A World War One 1914 - 15 Star and Victory Medal To 9405 Private Peter Willis, PoW who served with the 7th Battalion Suffolk Regiment

A World War One 1914 - 15 Star and Victory Medal To 9405 Private Peter Willis, PoW who served with the 7th Battalion Suffolk Regiment.

Peter Willis was born on 23 November 1880 and was from Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. The 7th (Service) Battalion, the Suffolk Regiment was a New Army battalion formed at Bury St Edmunds in August 1914 as part of K1. It came under command of 35th Brigade in 12th (Eastern) Division. Peter Willis entered the France theatre via Boulogne on 30 May 1915 on the strength of the 7th. He remained with the 7th until captured on the Somme at Albert during the German Spring Offensive 1918. According to German records this took place on 25/03/18, although this is almost certainly a mistake for 26th or 27th March, when the battalion went into the line to hold the advancing Germans east of Albert. By March 1918 he was serving with 'B' Company. 

On 24 March 1918 the battalion was in billets at Cantrainne, having marched there overnight from Estaires. At 11:45pm they embussed out, eventually arriving at Senlis the following day (25/03). That afternoon, they headed towards Fricourt, getting within 1 mile by 10pm but then being ordered back.

On the morning of the 26th the battalion was deployed initially to defend a line east of Albert, but was forced to withdraw through the town in the face of the advancing enemy. It then took position to defend the general line of the railway by Albert, 'B' Company on the left , 'A' on the right, 'D' in reserve and 'C' forming an outpost line, later pulled back once the bridges were destroyed, having inflicted some casualties on the enemy and then put to fill a gap in the line along the railway south of 'A' Company. In the face of enemy pressure, 'A' was forced back under strong enemy enfilade fire but 'B' and the right flank Company were holding. 'D' Company became engaged after the houses west of the railway line were taken, taking casualties and repelling enemy bombing attacks through the night. After being temporarily forced back around 10:30pm the overall line was regained by counter-attack and held overnight ('D' prolonging the line to the left of 'A' Company) until 11am on the 27th when 'B' Company were forced by heavy shellfire and withdrawal by a neighbouring battalion to fall back to the reserve line held by the 9th Essex in support. The war diary notes that this withdrawal was accompanied by considerable confusion and that only 53 out of 133 other ranks of 'B' rejoined the battalion after relief early the following day (28/03) at Henecourt; it was presumably at this point on the 27th that Pte Willis was separated from his Company and captured. When the defence was reorganised at 2pm on the 27th, 'C' occupied the high ground south of the Amiens Road, with one platoon in the area between the Millencourt-Albert track and Bouzincourt Road and another in Reserve, 'A' holding the immediate vicinity of the road, 'D' Company in part was put in the line with part of 'A', guarding the high ground up to the crucifix on the Millencourt Road. Relief took place on the 28th. By the end of the action the war diary reported 38 other ranks killed, 110 wounded and 96 missing.

Pte Willis was incarcerated at Althurst until repatriation, being listed in War Office daily list 5723 as 'reported as a prisoner of war in lists received from the German government', on 15 November 1918. Meanwhile, on 19 May 1918 the battalion was reduced to cadre strength and subsequently rebuilt, serving with the 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division to the end of the war. Pte Willis was listed as  released prisoner of war from Germany, returned to England, in War Office daily list 5777 of 21 January 1919; he was subsequently demobilised by transfer to the Army Class 'Z' Reserve on 9 April 1919.

7th (Service) Battalion

Formed at Bury St Edmunds in August 1914 as part of K1 and came under command of 35th Brigade in 12th (Eastern) Division.

30 May 1915 : landed at Boulogne.

19 May 1918: reduced to cadre strength. (Subsequently rebuilt and served with 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division 

Troops of the 7th (Service) Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, in the ruins of the church in Tilloy [near Arras], 18 October 1917. Imperial War Museum image Q6097

41435 Pte F H Sawyer, 11th and 7th Suffolks, Prisoner of War March 1918

41435 PTE FH SAWYER 11th and 7th Battalions, The Suffolk Regiment (PoW)

Frank Henry Sawyer was from Tunstall, near Woodbridge in Suffolk, born 30 April 1898. He attested his willingness to serve on 9 August 1916, aged 17 years 11 months, and was immediately posted to the Army Reserve until he became of age. A gamekeeper in civil life, he was mobilised on 20 or 21 February 1917 on posting to the 261st Training Reserve Battalion under the regimental number 6782, then 'B' Company, 262 Infantry Battalion. He was posted to the BEF on 18 September 1917, and transferred, probably whilst still at Infantry base depot, to the Suffolk Regiment on 23 September and then posted to the 11th battalion the same day.

He served overseas with 'C' Company of the 11th Suffolks (18/9 to 24/11 1917), being admitted to 104th Field Ambulance with ICT (inflammation of the connective tissue or skin infection) to his left knee on 9 November 1917; he then went to 20 Casualty Clearing Section to have it dressed on 16 November, followed by referral to No.10 General Hospital for ulceration over the patella and fluid in the right knee joint (synovitis). After returning to the UK for treatment and being placed on the strength of the Suffolk Regiment depot, he was discharged to duty from Eastleigh Hospital on 19 December 1917, joining the 3rd Battalion, the Suffolk Regiment on the 28th. 

