16.7.18: Cleaning under Battalion arrangements.
17.7.18: 6th Sherwood Foresters and 139th Trench Mortar Battery dug cable trenches in BETHUNE.
18.7.18: Night of 17/18 July 5th Sherwoods Foresters dug trench and buried cable nears ESSARS.
19.7.18: Night of 19/20 July 8th Sherwood Foresters dug trench and buried cable near ESSARS.
20.7.18: Brigade Horse Show and Sports were held in BOIS DES MONTAGNES.
21.7.18: Relieved 137th Infantry Brigade in ESSARS SECTION.
23.4.18 HOUCHY: Battalion (less details) moved to BETHUNE; details and transport to FOUQUIERES.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
23/4/18: Units move as in 139 Infantry Brigade Warning Order No 5 (as attached), preparity to taking over a section of the line.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
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]
No record of this reinforcement has been found to date.
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.
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.
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]
26.10.1915 LAPUGNOY: CAPT A. J. HOPKINS took Command of Battalion.
Battalion moved to new billets in BETHUNE.
Oct 26th. Rose about 8 a.m. Packed up in morning & set off at 1-30 to Bethune. Got there about 4 p.m. & were billeted in estaminets – fairly comfortable. Nice day
[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]
Benjamin Stubbins suffered from varicocele and was admitted to the 3rd Stationary Hospital in Rouen and then two months later to the 6th General Hospital. Hi was finally discharged to the 6th Depot on the 14th January 1915 and struck of the roll of Drummer. He rejoined the 1/6th Battalion ‘in the field’ on the 16th March 1916.
Benjamin had been wound previously on the 6th August 1915 and was to be wounded again on the 7th/8th October 1918, at which time he was transferred to England.
Benjamin was a labourer at the Hardwick Colliery Company and lived with his parents on Lockerford Lane in Stonegravels. He enlisted as a Drummer on the 3rd January 1912 aged 15 years and 9 months. As such he required a letter of authorisation from his parents.
No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694]
Oct 20th. Rose at 8 a.m. Running parading till 9-30. 10-30 to 11-30 bayonet practice etc. 11-30 to 12-30 instruction in bombs & bomb throwing. Set off at 4 p.m. to a colliery at Bruay for a bath – warm shower enjoyed it very much, Got back about 7-30 p.m. had tea, & then got down. Nice day, but cold winds.
[Bruay is a mining town 6 miles west of Bethune]
[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]
19.10.1915 VERQUIN: Moved to LAPUGNOY.
[Lapugnoy is a small farming and forestry town situated 5 miles west of Bethune]
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
Oct 19th. Rose about 8 a.m. Packed up in morning, & set off from Verquin at 2 p.m. Got to Lapugnoy about 5 p.m. & billeted in barns. Nice day but rather cold at night.
[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]
6.30 pm 1.1.1915 ABEELE: Battn (less transport) entrained for FOUQUEREUIL.
9.30 pm 1.10.1915 FOUQUEREUIL: Detrained and marched inot BETHUNE and billeted in brick barrakcs. Division now joined 1st Amry, 11th Corps, the latter comprising GUARDS and 12th and 46h Divisions under Lt. Gen. Haking CB.
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
Oct 1st. Got to bivouacs near Ouderdom about 6 a.m. – quite done up. Hot tea then got down & slept till 9-15. After breakfast packed up again. 3 p.m. set off to Abeele (8 miles) station. C. Xley etc. joined us there, & all entrained about 7-15 p.m. Got to Lillers about 9-30 p.m. & detrained. Each drew two blankets and then marched to Bethune (nearly 3 miles). Billeted in French barracks about midnight – fairly comfortable. Nice day.
[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]
3366 Pte. Walter Adkin, a miner from Staveley, died from his wounds and was buried inLIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY. Walter enlisted on the 23rd October 1914 aged 24.
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 