mctear

Lancelot enlisted into the 6th Home Service Battalion in October 1914 aged 19. Prior to the War he lived at 8 Highfield Road in Chesterfield and was draughtsman by trade. He arrived in France with the 46th Division in February 1915 and returned to England in June 1916 before being discharged in October due to pulmonary tuberculosis.2716 Mctear

2716 Mctear 1

II and III Reinforcements3024 Askew

Service record for 3024 Pte Joseph Askew recording his arrival at the Battalion on the 7th October 1915.

On this day 14th July 1915

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

1777 Pte Thomas Arthur Chatterton, a labourer from 35 Barn End Cottages in Thornset near to New Mills, suffered GS wound in the head and was admitted to 1st NMFA then transferred to the 50 CCS and 2 General Hospital. He re-joined the 1/6th Battalion on 30th July 1915.

 1777 Pte Thomas Arthur Chatterton

Thomas enlisted in Whaley Bridge in January 1913 and served with “H” Company. He was the Son of Mr Moratio Chatterton of Thornsett and was employed at Waterside Paper Mill. He attended Thornsett Independent Chapel. 1777 ChattertonThomas was wounded five times, but on each occasion recovered and returned to duty. In total he returned to England 3 times for hospital treatment before returning to France.

1777 Chatterton medal roleThomas served overseas in the 1/6th (Feb ’15 – May ’16), 1/5th (Dec ’16 – June ’17) and 10th () Battalions.

1777 Chatterton page 1Page 1 of his Army service record recording that Thomas arrived in France on the 25th February 1915 and was first wounded on the 17th July 1915 with a GSW in the head. After returning to the 1/6th Battalion he was again wounded with a GS wound on the 12th September 1915 and transferred to Hospital in England.

1777 Chatterton page 2Page 2 of his Army Service Recording that Thomas returned to the 1/6th Battalion in France with the 6th Reinforcement on the 4th March 1916. However, he again returned to England on the 11th May 1916 suffering from mayagia (muscle pain) and influenza.

He returned to France with the 25th Reinforcement on the 19th November 1916 and was posted to the 5th Battalion from the 14th Infantry Base Depot at Calais.

Thomas was wounded for the 3rd time on the 4th May 1917; but remained at duty.

He was wounded for the 4th time two months later on the 3rd June 1917, this time with a GSW in the back and was transferred to England.

Chatterton court martialIt would seem that Thomas was arrested on the 24th September 1917, tired by a district court martial and sentenced to 2 years detention for deserting His Majesty’s Service.

1777 Chatterton page 3However, Thomas returned to France with the 40th Reinforcement on the 19th October 1917 and posted to the 14th Infantry Base Depot in Calais. He was transferred to the 10th Battalion on the 24th October 1917 and killed in action on the 15th March 1918.10th Battalion March 1918Thomas’s luck finally ran out when he was the only man of the 10th Battalion to be killed during a period of heavy bombardment by the Germans.Hermies Hill

2243 Private John William Wright

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Nick Bennet has been researching his Great Uncle 2243 Pte. John William Wright who served with “D” Company of the 1/8th Battalion and was killed by a German sniper on the 20th April 1915 aged only 18 and is buried in Kemmel Chateau Cemetery.2243 John Wright

John William Wright was born in Bilisthorpe, Nottinghamshire and lived at 47 Montague Street, Mansfield. He was the proud son of Joseph Wallhead Wright and Florence Wright.

At the time of his death “D” Company were occupying G1 trench near to Peckham Corner.Kemmel trenches 20 April 191520th April 1915

“It is with deepest regret that I have to announce to you the death of your son, John Wright. He was killed by a rifle bullet on April 20th. It may be some consolation to you to know that he died doing his duty in action. At 4:30 am on April 20th, we were subjected to considerable bombardment from grenades, and your son was at the time doing his duty as sentry and at the same time observing where our own grenades were falling in the enemy’s trenches without hesitation he pluckily observed all our grenades, but unfortunately was observed by the enemy and shot. I was close by his side at the time and an assure you that his death was instantaneous, he could have suffered no pain whatever.”

Captain M C Martyn; Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser: 29/04/1915

For more information see here:

http://www.ournottinghamshire.org.uk/page_id__1464_path__0p31p426p.aspx

http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/view.php?uid=210827

http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/rollofhonour/People/Details/4177

http://www.twgpp.org/information.php?id=1622861