On 15 February 1918 he was posted overseas to 'L' Infantry Base Depot and there joined the 7th battalion, the Suffolk Regiment four days later. (12/2 to 4/4 1918). He served with 'D' Company.

He suffered a Gun Shot Wound to his right wrist, and was  made a Prisoner of War in March 1918, being recorded on his service record and on ICRC records as captured at Albert on 30 March 1918 (this is interesting as, from the battalion's war diary, the Albert operations took place on 26-28 March and on 30 March the battalion was out of the line reorganizing at Henecourt; possibly Pte Sawyer was separated from his unit and attached to another, or evading capture alone until taken by German forces two days later). 

On 24 March 1918 the battalion was in billets at Cantrainne, having marched there overnight from Estaires. At 11:45pm they embussed out, eventually arriving at Senlis the following day (25/03). That afternoon, they headed towards Fricourt, getting within 1 mile by 10pm but then being ordered back.

On the morning of the 26th the battalion was deployed initially to defend a line east of Albert, but was forced to withdraw through the town in the face of the advancing enemy. It then took position west of the town, to defend the general line of the railway by Albert, 'B' Company on the left , 'A' on the right, 'D' in reserve and 'C' forming an outpost line, later pulled back once the bridges were destroyed, having inflicted some casualties on the enemy and then put to fill a gap in the line along the railway south of 'A' Company. In the face of enemy pressure, 'A' was forced back under strong enemy enfilade fire but 'B' and the right flank Company were holding. 'D' Company became engaged after the houses west of the railway line were taken, taking casualties and repelling enemy bombing attacks through the night. After being temporarily forced back around 10:30pm the overall line was regained by counter-attack and held overnight ('D' prolonging the line to the left of 'A' Company) until 11am on the 27th when 'B' Company were forced by heavy shellfire and withdrawal by a neighbouring battalion to fall back to the reserve line held by the 9th Essex in support. The war diary notes that this withdrawal was accompanied by considerable confusion and that only 53 out of 133 other ranks of 'B' rejoined the battalion after relief early the following day (28/03) at Henecourt. When the defence was reorganised at 2pm on the 27th, 'C' occupied the high ground south of the Amiens Road, with one platoon in the area between the Millencourt-Albert track and Bouzincourt Road and another in Reserve, 'A' holding the immediate vicinity of the road, 'D' Company in part was put in the line with part of 'A', guarding the high ground up to the crucifix on the Millencourt Road. Relief took place on the 28th. By the end of the action the war diary reported 38 other ranks killed, 110 wounded and 96 missing.

Fortunately Pte Sawyer was able to send his next of kin a post card, dated 18 April, to confirm that he was a prisoner of war. He was shown as missing on War Office Daily List No. 5585 of 06/06/1918. War Office Daily List No.5641, Report Date: 12/08/1918 advised that he had been Reported as Prisoner of War in lists received from the German Government.

Pte Sawyer was repatriated to Britain via Hull and returned to Ripon Camp.

He later served in Egypt. He was posted to the 1/5th Suffolks on 11 May 1919 and then, with effect from 3 October 1919, compulsorily transferred to the Middlesex Regiment and posted to the 2/19th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras) under the new regimental number 623391. At some point he was appointed Lance-Corporal. His military character was given on his Conduct Sheet as 'Very Good'. Prior to discharged he was medically examined at El Kantara and found to have a 20% disabling impairment to his right wrist. He was demobilised in 1920. He had one dependent, his mother, Mrs E Sawyer, and was pensioned at 8 Shillings a week after the war, for one year. His medals (British War Medal and Victory Medal,  being his full entitlement) were issued off the London Regiment roll.

Recent medals researched

WWI. - BRITISH VICTORY MEDAL. - TO: 12044. PRIVATE. W. DUNCAN.  HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY

William Duncan served as a Private in the 1st Battalion, Highland Light Infantry. Almost certainly serving in India on the outbreak of war, he entered the France theatre, via Marseilles, on the strength of the 1st Battalion on 30 November 1914. This would have put him in line to take part in the battles of La Bassee, 1st Messines and Armentieres in 1914 and Neuve Chapelle, Aubers Ridge, Festubert and Loos in 1915, before moving to Mesopotamia in December 1915. He was Listed as 'Wounded' in the Casualty Lists issued by the War Office from 8 and 9 April 1916, thus suggesting he was wounded some time in March 1916, possibly in the attack on the Dujaila Redoubt on the march to Baghdad. In this List his rank was given as Lance-Corporal.

He was sent to the Section "B" Army Reserve on 15 November 1919. For his service he was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, receiving these in the latter part of 1922.

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WWI. - BRITISH VICTORY MEDAL. - TO: 4182. PRIVATE. W. H. EDMONDS.  3rd. LONDON REGIMENT.

