I’m not quite sure where I am going with this page yet!
I want to record the North Midland DIvision’s involvement in the early mining endeavours at Ypres in 1915 and also at Vimy Ridge in spring 1916.
This will take the form of several themes:-
1) The North Midlanders that joined the Brigade Mining Sections and later the Tunnelling Companies of the Royal Engineers.
2) The North Midlanders that were killed due to either British, French or German mine explosions.
Transfer to the Royal Engineers Tunnelling Companies.
North Midlanders killed with mining sections during offensive operations
2625 Pte. George Marsh (1/5th Battalion) aged 31 and a miner from Belper. Killed in action on 17th July 1915 with the 172 Tunnelling Company Royal Engineers (WO 95/244) and is buried in Voormezeele Enclosure No.3.
George previously served 8 years with 1st Vol Battn Notts & Derby before re-enlisting in the 1/5th Battn in October 1914.
1988 Pte John Fewkes (1/5th Battalion) aged 19 and a miner from Linton near Swadlincote. Missing in action on the 19th April 1916 with the 180 Tunnelling Company (WO 95/488) and Commemorated on the Arras Memorial.
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 