On this day 30th September 1915

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30.9.1915: Enemy shelled very heavily SPOIL BANK & trenches in afternoon and at 6.35 pm exploded a mine under trench 29 & right angle trench. Casualties resulting from this were:-

KILLED 4 other ranks; MISSING BELIEVED KILLED 1 Officer (2/Lt LG Dickinson) & 12 other ranks; WOUNDED 20 other ranks.

Continuous shelling of all our trenches.

Bn relieved by 7th LINCOLNS & 7th E YORKS and marched into bivouacs at transport lines. Casualties other than those above:- WOUNDED 3 other ranks (including accidental).

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Sept 30th. On sentry again. Dull day but no rain. About 6-30 p.m. enemy blew up a mine under our trench & bombarded us well. 5 buried, 5 killed, 14 wounded in “C” Co. 5 aerial torpedoes on “A” Co. H. May wounded. Awful experience.

Relieved about 10 p.m. by 7th Lincs (K’s) Divn, & then went digging buried chaps out & repairing trench round crater, till about midnight. Then set off to billets. Roads wretched. Fell out feet sore & quite done up. Stopped about half way, had hot cocoa & put my pack on cooker.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

The 17 men killed or missing presumed killed were:-

2/Lt Lewis George Dickinson 30.9.15 Killed in action and buried at Spoilbank.
1812 Pte James Bradley 30.9.15 Reported missing believed killed.
2524 Pte Charles Carter 30.9.15 Reported missing believed killed.
2152 Pte Harold Chapman 30.9.15 Killed in action and buried at Chester Farm.
2276 Pte Thomas D’Arcy 30.9.15 Killed in action and buried at Chester Farm.
2288 Pte Oscar Goodwin 30.9.15 Reported missing believed killed.
1953 L/Cpl Arthur Harding 30.9.15 Reported missing believed killed.
1437 Pte Alfred Hollingshead 30.9.15 Killed in action and buried at Chester Farm.
1785 Pte Frederick Hooley 30.9.15 Reported missing believed killed.
1892 Pte George Partridge 30.9.15 Killed in action and buried at Chester Farm.
3561 Pte Albert Roberts 30.9.15 Reported missing believed killed.
3159 Pte Charles Roberts 30.9.15 Reported missing believed killed.
1448 Sgt William Wibberley 30.9.15 Reported missing believed killed.
3550 Pte James Wardle 30.9.15 Reported missing believed killed.
1667 Pte Samuel Yates 30.9.15 Reported missing believed killed.
1400 Pte George Bailey 30.9.15 Reported missing believed killed.
2481 Pte John Thompson 30.9.15 Reported missing believed killed.

1812 BradleyThe bodies of 12 men were not recovered following the explosion and they were initially reported ‘as missing’ by Colonel Goodman on form B213; however, correspondence from DAAG 2 confirmed that the men had been killed. Only the mother of Private 2524 Charles Samuel Carter received any personal belongings from her son.2524 carter

DickinsonThe body of Lt Dickenson was later recovered and he was buried in Spoilbank Cemetery, whilst Privates 2152 H Chapman, 2276 T D’arcy, Hollingshead and 1892 G Partridge are all buried in Chester Farm.

Chester Farm

Wounded included :-

1179 Pte George Wood 30.9.15 Wounded in the field.
1192 Pte Richard Simmonds 30.9.15

Wounded in action and admitted to 1st NMFA and 46 Div CCS with shock on 2.10.15. Returned to Battalion on 10.10.15.
1440 Pte Ernest Turner 30.9.15

Wounded in action and admitted to 1st NMFA and 46 Div CCS with shock on 2.10.15. Returned to Battalion on 10.10.15.
1601 Pte William Taylor 30.9.15

GS wound to right fingers and admitted to 1st NMFA, 17 CCS. Transferred to 46 NMD Convalescent Depot on 5.10.15 and returned to Battalion on 3.11.15.
1684 Cpl Charles Green 30.9.15

Shrapnel wound in the back and admitted to 12 CCS. Re-joined Battalion on 13.10.15.
2196 Pte Harold May 30.9.15 Wounded in left forearm.
1771 Pte Charles Tunnicliffe 30.9.15 Wounded in the field and returned to Battalion.
1859 Cpl William Jackson 30.9.15 Wounded in the field.
1880 Pte John Jevons 30.9.15