William H Edmonds was born on 20 March 1883 (or '86, sources vary) in Chelsea, London, where his next of kin were also resident. He served with the 2/3rd (City of London) Battalion, the London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) as a Private, first under the regimental number 4182 and then 251629. 

He went overseas to the France and Flanders theatre on 23 January 1917. He was captured circa 21/22 March 1918 at Quessy and made a Prisoner of War. At the time he was serving with 'A' Company. He was incarcerated in camps including Stendal.

He was listed in War Office Daily List No.5744, Report Date 10/12/1918 as a Released Prisoner of War from Germany, arrived in England. This List gave his Next Of Kin Address as Chelsea, S.W.

For his service he was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

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42756 Pte Lewis Musson Tyler, 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment, wounded 1918

Lewis Musson Tyler was born on 30 July 1899 at Ingoldsby, Lincolnshire. He was the son of William Musson Tyler, farmer (died 1909) and Eliza Tyler. An apprentice motor mechanic, he enlisted on 31 August 1917, aged 18 years 1 month. Passing through the Leicestershire Regiment (possible regimental number 15837) and Training Reserve (as TR/6/31439) - with some possible unrecorded service in the King's  Royal Rifle Corps - he served as a Private with the 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment under the Regimental Number 42756. Given his age he is unlikely to have gone overseas before the end of March 1918, when the minimum age was lowered from 19.

As L M Tyler he was listed as Wounded on War Office Daily List No.5592 of 14/06/1918, suggesting he was wounded in late April or early to mid May 1918. Possibly this was during the battalion's part at Riez-du-Vinage in the First Battle of Kemmel Ridge, 17-19 April 1918, or whilst in the line close to Busnettes, near Bethune, in Mid-May, where there appears to have been a steady stream of casualties. The war diary comments that there was "Much wiring and digging to be done. Front line is a series of posts and support line only dug in places. Wire bad". In the period in the front line from 12-20 May there were about 15 other ranks wounded and 2 killed. Pte Tyler was entitled to wear a "Wound Stripe" as authorised under Army Order 204 of the 6th July 1916, the terms of this award being named on this list. The list gave his Next Of Kin Address as Grantham.

Pte Tyler was discharged ftom Essex Regt at Warley on 4 October 1918, aged 19, under Army Order VI of 1918 paragraph 2a, and paragraph 392 xvi of King's Regulations.

He received Silver War Badge Number B20307, which he would have been issued shortly after discharge. He was pensioned at 16/6 weekly for one year from 5 October 1918. His postwar addresses were Wilford House, Huntingtower Road, Grantham and 50 Sherland Road, Twickenham.

His British War Medal and Victory Medal, although later returned for adjustment, would have been issued some time from June 1920 onwards. Subsequently he lived in Spelthorne, Surrey. In later life he may have served as a motor driver, being a member of the Morris Commercial Drivers Association, and joined the Royal British Legion (associated badge is numbered 216593). He died in 1975.

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PTE. THOMAS. B. PARTRIDGE. 88464. KINGS LIVERPOOL REGIMENT, Neurasthenia £47 posted

Thomas Benjamin Partridge was from Sileby and was employed as a shoe hand. He was born about 1881 in Syston, Leicestershire. On 21 October 1906 at Sileby he married Rachel Ward. In 1915 his residence place was 26, The Banks, Sileby, where he loved with his wife and son, Harold William Partridge.

Thomas Benjamin was also known in some sources as Benjamin Partridge.

He attested his willingness to serve on 8 December 1915, aged 34 years 1 month and was posted to the Army Reserve. From there he was mobilised and embodied into the 2/5th East Surreys, Kingston on Thames on 12 February 1917. After approximately seven months training he was posted to France for service with the 12th battalion, East Surrey Regiment on 15 September. However, within less than a week, he was transferred to the King's Liverpool Regiment and posted to their 2/7th battalion, then in the Ypres Salient. He was possibly one of a draft of 130 other ranks who joined from 38th Infantry Base Depot, arriving at 1.45pm on 21 September 1917, or the further draft of 50 which arrived on 24 September, both whilst the battalion was at Estree Blanche. By the beginning of October the battalion was at a total strength of 45 officers and 981 other ranks, fighting strength 37 officers and 923 other ranks. On the 20th October the battalion moved by 'bus to Proven and then marched to Plumstead Camp. This was followed by a move to Bridge Camp, Elverdinghe four days later and then to Soult Camp on the 25th, being caught by enemy bombing of the area that night, and then to Marsouin Camp in the support area on the 26th/27th. During this time the battalion was detaching men for various duties, forming working parties and supplying stretcher bearers, etc. On the night of 27/28 October the battalion suffered 24 other rank casualties from a gas shell bombardment and moved in the afternoon of 28 October to Eagle Trench to relieve the 2/6th Battalion. Relieving them in the front line at 5.30pm on the 30th, the 2/7th then remained there until 9.35pm on the 1st. During this time the battalion endured a 2 hour gas shell bombardment from 10.30pm on the 31st; in total 7 other ranks were gassed, 7 otherwise wounded and one killed. Meanwhile the portion of the battalion remaining at Bridge Camp suffered two bombing raids on the night of the 31st, with two other ranks killed and eight other ranks and two officers wounded. A further other rank was wounded on 1 November, location unspecified.

