No record in the 1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
18/XI/17 ST ELIE SECTOR: Daylight patrol along German front line East of HAIRPIN CRATERS (G11b) was carried out by Capt A.L.M. DICKINS 7th SF. Front line was unoccupied but there were signs of recent occupation. Quite day.
Albert Light Moody Dickins
Hairpin Craters November 1917
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
9.11.1917 HILL 70: Battalion relieve 5th Battalion in the line (H.32.a.6.4. to H.32.d.4.4.)
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
9/IX/17: Heavy shelling of whole sector between 9.15am and 10am. This was owing to a raid carried out at the time by the Brigade on our right.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
28:10.1917 HILL 70: Relieved 1/5th Battalion in the line.
Captain Joseph Tolson died of wounds.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
28/X/17: Usual artillery activity. No gas bombs fired owing to conditions being unfavourable. Inter-Battalion relief at night.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
4.10.17 HILL 70: Relieved 1/5th Battalion in front line.
N.2.b.5.8. to H.32.a.58.37
Battalion HQ H.31.d.05.20
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
4/X/17: Quiet day until 7.20 pm when heavy barrage of artillery and TMs was directed on our left sub sector. Enemy attempted to raid two of our posts but was driven off. Inter-Battalion reliefs took place at night.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
1/8th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
But…..
‘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.’
305127 Sergeant William Henry Drabble aged 22 and Son of William and Alice Drabble of Easthorpe, Southwell in Nottinghamshire.
306365 Pte George Henry West from Mansfield. His wife Clara died in 1918 leaving four orphaned children all under the age of 8 years.
307608 Pte Archibald Lovegrove aged 21 and Son of George Lovegrove of 43 Arundel St., Derby.
22.9.1917 HILL 70 RIGHT: Battalion relieved 2nd DLI and 11th ESSEX (4 posts) in front line.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
22/IX/17: Relief of 71st and 18th Infantry Brigades continued. Brigade HQ moves from ANNEQUIN to dugouts called PREVITE CASTLE. 139 Brigade took over Command of HILL 70 sector at 11pm.
“Rations and supplies were mainly brought up by pack mules, the only sector in which this method was used regularly. The mules were taken from the Transport lines at Sailly—Labourse by road to Fosse 3, thence over a cross—country track past Brigade Headquarters at Previte Castle, to the Battalion dumps at Tosh Alley, and the old British front line. This was a perfectly silent method, and one which, with little practice, soon became a very expeditious one. During our stay, work was begun on the laying of tramlines up to Hill 70, but whilst we were there they were not used to any great extent.”
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
7.9.1917 FOUQUIRES: Battn relieved 5th Battn in the CAMBRIN SECTOR.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
7/IX/17: Quite day. Our snipers claim a hit. Following daylight reliefs were carried out:-
4″ Stokes mortars were placed prepared to carry out a gas operation.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
26.8.1917 CAMBRIN SECTOR: Battn relieved 1st Bn King’s Royal Rifle Corp in RIGHT SECTOR.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
26th: Relieved 99th Infanftry Brigade in the line in CAMBRIN sector. Capt EJ Ginling 5th Lincs Regiment formerly Staff Captain of 138th Infantry Brigade appointed Brigade Major and joined the Brigade today.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
5.8.1917 St Elie Sector: Battn relieved 5th Battn in RIGHT SUBSECTION.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
24.7.1917 DROUVIN: Battalion relieved 9th SUFFOLK REGIMENT in RIGHT SUBSECTION of the ST ELIE SECTOR (Map 36c NW3 G12c & d). QM Stores and Transport to LABOURSE.
6th Sherwood Foresters will relieve 9th Battalion Suffolk Regiment in the Right Subsection on the night 24th/25th; Guides will be at PHILOSOPHE Cross Roads. CHAPEL ALLEY will be reserved for the use of this Battalion.
24.7.1917 DROUVIN: Major W SEATON proceeded on short leave.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
June 24th: Relief the 71 Infantry Brigade in the St Elie Sector.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
15.6.1917 MARQUEFFLES FARM: Battalion relieved 6th South Staffs Regt in RIGHT SUPPORT, ST PIERRE SECTOR.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
15 June: 139 Brigade relieved the 137 Brigade in the LEFT (ST PIERRE) SECTOR.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 