Tag Archives: the Sherwood Foresters

On this day 25th March 1915

NEUF BERQUIN 25.3.15. 1st Battalion marched to SAILLY.

War Diary [WO/95/2694].

25th March 1915. The battalion went out trenching. I got a pass to go down to Neuf Berquin to see the Sherwood Foresters go. Had a chat with Ges Barnes and Joe Bennett, they had many tales to tell of what they had seen. They marched of at about 4-30 with our band.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]

Mar 25th. Trench digging ( for bomb throwers to practice in) 9-11 a.m. 5-7 p.m.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

Note: I have not been able to identify either Ges Barnes or Joe Bennett although there are several candidates.

On this day 2nd December 1916

Whilst at Sus St. Leger (West of Arras) the Brigade were inspected by G.O.C. the Division who congratulated them on the “Maron Past” (which is a mystery to me!).

He also presented Military Medals to:-

  • 570 CSM. George William Dakin a tinsmith from Ashbourne.
  • 71 Sgt. William Hopkins a groom gardener from Bakewell.
  • 1450 Sgt. Charles William Woolley a farm labourer from Matlock.
  • 1464 Sgt. Wilfred Longson a shop assistant from Chapel-ne-le-Frith.
  • 2323 Cpl. Arthur Stroyan a striker and turner from Ashford.
  • 1936 L/Cpl. Vernon Samuel Smith a tube drawer from Chesterfield.
  • 1644 Dmr. James Chatterton a print works labourer from Birch Vale.
  • 1790 Pte. Samuel Dawes a coal miner from Chesterfield.

Smith

Smith 2

On this day 13th October 1915

At 2pm on Wednesday the 13th October men of the 137th and 138th Brigades left the assembly trenches and crossed no-mans-land towards their objectives and at the same time men of the Sherwood Foresters moved forward in support. “A” Company (Robinson) remained in the support trenches whilst “B” (Dick) and “D” (Wheatcroft) Companies pushed forward to the Dump in support of the 5th South Staffordshires, which was the right leading Battalion of the 137th Brigade.

During the early afternoon 2/Lt Lytle and the Battalion Grenadiers were ordered to bomb Slag Alley and Dump Trench. However this provided impossible so in response to repeated messages for assistance William Lytle took his section of grenadiers to the south end of Big Willie and remained there until the night of the 14th. During this time he led two bombing attacks on Big Willie and in the second attack 1373 Cpl Ernest Jordan penetrated nearest to the German trench block and was the last man to retire. He was aided in this attack by 2156 Sergt. Thomas Taylor and 3234 A/ Cpl Ernest Munday and all four men were mentioned in despatches.

Loos