On this day 17th March 1915

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

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Mar 17th. 12 mile route march in morning Moved to another barn in afternoon (not so comfortable).

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

17th March 1915. In the morning we had a route march of twelve miles. After dinner we moved our billets back into the village where we slept in a loft over a cow shed. The surprising thing on our route marches was to see how many churches had been hit by shells. In the village where we are the Germans had a machine gun in the Church steeple. The British shelled it causing considerable damage to the Church. As you walk along the street you can see where shrapnel bullets have hit, going through windows and doors or knocking pieces out of the brick. A number of Indians came into the neighbourhood. Novel sight to see them with their turbans. Musulmen.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]

Indian troopsHorses of the 18th King George’s Own Lancers being attended by a vet in the yard of a disused factory in France during August 1915. Courtesy of the Imperial War Museum © IWM (Q 28841).

On this day 16th March 1915

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

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16th March 1915. Reveille 6-00 a.m. Fell in at 8-10 a.m. for route march. Went about fifteen miles. In the afternoon we had our first pay -10 Francs. Everybody made a rush for bread. Bread 1 Franc per loaf. Bread here baked in baskets.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]

Mar 16th. 14 mile route march in morning. Pay in afternoon (1st time since we landed) (10 francs).

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

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On this day 15th March 1915

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

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Mar 15th. 10 mile route march in morning. Bath in afternoon. (1st in Fr.).

[3289 Pte. G W Beardsley]

15th March 1915. Route march about 12 miles. In the afternoon did our washing.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]

MARCH 15th. Started on Hand Grenade throwing, 4 men from each Platoon volunteered for it.

[1415 Cpl. Alfred Afford]

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During the march 1493 Pte. Joseph Bennett strained his foot and was admitted to Number 4 General Hospital. He was transferred to England on 17.3.16 and returned to France with the V Reinforcement in November 1915.

1493 Bennett

On this day 14th March 1915

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14th March 1915. Church parade 9-30 a.m., held in a field. In the afternoon we moved two kilometres to a small farm.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]

Sun (Mar 14th) Service in a field in the morning. Then washed clothes after & parcel from home. At 3 p.m. moved to a barn.

[3289 Pte. G W Beardsley]

Strength of the 139th Infantry Brigade on 14th March 191514 March 1915

On this day 13th March 1915

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On MARCH 13th we marched 9 miles to a place called Neuf-Barquin, and there we were billeted in a barn. Here they have split our Division up, the Sherwood Foresters Brigade is attached to General Cough’s Cavalry Division.  We have been near the firing line all the time we have been in France, the Germans occupied this place on March 9th and they have been driven back 12 miles.  While we are here we have a route march everyday, from 12 to 15 miles.

[1415 L/Cpl Alfred Afford]

13th March 1915. Standing by till 2 o’clock when we got orders to move. Marched about eight miles to Neuf Berquin. Marched past General Gough on our way. Slept in an outhouse all night. Very comfortable.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]

Mar 13th. Marched to Neuf Berquin. Billeted in a house till 3 p.m.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

On this day 12th March 1915

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12.3.15 (Bac St. Maur): SHERWOOD FORESTERS Brigade detached to II CAVALRY DIVISION under Major Gen. Gough.

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12th March 1915: We were standing by all day. At night we could see an artillery duel in the distance. Part of the mill here has been used as an ammunition stores by the Germans. The English had blown it up. I never saw iron twisted as much in my life. On this day the Notts and Derby Brigade was attached to a Cavalry Division Commanded by General Gough. Nearby was a big naval gun 15.7 ins. Shook the whole factory when fired. Aeroplanes flying in all directions.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]

On this day 11th March 1915

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11.3.15 (Bac St. Maur): Battalion with Sherwood Foresters Brigade marched at an hour notice and billeted in factories – Remainder of N. Midland Division about SAILLY. BAND at HAZEBROUCK where they played before Sir JOHN FRENCH and the PRINCE OF WALES.

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On MARCH 11th we marched 16 miles to a place called Bac St-Maur, and there we were billeted in a mill where rope is made from hemp.  Next to the mill is a building that has been blown up by our 2nd Battalion.  It was an ammunitions store belonging to the Germans, when they were here our 2nd Battalion lost a lot of men in the canal close by.  This mill belonged to a German firm.

