1.7.1917 Trenches: In conjunction with rest of Division one Company (“A” Company) attacked German positions West of Lens. Objective was gained but was not held.
Casualties during the operation:-
Reginald Charles Francis Dolley
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
2.6.1917: Lt & Adjt E KERSHAW MC and LT HW HIGHAM on short leave to England (10 days). Lieut J TAYLOR performed the duties of Adjt during absence of Lieut Kershaw.
Edward Kershaw and Harold Woolf Higham
Joshua Taylor
1/6th Battalion War Diary [WO/95/2694]
2-4th June: During this period work was concentrated on digging the assembly trench in the Cite De RIAUMONT. The enemy paid a good deal of attention to this work and frequently trench mortared and gassed our working parties.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
15.10.1916 BELLACOURT: Capt Seaton & Lieut Taylor rejoined from Third Army School.
15.10.1916 BELLACOURT: Lieut GKK Maughan to Third Army Infantry School.
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
15th: Enemy fired on BRETENCOURT in the morning without doing much damage.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
A miner from Model Village near Cresswell returned to England on this day. Jacob enlisted in February 1915 and had previously served with the Clay Cross Company of the 2nd Derbyshire Volunteer Battalion (1900-1905).
After serving in Ireland with the 2/6th Battalion he arrived in France with the IV Reinforcement in October 1915. The is no record of why he returned to England on this day, but after serving with the 5th Reserve Battalion and Army Reserve he was discharged in October 1917 aged 37 and awarded the Silver War Badge due to sickness.
17.9.1918 BAILLEUVAL: CAPT W SEATON & LIEUT J TAYLOR to 3rd Army School
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
Septr 17: Went to 3rd Army School at ———————. Cmae to a billet more like BRAINTREE. A splendid life. No responsibility, the comforts of an Officer with the duties and worries of as private.
[Lieutenant Josiah Taylor]
17th 1am: A patrol of the 7th Battalion located two German parties in front of BLAIRVILLE WOOD engaged them with a Lewis Gu & inflicted several casualties.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
4.6.1916 FONQUEVILLERS: Lt J TAYLOR for 3 days instruction in sniping. 2/Lt RD WHEATCROFT rejoined from England.
Ronald Duncan Wheatcroft
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
June 4: 4 pm received orders to go on a sniping course. I was to find a motor bus at entrance to village 4 miles away. I got to the village on a bicycle and found at least 5 entrances. I telephoned Bde for further & better particulars of entrance referred. Reply came crossroads in centre of village. This was an entrance I had not thought of but of course should have done.
6pm. Arrived on bus of Bde HQ of __ Bde in village of LUCHEAUX. Had tea with Genl & proceeded to billets.
It is a very nice little French watering place with splendid woods round. Trout fishing is popular here.
There are 7 Officers on this course. We have established a mess of our own in a house. I am mess president and therefore very busy buying sardines & c.
[Lieutenant Josiah Taylor]
June 4th: The 5th & 7th Battalions were relieved tonight by two Battalions of the 138th Infantry Brigade. The relief was completed shortly after 11 p.m.
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
13.5.1916 HUMBERCAMPS: Capt R Saxby took over Command and payment of Lr “C” Company.
Captain Reginald Saxby
War Diary [WO/95/2694]
May 13th: 8am arrived railhead. Found limber & mens cart & proceeded 14 miles to Battn. Country much better than previously. Battn resting in a village HUMBERCAMPS. Comfortable billets – very pleasant to be back. War seems very quite here – there is no firing have heard a gun yet & have seen only 1 aeroplane. There are no shelled buildings, shell holes or dead & our chief work seems to be digging fatigues at nigh
[Lieutenant Josiah Taylor]
Same working parties required from Battn and in addition a party of 90 other ranks (25 from 7th Battn S.F. & 65 from Bde M.G. Coy) to bury cable for 137 Inf. Bde.
9 Officers arrived:-
139 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters War Diary [WO95/2692]
(Many thanks to Stewart Simpson for making this transcript available)
Joshua Taylor was a Solicitors Articled Clerk in his Father’s business in Buxton and in 1911 the family lived at 4 Clifton Road. Joshua was Commissioned into the Notts & Derby Regiment in November 1914 from the Manchester University Contingent of the Officers Training Corps.
Joshua was appointed was appointed Signalling Officer and sailed with the 1/6th Battalion, 139th Brigade, 46th North Midland Division to France in February 1915.
He was transferred to England sick on the 11th August 1915 and after recuperating he was posted back to France in May 1916.
May 8th: 9.50 am left BUXTON. 5pm arrived FOLKESTONE. No boat – stopped at Pavilion Hotel.
[Lieutenant Joshua Taylor]
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 