No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694]
2011 Pte William Clowes an engine cleaner from Fairfield and a pre-War Territorial who served in “B” Company suffered from influenza and was treated in the 2nd London Casualty Clearing Station before rejoining the 6th Battalion.
28.11.1915 Vielle Chapelle: 2/Lt W. H. HOLDERNESS to Hospital sick.
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
William Holderness was suffering from a mild attack of trench foot due to very wet conditions and was treated in No. 4 General Hospital.
Nov 28th. Breakfast in bed about 8 a.m. and had another sleep till dinnertime, then got up – boots frozen hard. Set off for trenches on fatigue at 5 p.m. When near Neuve Chapelle fell over wires on ground & sprained left knee. Very dark & ground very hard because of frosts. Taken to dressing station then to field amb, then to hospital at Vielle Chapelle. Fairly good night.
[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]
George returned to Hospital in England and was discharged in March 1916 due to his injury.
27.11.1915: Battalion relieved by 7th Sherwood Foresters and moved into billets at VIELLE CHAPELLE.
Casualties:- OR killed 3 wounded 7
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
Nov 27th. Same as yesterday, but tidying trench & packing up in afternoon. Relieved by 5th S.F. about 6 p.m. Rifles misfired frequently owing to frost (today & yesterday). Marched to Vielle Chapelle – seemed a long way. Billeted in barns.
[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]
1754 Pte. William Jodrell a collier from Whaley Bridge and a pre-War Territorial who served with “H” Compant suffered a septic right leg.
No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694]
Nov 26th. Felt very cold at stand down – been freezing hard. Slept in morning (except 1 hr sentry) & repairing trench in afternoon. Desultory shelling & some sniping otherwise fairly quiet. Small bomb attack at night by our bombers. Brown (A Co) reported captured.
[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]
25.11.1915 LA COUTRE: Major Edward HALL reported for duty.
25.11.1915 LA COUTRE: Bombing enterprise undertaken by Lt. W.A. LYTLE & bombers on German trenches. See report herewith.
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
Report in War Diary Appendix 1915 27 Nov Boars Head
For more details on the Boars Head Raid – see here
Nov 25th. Lt. J. & Cpl. L. went up to trenches in morning & found bombs, so we went up after dinner, but came back owing to German shells -–some very close – rotten experience. 12 cas in B Co. C Co relieved B at night in front line.
[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]
No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694]
Nov 24th. Set off to trenches at 9-30 a.m. to salvage boxes of bombs, but unable to get them in daylight, so went up again after tea, but could not find them in dark. Got rather wet.
[2305 Pte Frank Longson]
See here for more details on this trench duty.
3105 Pte James Edgar Brocklehurst, a miller from Wheatsheaf Farm in Matlock, was killed in action on this day and was the first man of the 1/6th Battalion to be buried in ST. VAAST POST MILITARY CEMETERY in RICHEBOURG-L’AVOUE.
23.11.1915: Battalion relieved 8th Sherwood Foresters in RIGHT Sector.
23.11.1915: Captain EH Heathcote edgar to 8th Sherwood Foresters for duty.
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
Nov 23rd. Same as yesterday till dinnertime. Packed up in afternoon & set off to trenches near N.C. at 5 p.m. C Co in reserve line again, but I stopped with salvage party at hdqrs – quite comfy.
[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]
The days were in the front line one were often taken up with repairing the fire trenches and outlying posts and listening for German activity.
The 1/8th Battalion War Diary provides some details:-
No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694]
Nov 21st. Breakfast in bed about 8 a.m. then slept till dinnertime. Rifle inspn 2-30 p.m. Set off at 5 p.m. to work on a new reserve trench near Neuve Ch. Got back about 9-30. Cold & frosty all day.
Nov 22nd. Same as yesterday but boot & clothing inspn instead of rifles. On fatigue at night again. Still cold & frosty. Aeroplane guard, but I was not included.
Nov 23rd. Same as yesterday till dinnertime. Packed up in afternoon & set off to trenches near N.C. at 5 p.m. C Co in reserve line again, but I stopped with salvage party at hdqrs – quite comfy.
