On this day 24th November 1915

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.

3105 Brocklehurst3105 Brocklehurst effects

 

20th Trench Duty 23rd-27th November 1915

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:-2:8th Battalion November 1915

On these days 21st-23rd November 1915

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]


 Men wounded of taken sick during these few days included:-

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.

On this day 20th November 1915

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]


The 2 wounded men were:-

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.

1756 Blanksby

19th Trench Duty 17th-20th November 1915

17.11.1915 LA COUTRE: 2/Lt V. T. G. HORE reported for duty.Hore VTG

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]


The LEFT SECTOR at Richebourg1915 trenches winter

 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.

Crescent to Copse Street – S.10.B and S.10.C.

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.Trench duty November 1915Richebourg map S 10.

On these days 15th-16th November 1915

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


Nov 15th. Breakfast in bed about 8 a.m. got up about 11 a.m. Rifle inspn 2-30 p.m. Bright frosty day & cold at night. Aeroplane guard reqd but I was not included.

Nov 16th. Breakfast in bed about 8, then got up. Set off to Garrison House at 10-30. Lived in cellars – rather dark but plenty of wood for fires. On sentry at cross roads 1 hr on & 11 off. Dull but fine.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]


3834 Brown3834 Pte Kendall Brown from Chesterfield suffered a cardiac and returned to England.

 

On this day 14th November 1915

14.11.1915 La Coutre: C Company relieved by 7th Sherwood Foresters and joined Battalion at LA COUTRE.

14.11.1915 La Coutre: 2/Lt T Grimshaw & 20 other Ranks arrived for duty.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]


Thomas Grimshaw

Grimshaw TGrimshaw T

On this day 13th November 1915

13.11.1915 La Coutre: Battalion relieved by 5th LEICESTERS and moved into billets as follows:- A, B & D Companies & details in LA COUTRE; C Company in the line.

Casualties:- O.R. Killed 1 (Reginald Drayott) Wounded 1 (William Hayes).

War Diary [WO/95/2694]


 2160 Pte. William Hallows

William Hallows, a general labourer from Middleton, suffered a septic right ankle and was admitted to the North Midland Field Ambulance. He rejoined the 1/6th Battalion 4 days later. Engine HousePrior to enlisting in March 1914 WIlliam worked for Swan and Racliffes and lived at the Engine House in Middleton by Wirksworth. William arrived in France with the II Reinforcement in June 1915.

2160 William Hallows2160 Hallows


1342 Pte. John Andrews

John Andrews, a labourer previously in the employment of Cox Wilson & Sons in Ashford, suffered from tonsillitis. 1343 andrews 2Brooke-Taylor HCJohn enlisted on the 23rd of February 1911 aged 21 and served with “D” Bakewell Company. His Attestation form was signed by Herbert Clifford Brooke-Taylor.1342 andrews 3

John attended all the Annual Camps of the 6th Battalion including Scarborough (1911), Abermaide (1912) and Clumber Park (1913).1342 Andrews

John arrived in France on the 26th February with the 1/6th Battalion of the 46th Division. He suffered tonsillitis on the 13th November 1915 and was admitted to the 7th Casualty Clearing Station, before being transferred to the 1st General Hospital. He was discharged on the 28th November and posted to the North Midland Division (NMD) Depot in Rouen. On the 5th December he was classified as “PB” (Permanent Base) by a medical board and transferred to England on the 9th December [PB is Permanent Base ie not fit for active duty].1432 Andrews discharge

John was discharged on the 3rd March 1916 due to ‘The termination of his period of engagement’ under Kings Regulations Para 392 (XXI).

On this day 12th November 1915

3011 Pte. William Hayes

Was wounded in action whilst serving with “A” Company. Unfortunately no further details are available about William and his War service.3011 Hayes MIC 3011 HayesWilliam enlisted into the 2/6th Battalion in October 1914. He arrived in France with the 1st Reserve Reinforcement in June 1915 and was disembodied in January 1919.


1296 Pte. Graham Cherry

Was transfered to England pending discharge as ‘time expired’.1296 Cheery1296 Cherry 2

Graham Cherry, a printer by trade, enlisted into the 6th Battalion in October 1910 aged 16 and served with “G” (Clay Cross) Company.

His father was 111 Sergeant William Henry Cherry (below).111 Cherry

On this day 11th November 1915

1896 Pte. Reginald Draycott was killed in action and is buried in RUE-DES-BERCEAUX MILITARY CEMETERY at RICHEBOURG-L’AVOUE.

1896 Draycott attestationReginald enlisted in April 1913 aged 17 and served with “A” Company. He was blacksmith by trade and worked for the Sheepbridge Coal and Iron Company. Reginald lived with his parents at 64 Whittington Street in Old Whittington.

1896 Imperial 1913He signed the Imperial Service Agreement in Chesterfield on 28th April 1913, which was witnessed by Colonel John Morton Clayton.1896 Draycott

Reginald arrived in France with the 46th North Midland Division in February 1915 and was killed in action on the 11th November 1915; just 9 months later.1896 Draycott itemsHis few personal effects were returned to his family in January 1915 and they later received his medals in 1920-21.1896 Draycott medals1896 draycott medals 2

flanders_field