6.2.18 LAPUGNOY: Detachment left at LAPUGNOY (less transport) moved to BURBURE.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
6th: Portion of 6th Sherwood Foresters move from LAPUGNOY to BURBURE.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
22 Jan 18: Battalion moved into billets at LAPUGNOY.
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
22/1/18: Relief of Battalions completed. PHILOSOPHE was persistently shelled all day but no casualties caused to relieving troops. Brigade HQ moves to BURBURE.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
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 22nd. Rose at 8 a.m. Told to report to signalling sergeant at 9– 30, then instructed in morse code etc, till 12 o’clock. Others had running, bayonet fighting, & bombing same as on 20th. At night went with McT & had a feed. Nice day, but cold wind.
[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]
Held over the accidental deaths of 1620 Pte Samuel Joseph James (Long Eaton) and 2128 Pte William Moult (Albert Village) and the accidental wounding of 2195 Pte Harry Leslie Seckington, 2386 L/Cpl John H Wall (discharged 1916), 1706 Pte Arthur Richardson (discharged 1916) and 2447 Pte James Caulton (transferred to 21st Battalion) at LAPUGNOY on the 21st and 22nd October 1915.
Three witnesses stated that Pte James was in the process of throwing a No. 1 bomb when it exploded in his hand as he turned the cap around to “fire”.
2470 Sergeant T P Leese stated that the Bethune bomb used by William Moult was faulty and suggested a number of reasons for this.
Typical example of a Bethune Bomb fitted with a Nobel lighter, No. 10 fuse and detonator.
[For more images of Bethune bombs]
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]
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 