18th Trench Duty 10th – 13th November 1915

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10.11.1915 LA COUTRE: Draft of 16 other ranks arrived.

10.11.1915 LA COUTRE: Battalion relieved 5th Sherwood Foresters in RIGHT SECTOR (RIGHT SUBSECTION).

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Nov 10th. Breakfast in bed about 8 a.m. Rose about 10 & rubbed feet & legs with whale oil. Packed up in afternoon & set off to trenches near Richebourg at 5 p.m. Dull all day & cold at night. Slept badly because of cold feet.

Nov 11th. In trenches C Co in Reserve. Repairing trench between showers. Cold & wet most of day, & also at night. Carrying rations up to front line at night, & got very wet & dirty – ground very greasy.

Nov 12th. Same as yesterday. Sniping & some shelling during day, but things very quiet at night. M.M. busy just after dusk. Saw house knocked down by 30 German shells.ww1b-091b1

Nov 13th. Same as yesterday till 4 p.m. then went & relieved 3rd City of London Fusrs (been at Meerut Divn now to ours). Very wet so put waders on – proved very useful. Only did gas sentry at night.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

On this day 9th November 1915

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9.11.1915 La Coutre: Battalion relieved 3rd London Regiment in BACK POSTS in rear of RIGHT SECTOR.

9.11.1915 La Coutre: Battalion provided working party of 7 Officers and 250 other ranks for the repair of the OLD BRITISH FIRE TRENCH.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Nov 9th. Rose at 6 a.m. & set off to trenches on fatigue 7-15. Found them very wet. Got back about 5-30 p.m. Artillery duel in afternoon again. Dull & cold all day, & rain at night. Glad we were not in trenches.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

On these days 7th-8th November 1915

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

Nov 7th. Breakfast in bed about 8 a.m. Rose about 10 and set off to another barn at 10-30. Better place than last one. Still in reserve. Misty at first but nice later.

Nov 8th. Rose about 8-15. Rifle inspn etc. 10-15, then fur coats, pants etc. given out. Brigade increased to 7 Battns. Artillery duel in afternoon but otherwise fairly quiet. Fatigue party for trenches after tea, but I was not included. Still in reserve.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

1/4th Bn, the Black Watch & 1/3rd Bn, the London Regiment joined and left in November 1915.

wool skin waitsecoat

On this day 6th November 1915

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6.11.1915 PACAUT: Battalion moved into Brigade Reserve at LA COUTRE. The 46th Division having taken over the trench line on the right of NEUVE CHAPELLE.

Captain EB Johnson proceeded to Base Depot and relieved Captain GS Heathcote 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Gilbert Stanley Heathcote was the brother of Edgar Horace Heathcote.

Richebourg MapRichebourg

Nov 6th. Rose about 8 a.m. Packed up in morning & set off from Calonne at 12-30. Got to Lacouture about 4 p.m. & billeted in barns. Fairly comfortable but not very warm. Misty & cold all day. 5th, 7th & 8th in trenches – 6th in reserve.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

On this day 5th November 1915

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5.11.1915 PACAUT: Notification received that Capt V. O. Robinson had been awarded the MILITARY CROSS for Conspicuous gallantry at HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT between the 13th & 15th October. The award is announced in the Supplement to the London Gazette dated 18.11.15.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Robinson VO

“Chesterfield hero: Captain Victor O. Robinson, aged 24 years, of the 1/6th Sherwood Foresters, who has been awarded the Military Cross. He is the youngest son of the late Mr William R. Robinson, twice Mayor of Chesterfield, and Mrs Robinson, of Field House, Chesterfield”

Robinson MC 1915

Nov 5th. Rose at 8 a.m. Signalling 10 till 12, others had bayonet fighting etc. Football in afternoon. Nice day but misty at first & cold at nights. Parcel from home again.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

On these days 1st-4th November 1915

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Novemrber 1915

1.11.1915 Bethune: 2/Lt. W. D. Jamieson reported for duty.

2.11.1915 Bethune: Draft of 35 Other Ranks arrived.

4.11.1915 Bethune: Battalion moved in billets at PACAUT.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

[PACAUT may refer to Pacaut wood which was close to Bethune]

Nov 1st. Running 7-30 to 8. Instn in signalling 10-30 till 12 & 2 till 3. Others had bayonet fighting, rapid loading etc. Dull again. Standing by from 6 p.m. onwards.

