Tag Archives: SAILLY LA BOURSE

On this day 21st October 1915

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21.10.1915 LAPUGNOY: 120 men& 2 Officers forming part of Brigade fatigue party under Capt E. H. Heathcote proceeded in Busses to LA BOURSE and were billeted at SAILLY LA BOURSE, and were employed in removing gas apparatus from trenches.

[Sailly La Bourse is a farming village situated 3 miles southeast of Bethune]

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Oct 21st. Running parade 9 – 9-30. 10-30 till 12-30 route march. Paid 20 frs in afternoon. Fatigue party for trenches, but I was not included. – very glad. Went to hear Pierrots at night – very good. Nice day, but rain from about 8 p.m. onwards.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]Pierrott

 

On these days 2-4th October 1915

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3.10.1915 FOUQUEREUIL: Battn moved to Billets at HINGES.

4.10.1915 HINGES: Bn (less details) embossed for SAILLY LA BOURSE and from there marched to trenches W of LOOS, where the Bn was employed converting old German trenches.

Casualties:- 1 man killed.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

The man killed was 2549 Pte Albert Smith from Buxton who was serving with C Company. He now has no known grave and he is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.

Wounded was 2026 Pte Harry Bellfield, a printer from Ashbourne, who suffered a shell wound to the right thigh and was transferred to England.

2026 Bellfield

3119 Pte Edward Bennet, a collier from Whaley Bridge, was transfered to England pending discharge due to age.

3119 Bennet3119 Bennet 2

Oct 2nd. Rose about 11-30 a.m. & had breakfast. Band played in afternoon in market place. Went out about 3 p.m. round the town & had a good tea. Nice town. About six shells dropped on it during morning. 6 French soldiers hurt. Very nice day.

Oct 3rd. Rose about 6 a.m. had breakfast & packed up. Set off from Bethune about 8-30 a.m. and got to Hinges about 11-30 a.m.

Billeted in barns – quite comfortable. Cleaned up in afternoon & had a walk round after tea. Very nice day.

Oct 4th. Rose at 8 a.m. & had breakfast. Rifle inspn 10 a.m. Moved suddenly at 4 p.m. battn to captured trenches (part way in motor buses), but I was left guarding blankets, etc. – nice job. Very nice day. Attd 1st Army Corps.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

Our method of approach to the vicinity was rather unique, about five kilometres on foot and the remainder of the journey to the commencement of the communication trenches just behind Loos, in London Omnibuses, it was a very rough ride, lurching, swaying into shell holes, stopping, starting, avoiding the other transport, and then the picture from the top deck, – remember the old London omnibus of 1914 had no roof, – the rise of the Verey lights over the troubled battle fronts, the flashes of artillery fire, explosions of shells and mortars made a very vivid scene in the darkness from the top of a bus. The snaking of that convoy of buses over the shell torn roads made a remarkable sight.

[2305 Pte Frank Longson]Omnibus