“Capt. R Saxby and Second-Lieut. A. H. Goodall, both of whom were wounded while serving with the 1 6 Battalion in Flanders, have joined the unit this week. The post of Regimental-Sergt.-Major has not yet been filled, and the duties are temporarily being carried out by Company-Sergt.-Major J. Platts.”
13.31917 C in C’s list: MAJOR R SAXBY seconded for duty as Town Major AMPLIER MORVILLE.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
To be completed
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
3.2.1916 SUS ST LEGER: Lt Col E Hall proceeded to Commanding Officers Conference at 3rd Army School at Auxi-Le-Chateau.
CAPT CB JOHNSON assumed Command of Battalion.
MAJOR R SAXBY appointed TOWN MAJOR of SUS ST LEGER (Pas-De-Calais).
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
26.11.1916 SUS ST LEGER: Major R SAXBY rejoined from hospital.
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
24.10.1916 BELLACOURT: MAJOR SAXBY to Hospital.
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
24th: A very quite day. Weather became mild and wet.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
12.10.1916 LONDON GAZETTE: CAPT R SAXBY to be Temporary Major d/- 5.9.1916.
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
12th: A few more 77mm fired on to own left sector support line during the morning. Lancaster Sap and the front line shelled by a heavy trench mortar & field gun in the afternoon.
A Brigade Assault Competition held at BASSEUX in the afternoon. See here Pages from WO-95-2692-6
A combined bombardment of the enemy’s front line & Communication trenches carried out by 18 Pdrs and stokes mortars from times during the night.
Enemy appeared to be ——- and opened a prompt & fairly heavy fire from trench mortars.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
18.9.1916 BAILLEULVAL: CAPT R SAXBY took over Command of the Battalion during the absence of LIEUT COLONEL G.D. GOODMAN C.M.G. on short leave.
Captain Reginald Saxby
18.9.1916: 2/Lt WB DAVIES died in Hospital.
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
Septr 18: Opening address by Commandant. Lecture on discipline by Major Fuller GSO2.
[Lieutenant Josiah Taylor]
18th: Enemy fired a few Trench Mortars bombs into into our left sector. A very wet day.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
2/Lt William Bryan Davies died in Hospital on 17th September; he had only joined the Battalion two months earlier on the 18th August. Although there is no mention in the War Diary or Battalion History as to why he was in Hospital, the 1/6th Officer’s Role sadly states “suicide”.
William was 35 years old and the son of Thomas and Mary Davies of Welshpool in Montgomeryshire. He is now buried in AVESNES-LE-COMTE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, which was near the VI Corps Headquarters and the site of several Casualty Clearing Stations. There is no medal index card for William, suggesting that his medals were not claimed by his grieving parents.
William was Idwal Davies' older brother.
6.8.1916 BELLACOURT: Capts SAXBY and WHEATCROFT rejoined from Third Army School.
No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694]
6th: A very quite day.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
9/10.7.1916 BAILLEULMONT: Battn carried Gas accessories to trenches of 137th Inf Bde.
9.7.1916 BAILLEULMONT: Capts R Saxby (left) & CJ Wheatcroft (right) to Third Army School.
Capt EB Johnson (above) to Command “C” Company vice Capt Saxby.
Capt W Seaton (above) attached to 7th Battn Sherwood Foresters.
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
9th: Large parties from the 6th & 8th Battns again carrying tonight gas cylinders from BERLES Dump to the trenches.
Bde Major visited trenches of 166th Infantry Brigade at BELLACOURT.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
30.5.1916 FONQUEVILLERS: 150 men under CAPTS R SAXBY & J TOLSON dug advanced trench 250 yards linking up with 37th Divn on left. 50 men under CAPT EB JOHNSON wired.
30.5.1916 LONDON GAZETTE: The following is an extract from the London Gazette d/- 30th May 16.
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
30th: 6th Battn Sherwood Foresters joined up advanced trench from right of 36th Division up to a sap North of NORTH FORTIN – distance of some 250 yards.
The trench was also wired – the Battalion received a complimentary telegram from G.O.C. Division for their work.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 