Nov 2nd. Same as yesterday. Rain nearly all day, so no running parade & lectures in billets, rifle inspn etc. Still standing by.

Nov 3rd. Same as Monday all day. Misty at first, but nice later. Finished standing by at 8 a.m. Went to picture palace at night – very good. 50 reinfts.

Nov 4th. Rose at 6 a.m. Set off from Bethune at 8 and got to Calonne about 11-30 a.m. Football etc. in afternoon. Misty at first but nice later. In barns.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

 William Duncan JamiesonJamieson

 Draft of Reinforcements

No record of this reinforcement has been found to date.

2951 Pte John Edmund Nadin2951 Nadin photo

On this day John Edmund Nadin was transferred to hospital in England suffering from piles. John was a labourer from Dove Holes and enlisted on the 17th October 1914. He arrived in France with the II Reinforcement on 29th June 1915. He later returned to France with the 9th Reinforcement in May 1916 and was mortally wounded on the 1st July 1916 with a gun shot wound in the head. He was transferred to England, but died of his wounds on the 4th July at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Netley.2951 Nadin

3431 Pte Percy Cooke

On this day Percy was admitted to the 1st North Midland Field Ambulance suffering from scabies. Percy was a loader from Staveley and enlisted on the 28th October 1914. He arrived in France with the 46th Division in February 1915. He was later wounded on the 1st July 1916 with a gun shot wound in the shoulder. He was transferred to England and returned to France with the 29th Reinforcement in January 1917. He was made a prisoner of War in July 1917 whilst serving with the 1/5th Battalion.

3431 Cooke

On this day 30th October 1915

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30.10.1915 Bethune: Temporary Lt. K. H. Bond joned for duty. Draft of 15 NCOs and men arrived from No. 2 Entrenching Battalion.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Oct 30th. Running 9 to 9-30, then instn in signalling till 12 & also from 2 till 3 p.m. Others had route march in morning & kit insp at 2-30 p.m. Paid 10 frs afterwards. Dull again.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

Kenneth Hills Bondbond

 Reinforcement from No. 2 Entrenching Battalion

Amongst the men who joined the Battalion on this day was 3035 Pte. John Warren a miner from Clay Cross. John had originally enlisted into the 6th Reserve Battalion in October 1914 aged 31. He transferred to the 1/6th Battalion on the 26th June 1915 and arrived in France 3 days later. He was initially posted to the Entrenching Battalion and promoted to Acting Corporal.3035 Warren

On this day 29th October 1915

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29.10.1915 Bethune: 2nd fatigue party relieved.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Oct 29th. Rose at 8 a.m. Bathing parade 10 a.m. went to margarine factory – warm water in tubs. Enjoyed it. 12 till 2 p.m. instruction in signalling – others bayonet fighting etc. Fatigue party retd 2-30 p.m. rather dirty & went for bath 3-30 p.m. Dull but fine.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

On this day 28th October 1915

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28.10.1915 BETHUNE: HM King inspected 1st Army. Battalion provided 1 full Company & 1 full platoon towards 139th Brigade representative Battalion, which was Commanded by Lt/Col.- G. D. Goodman. His Majesty’s horse reared and fell at inspection of Royal Flying Corps.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Oct 28th. Paraded at 7 a.m. Set off at 8 a.m. to Hesdigneul 10-30 a.m. Reviewed by H.M. King George V, Sir J French etc. Gave three cheers.   Many troops present – great sight but unfortunately rain at intervals again. King injured later.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]