Tag Archives: Kemmel

103039 Pte Frederick Blaydon – one of the ‘Bedfordshire Lads’………

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Sherwood Foresters Cap Badge

Unfortunately, I carelessly let this Medal Pair ‘get away from me’ on a well known internet auction site last night, but I thought that I would still try to piece together Frederick’s story.

Frederick was one of approximately 112 men who were transferred to the 2/6th Battalion, the Sherwood Foresters from the Bedfordshire Regiment and issued the new Regimental numbers running from 103024 (Herbert Meekins) to 103137 (George Webster). Many of these men had previously been numbered with a post-1917 6-digit Bedfordshire Territorial Force Regimental number (see below).

Section of the Sherwood Forester Medal Roll showing the transfer of Men from the Bedfordshire Regiment to the 2/6th Battalion.

But when and why did this transfer happen?

Fortunately the Service Records of at least two of this group of 112 men still exist:

103035 Pte John Male from Bath (see above).

103065 Pte Horace Crowle from Cornwall.

Casualty Form – Active service for 204038 Pte John Male
Casualty Form – Active Service for 103035 Pte John Male
Casualty Form – Active Service for 103065 Pte Horace Crowie

These documents confirm that Pte John Male and Pte Horace Crowle – and by inference Pte Frederick Blaydon – were posted to the 5th Reserve Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment, before proceeding to France from Folkestone on the 28th March 1918.

They arrived at “L” Infantry Base Depot and were transferred to the 2/6th Battalion Sherwood Foresters on the 31st March 1918. This transfer was due to the losses suffered by the 2/6th Battalion (178th Bde, 59th Division) on the 21st March 1918 during the German Spring Offensive.

Neither John Male or Horace Cowle would survive the month

59th Division Casualties for April 1918

John Male was killed in action with B Company, 2/6th Battalion on the 16th April aged 48. He was the Son of Mr and Mrs Male of 13, Maytree Rd., Bitterne, Southampton. John’s body was exhumed near Kemmel Hall in July 1919 and he is now buried in La Clytte Military Cemetery.

Mount Kemmel – John’s body was found at 19 D, near to Kemmel Hall

Horace Cowle served with B Company and was listed as ‘missing in action’ during the defence of Kemmel on the 18th April 1918 aged 19. He was the son of Mr and Mrs Crowle of 1 Chapel Terrace, St. Blazey, Cornwall. Horace is commemorated on The Ploegsteert Memorial.

Horace had enlisted underage in November 1915. He arrived in France in December 1916 and was posted to the 1st Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. However, in January 1917 he was returned to England.

Frederick Blaydon was later transferred to the 1/6th Battalion when the 2/6th was reduced to Cadre in May 1918 and survived the War.

2243 Private John William Wright

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Nick Bennet has been researching his Great Uncle 2243 Pte. John William Wright who served with “D” Company of the 1/8th Battalion and was killed by a German sniper on the 20th April 1915 aged only 18 and is buried in Kemmel Chateau Cemetery.2243 John Wright

John William Wright was born in Bilisthorpe, Nottinghamshire and lived at 47 Montague Street, Mansfield. He was the proud son of Joseph Wallhead Wright and Florence Wright.

At the time of his death “D” Company were occupying G1 trench near to Peckham Corner.Kemmel trenches 20 April 191520th April 1915

“It is with deepest regret that I have to announce to you the death of your son, John Wright. He was killed by a rifle bullet on April 20th. It may be some consolation to you to know that he died doing his duty in action. At 4:30 am on April 20th, we were subjected to considerable bombardment from grenades, and your son was at the time doing his duty as sentry and at the same time observing where our own grenades were falling in the enemy’s trenches without hesitation he pluckily observed all our grenades, but unfortunately was observed by the enemy and shot. I was close by his side at the time and an assure you that his death was instantaneous, he could have suffered no pain whatever.”

Captain M C Martyn; Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser: 29/04/1915

For more information see here:

http://www.ournottinghamshire.org.uk/page_id__1464_path__0p31p426p.aspx

http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/view.php?uid=210827

http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/rollofhonour/People/Details/4177

http://www.twgpp.org/information.php?id=1622861

On this day 18th April 1915

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No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694].

For detailed record see main site here.

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On APRIL 18th I was taken ill whilst in the trenches and had to be brought out at night and taken to the Dressing Station where the Doctor examined me. I was covered all over my body with spots, a sort of nettle rash, besides suffering from neuralgia. I had to stay at the Dressing Station till our Battalion was relieved the next day by our 8th Battalion.

Our first casualty happened on the 18th, a man has been shot through the head by a sniper. (Company casualty).