Amidst this, Pte Partridge served two months before being invalided home on 16 November. His S.N.B. [poss. Special Neurological Board] prior to discharge gave him the diagnosis of 70% disabling 'Neurasthenia' (one of the group of conditions often labelled 'Shell shock') dating from 1 November 1917, aggravated by active service.

After 107 days treatment for 'Disordered Action of the Heart', he was discharged from the King's Liverpool Depot as 'permanently unfit' on 25 February 1918. His Proceedings on Discharge gave his character as 'Good' and described him as 'a steady man'.

Unusually he appears to have been issued two separate Silver War Badges, Silver War Badge number 338,174 dating to March 1918, and then Silver War Badge number 497526 dating to 1920.

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VM to 315191 Pte F J Rawlins

Frederick J Rawlins enlisted on 27 October 1914 and served as 5039.

He served with the 16th (Sussex Yeomanry) battalion, the Sussex Regiment in the Egyptian theatre, going overseas in February 1917.

This battalion was formed from the 1/1st Sussex Yeomanry and previously served at Gallipoli, then with the 3rd Dismounted Brigade on the Suez Canal defences and subsequently in the Western Frontier Force. On 3 January 1917 it converted to infantry, becoming 16th (Sussex Yeomanry) Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, 230th Brigade, 74th (Yeomanry) Division.

Leaving Egypt on 30 March, on 7 May 1918 the battalion landed at Marseilles.

Pre Rawlins was gassed on 17 September 1918, during the Battles of the Hindenburg Line

Phase: the Battle of Epehy, 18 September 1918

Third Army (Byng)

IV Corps (Harper)

5th Division.

V Corps (Shute)

17th (Northern) Division

21st Division

38th (Welsh) Division.

VI Corps (Haldane)

Guards Division

2nd Division

62nd (2nd West Riding) Division.

Fourth Army (Rawlinson)

III Corps (Butler)

12th (Eastern) Division

18th (Eastern) Division

58th (2/1st London) Division

74th (Yeomanry) Division.

First Name:

F J

Surname:

Rawlins

Incident Details:

War Office Daily List No. 5701

Report Date:

21/10/1918

Rank:

Private

Service Number:

315191

Wound Stripe:

Entitled to wear a "Wound Stripe" as authorised under Army Order 204 of 6th July 1916. The terms of this award being met by being named in this list.

Casualty Listed As:

Wounded

Next Of Kin Address:

Bognor

Service:

British Army

Primary Unit:

Royal Sussex Regiment

Invalided to UK 20 September.

After the War lived in 174 London Road, Bognor Regis. He was pensioned for gas poisoning.

Awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal which he would have received late in 1920.

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1114/images/MIUK1914A_086376-00158?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&queryId=7fa04e9ef8ec3f10bd91ce5da612a771&usePUB=true&_phsrc=BhG7228&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&_gl=1*1dyuyl7*_ga*MTE4NzgwNDk4NS4xNTc5MzUyMzA0*_ga_4QT8FMEX30*MTY1NTc1NzM3MS44OC4xLjE2NTU3NTk0NjYuNjA.&pId=571160

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1914 - 1919 British War Medal S4-038971 CPL . J. Geddes  A. S. C.

James Geddes. Served with the Army Service Corps as a Private, later Corporal, under the regimental number S4/038971. Possibly like S4/039004 Thomas Everitt Tillbrook and S4/039008 Herbert Cyril Hodson he was a baker, and enlisted in December 1914. All three men entered the France theatre on 19 May 1915, possibly on the strength of 14th Field Bakery (to which Tillbrook was posted in January 1915, later transferring to 26th Field Bakery and serving at Gallipoli and in Egypt) or the 15th, with which Hodson served. Both of these were later located at Calais.

Discharged to the Army Class 'Z' Reserve on 10 May 1919. Entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, which he would have received between late 1919 and mid-1920.

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WW1 Victory Medal M2/178163  PTE D. T. DASS  A. S. C.

Pte Divan (or Diwan) Tulse (Tulsi) Dass (1882-28 January 1953) served during WW1 as a motor transport driver in the Army Service Corps. Like M2/178160 Arthur Shuffle and M2/178167 Peter McNicol (a chauffeur) he may have been mobilised around 10-16 May 1916, going overseas to France any time from about June 1916 onwards, and most probably employed as a motor lorry driver. For his service he was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal. He may be identified with Diwan T Dass who in 1914-15 is shown in the electoral register as a taxi-cab driver and living in Aberdeen at 11 Bon-Accord terrace as a tenant and occupant. His story (as Diwan Tulsi Das) is further described on the website of the 'Making Britain' project:

"Diwan Tulsi Das taught Hindustani at the University of Aberdeen. Das arrived in Britain in 1900 as a student in medicine. He eloped with [Grace] the daughter of Dr Charles Maxwell Muller and settled with her in Aberdeen. He took up a number of professions, including taxi driving, and served in the army during the First World War, before being appointed Lecturer in Hindustani at the University of Aberdeen in the 1920s." (Source: https://www.open.ac.uk/researchprojects/makingbritain/content/diwan-tulsi-das)

Diwan T Dass died in 1953, outliving his wife by seven years; both are buried, along with a number of their children, in Nellfield Cemetery, Aberdeen.

