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Home , Alfred Cheetham, East Lancashire Regiment, Lancashire Fusiliers, Lancashire Regiment, Longueval, Manchester Regiment

The four officers having a lovely time in early 1918 are with the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion at Thirtle Bridge Camp near Withernsea. The photo indicates ‘Ert, Allan and Bill have already earned their MCs whilst Gus had nothing showing on his uniform. All four are recuperating from wounds before returning to . The photo is amongst the collection held by John Sloan, Gilbert Mackereth’s (‘Ert’s) first cousin. Read more on Page 12 about how the photo came to light and how Gus subsequently got a better gong. Editor’s Musing same when they were killed, and in fact would have served together I remember being concerned as the for a period between July and September copy deadline for Despatch loomed that 1917. Hartley would undoubtedly have this Issue may not get to 20 pages let been close by when Armer was killed, alone 24. However in the few days and would have felt the loss of a friend. th before we left for France on 8 October Sadly, Hartley was to share a similar fate and whilst away things flowed and we two months later, falling victim to the now have the largest Despatch yet. same killer: Artillery. Thanks to all contributors. In November 1917 Hartley was with Having secured fuel and avoided riots the 11th (Lonsdale) we were approaching Longueval on site west of Poperinghe. The early part of the visits for my talk next June (see P 27) month was occupied with Battalion when I feared our luck had run out as we training. Then on the 24th November, the met Police, mob and flags. Thankfully Battalion moved to the Bellevue Area (see back page) things were not as I (Ypres Salient) and began to undertake a feared and I was pleased the inscription relief of the trenches. The next day the on the rear of the memorial mentioned Lonsdales were in the front-line when one of the themes in my future talk. they suffered a massive enemy artillery Back home from France and barrage, which was effectively targeted reconnecting with sport headlines I muse on their positions. As a result 3 Officers about the level of Esprit de Corps that is were wounded, 12 Other Ranks (O.R.s) manifest by certain football superstars were killed, 35 O.R.s were wounded and and whether they would ever dream of 7 O.R.s posted missing. Hartley was one visiting the Footballers’ Memorial to pay of the wounded men, suffering from homage to their football forbears who severe wounds in the arm and leg. He gave their tomorrow for our today. was moved out of the line and admitted

to the Casualty Clearing Station at MORE INFORMATION FOR ARTICLES WHEN: Dozinghem, but was overcome by his (+P) : photos, maps in Photo Gallery, wounds the next day. The sister who had (+S) : supplementary information report See our website www.wfanlancs.co.uk and attended to him at the hospital had the unenviable task of writing to Hartley’s look against this Despatch mother to inform her of her son’s death.

Two QES Old boys had been killed by QUEEN ELIZABETH GRAMMAR artillery bombardments in as many SCHOOL, KIRKBY LONSDALE, ROLL months, both serving with a local OF HONOUR: c/o Oliver Wilkinson regiment.

In fact the parallels between these two William Herbert HARTLEY Acting th former pupils run even deeper. Hartley Corporal, 25804, 11 Border Regiment started school at Queen Elizabeth (Lonsdale) Grammar just as Armer was leaving, and

like his elder, Hartley enlisted into the William Herbert Hartley’s service in Cadet Corps. The natural progression many respects mirrors that of a fellow ‘old from here was to become a member of boy’ Arthur Armer (see May 2009 the 4th Border (Territorial) Regiment, Despatch). Both were serving with the which Hartley duly did. Hartley also 2 seems to have been somewhat ‘green- “We have not had a bad “Do” on Xmas fingered’, spending the years Day. I was unlucky enough to be on immediately before the war farming, guard so that I had my dinner cold. It gardening and assisting his father in the seems very strange to have such a warm green grocery business, located on time at Xmas. It’s as hot today as in the Market Street, Kirkby-Lonsdale. When middle of Summer at home. To-day I war arrived, Hartley fulfilled his obligation killed a grass snake 4 ½ feet long, just as as a territorial soldier, and was sent with it was running up a tree. It was as green the 4th Border Regiment to and as the grass and a little thicker than an eel.” The India experience would certainly have broadened the outlook of young men like Hartley, who was 21 when he wrote the above letter. Once he had completed his period of service in the Territorials, Hartley, as well as Armer, returned to Burma. Other Kirkby men, including . The two men re-enlisted former QES pupils like Arthur Armer, also together in the 1st Border Regiment on went out to India with the 4th Borders. As 28th June 1916 at Kendal, their new a result this territorial formation would service numbers running consecutively have, to a large degree, held the spirit of (Armer, 25803, Hartley, 25804). After re- a one of the famous ‘Pals’ Battalions, enlistment the two friends separated, where men who had lived, studied and Armer being sent