The village where our dressing station is, is called Kemmel. Where the London Scottish made their famous charge.

[1415 Cpl. Alfred Afford]

18th April 1915. Sunday once more. I was up by 6 a.m. and went to have my breakfast. Corporal Armitage cooked it for us and then at 8-30 word came Corporal Armitage hit, come at once. The bullet passed in at his neck and came out in the small of his back. We did what we could for him but he gradually sank. He died about 1-30 being conscious about three quarters of an hour. He knew from the first he was done. It made a gloom over all the Company for a time. The bearers came for him about 9-30 and he was buried in the English cemetery. I had just got in bed when word came down ‘Stretcher bearer wanted’. This time it was Private C Turner, he had been shot in the ankle. I bandaged him up and sent for bearers, getting him off about 1 a.m. I went to bed for a well earned rest.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]

Apr 18th Still in trenches. Fairly quiet all day. 1 killed 1 wounded in “D” Co by snipers. Saw them brought out. Stand to all night. Sleep in morning, fatigues in afternoon.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]2380 Armitage

2nd Trench duty 15-19 April 1915

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Kemmel 15.4.15: Returned to trenches for 4 days. 8 NCO’s & men killed, 14 wounded (10 at duty)

War Diary [WO/95/2694].

See main site for more information.

We went in the trenches again on APRIL 15th for 4 days and on the 16th the Germans sent us a grenade from their trench mortar, and I had the narrowest escape in my life. One dropped close by 8 of us, not 4yds away, and never injured one, we all got a good shaking.

[1415 Cpl. Alfred Afford]

15th April 1915. We were taking things easy until night when we went into the trenches going in the same trenches as before. We got in the trenches without any casualties but I hadn’t been in 5 minutes when I was fetched to go out to an engineer about thirty yards from the German trenches. He was shot through the head but was living. They carried him down on a board to the dressing station. It was laughable to see what stocks of bread our men took with them to the trenches.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]

Apr 15th Breakfast in bed at 9 a.m. Service in a field at 11 a.m. Grand day. Set off to trenches near Kemmel at 7-30 p.m.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

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1875 Pte Percy Brittain suffered a GSW in the knee and admitted to 13 General Hospital. Transferred to England on ‘HMHS St Andrew’ on 18.04.15. Returned to France with II Reinforcement on 31.6.15.

1875 BrittainHMHS St Andrew

On this day 7th April 1915

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Kemmel 7.4.15: The Battalion took over G & H trenches from the 8th Battalion. The two battalions working in paris and remained in trenches four days.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Kemmel map

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On APRIL 7th we went in the trenches for our first real experience, and very quiet it was compared with other parts of the line.

[1415 Cpl. Alfred Afford]

7th April 1915. We were having one or two inspections and preparing for the trenches all day for at night we are to relieve the 8th out of the trenches. Stretcher bearers had their rifles and ammunition taken off them. At 7-45 we fell in to go to the trenches at Kemmel. We marched to Kemmel which is about four miles from Locre. From Kemmel we marched to the trenches by platoon. Here there is about 2,000 yards of open country which is swept by fire all night long. As you march along you come to Jack Johnson holes in the road which would easily bury two or three horses, first one then another tumbling in them with it being so dark. When the star shells go up, which are very bright, everybody has to lie down wherever they are. We took H2, 3 and 4 trench. We were very lucky to get up without casualties. On our left are the Royal Scots. On the right were C Company of our Battalion, A Company being in reserve. All the men were put to their posts and then they began to find their dugouts which were not very good.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]

Apr 7th. Bayonet practice in morning. Set off to trenches at 7-30 p.m. to Kemmel. Very risky had to cross open country for about ¾ mile. (1st time).

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

Kemmel G H trenchesKemmel H trenchesKemmel Trenches

On this day 6th April 1915

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No record in the War Diary [WO/95/2694].

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On Easter Monday APRIL 6th our platoon went up to the trenches on fatigue from 6.30 p.m. [to] 1.a.m. on Tuesday morning with our 8th Battalion, and we were under very heavy rifle fire. Before we could get to the first line of trenches we had to go over 1200 yds of open ground, the Germans kept sending up starlight’s and it was on this open ground where the Germans spotted us, they sent a volley or two.

Church

All round this place there are churches and all kinds of other buildings burnt and blown down. This place is called Kemmel.

[1415 Cpl. Alfred Afford]

6th April 1915. Nothing else but inspections all day. In the morning we had a look through.the windmill while it was working. Rained very hard at night.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]

Apr 6th. Rose about 9 a.m. Boot inspn & bayonet practice. Dull day.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]