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BWM 57982 1AM B Bellchamber

Bertie Bellchambers was born in 1885, his father being a coachman, and mustered to the RFC on 25 January 1917, aged 32. His wife was Frances. Initially he was rank Air Mechanic 2nd Class, with his trade being Clerk (Tally Card). He served at No.1 Aircraft Depot, Royal Flying Corps, where he is also recorded as taking a turn at guard duty. After his transfer to the Royal Air Force he was ranked as Clerk 2nd Class, Clerk (Stores).

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BWM M/316575 Pte JJ Ellis ASC

John James Ellis was born circa 1898 in Hitchin. At enlistment (5 August 1916) he was an 18 year old fitter and lived at 15 Orchard Road, Baldock. He was mobilised between 21 and 30 April the following year. After training at tbe Army Service  Corps Motor Transport Depot at Grove Park, he served with various UK-based units until passing his "Learners" Test (Fitter) on 28 June 1918, whilst with No.1 Depot Company. From No 4 Mobilization Company he went overseas two months later on 26 August 1918 on posting to "76 Auxiliary MT Company (548 Coy)" (possibly 76 Company ASC, later 7 GHQ Reserve Motor Transport Company). He ended his overseas service with the 59th Division Motor Transport Company as a fitter and NCO, before being sent home for demobilisation in October 1919. He was transferred to the Army Reserve Class 'Z' on 24 November 1919. For his service he was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal. 

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70319 Pte R H Clark DLI BWM

Robert Harry Clark was born circa 1899 and enlisted on 12 September 1916. He appears to have been mobilised on 18 August 1917. After passing through the Training Reserve he served with the 22nd Durham Light Infantry as a Private, regimental number 70319.

He also served as 59766 in the East Yorkshire Regiment. At some point he suffered a gun shot wound to his thigh, and also (in 1918) gas poisoning, resulting in functional aphonia (loss of voice), judged to be 20% disabling.

He was discharged under paragraph 392 xvi a of King's Regulations on 1 September 1919 and entitled to the Silver War Badge, receiving badge number B301170. His postwar address was Briggs, Lincolnshire.

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4859 Robertshaw VM 

Jowett Robertshaw was born circa 1891. At the time of his attestation (6 December 1915) he lived at 12, School Street, Clayton, and worked for Aykroyd and Grandage as a dyer's labourer. Mobilised on 16 February the following year, he served as 4859 in the 3/5th and then 1/5th battalions, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment, in 147th Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Division, joining the latter in June 1916. Whilst attached to the KOYLI he was listed as wounded in the Casualty List dated 13 November 1916, indicating he was probably wounded in mid-October 1916, probably on the Somme. This gave his town of residence as Clayton, near Bradford. At about this time he must have been evacuated home and placed on the strength fo the 90th Territorial  Force Depot. 

Subsequently, from 2 July 1917 he served as Pte 256887 in 298th Reserve Labour Company and spent a period seemingly in civilian employment as part of the Army 'W' Reserve. From 11 April 1918, when he was recalled, he also served as Private/Acting Corporal/Corporal 57586 in the 3rd battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) and, from August 1919, in G Company, the 2nd Yorkshire Regiment. 

He was demobilized by discharge to the Army Class 'Z' Reserve on 1 October 1919, classed as medical category B3. He was pensioned at 8/- weekly for one year for a gun shot wound to the back. He was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal, which he would have received in 1921.

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Great War Pair with Miniatures 293833 Private H S Smith Middlesex and Essex Regiments 

293833 Private H S Smith served with the Middlesex Regiment, 2/10th Battalion. He was listed as Wounded  in War Office Daily List No.5439, Report Date 11/12/1917, suggesting he was probably wounded in mid-November 1917. This List gave his Next Of Kin Address as Canning Town, E.

He also served under the regimental number 56206 with the Essex Regiment. He was again listed as Wounded in War Office Daily List No.5711, Report Date 01/11/1918 (probably having been wounded in late September or early October), and thus was entitled to wear two Wound stripes.

British War Medal & Victory Medal Pair to [12/]24462 Pte J Roberts, 12th South Wales Borderers, wounded in action 23 November 1918, Battle of Bourlon Wood

British War Medal & Victory Medal Pair to [12/]24462 Pte J Roberts.

John Roberts was born in 1895 in Bethesda and was a miner by trade. Standing 5' 1 1/2" tall with a chest expansion of 33", he was a classic 'Bantam' by stature and employment, although noticeably off the chest measurement requirement of 34 1/2". (The 'Bantam' drive was a recruitment initiative aimed at men of good physique but shorter than the standard 5' 3" height requirement, such as miners.)

