12.2.1916 BEAUMETZ: 2/Lt V.T.G. Hore to transport course HAVRE.
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
On this day 12th February 1916
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On this day 11th February 1916
11.2.1916 BEAUMETZ: 2/Lt W H Holderness rejoined on expiration of sick leave in England.
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
10.2.1916: Brigade moved to new area as under, in accordance with Operation Order No. 42.
- Brigade Headquarters: CHATEAU RIBEAUCOURT
- 5th Sherwood Foresters: BERNAVILLE
- 6th Sherwood Foresters: BEAUMETZ
- 7th Sherwood Foresters: PROUVILLE
- 8th Sherwood Foresters: RIBEAUCOURT
11-15.2.1916: Brigade training at above billets.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
On this day 10th February 1916
10.2.1916 COULONVILLERS: Battalion marched into billets at BEAUMETZ.
10.2.1916 BEAUMETZ: Letter of thanks received by Lt COL GOODMAN (through the Foreign Office) from FRAU ROSER, wife of CAPTAIN ROSER who fell from a German Aeroplane by SANCTUARY WOOD on the 25th July 1915 an was buried by the Battalion, his flight badge having been sent to his widow. See here.
On these days 5th – 10th February
No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694]
The following men were taken sick:-
- 2025 Pte John Bibby a groom gardener from Litton who enlisted in June 1913 aged 27 and was an original member of “D” Company. He arrived in France with the 46th Division in February.
- 3256 Pte Harry Mee from Clay Cross who enlisted in October 1914 aged 24. He arrived in France with the II Reinforcement in June 1915 and joined the 1/6th Battalion in the field in October 1915.
- 4060 Pte George Edward Abbott a miner from Whittington Moor who enlisted in March 1915 aged 32. He arrived in France with the 4th Reinforcement in October 1915 and joined the 1/6th Battalion in the field in December 1915.
On this day 4th February 1916
4.2.1916 COULONVLLERS: 2nd Lieut J.G.J Hutton to Hospital.
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
On this day 3rd February 1916
3.2.1916 COULONVILLERS: Brigade Ceremonial Parade at GORENFLOS. 4 Lewis Guns received for Lewis detachment.
LONDON GAZETTE (Supplement) d/- 14.1.1916: 2006 Private WRIGHT. A, 1/6th Bn Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Reft (T.F.) AWARDED DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL.
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
My Company had been detailed to unload the transport wagons from the train and not far off was the steady drumming of artillery fire, the rise and fall of the very lights. We were back. Our journey into the unknown fairyland was over, but the experience had been worth it, but the re-entry into the battle area was a terrible shock.
[2305 Pte Frank Longson]
On these days 29th January – 2nd February 1916
No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694]
During this time the following men returned to England as “Time Expired” :-
- 980 Joseph Huckles a coal miner from Staveley and an original member of “F” (Staveley and District) Company who enlisted in February 1909. Joseph had previously suffered a gun shot wound to the face on the 9th August 1915 whilst in the trenches at Sanctuary Wood.
- 1336 Ernest Arthur Edinboro a labourer from Brimington and an original member of “F” (Staveley and District) Company who enlisted in February 1911. Ernest had previously been taken sick in May whilst in the trenches at Kemmel.
On this day 28th January 1916
28.1.1916 Pont Remy: Bn detrained at 4 am and marched into billets vacated & handed over by 5th Bn S LANCS at COULONVILLERS, having joined the 14th CORPS Commanded by Lt Gen the Earl of Cavan
[Field Marshal Frederick Rudolph Lambart, 10th Earl of Cavan KP, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, GBE, DL (16 October 1865 – 28 August 1946)]
On these days 26th – 27th January 1916
No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694]
“Next morning as soon as it was daylight, the names of the stations we passed could be read, and those members of our Regiment that knew something of French geography soon realised that we were heading north again, that indeed was the case, much to our concern for we knew what heading north meant. It was back to trench warfare again.”
“Three days we spent in those first class compartments, they were beautifully equipped when we first got in, white head rests etc. but of course these soon went, along with the other fittings.”
“The card playing fraternity in our compartment were not to be deprived of their games at night, and because the authorities had removed all lights from the train they adopted measures – In the trenches we had been issued with little tins of non freezing rifle oil, they removed the stoppers of these tins and stuffed a wad of flannel – better known as four by two, which of course was issued to clean the barrel of the rifle, this smoking horror gave sufficient light to play cards, but the resultant fug was terrible.”
“In the cold dawn of late January 1916 our train drew to a halt, it was snowing, it was very cold and it was miserable.”
[2305 Pte Frank Longson]
On this day 25th January 1916
25.1.1916 MARSEILLES: Battn complete with transport entrained 8.55pm at GUIBAL Station.
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
“We paraded hurriedly one evening about six thirty, full marching order, and with the regimental band marched towards the docks, this was it, we were about to sail east, we joked about being seasick, and life on the Ocean wave, we were off to a tropical country.”
“As we marched past part of the embarkation docks we saw the Ocean Liners, smoke belching from their funnels, all steamed up to take us. We marched on past these docks and into a railway sidings, there drawn up on the tracks for our Battalion was a train of first class compartments, we were ordered to entrain, ten men to a compartment, this was luxury, but what did this mean? – where was the train journey for? When the train was completely loaded the R.T. Officer Staff gave the order to proceed and slowly the train left the rail head, and away into the night.”
[2305 Pte Frank Longson]
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 