to France to join the worked together would all go off to war Regiment, while Hartley remained in together, to fight and even die together. England acting as an instructor in various Undoubtedly Hartley and Armer would stations in the north. He must have held have felt a sense of comradeship through the rank of Acting Corporal at this time, their common ties to the same and was clearly a very competent soldier community and school. The 4th Borders to be asked to instruct. At the beginning were engaged in policing the British of July 1917, however, Hartley re-entered Empire, but for many of the soldiers it ‘theatre’ joining the 11th Border Regiment, was the exotic environment, with its which was engaged in a heavy resistance strange climate and colourful wildlife that of the line at Nieuport. Hartley and Armer proved most captivating. Hartley would now have been serving together encapsulated these feelings when he again, although Armer was now a wrote home at Christmas 1915: commissioned officer. In September, however, Armer was killed, and Hartley was not to out-live his co-patriot for very 3 long. Artillery killed them both. Hartley area with special reference to features of was buried close to the Casualty Clearing military relevance. Station where he was taken, in In October 1914 he was commissioned Dozinghem Military Cemetery. and joined the Intelligence Staff of the Though gone William Herbert Hartley GOC Middle East. He became famous was not forgotten. Queen Elizabeth for his involvement with Arab irregular Grammar School remembered him in troops in operations against the Ottoman their Roll of Honour, and the Roll of Empire until the end of WW1. Post-War Honour that now hangs in St Mary’s he was disappointed at what he Church, Kirkby Lonsdale, also records his considered to be failure by the British name. Perhaps most powerfully, Government to fulfil their promises to the however, was the tribute that his family Arabs. After a period working for the paid him. His mother, brother and sisters Foreign Office he enlisted in the RAF in remembered their hero, and after peace 1922 under an assumed name. After was declared in November 1918 they exposure he changed his name again printed a notice of remembrance to and joined the Tank Corps in 1923 but William in the local paper. It simply read: was unhappy there and rejoined the RAF in 1925. “His end was peace” He was a keen motorcyclist and two months after leaving the RAF in 1935 A NOTABLE MEMORY - THE FUNERAL was fatally injured when he came off his OF LAWRENCE OF ARABIA: Joe motorcycle near his cottage in Dorset. Hodgson He died six days later on 19th May. The nearby Moreton Estate was owned by In August this year I was fortunate to family cousins, the Frampton family, and th enter my 90 year and still retain my his mother arranged for Lawrence to be good memory for many things military. buried in their family plot at Moreton Consequently it has been suggested that Church. my interesting When my Dad heard about Lawrence's notable death and funeral he said to me "Do you memorable want to go to Lawrence of Arabia's moments which, funeral?". Of course I said "Yes” so we however loosely, set off in the family car (a second hand can be related to Rover). We had a family car because the Great War Dad had started a Coach Firm in 1925 should be shared and it was doing well. He called it Bon with readers of Chaunce Motors. He spelt it as he heard Despatch. behind the Front (It should be Thomas Edward Lawrence was born "Bonne Chance"). He also had driven a th 16 August 1888 and after graduating Leyland Lorry in the Royal Flying Corps from Jesus College, Oxford in 1910 so like Lawrence he was an Aircraftsman worked as an archaeologist in the Middle 1st Class. East. In January 1914 he worked for the He drove through the night. I slept on British military and as well in undertaking the back seat under a travelling rug but an archaeological survey of the Negev every now and then the car was flooded Desert produced updated mapping of the with light from the street lamps as we 4 passed through a town. There were no interesting place. One day we went motorways then. In the morning we through Wool and found Moreton Church. arrived at Dorchester where we had a In the churchyard we found Lawrence's wash and superb breakfast in the grave with the biblical quote on the Soldiers Home. headstone. Then on to find Moreton where Dad parked the car and we joined the crowds “The hour is coming, and now is, lining each side of the street. After a when the dead shall hear while the coffin passed by followed by the voice of the VIPs, Politicians, and Generals etc. SON OF GOD Being a schoolboy I don’t think I and they that hear shall live” recognised many of them. It was much later in my life I read about how We went into the church and saw the Lawrence had led the Arabs against our etchings on the windows. We went on Turkish enemies. Then much, much later from here to find Lawrence's house the film told the story brilliantly. "Clouds Hill". It was open so we went In 1981 my wife Elsie and I spent a round. I saw the sleeping bag he used, week at a guest house in Swanage in and his gramophone etc. It was so long Dorset, most days out we went to an ago I cannot remember more.

A Favourite Card: Andrew Brooks.

Issue No. 3 of ‘Despatch’ contains a short account of the trip to view the site of the Colsterdale camp which members of the branch visited in 2008. The Leeds Pals had arrived at this camp, on a hillside a few miles from Masham, on the 25th September 1914 and they did their battalion training in the area before moving to Ripon for brigade training in June 1915. The personalised Christmas card illustrated was sent by Private Frank Saxby of ‘D’ , Colsterdale Camp, North Yorks. I wonder how many others amongst the battalion would have gone to the trouble and expense and I suspect that his parents, George and Louisa Saxby of Pontefract had them printed for him. The Leeds Pals sailed for in December 1915 and guarded the Suez Canal until March 1916 by which time the threat of a Turkish invasion had diminished. They were then sent to the Western Front and arrived in the area of the Somme. They went into trenches for the first time between Hawthorn Redoubt and the Redan on the 29th 5 March (a spot well know by some members of the branch thanks to the excellent guided walks led by Harry Taylor). For an account of their experiences over the following few months I would suggest reading ‘Leeds Pals’ by L.Milner. On the 13th July the Leeds Pals moved north, away from the Somme, to billets at Vieille Chapelle. Here the front line was different from the one on the Somme and when they moved into the trenches on the 18th August they discovered the line was not continuous but rather a number of strong points in low-lying wet ground. On the 20th August they were attacked. After ‘Stand down’ in the morning the Germans started to shell them but it was not observed that they were also cutting three paths through the wire and across No Man’s Land for a raiding party. The attack was not a success but the Pals lost one officer and six other ranks, including Frank Saxby. He is buried in Le Touret Military Cemetery, Richebourg-L’Avoue. Plot 1V, Row A, Grave 44. Frank was aged 20. There have been numerous additions MUSEUM REPORTS throughout the website. These include the addition of new photographs and a King’s Own Royal Regiment Museum, number of group photographs not Lancaster: Peter Donnelly previously digitised and added to the photo gallery pages. The listing of the The summer months are always a busy holdings we have on the 1st/4th and time for the King’s Own Museum and this 1st/5th Battalions in the First World War year has been no exception. The media provides a full index for the first time. coverage of the 70th Anniversary of the The Museum was able to purchase an Battle of Britain and the start of the Blitz archive collection of General Sir has once again marked an increase in Archibald Hunter, who was Colonel of the interest in family, and through that, Regiment 1913-1926, the letters include Regimental History. Despite being correspondence with Lord Kitchener and sparked off by the media covering World Field Marshal Haig. Hunter was a close War Two there continues to be great personal friend of Kitchener, indeed each interest in the First World War. was the other’s best man! Hunter never One way in which the museum can obtained the field command that he had effectively reach out to a wide audience, much longed for in the First World War, including many people who are unable to but instead was GOC Aldershot visit in person, is through the website. Command for much of the war and 6 responsible for the training of the TWO SHIPS HOTEL 1914-1918 ROLL expanding army. Hunter’s archive has OF HONOUR: Philip Mather, Museum now been digitised and can be found on Officer, The Museum, Bury. the museum’s website, there is a link from the home page: In last November’s Despatch a brief www.kingsownmuseum.plus.com mention was made of the memorial The acquisition was generously ‘Honours Board ‘ that was displayed in supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. the new Fusiliers Museum in Bury. The The great civic pride in which First Board had been rescued from the defunct World War soldiers were held is seen in Tap and Spiel public house in many forms, the Borough of Salford by Captain the Lord Havering, a veteran presented illuminated certificates to of the Second World War. By chance in acknowledge a soldier’s gallantry, the 2003 he had seen the Board in situ in the Borough of Lancaster presented tribute derelict pub and realized that one of his certificates to the next of kin of the fallen. ancestors was recorded on it. Therefore The townsfolk of Millom were quick to to preserve the Board and prevent it from acknowledge their own local hero. In July being broken up and assigned to a skip, 1917 Lance Sergeant Tom Fletcher he bought the pub! As there was no Mayson of the 1st/4th Battalion, King’s immediate solution as to where the Board Own, won the in action at could be displayed in Rochdale it went Wieltje. He received the Victoria Cross in into storage in Scarborough. Over the October 1917, and then in December he next few years, in collaboration with the received an enthusiastic welcome in MP for Rochdale, Paul Rowen, an Millom and his home village of Silecroft, attempt to find a suitable site if not in where he was presented with a gold Rochdale then elsewhere in the north watch, chain, medal and illuminated west. Success eluded them until Major address. The chain and medal have just Edmund Gartside, a member of the been acquired, by purchase, for the Museum Project Steering Group got King’s Own Museum and they will go on involved and offered a place in the new display along with Mayson’s original . The rest as they say is medals. The Friends of Lancaster City history and the Board is now proudly Museum have very generously funded displayed in the Normandy Room for all the entire acquisition, their assistance is to see. much appreciated. Sadly there is no trace The Board was originally of the watch or illuminated address. commissioned by the management of The medal and chain will go on what was the Two Ships Hotel, Queen permanent display along with the five Street, Rochdale. In the immediate original Victoria Crosses which are in the aftermath of the Great War this type of King’s Own Museum. memorial was common in places of Don’t forget to visit the museum’s entertainment or work. Many streets also website which is packed full of had their own memorials. Sad to say information for anyone interested in the most are now lost and this board is a rare King’s Own in World War One. survivor of this period. The Board measures 10 feet 4 inches THINK WHAT A SON SHOULD BE AND in width and 5 feet 2 inches in height. It HE WAS THAT - S Loag 9th Bn Highland Light Inf is made of wood and had eight panels in 7 the form of extended opened scrolls with The Queen Street area of Rochdale curly bottom edges and pins. It is had a large Irish community by 1914, decorated with gilt roses, a field gun, a many of whose ancestors had come to tank and aeroplane. The design also Rochdale to work in the textile mills includes two flaming grenades carved in following the famine in in the wood alluding to the Fusilier connection 1840’s. Initially shunned by the native with Rochdale. It is inscribed: Rochdale folk because of their way of life and religion, most of them settled in an ‘In honour of all our boys who served in area near the bottom of Whitehall Street the Great European War. called Mount Pleasant but locally known War declared August 4th 1914 Peace as the Mount. They lived in hastily built Proclaimed June 28th 1919’ back to back houses, cellars and garrets and the Mount became one of the worst Within the eight panels are recorded slums in Rochdale. The area had many 239 names of those men who frequented pubs one of which was the Two Ships on the pub and served in the Great War. Queen Street. Information recorded includes initials and When Kitchener called for volunteers the details of the regiment that they in 1914, men from the community served in. Crosses before names denote responded for many reasons including, those who died during the war. Seventy pay, food, uniform, a sense of patriotism, five (LFs) are excitement, action and adventure, for many it was simply a chance to get away from the poverty. More than 240 from the area (239 names on roll) are said to have joined up and one in six were killed. For an English town, Irish names such as Cleary, Brannon, Connors, Devaney, Donnelly, Finnerty and O’Day are in the majority. The roll of honour was said to Studying the Memorial have been paid for by the customers of recorded, roughly one in three. A the pub who used to have a collection number of Irish are listed, every Sunday dinner time. It was put up presumably as a consequence of the about 1920 and was regularly cleaned. large Irish community that lived in The lettering was re-guilded some years Rochdale and worked in the textile later and the customers paid for that. industry. Groups of names stand out In the 1930’s the remaining slums in including five Devaney’s, six Duffy’s, four the Queen Street area were gradually Heveron’s (three killed), six Kelly’s and cleared and when the pub was pulled four Nyland’s. How many of these were down, the roll of honour was installed in a from immediate family or extended family new Two Ships pub, close to the original is not known. Some of the initials used to one, which opened in 1940. The pub denote regiments remain a mystery to us changed its name to the Tap and Spiel as they are not the official Army (Spile) and the Board was kept in a side abbreviations. These include BF, MS, passage until the pub was taken over by FFA, (RFA?) and LCRS. There is more a chain (Pubmasters) who had it cleaned work to be done here. and placed in a more prominent position. 8 However as the population in Rochdale the Royal Navy won the day. The USS gradually shifted, the pub became Chesapeake was captured following a uneconomic, closed and became derelict. hand to hand fight after being boarded. It was at this point in 2003 that Captain The battle only lasted some fifteen the Lord Havering purchased the site to minutes with twice as many casualties rescue the board. being inflicted on the American Navy than With the assistance of Marjorie Molloy I were suffered by the Royal Navy. have completed some initial research on I will conclude by saying that museums a handful of names recorded on the are about objects, and our role in board. My first conclusion is that the museums is to seek to discover what the board is not accurate and certainly information is that can be obtained from should be regarded with some suspicion the object. Clearly objects can tell many as a source of historical information. stories and the Two Ships Board does Nevertheless it is an important snap shot just that. The stories range from the of the impact of the Great War on the exploits of the Lancashire Fusiliers in the community that frequented the pub at the Great War, to the history of the Irish beginning of the 20th Century. For immigrant community in Rochdale. example: Finally one parting thought and it is so F Butterworth LF MM. No mention of often the case that this unique piece of an F Butterworth MM in Soldiers Died. history survived not by careful planning There is mention in the Lancashire but by plain chance. Fusiliers Regimental History of an E Butterworth MM, who survived (not on HIS WORK IS DONE HERE BUT STILL CWGC/Soldiers Died) of 2nd /5th Bn which REMAINS WITH US THE MEMORY OF HIS LIFE - Pte L Wild, RASC might indicate he was a Bury lad not a

Rochdale one. Ormsby MM. Not recorded in the Personal Papers of 31461 Private John Lancashire Fusilier MM list. S. Royden, 11th (Service) Battalion, East Harris T. Some information – 9th Bn : Jane Davies East Surrey, born Rochdale, enlisted (Curator, QLR Museum) Rochdale. Died 17th April 1917 in France and Flanders. L/Sgt number 830, MM. The personal letters of Private John Buried in Bully Grenay Communal Royden of the 11th (Service) Battalion, Cemetery which is fourteen miles north of have recently Arras. been donated to the museum. The The two ships after which the pub was archive consists of 50 letters written by named were the Shannon and the Private Royden to his family from 1917 to Chesapeake. Both ships were involved 1918. It is a fascinating archive, not in the First World War but in the War shedding light on the actions of Y of 1812-14 between Great Britain and the Company. It details the battles that the United States of America. HMS Shannon Battalion were involved in, attacks from was involved in an action with the USS zeppelins as well as the boredom Chesapeake just outside Boston Harbor. suffered by the troops when they were Both ships were frigates and were evenly out of the trenches. matched as regards size. However the A particular letter, dated 15th April 1918 superior tactics, discipline and gunnery of goes into detail about the Battalion’s 9 successful defence of Bleu (1 ml east of ‘escapade’. ‘I was running across a field Vieux Berquin) during the second attempt to get out of the way of a Jerry’s machine by the German Army to break through the gun which was trying to put my light out. Western Front. The days leading up to I jumped into a muddy stream and stuck the 15th April had seen particularly heavy there for about a minute absolutely fighting. During this time numerous drenched all over before I could scramble towns and villages were captured by the out. I felt a bit wet all the next day but am Germans, including Armentieres which now more or less dry.’ At the end of the had previously been thought of as being letter, Royden states ‘I think I can say I’m immune from enemy occupation. a soldier now.’ In the face of extreme danger, orders Private Royden’s archive can be were received by the 31st Division to viewed by appointment at the Queen’s ‘arrest at any cost the enemy’s advance Lancashire Regiment Museum. We are towards Hazebrouck.’ The 11th Battalion open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and swung into action, coming face to face on Thursdays from 9.30 to 16.30. We are April 12th and 13th, with ‘no less than five also open on Saturdays from 10.00 to and a half enemy divisions.’ The 31st 16.00. Division were successful in repelling the Regiment Archive: Larysa German advance though with the Bolton Archivist (+P) Regimental History stating ‘By their prompt action on the morning of the 12th, The Archive and by the stubborn way that they clung Catalogue is now available online. The to their positions on the 13th in the face of catalogue for the holdings of Tameside three direct assaults, the 11th East Local Studies and Archives, which Lancashires can surely claim to have includes the Manchester Regiment taken no small part in helping the 31st Archive, has been made live and is Division successfully to accomplish its available through our website at mission.’ At the end of the battle, 35 men http://www.tameside.gov.uk/localstudies. had lost their lives, 47 were missing and Just click on the ‘Catalogue’ links. This is 158 men had been wounded. good news for all interested in the Private Royden’s letter describes the and the Western Front as it action in an understated manner. ‘Well to means that it is much easier to find start the tale of my adventures. We went material in our collection. You can up the line last week and right into our search the catalogue using words in first action. I cannot recount everything much the same way as you would use a that happened, but the old ‘sweats’ tell us search engine like Google. that it was the worst ‘do’ they had ever A good example of how useful the been in, so you can imagine our baptism online catalogue is for finding material is of fire was quite thorough enough.’ He to use Manchester Hill as an example. goes on to recall a narrow escape, ‘It was Readers may be aware that this is a when a shell from our artillery fell short significant place in the history of the and exploded near the funk hole where Manchesters and that they fought on Stokes and I were stationed side by side. Manchester Hill twice. The 2nd Battalion A lump of shrapnel (almost red hot) attacked the hill on 2 April 1917 and dropped on my shoulder, but did no captured six machine guns and six 77mm damage.’ He also mentions another field guns. On 21 April 1918, the 16th 10 Battalion, commanded by Lieutenant TOO FAR AWAY YOUR GRAVE TO SEE Colonel Wilfrith Elstob DSO MC, DEAR LAD NOT TOO FAR TO THINK OF defended the hill against an enemy THEE – Sapper A Lobley 2nd Aus attack. Most of the battalion who were on Tunnelers the hill were killed or wounded, Elstob being amongst the dead. Plaque dedication at the Savoy Hotel, There are a number of sources in the Blackpool: Pam Hall, Wales (North) archive relating to Manchester Hill and Branch (+P) Francilly Seleny. They can be easily found by typing these names into the On the 20th June, 2010, a small group online catalogue. They include of members of the Western Front MR1/2/1/8, an envelope of material from Association, together with Ted Lieutenant Colonel Thornycroft, CBE Lightbown, a local historian from DSO, of typescript and manuscript Blackpool, attended the dedication of a accounts of the operations by the 2nd Battalion along with a General Staff Map of the district around St Quentin. MR1/2/3/11 is a collection of five aerial photographs (see Photo Gallery) of the area, which can be used in conjunction with the map. The photographs are endorsed “St Quentin” and “Manchester Hill Redoubt” and were used by the 16th Battalion. Also of interest is MR1/5/2/7, Medal recommendation papers for plaque to the memory of the young men Colonel Wilfrith Elstob, 16th Battalion, of the No. 5 Young Officers’ Company, posthumously awarded the VC for his 3/7th Battalion King’s Regiment. action in the defence of Manchester Hill, For the dedication, one of group (Terry including maps, statements of evidence Edge, see over) wore a First World War and correspondence. There is also a uniform, which was especially poignant newly acquired bundle of material as it would have been the first time that relating to the unveiling of a memorial in one had been seen June 1996 at Francilly Selency to the in the hotel since nd th men and officers of the 2 and 16 1919. Battalions. A photograph from the The plaque is in unveiling ceremony is below. the Reception area of the Savoy Hotel, Blackpool and it is there because of the letters of one young man, John Hayes Fearnhead (Jack). (across) The Savoy Hotel 11 played a significant part during the First attended lectures and for so long, called World War. From 1917 to 1919 it was the Savoy Hotel home. requisitioned by the War Office for the The names that we do know are – 2nd use of convalescent officers. Prior to Lieutenants Porter, Edmondson, Taylor, that, and within a very few months of it Thomas, Lyon, Watson, Patterson. opening in 1915, the hotel (then known Unfortunately, we only have their as the Savoy Hydro), became home to surnames and of these boys, Porter, fifty young men of the No. 5 Young Taylor, Thomas and Patterson were killed Officers’ Company. in 1916. They would just have been newly Jack had his birthday in the trenches commissioned as officers and they were on the 23rd June, 1916 – he was twenty- training in Blackpool, as part of the West one years old. On the 13th August, 1916, Lancashire Division. he was killed near the village of , on the Somme. He has no known grave and his name is inscribed on the Memorial, France. We don’t know what happened to many of the young men who were billeted at the Savoy with Jack and it seemed right to find some way of commemorating these brave young men, who left from here to fight on the battlefields of France and Flanders. It was a long time ago, but is an integral part of our history and we At this time, the hotel was also open to owe them so much. guests. This must have been interesting to both the guests and the soldiers, as HE PASSED OVER AND ALL THE their daily life at that time would have TRUMPETS SOUNDED FOR HIM ON THE OTHER SIDE. – Lance Corp R R been at extreme ends of the spectrum. Jeffry The local newspaper for the week of Christmas 1915 lists the guests by name and adds that “There are also in LT. COL. SIR GILBERT MACKERETH’S residence at the Savoy, some fifty GRAVE: Terry Dean (+P) officers of the West Lancashire Division, who are connected with the troops now In last May’s Despatch (p.15) I training in Blackpool”. reported the problem with Lt. Col. Sir I learnt about the No.5 Young Officers’ Gilbert Mackereth’s grave in Spain. On Company from Jack’s letters to his 4th May I also circulated the story to the parents and to his sweetheart, my media and on Election Day 6th May, with grandmother. He was billeted at the political reporting banned, the media hotel from December 1915, to his leaving looked for other interesting stories and for France in May 1916 and the letters told how the WW1 hero could be evicted are written on the headed notepaper of from his grave. the Savoy Hydro. Apart from these After breakfast-time radio interviews on letters, there is no record of this body of Radio Lancashire and Manchester the young men, who ate here, slept here, bulk of the day was spent at the Fusiliers 12 Museum in Bury with Mike Glover from Fusiliers after gaining his where BBC TV broadcast the story and in April 1917. numerous newspapers sought comments One of to compile their articles. I received many my favourite offers of financial help to solve the photos is on problem of Sir Gilbert’s grave, including the front from the Sun Newspaper. page. It was After further early evening radio taken at interviews on Radio 5 Live and Wales, I Thirtle Bridge received the most welcome phone call of camp near the day from Chairman, Stan. Sir Withernsea in Gilbert’s FIRST cousin, John Sloan had spring 1918. telephoned Stan and given him their ‘Ert (Gilbert) won his MC when helping telephone number. Within an hour I had the 17th LFs to capture Gricourt. Allan spoken with John and the Sun (Captain A Parke) won his MC in October Newspaper who then went hot-foot to 1917 with the 9th LFs east of John’s home near Solihull to take photos Poelcappelle. He was wounded before and complete their story of how they had their attack commenced but remained on saved the WW1 hero’s grave. duty and led his company to the first For several years I had searched for a objective when he was wounded again. photo of Mackereth in uniform and prior Bill (Captain W R Fanner) gained his MC to 6th May I had just two poor photos of with the 2nd LFs east of Arras in April him in later life. Never in my wildest 1917 when “regardless of himself, walked imagination did I expect to see the first up and down encouraging men” as they uniformed photograph of Mackereth in captured Fampoux. Gus (Captain W J the Sun! Brockman) did not have any medals John Sloan’s mother (Ethel Haslam) when the photo was taken but earned the was the youngest sister of Gilbert DSO with the 15th LFs in August 1918. Mackereth’s mother (Annie Haslam). He led a mixed party of men to capture a John was born in 1925 and never met battery of German field guns firing at Gilbert who joined the Diplomatic Service them over open sights near Damery immediately after WW1. John’s wife east of . Sheila recalls conversations about Sir A copy of selected photos from the Gilbert and on 6th May was ironing album can be seen on our website and a listening to the radio when she heard him copy of all the photos in the album has mentioned. been given to Col. Glover at the Fusiliers Nine days later we visited the Sloans Museum at Bury. on our way to France. I struggled to Following all the publicity an article has contain my anticipation as we enjoyed been developed on Wikipedia about Sir lunch and talked about “family matters” Gilbert. I have been in contact with one before I was let loose with my camera on of the principal authors of the article to their photo album. It contained a record advise on WW1 information. of Mackereth’s war with the Royal and Also I have been contacted by James Lancashire Fusiliers. Here he is a stern Barr, an historian who is writing a book looking Lieutenant with the Lancashire on the British and French mandates in the Middle East which includes a chapter 13 on Sir Gilbert. James feels Sir G’s work discovery of burial pits at Pheasant in Damascus in the late 1930s and in the Wood, and eventually the official 1940s is of very great interest, not least ceremony held there this July, on the 94th because of the drily witty reports he wrote anniversary of the disastrous battle that to while he was there. I provided takes the village’s name. James with details of Sir G’s exploits in From my point of view, I was interested WW1 and from what James has revealed to find if any of the men who were to me look forward to reading about his reported missing had a Jersey subsequent activities. The book titled ‘A connection, and initially searched through Line in the Sand’ is due to be published the database of names on the website in the UK