He enlisted, and was medically examined, on 22 May 1915 at St Helens. At his examination he was judged fit but required dental treatment. He was aged 19 years 3 months at the time. Apparently being recruited into the 18th (Service) Battalion, the Welsh Regiment (the second, after the 17th Welsh, of the 'Welsh Bantam' units to be formed, and also a 119th Brigade formation) as 28739,  he also spent time with the 22nd LR [Local Reserve?] (Reserve) Battalion, the Welsh Regiment. Possibly, like 28895[or 8?] and 12/24450 Raymond Knowles of Hyde, this posting to the 22nd Battalion took place around 11 September 1915. At some point he was then transferred to the 12th (Service) Battalion, South Wales Borderers. This was most likely after the end of September 1915, when the 18th Welsh was at full establishment strength whilst the 12th South Wales Borderers, as the fourth and last of the Welsh Bantam battalions was still below 1,000 men. Raymond Knowles' transfer took place on 18 December 1915 and given the close association of SWB service numbers, it is probable that Pte Roberts' transfer took place at this time also. 

Probably going overseas with the 12th SWB in 119th Brigade on 1 June 1916, it was with this unit that he saw all of his service overseas, including two breaks (possibly due to wounds or sickness) and one period of leave in France. His Army Form 268 (Proceedings on Discharge) was compiled following his wounding at Cambrai on 23 November 1917 and states that he served for 1 year 184 days in France between 1916 and 1917. Working back from a probable date for his medical evacuation home of early December 1917, this further reinforces the view that he was an original member of the 12th battalion upon going overseas.

The 12th (Service) Battalion (3rd Gwent), South Wales Borderers was raised in March 1915. The battalion was raised of 'bantams' (men of good physique but shorter than the standard 5' 3" height requirement) as part of a proposed two-division Welsh Army Corps. The Corps concept was never realised and instead the Welsh Bantam Brigade became the 119th Brigade of 40th Division.

The battalion embarked via Southampton and Le Havre to join the British Expeditionary Force,  France on 1 June 1916. After arrival in France, by 9 June the 40th Division concentrated at Lillers, west of Béthune in the Pas-de-Calais. It received its trench formation with units of the 1st Division in the course of June and then from 5 July took up a place in the front line, in the old Loos battlefield, where it remained until the end of October 1916. (Units of 119th Brigade initially took over the line in the right sector of the I Corps front, in the Calonne section.)

Marching down to the Somme sector and doing some training en-route, on 20 November 1916 the famous fighting Brigadier Frank Crozier took over command of the 119th. On 27/28 December the brigade took over the line at Rancourt, where it remained until March 1917. The brigade continued training and participated in its first significant actions following the German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line, in April 1917. The Germans had created an advanced 

outpost screen of occupied villages and high ground before the Hindenburg Line, which the 40th Division, along with the 8th Division, were required to take. The 12th South Wales Borderers distinguished themselves in the taking and holding of Fifteen Ravine, between Gouzeaucourt and Villers-Plouich, in front of the fortified village of La Vacquerie. The battalion, although understrength, managed to take and consolidate the position in the face of enemy sniper and machine gun fire and friendly shelling.

The brigade spent further time into the summer of 1917 working on trenches and roads in the sector as well as participating in training, brigade sports, and some raiding when in the line. This was supplanted by extensive training in mid-October to mid-November, including practice attacks on a wood, etc. Appropriately, at the end of the latter month the 119th Brigade took part in the Cambrai operations, relieving the 62nd Division in the line opposite Bourlon Wood in the afternoon and night of 22 November and, after a hurried reconnaissance by Crozier and Plunkett of the 19th RWF, launching the attack at 10:30am the following day. In particular, the 12th South Wales Borderers, advancing on the left of the brigade front through shellfire from the German counter-barrage, without the planned cover of smoke (due to traffic congestion over the battle-scarred roads immediately behind the front having held up the shells), and with limited tank support, took a leading part in the capture of Bourlon Wood. In this action the 119th Brigade, spearheaded by the 12th South Wales Borderers and 19th Royal Welsh Fusiliers each advancing on a two-company front, successfully advanced across the open ground south of the wood under cover of an artillery barrage upon its southern edge. Crozier narrates "...I watched the platoons approaching the Boche barrage but, although suffering many casualties, they never faltered. On reaching the wood (our artillery having lifted 200 yards) the wire was encountered [Crozier had noted the previous day during his reconnaisance that '...the wire on the southern end appeared thick, but by means of glasses I could see that there were diagonal lanes through the wire which decided me to advance in lines of platoons in the attack'] but platoon Comdrs soon found the lanes I had told them about, passed through them and were in the wood". They then took the well-defended wood through intense close-quarters fighting, taking both the German  first position (defended by the 3rd Battalion Infantry Regiment 50 of 214th Division) and the second position (in the higher, northern part of the wood, defended by the 1st and 3rd Battalions Lehr Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Guards Division). The description from the 19th Royal Welsh Fusiliers War diary and private writings of Lt Col Plunkett suggest that the combat was at close quarters with extensive use of the bayonet, attacking in line and getting round German posts, and using the superior mobility of teams armed with the Lewis light machine gun to direct fire from each flank of German machine gun positions in order to put them out of action.

Following this, units of the brigade mounted a successful subsequent defence over the succeeding two days against German counter-attacks, Lt Col Benzie of the 12th SWB being placed in overall command of the forces in the wood at the end of the first day. With some reinforcements from the 14th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, 15th Hussars, 11th King's Own, and 2nd Scots Guards, the 119th then held the wood, with the Brigade flanks unsupported, for three days until relieved by the 62nd Division. The taking of the wood  was considered a remarkable feat of arms and, generating many congratulations from senior officers from the Commander in Chief downwards, was later commemorated by the addition of an oak leaf to the division's 'bantam cock' divisional sign. Total casualties for the infantry of the 119th, according to the 40th Division HQ A&Q War Diary, were 60 officers and 1473 other ranks, of which 18 officers (including Major W.E. Brown, second in command) and 390 other ranks were of the 12th SWB.

Pte Roberts was most probably one of those who successfully crossed the open ground through the German counter-barrage and made it into the Wood, being wounded in action, shot at Cambrai on 23 November 1917, the day of the opening attack on Bourlon Wood. He suffered a bullet wound to his back, later judged for pensionable purposes as 20% disabling. After his return to the UK, probably in December 1917, from 5 February to 10 April 1918 he underwent 66 days of treatment, in which massage seems to have featured prominently, in hospitals including Seaforth Military Hospital and Southport War Hospital. In May 1918, at Hightown, he was medically graded B.i. ("Free from serious organic diseases, able to stand service on lines of communication in France, or in garrisons in the tropics: Able to walk 5 miles, see and hear sufficiently for ordinary purposes"). This was downgraded the following month to B.ii. His pensioner's record card noted that he was experiencing symptoms affecting both the legs (weakness) and bladder.

By 9 July 1918 Pte Roberts was serving (seemingly quite briefly) with the 3rd Garrison Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers in Ireland as number 87945. This battalion was based in Cork and then Crosshaven.

Clearly the army concluded that he could be most useful as a collier, as under Army Council Instruction 299 of 1918, he was discharged to the Army Class 'P' Reserve, for employment in a colliery (Sutton Heath and Lea Green), on 31 July 1918. In his Army Form.B.268 he was described as a "steady, sober, honest, industrious man" (interestingly it also suggested that his wound may have taken 1/2" off his stature). Following a period of employment, he was discharged under paragraph 392.xvi of King's Regulations on 21 January 1919. At the time his age was given (presumably incorrectly) as 19. He was entitled to the Silver War Badge, Number B.214376. He was subsequently pensioned (initially at 27/6 weekly) for the effects of a 20% disabling wound including pain to the back (especially on lifting), until at least late 1922.

His postwar address was 25-27 Allanson Street, Parr, St Helen's.

Pte F Newcombe, 8th York and Lancs R, Killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916

Pte F Newcombe, 8th York and Lancs R, Killed in action 1 July 1916

Frank Newcombe was born in 1894 in Heeley, Sheffield to William, a labourer in an ironworks, and his wife Christiana (née Grice). In 1901 he was living in Brightside, north of Attercliffe. Here the family, consisting of William, Christiana, Frank and his three sisters Florence, Elizabeth and Emmey, were boarders with Mrs Renshaw at No.16 Fleet Street. Later three further children were born, Marjorie, Mary Ann and Charles. In 1911 the family lived at 38 Edward Road, Attercliffe, the now 17-year-old Frank being employed as a pit pony driver in a colliery.

Frank served under the regimental number 12199, enlisting into the York and Lancaster Regiment at Sheffield on or about Saturday 29 August 1914, in a group of men all medically examined at Attercliffe on that day. Possibly having attested for service with the 6th (a K1 or First New Army battalion) when that battalion, formed at Pontefract, was reaching full strength, he probably spent time on the strength of the 7th (K2) battalion (possibly, like 12191 Joseph William Reed and 12193 Henry Kelwick, being posted to them on 8 September 1914) but seemingly did not proceed with them overseas. The reason for this is no longer accessible but may have been connected with sickness or injury. He ultimately served with the 8th battalion, a K3/Third New Army formation which was raised in September 1914 at Pontefract, landing in France in August 1915 as part of 70th Brigade in Babington's 23rd Division.

Seemingly part of a reinforcement draft, Pte Newcombe entered the France theatre of war the following month, on 23 September 1915, when the battalion was in reserve trenches in the line at Erquinghem. He would have subsequently joined the 8th in the field probably some time early the following month. At that time it was in the course of joining the 8th Division and alternating between time in the line and billets at Estaires and then Sailly (where the battalion temporarily amalgamated with the 2nd Berkshire Regiment, presumably for training purposes). The Red Cross Enquiry List indicates that as of July 1916 Pte Newcombe served with 'B' Company of the 8th, and it is reasonable to assume that he was  probably placed in this company at this time. 

The battalion spent November between the line at Foray House and billets at Rue des Quesnes, Bac St Maur and Fleurbaix. The war diary makes particular reference to working parties and to gas helmet practice and drill at this time. December saw the battalion in Corps Reserve at Steenbecque, undertaking much training before taking part in divisional manoeuvres in the latter part of the month. The battalion did not move out of Corps Reserve and back to Rue des Quesnes and then into the line at Eaton Hall until 11 January 1916. After a more eventful tour in the line with some casualties including one Major killed and another (the second in command) wounded, late January and early February saw the battalion in Divisional Reserve at Dump House and then Brigade Reserve at Fleurbaix, followed by a period in the line at Foray House. At this time elements of the 23rd Northumberland Fusiliers were attached to the battalion for familiarisation purposes. The rest of the month was spent alternating between Fleurbaix and Foray House, patrolling when in the line and coming under notably more active enemy artillery fire. The war diary noted one incident of the effect of rifle fire on a steel helmet, and also five cases of accidental injury during the period. A similar pattern applied during March, broken up by a daylight foray of a Sgt of 'A' Coy on 3 March to take a flag which had been put up during the night opposite the battalion lines; upon inspection it referred to a German 'Great Victory' near Verdun. During this period enemy machine guns were "more active than on any previous occasion when the Battalion has been in this line" [Foray House]. Two Companies of the 11th Royal Sussex were also attached to the battalion in the middle of the month, again for instructional purposes. Due to the fair weather it was noted that no-man's land was quickly drying up and more aeroplane activity was noted from both sides. 

At the end of the month the battalion moved down to Vignacourt in the Somme sector, as the BEF prepared for the great offensive, travelling down to Albert and then going into trenches in front of Authuille Wood on the 7th of April 1916. 

For the Somme offensive, the area allocated to III Corps (of which the 8th Division was by then a part) was astride the Albert-Bapaume road, with 8th Division on the left, north of the road, opposite Ovillers-la-Boisselle. 25th Infantry Brigade were to attack the village itself.

70th Infantry Brigade on the left would attack along Nab Valley (Blighty Valley) towards Mouquet Farm and capture the ground north of the village. 23rd Infantry Brigade would attack along Mash Valley, capturing the south of the village.

In the centre 2nd Royal Berkshire Regiment and 2nd Lincolnshire Regiments led the 25th Infantry Brigade attack on the village. Charging into the full weight of an artillery barrage the attack halted before it even got half way.

2nd Middlesex Regiment and 2nd Devonshire Regiment successfully negotiated Mash Valley and captured an area of German trenches. However with the attacks on either side of them stalling, they came under fire from three sides and were forced to retreat.

A similar situation faced 8th King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and 8th York & Lancaster Regiment in 70th Infantry Brigade on the left. They also captured an area of trenches but had no support from either side.

The battalion, as the leading battalion on the left of the 70th Brigade, assaulted from trenches in Authuille Wood ('The Nab'), leaving the trenches in perfect order but being met by very heavy fire from the front and flanks. Attacking in four waves, most men in the first wave were killed and wounded in the midst of No-man's land. A similar fate met the three subsequent waves which continued to follow them. Those who crossed No-Man's Land reached the German wire which was partially uncut; many were shot down in the cutting of it. Some seventy men passed over the German first and second lines and reached the third line; of these none were seen again. The remainder were held up in the first and second lines, fighting parties of the enemy who emerged from dug-outs and communications trenches. Eventually all the men in the second line became casualties.  Fighting continued in the first line and, in the face of a strengthened German assault, casualties in No-Man's Land were searched for ammunition and bombs. Eventually, whittled down into small parties of two and three, the remnant of the battalion was driven out of the first line and forced to retire. Of the 680 NCOs and men and 22 officers in the assault, 68 returned unwounded: 1 Sergeant, 3 Corporals, 10 Lance-Corporals, 54 men, no officers.

11th Sherwood Foresters sent up into support were stopped in no man's land by heavy machine-gun fire, and the trenches were abandoned. In the attack on Ovillers, 8th Division suffered 4719 casualties, among the highest of any division on the first day of the Somme.

Pte Newcombe was one of a large number of York and Lancaster men reported as missing, such a list featuring in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph of Friday, August 11, 1916, and also the War Office Daily Casualty List dated 10 August 1916. His entry in the latter was as follows:

First Name:

F

Surname:

Newcombe

Resided Town:

Sheffield

Report Date:

10/08/1916

Information:

Listed as "Missing" on the Casualty List issued by the War Office.

Rank:

Private

Service Number:

12199

Service:

British Army

Primary Unit:

York And Lancaster Regiment

A Mrs Newcombe, possibly his wife, put in hand enquiries via the Red Cross. Her address was 32 Radcliffe Street, Templeboro, near Sheffield; a negative response was provided in 1918. Meanwhile, Pte Newcombe's death was presumed on or after 1 July 1916. His financial effects of £1 5 Shillings and War Gratuity of £8 10 Shillings went to his widow, Jane. The couple had two children, Frank Newcombe and William Henry Newcombe.

Pte Newcombe is commemorated at the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, Pier and Face 14 A and 14 B.