On this day 22nd March 1918 – a major German raid on the Brigade front
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On this day 20th March 1918
20.3.18 BEUVRY: Battalion relieved 1/8th Sherwood Foresters in the ANNEQUIN LOCALITY. Battalion HQ, “C” and “D” Companies in ANNEQUIN, “A” and “B” Companies in SAILLY LABOURSE.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
20th March: 8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters relieved 5th Sherwood Foresters in the front line.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
On this day 19th March 1918 – Award of Military Medals
Military Medals awarded to Cpl EH WHITE, Pte A KNOWLES and L/Cpl W THOMPSON, all “D” Company for Conspicuous Gallantry during enemy raid near HULLACH on Jan 2nd 1917.
On this day 19th March 1918
19.3.18 BEUVRY: Lieut WT STEPHENS rejoined from First Army Infantry School and took over Command of Letter “D” Company.
Warren Trestrail Stephens
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
19th March: Enemy artillery was active on the whole front. Trench Mortars also active.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
On this day 18th March 1918
18.3.18 BEUVRY: Lt Col BW VANN MC proceeded on leave. Major VO ROBINSON MC took over Temporary Command of the Battalion
Bernard William Vann and Victor Owen Robinson
(Both with Military Cross Ribbons)
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
18th March: Slight shelling of Cambin.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
On this day 17th March 1918
No record in the 1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
17th March: The enemy cut two gaps in our wire at A.28.c.1.6 and A.27.d.70.05 with his artillery. There was a good deal of activity with 105 mm shells on Reserve Line and Trench Junctions.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
269235 Pte Albert Sleaford from Derby was killed in action
204577 Pte Frederick Lester Chapman from Tideswall died of wounds
On this day 16th March 1918
No record in the 1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
16th March: Enemy artillery was active during the day on:-
- A.20.b.95.35.
- A.27.d.
- A.27.d.7.6.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
On this day 15th March 1918
15.3.18 BEURY: 2/Lieut RW OAKLEY from hospital (South of France)
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
15th March: Enemy artillery was active during the day on :-
- A.20.b.95.35.
- A.27.b.1.9.
- A.27.d.3.5.
- A.21.d.1.9.
- A.27.a
- And CAMBRIN
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
73880 Pte Herbert Ashpole was killed in action
The first man of the North Midland Division to be buried in Cambrin Military Cemetery
On this day 14th March 1918 – The Cambrin Sector
14.3.18 BEUVRY: Battalion moved into Brigade support of CAMBRIN SECTOR.
- Battalion HQrs, “C” & “D” Companies at BEURY.
- “A” Company in WIMPOLE ST, LA BASSEE 36C NW1 1/10,000 A.26.b.50.50.
- “B” Company in FACTORY DUGOUTS A.26.d.20.30.
14.3.18 BEUVRY: Captain EF WINSER attached to 465 Field Company RE. 2/Lt JF DENNIS on leave.
Eric Franklin Winser joined the 6th Battalion on the 5th October 1917 and was still serving at the end of the War. He won the Military Cross in 1918. John Francis Dennis transferred from the Robin Hood Rifles on the 14th January 1917 and and was still serving with the 1/6th Battalion at the end of the War.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
14th March: Brigade took over centre sector of the Divisional Front. The sector in known as ‘CAMBRIN SECTOR’.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
On this day 12th March 1918 – more casualties
3779/241218 Pte Harold Dolby and 4313/241446 Pte Fred Watts died of their wounds
Harold Dolby was from Brimington and enlisted in February 1915. He arrived in France in 1916 and was previously wounded at Lievin on the 30th May 1917.
Fred Watts was from Calow and enlisted in June 1915 and arrived in France in 1916.
Both men were most likely wounded on the working party that claimed the lives of their comrades the previous day
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 