[1415 L/Cpl Alfred Afford]

11th March 1915. Standing by until 10-30 when we got a sudden order to move. We were going by 11-30. We marched sixteen miles through Estaires to Bac St-Maur. Here we were billeted in a weaving shed. I slept under a warping machine. At this place we were local reserves to the 1st Army Corps under General Haig a big battle going on at Neuve Chappelle.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]

Then marched 12 miles (Mar 11th) to Bac St Maur & stayed in a cotton or twine mill in reserve for 2 nights. (Rather cold).

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

On this day 10th March 1915

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10th March 1915. Standing by all day waiting for orders. As you passed through Nieppe, which is just in Belgium, it was a pity to see the sorrowful looks on women’s faces.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]

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Men taken ill during on this day included:-

  • 1340 Pte. Charles Coverley, a labourer from New Mills who suffered from epilepsy and was evacuated to England. Discharged April 1915.1340 Coverley
  • 1682 Pte. Sidney Buffey a burner from Stonegravels who was admitted to the 1st NMFA and 9 Staionary Hospital. Returned to duty in June 1915.

On this day 9th March 1915

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9.3.15 (Outtersteene): Battalion with S.F. Brigade marched to billets picking up band at BAILLEUL.

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MARCH 9th. We marched away from Nieppe to a place called Outtersteene, a distance of 14 miles. The Germans were at this place on the retreat from Mons, they were in the same billet as I am for 9 days. On coming through Nieppe we saw an aeroplane duel, one German and two English, they did not fetch him down but flew wide so that our guns could find him, they fired 11 shells at him, but he escaped. We are in France again.

[1415 L/Cpl Alfred Afford, D Company]

9th March 1915. Reveille 5-30 a.m. Left the barn at 8-00 a.m. Marched to Outresteen, a distance of about eleven miles, going through Bailleul. We got a very good billet in an empty house which was in charge of a Belgian refugee. Guarded by aeroplanes all the way.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]

On this day 8th March 1915

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8.3.15 (Ploegsteert): L/Cpl Redfern ‘C’ Company killed on 8th with working party.

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8th March 1915. Reveille 5-30 a.m. Went to wash up in a ditch nearby. The water was frozen over. We had to break the ice before we could wash (rather parky). We fell in at 7-30 a.m. to go as a fatigue party for the Engineers at Ploegsteert Wood. We were working just behind the firing line making corduroy paths.

Courdroy pathCorduroy path through Ploegsteert Wood. Imperial War Museum © IWM (Q 11744).

These paths have all sorts of names ‘Bunhill Row’ etc. Plans are drawn of these paths just as though it was a town. All the time we were working there, stray bullets would come and shells would go whistling through the trees. C Company were doing their turn in the trenches that day. In the middle of the morning we got the news that Lc Corporal Redfern had been shot through the heart by a sniper. They buried him half an hour later in the cemetery in the wood.

Ploegsteert graveCemetery in Plugstreet Wood, May 1915. A view of several graves marked with wooden crosses and plaques in Ploegsteert Wood. Imperial War Museum © IWM (Art.IWM ART 4786).

We went for a walk in the morning in the wood, we saw something in a ditch. We touched it with a stick and there it was a dead German. We left at 1 o’clock for our billet. In Ploegsteert Wood the Somerset Light Infantry and Rifle Brigade were stationed. When we arrived back to our barn we had orders to pack up so as to be off next morning. We received our first mail in France here.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]

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RedfernL/Cpl 1470 Allen Redfern of Buxton who was the first man to be killed on active service. He is now buried in the original Plot I of Ploegsteert Wood Military Cemetery in Belgium.

Redfern 21470 L/Cpl Allen Redfern a printer from Buxton, who was serving with “C” Company, was shot through the heart whilst on duty with a working party behind the lines; he was only 20 years of age. Allen was buried in Somerset Light Infantry Ground in Ploegsteert Wood and was the only 6th Battalion man to be buried in that cemetery.