GSW in right foot and transferred to England on 13.10.15. Discharged on 19.9.17.
1985 Pte JA Mee 30.9.15 Wounded in the field.
2056 Pte Hubert Birley 30.9.15

GSW spine and injury to back and shoulder and transferred to England on 6.10.15.
2100 Pte George Manifold 30.9.15 Wounded in the field.
2113 Sgt James Atterbury 30.9.15 Wounded in the field.
2134 Pte Arthur Hollis 30.9.15 Wounded in the field and returned to Battalion.
2259 Pte Walter Gregory 30.9.15 Wounded in the field.
2310 Pte John Naylor 30.9.15

GSW left extremities and transferred to England on 6.10.15. Transferred to Royal West Surrey Regt.
2564 Pte Ernest Short 30.9.15 Wounded in the field and returned to Battalion.
2837 Pte John Nall 30.9.15 Wounded in the field and returned to Battalion.
2691 Pte William Payne 30.9.15

Wounded in field and transferred to England. Discharged due to wounds on 3.5.16 (para 392 XVI KR).
3127 Pte Percy Holford 30.9.15 Wounded in the field and returned to Battalion.
3563 Pte Frank Lowndes 30.9.15

Transferred to England and discharged due to wounds on 9.12.16 (para 392 XVI KR).

16th Trench Duty 28th-30th September

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28.9.1915: Battalion took over trenches from 5th (27, 28, 29, 30S & R11)

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Sept 28th. Rose about 7-30 a.m. Inspn by Gen Stuart Wortley 10-30 a.m. Packed up after dinner & set off to trenches at 3-30 p.m. Stopped near Kruisstraat had tea. Rain from about 6 p.m. onwards. Roads wretched. Relieved 5th S.F.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]bluff

 

On these days 26th-28th September 1915

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28.9.1915: Battn inspected by Major General Stuart Wortley.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]Edward_Stuart_Wortley

Edward James Montagu-Stuart-Wortley, CB, CMG, DSO, MVO

(31 July 1857 – 19 March 1934)

Sept 26th. Went to communion 9 a.m. & ordinary church parade 11 a.m. Very nice day. Also to voluntary service at 6 p.m. Still standing to. Lieut. Brown buried.

Sept 27th. Finished standing to at 8 a.m. Rifle inspn at 10 a.m. On fatigue at range 1-30 till 4. At night went to Ouderdom to hear pierrots. Very good. Dull day but fine. Kersey to hosp.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

Wounded men included:-

1456 L/Cpl John Kersey 26.9.15 Died of wounds at Le Havre.
1104 Cpl Joseph Dudley 28.9.15 Transferred to England and discharged due to wounds on 18.5.16 (para 392 XVI KR).

 

On this day 25th September 1915

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“I hardly know how to tell you that Leonard was killed in action today. He was with the 7th Battalion (Robin Hoods) in performance of his duties as Brigade Intelligence Officer. I have just had a wire to say that he was killed while in one of the second line trenches – probably, but I do not know, by a German sniper.

I was asked some little time ago to nominate an Intelligence Officer for the Brigade, and I named Leonard, as I was struck with the intelligence and keeness with which he carried out his work.”Brown WL graveDuring the evening of the 25th the 1/7th Battalion ‘stood to’ as the 1/8th Battalion made a ‘demonstration’ against the Germans. It was most likely during this action that William Brown was shot by a sniper.

