Tag Archives: 2/Lieutenant James Valetine Barnes

139th Brigade Casualties for December 1916

December 1916 Casualties

The men killed in December and buried in Foncquevillers were:-

  • 3961 Pte George Harrison (1/5th Battalion) who was killed in action on the 7th December.
  • 5202 Pte Joseph Alfred Tizzard (1/7th Battalion) who was killed in action on the 9th December. From Carlton and enlisted in November 1915. Arrived in France with the 8th Reinforcement in April 1916.
  • 6018 Pte Harry Edge (1/5th Battalion) who was killed in action on the 19th December during a heavy bombardment of the front line trenches.
  • 5195 Pte Edward Leonard Ledger (1/7th Battalion) who was killed during a German Raid on the 28th December. From Nottingham and enlisted in November 1915. Arrived in France with the 9th Reinforcement in June 1916.
  • 1549 Corporal Fred Smedley (1/7th Battalion) who was killed during a German Raid on the 28th December.
  • 4404 Pte William Serginson (1/5th Battalion) who was killed in action on the 29th December during a heavy bombardment of the trenches. From Derby and enlisted in May 1915 aged 40. Arrived in France with the 13th Reinforcement in June 1916.

fonquevillers.jpgfonquevillersAll are six men buried next to each other in Plot I, Row H, Graves 29 to 34


The men who died of wounds at the 20th and 43rd Casualty Clearing Stations and buried at Warlincourt were:-Warlincourt

  • 2/Lieutenant Lionel Eustace King-Stephens (1/8th Battalion WO 374/39793). Born 1879 in Teddington and employed at The London and Provincial Bank, Banstead, Surrey. He joined the Artists Rifles in October 1915 and was commissioned into the Sherwood Foresters in December. He went to France in July 1916 and was fatally wounded by a sniper on 16 December while in charge of a wiring party.8th battalon december 1916
  • Lance Sergeant 2288 Alfred Gaunt (1/5th Battalion).2288 gaunt
  • 1014 Pte William Hunt (1/5th Battalion) a lamp repairer from Belper and a 1st VB Volunteer (1900-02) and pre War Territorial who enlisted in March 1909. Wounded on the 19th December in a bombardment during a German raid on the neighbouring trenches.5th Battalion december 1916
  • 2/Lieutenant James Valetine Barnes (1/7th Battalion) was seriously wounded by a bomb thrown by a German on our parapet whom he was firing at with his revolver, he died in the evening in the 1st North Midland Field Ambulance.Barnes December 1916

4398 Pte Robert Inger (1/5th Battalion) from Derby and enlisted in May 1915 aged 19 and arrived in France in October 1915. Died from cardiac failure due to acute alcoholic poisoning on the 24th December. He had previously suffered from gas poisoning in January 1916.

Inger

5556 Pte George Thomas Doyle (1/5th Battalion) died of wounds on the 2nd December at the 2nd Stationary Hospital in Abbeville.5556 doyle

On this day 28th December 1916

28.12.1916 SOUASTRE: Capt CVHC BLACKWALL to 2nd in Command Divisional School. Lieut BE JOHNSON rejoined from leave.

Blackwall CVHC

Charles Henry Cheetham Blackwall

War Diary [WO/95/2694]


German Raid

After an intense bombardment commencing 3 am the enemy attempted a raid in strength on our centre and left sectors. A few Germans entered our trenches in two places but were immediately ejected.

2/Lt J Barnes was seriously wounded by a bomb thrown by a German on our parapet whom he was firing at with his revolver, he died in the evening in the 1st North Midland Field Ambulance.

Our casualties were 2 killed, 4 wounded and 2 missing. Our trenches were badly damaged by the heavy bombardment.

1/7th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]


28th 3am: Enemy artillery & trench mortars opened a very heavy bombardment of our line, particularly on the Communication Trenches & Support line on the left Sub-Sector. After about forty five minutes intense bombardment a party of the enemy estimated at 40 strong commenced to enter our trenches. between Leicester Lane & the Gommecourt Road.

Lincol LaneThey were apparently held of by the wire and retired on being fired on by Lewis Guns. One or more of the enemy entered entered our front line at the top of Lincoln Lane but were immediately driven out.

A patrol of 3 men also entered our left Companies trench but retired almost immediately.

The casualties were:-

  • 1 Officer & two other ranks killed (2/Lieutenant James Valetine Barnes, 5195 Pte Edward Leonard Ledger, 1549 Corporal Fred Smedley)
  • 4 other ranks wounded
  • 2 other ranks missing

139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]