next year. (www.greatwarci.net) of the Channel The Future Islands Great War Study Group Having agreed to the Sun newspaper’s (CIGWSG) for missing casualties who offer to pay the outstanding taxes on Sir died on the 19th and 20th July, 1916. A Gilbert’s grave in San Sebastian there is blank was drawn, so while retaining a no immediate need to exhume him. wider interest, detailed research was off However should John Sloan wish to the agenda. Or so it seemed! maintain Sir Gilbert’s remains in the tomb Some time later, in an unconnected the British Ambassador to Spain advises piece of research I was searching it would be necessary to put the tomb in Australian service records (held by the his (or another relative’s name) and to National Archive of ) to identify purchase the tomb. The cost of doing as many ‘Jersey-Australians’ as possible this would be 3,200 Euros for 25 years, through keyword searches for ‘Jersey’, 4,200 Euros for 35 years or 5,300 Euros ‘St Helier’ and other related words. But, I for 49 years. also had a list of names previously A key factor in John’s decision is identified and amongst those was 635 whether Sir Gilbert specifically wished to Sergeant Chester Cecil Church who had be buried in Spain. I am attempting to served with the 30th Battalion of the AIF, determine this in parallel with seeking his and who appeared to have survived the medals and other memorabilia which Great War. This ‘fact’ was derived from probably passed to his wife when he died the Book of Remembrance produced by in 1962. The trail is proving difficult and I Victoria College, my old school in Jersey, will report further in the next Despatch. and the corresponding absence of his name on the school’s war memorial. His SHORT DAYS AGO LIVED, FELT DAWN service record however, told a different SAW SUNSET GLOW LOVED AND WAS story! LOVED - Pte T Mac Watt 1st Bn The file, at 52 pages, was rather Canadian Inf thicker than those for men and women

who survived the war, while a ‘Missing’ SEEKING CHESTER CHURCH: Barrie stamped across the front page also gave Bertram (+P) a clue of what would follow, along with the presence of German letters and Many members will, over the last two confused references to the return of an to three years, have followed the events identity disc. With this evidence and the at Fromelles with great interest, CWGC Register, it was thus possible to beginning with hearing news of the confirm that Chester Church was one of 14 the Fromelles missing, and indeed the she had two sons, Chester, who we Australian authorities had him listed already know of, who was born in 1891 among those thought buried at Pheasant while there was an older boy, Theodore Wood. What next? Mark born in 1886, both being born in Given that the authorities were Brisbane. Widowed in 1893, she then interested in hearing from descendants married Frederick Aplin in 1895. Clearly and that DNA might be a factor in the CWGC data was (and is at the time of identification, were there any relatives? writing) incorrect as to her maiden name, All that the CWGC Register contained and there was no relationship shown to was the fact that his father (Augustus Theodore, although this has been Mark Church) was deceased and that the corrected. maiden surname of his mother But, the object of the exercise had to (Susannah Louisa Church) was Aplin. To be the discovery of relatives who could support this, there was information from provide DNA. Sadly, my Australian Victoria College that he had been entered contact and her relatives who are related in 1904 by Mr FG Aplin of the to Susannah could not, having already Grasshopper Hotel. Yet more questions, been in touch with the authorities in namely, who was FG Aplin and where Canberra. I do not pretend to understand was the Grasshopper Hotel since its the complexities of DNA sampling and location was not stated? identification, but would simply say that Fortunately the memsahib hit upon the the present day maternal line is too far blindingly obvious with the suggestion removed from Susannah to provide a that, since the Hotel’s location was match to identify Chester’s remains. For unstated, it must have been in Jersey. my part, I firmly believe that he is buried And so it proved, thanks to contacts in in the new cemetery, for the German Jersey’s Museum, with a rather sizeable Email appearing on my PC with some 10 pages of previous research (c.1990) attached into the Hotel which had been in St Helier, its proprietor, a Miss Catherine Flowers, and Frederick G Aplin, the Hotel’s manager. But, this new data, interesting as it was, took me no further up a blind alley searching for Susannah Aplin, and it was at this point Genes Reunited was brought into use as the documents on file are strong indicators weapon of last resort. Within minutes of as are a number of reports in the seeking Chester Church, I had found a Australian newspapers of 1916 or 1917 contact in Australia and subsequently saying that his ‘cobbers’ saw him lying in would establish Susannah’s family tree. a German trench. However, successful The first bit of vital information was that identification with mitochondrial DNA will Susannah’s maiden name was in fact most likely be impossible. Flowers, she was an older sister of Can anything be done with the Y- Catherine, and she had been born on chromosome DNA of relatives on the Portsea Island (Portsmouth) c.1856. paternal line? Well, if we start with Married to Augustus in London in 1882, 15 Theodore, the answer is a resounding no! Church was deceased, and had been a The CIGWSG had note of him, based farmer. With John Church’s death being a upon information held in ‘Soldiers Died’ possible reason for Augustus’ return from that he had enlisted in Jersey, and which Australia, no address was shown, and also showed that he had been born in the result is that, at the present time, my Portsmouth, a long way from Brisbane! research effort has ground to a snail’s Having originally enlisted in the East pace and the hope that relatives on the Surrey Regiment c.1905, he had died, male line could be found to provide DNA unmarried like Chester, in 1915 while samples remains unfulfilled. serving in the as a Still, there are things to do such as Sapper. He is buried in Netley Military