Sept 25th. Heavy bombardment by our artillery, so stood to from 4 a.m. onwards. Rose about 7-30 a.m. & had breakfast. Rifle inspn 10 a.m. Paid 20 frs at 2-30 p.m. Dull day & showers at intervals. German trenches taken at Hooge, La Bassee & Neuve Chapelle & also on French front.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

On this day 24th September 1915

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24.9.1915: Battn stood to until 25th as a consequence of attack by 5th Corps.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Sept 24th. Rose about 7-30 a.m. & had breakfast. 9-30 a.m. rifle, bayonet, clothes & boot inspn. 10-30 set off to Poperinghe for a bath, enjoyed same. Parcel from home arrived. Dull day, but fine till about p p.m. & then rain at intervals. Band in afternoon.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

Poperinghe

On this day 23rd September 1915

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

Sept 23rd. Got to wooden huts about 1 a.m. – much better than bivouacs. Hot soup served out & then slept till about 10 a.m. Rifle & bayonet inspn 2 p.m. Band played 2 till about 3-30 p.m. 25 more reinforcements arrived. Nice day, but rain from 8 p.m. till midnight.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

3541 CarterArmy Service Record for 3541 Pte Carter recording his arrival to the 1/6th Battalion on the 24th September 1915.

Men sick or wounded included:- 

1770 Pte George Clements 23.9.15

Transferred to England on 23.9.15. Returned to France on 4.3.16 with the 6th Reinforcement.
1736 Pte William Stuart 23.9.15

Shell wound in right foreleg and left thigh. Admitted to 46 DRS and 3 Stationary Hospital. Transferred to England on 15.9.15. Returned to France on 3.7.16 with the 13th Reinforcement.

1736 Stuart

On this day 22nd September 1915

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22.9.15 Canal I33: Battn relieved by 5th Battalion & moved to Bivouacs.

Casualties:- Killed O.R. 7, Wounded:- 2/Lt. JS Sampson (8.9.15) Lt. D Storrs Fox (9.9.15) & 11 Other Ranks.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Sept 22nd. Same as yesterday till dinnertime. German trenches bombarded from 4 till about 5 p.m. & they replied later. Packed up after tea & were relieved by 5th S.F. about 8 p.m. 5 killed & 11 wounded by shells in A Co. Nice moon light night, so had a very good passage out. Hot cocoa about halfway. Few of us (me included) put packs on transport wagons when about ¾ way out. Done 18 days this time.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

1679 Pte Charles Smith 22.9.15 Shrapnel wound in the face and re-joined Battalion.

 

On this day 21st September 1915

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

Sept 21st. Rose about 4-30 a.m. & stood to. Breakfast at 6-30 & then slept till dinner time. Washing & writing in afternoon. Not selected for listening post at night so got down to sleep. Very nice day again. Aeroplanes busy.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

2881 Bagshaw picture“I am very sorry to let you know that my dear cousin Hugh has been killed in action on Tuesday night at 10.45.p.m. He was buried yesterday at 3. Pm. at a little place amongst other fallen heroes. I shall look after his grave as long as I am any where near it. He was shot through the right breast and I think the bullet must have gone through his heart as he died instantly”.

2881 Bagshaw2881 Pte. Hugh Bagshaw, a 17 year old collier from Fernilee (Whaley Bridge) was killed in action and buried in Chester Farm Cemetery.

2881 Bagshaw 2Hugh enlisted into the 2/6th Battalion at Buxton on 15th October 1914 where he signed the Imperial Service Agreement.  He was transferred to the 1/6th Battalion the 26th June 1915 and disembarked from Southampton on the 28th June with the II Reinforcement and disembarked at Rouen. He was posted to No. 2 Entrenching Battalion and joined his unit ‘in the field’ on the 17th August 1915.

Men sick or wounded included:- 

1857 Pte Ernest Hadfield 21.9.15

Admitted to 46 DRS with shock. Re-joined Battalion on 6.10.15.
1369 Pte Fred Schofield 21.9.15

Rheumatic fever and admitted to 46 DRS. Re-joined Battalion on 24.9.15.
1327 Pte Walter Holmes 21.9.15 Wounded in the field.

 

On this day 20th September 1915

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

Sept 20th, Finished fatigue about 4 a.m. & then same as yesterday till tea time. Hill 60 again bombarded. Weather still very nice, but rather chilly at night. Went with range finder 7-30 till 10 p.m. looking for German guns. Then got down to sleep. G Fearn wounded while on listening post but not seriously. [3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

3140 Pte George Taylor was wounded in action.3140 Taylor 1915

3161 Pte. John Davies from Clay Cross was transferred to England and later posted to the 3/6th Battalion. After returning to France on the 29th June 1916 with the 12th Reinforcement he was transferred to the 4th Reserve Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment.