Tag Archives: Gordon Fraser Gardner

On this day 16th February 1916

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16.2.1916 BEAUMETZ: Lt G.F. Gardner, 2/Lt T Grimshaw and 35 other ranks from Battalion Machine Gun Section proceeded to join 139th Brigade Machine Gun Company.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

The numbers recorded in the War Diary appear to be incorrect - see below.

16.2.1916: The Brigade Machine Gun Company concentrated today under Capt F. B. ROBINSON in billets in BERNAVILLE.

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

 The 139th Bde Machine Gun Company139 Bde MGC

Officers of the newly established 139th Brigade Machine Gun Company Commanded by Captain Francis Bradbury Robinson.3259 Fearn

Army Service record for 3259 Pte George Harry Fearn, an electrician from Clay Cross, recording his transfer to the 139 BDE MACH GUN CORP on the 16th February 1916.

The 1/6th men that transferred to the 139th Brigade Machine Gun Company were as follows:-

In late 1915 the Battalion Machine Gun Section comprised a Lieutenant, Sergeant, Corporal, 2 drivers, batman and 12 Privates that were trained in the maintenance, transport, loading and firing of the Vickers heavy machine gun. These men made up two six-man gun teams.

  • 1265 Sergt. Dudley Spicer (24226)
  • 811 Pte. George Handbury (24227)
  • 3334 Pte.  John H Watson (24228)
  • 2068 Pte. Alfred Allen (24229)
  • 2707 Pte. George EH Hurt (24230)
  • 1701 Pte. Harry Ellison (24231)
  • 1779 Pte. William Ollerenshaw (24232)
  • 1784 Pte. Frank Swann (24233)
  • 1800 Pte. William E Hughes (24234)
  • 1801 Pte. Edgar Porter (24235)
  • 1841 Pte. George F Johnson (24236)
  • 1846 Pte. James White (24237)
  • 2223 Pte. James Dudley (24238)
  • 3259 Pte. George Henry Fearn (24239)
  • 3340 Cpl. George Bagshaw (24240)
  • 3652 Pte. Arthur Marshall (24241)
  • 1656 Pte. Hedley Bennett (24242)

 

On this day 9th January 1916

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9.1.1916 MARSEILLES: Battn less transport detrained at 8 am and marches into SANTI CAMP.

9.1.1916 MARSEILLES: Capt E.B. Johnson rejoined for duty with Battn from Base.

London Gazette of 6.1.1916:

  • Capt A.J. Hopkins to be Temoporary Major d/- Oct 23rd.
  • Lieut H.H. Jackson to be Temporary Captain d/- Oct 23rd.

London Gazette of 7.1.1916:

  • Capt E.H. Heathcote to be Temporary Major d’- Sept 3rd.
  • Lieut F.B. Robinson to be Temporary Captain d/- Sept 3rd.
  • Lieut J Tolson to be Temporary Captain d/- Sept 3rd.

To be Temporary Lieutenants:-

  • 2/Lt C.A. Brown
  • 2/Lt A.B. Wallis
  • 2/Lt G.F. Gardner
  • 2/Lt H.W. Higham
  • 2;Lt. C.E.V. Cree

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

London Gazete 1916

On this day 8th December 1915

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8.12.1915 ROBECQ: Fur coats handed in to ordnance together with all special server weather clothing.

2/Lt G F Gardner and 13 other ranks arrived from Base.Gardner GF MIC

The men that arrived from Base at this time were most likely those that had been wounded or taken ill and had recovered sufficiently to return to duty.

On this day 15th October 1915

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15.10.1915: Major John Eaton Blackwell took over Command of 8th Sherwood Foresters vice Lt.-Col. George Herbert Fowler (killed in action).Fowler

15.10.1915: Total casualties:-

  • Officers wounded 2 (2/Lts JL Percival & GF Gardner)
  • Other Ranks killed 13
  • Missing believed killed 1
  • Wounded 48

Bn moved to billets at Verquin.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

The names of the dead and wounded can he found here.

Oct 15th. Slept on dump till about 6 a.m. then drew rations & went back & relieved 4th Leics in reserve trench. Many dead & wounded in front of their trench, but as morning was misty S.Bs. fetched them in till mist cleared. Shells & whiz bangs at intervals all day. Much bombing about 6 p.m. Relieved about 10 p.m. by Grenadier Guards. Very glad to get out. Only had bread, biscuits, jam, bully beef for 3 days, & only water to drink – no fires. 7th & 8th Sherwoods charged & took Hohenzollern Redoubt, but lost many men. (About 6000 cas in div).

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

HohenzollernThe bodies of all of the men of the 1/6th Battalion who were killed in action were not recovered or identified after the War and they are now commemorated on the Loos Memorial.

The fact that so many bodies were not recovered is a testimony to the severity of the fighting and only Bernhard White from Grassmoor, who died in a casualty clearing station in the Chateau at Vermelles, has a known grave.

For more information see the ‘Lost Cemeteries of Hohenzollern’.

 

The ‘Official’ Casualties for the 46th North Midland Division 13th – 15th October46 Division Casualties Hohenzollern