[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]
2049 Pte Frederick Whitehead a millers labourer from Bakewell was a pre-War Territorial who enlisted in September 1913 and served with “D” Company. He arrived in France with the 46th Division in February 1915 and was admitted to the 1st North Midland Field Ambulance with influenza on the 23rd November. After treatment at the 2nd London Casualty Clearing Station and 23rd General Hospital in Rouen he was posted to the 46th North Midland Base Depot. Frederick rejoined the 1/6th Battalion on the 9th January whilst they were in Marseilles. He was to suffer trench foot in March 1916, and woundings in April 1917 and June 1918.
2438 Pte. Harry Eyre a billiard maker from Buxton enlisted on the 7th October 1914 and arrived in the France with the III Reinforcement in August 1915. He was admitted to the 1st North Midland Field Ambulance with a scalded foot on the 24th November and after treatment in the 2nd London Casualty Clearing Station he returned to duty on the 14th December. he later suffered from influenza in February 1917 and was invalided to England. He returned to France with the 35th Reinforcement in June 1917 and was subsequently posted to the 11th Battalion. He was killed in action on the 24th September 1917 by heavy shelling during a trench relief. His body was not recovered and he is now commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial. Harry was aged 20 and the Son of Thomas and Jane Eyre of Park Grange in Buxton.
2652 Pte Harold Smith a pottery labourer from Sheepbridge in Chesterfield who enlisted on the 12th October 1915 and arrived in the France with the III Reinforcement in August 1915. Harold returned to England on the 22nd November, but the nature of his wounding/sickness is not known. Harold returned to France with the 9th Reinforcement in May 1916 but was again wounded in January 1917 and transferred to England. Returning to France for a third time in May 1917 he served with the 2/7th, 2/8th and 2/6th Battalions before being transferred to the 22nd London Regiment in August 1918. He was wounded for the last time on the 8th August and returned to England on the 10th October.
3160 Pte Harold Hill a labourer from who enlisted on the 22nd October 1914 and arrived in France with the III Reinforcement in in August 1915. Harold suffered from frost bite and was treated at the 3rd North Midland Field Ambulance and returned to duty on the 5th December. Harold was wounded in April 1917 and killed in action on the 3rd October 1918. He has no known grange and is Commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial to the missing.
3403 Pte. Alfred Bingley enlisted on the 27th October 1914 and arrived in France with the III Reinforcement in in August 1915. Alfred served with “A” Company and was wounded on the 23rd November. He later served with the Royal Army Medical Corps.
20.11.1915 La Coutre: Battalion relieved by 7th Sherwood Foresters in LEFT SUBSECTOR and moved to billets at LA COUTRE.
Casualties Wounded OR 2
[WO/95/2694]
Nov 18th. Stood to about 6-30 a.m. Repairing trench 9-30 till 12-30. After dinner sent to salvage party, (5 per Coy), at batt hdqrs. Loaded salvage onto wagons about 6 p.m. then finished.
Nov 19th. Got up at stand to & went salvaging 9 till 12 & 2-30 till 3-30. Dull day, but frosty at night. Loaded wagons up again about 6, then finished. Slept badly again – cold feet.
Nov 20th. Same as yesterday till dinnertime. Some coal boxes rather close in afternoon. Packed up later & relieved by 5th S.F. about 6 p.m. Billeted in a barn at Richebourg – fairly comfortable.
[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]
3082 Pte John Whaley who served with “D” Company.
1756 Pte Leonard Blanksby, a 20 year old pipe moulder from Spital in Chesterfied, who suffered from pyrexia and was transferred to England for treatment.
17.11.1915 LA COUTRE: 2/Lt V. T. G. HORE reported for duty.
17.11.1915 LA COUTRES: Battalion relieved 7th SHERWOOD FORESTERS in the LEFT SECTOR about 300 yards north of ESTAIRES – LA BASSEE ROAD.
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
Nov 17th. Still at Garrison House. Packed up in afternoon & set off to trenches at 4-30 p.m. near Neuve Chapelle. Not so wet as last lot. C Co. in reserve again. Dull day & very sharp frost at night. Slept badly at night. Feet cold.
[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]
This photograph is believed to show men of the 1/6th Battalion, possibly in trenches in the LEFT SECTOR at Richebourg. This is part of a collection if items that belonged to Captain Edgar Heathcote and may therefore relate to men of “C” (Ashbourne) Company. Many thanks to David Wilkins for generously providing the photograph.
The War Diary of the 1/7th Battalion Sherwood Foresters provides greater detail on the distribution of men in this sector of the front line.
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 