getting the CWGC to record Susannah’s Cemetery, near Southampton, and it is maiden name and Victoria College to interesting to note that his headstone is a have Chester’s name added to its war private one, and not the standard CWGC memorial. There are also some 267 version, showing that he was a Marconi males called John Church who died Operator. Moreover, this headstone between 1845 and 1882 to research as shows that it was erected by his step- possible candidates for being Augustus’ father, one FG Aplin of Portswood! father, and who knows, from that information, brothers and their LOST SO FAR FROM HOME AND descendants may be found. Yet I travel FOUND SO CLOSE TO OUR HEARTS - more in hope than expectation! Cpl W P Ryan 31 Batt Aus Inf Meanwhile what happened to (Pheasant Wood Cem) Frederick and Susannah Aplin? It seems Returning to Chester’s father, that they did separate c.1908, with Augustus, there is quite a bit of Susannah returning to Australia with the information on him in contemporary young Chester. From Chester’s file and Australian newspapers from which it can other material at the National Archive of be deduced that he was born c.1846. By Australia she had become dependent on profession a hairdresser, he was first him for financial support with a third of his mentioned in January, 1872 in an army pay being forwarded to her, and advertisement saying that he was setting after his death faced hardship, being up shop in Brisbane, having worked at dependent on other relatives in Australia salons in Bristol and London. In March, until her death in 1926 having claimed 1882 he was heading back to England abandonment. During the Great War via Sydney by boat (I’ll avoid jokes about Frederick acted as a shipping agent for clippers!), but was certainly back in the Australian and Canadian Brisbane by August, 1884, having governments in Southampton, and married Susannah in London in August, afterwards, worked in the provision of 1882 with the help of a special license. coal, albeit unsuccessfully, and he Discounting newspaper information for eventually died in 1934. However, given later years, the trail on Augustus’ that Frederick paid for Theodore’s background goes cold. Having assumed headstone, an element of mutual regard that he was resident in Great Britain, he must have remained. does not appear to feature in censuses Yet, while Chester Church is most from 1851 onwards, while his marriage likely buried at Fromelles (Pheasant certificate records that his father John Wood) Cemetery, there are another 249 16 men, of whom 96 are now identified, and of these machines were fired on 1 July who also lie there. 1916 in the Casino Point area, but this During our recent trip to France, the one had not been assembled or used. memsahib and I travelled over to Over a period of 3 weeks, in very hot Fromelles to visit the Cemetery and to dry weather it was amazing to see this pay our respects to these brave men, and area transformed into a red dusty desert we could not fail to be impressed by the with hardly a hint of chalk. Daily, original first-rate appearance of the construction, trenches and artefacts emerged. Three the horticulture and the layout. It must be pieces of the flame thrower were said that news pictures and television eventually found and all will be revealed images do not adequately convey the in a TV programme at a later date. overall quality, and I fear that my own Throughout the whole period the team efforts with a camera fall into the same willingly shared alls their finds and category. knowledge with anyone present and on The CWGC and the other an open weekend gave guided tours of organisations that were involved deserve the site to hundreds of French locals. all the plaudits that they receive for the work that they have put in from the early days of discovery. However, we should also thank the lone amateur Australian researcher who, against some initial bureaucratic pooh-poohing, successfully argued the case for the original ‘dig’ to take place. The rest of us, in conducting research, may not be as fortunate as he was, but Fromelles has demonstrated the value of such intellectual work, and we may wish to consider that amateurism has a vital role to play in continuing Great As the British took over the line from War research. Furthermore, official the French Army, it was not surprising bodies such as the Ministry of Defence, that the bodies of 2 French soldiers were the CWGC and other similar also found, one with the button of a organisations should be reminded of our regiment which still exists. Sadly they worth from time to time. were interred, almost immediately, in unmarked graves in Albert French 2010 ON THE SOMME: David & Pat Cemetery, without any ceremony or Shackleton (+P) public presence. Thanks to the efforts of an incensed French lady whose relative Excavations near Mansell Copse died in the area in 1915, the French authorities have now agreed to mark the Many of you may have seen on BBC graves as Unknown. News an excavation which took place in On a positive note, the French May near Mansell Copse. Led by Peter Necropole at Serre has been totally Barton, the prime object of their search refurbished. Visitors cannot fail to be was a Livens "flammenwerfer", a 10 impressed by the new crosses and metre long machine weighing 2 tons. Two nameplates. A fitting tribute. 17 Peronne Communal Cemetery Mystery church. In a country famous for chocolate, we were surprised to see a Several years ago, I visited the lone connection to Cadbury and Birmingham. grave in Peronne Communal Cemetery of During the fierce fighting in October & Corporal F J P Geard. He is No 47 of 5 November 1918, 92 men, women and Squadron RFC who died 18 August children were asphyxiated by the gas 1914, an. unusually early date of death bombing at Avelgem and died in the and it puzzled me as to why a Convent of Notre Dame des Anges Fort serviceman obviously not a prisoner, Courtai. Responsible for the evacuation should be buried in a town not occupied of these by us until 1917. victims was It is known that the RFC had 63 planes Paul S in France by this time and had two Cadbury, aircraft parks, one at Amiens and the aged 22, a other at Maubeuge. The first to die in volunteer with France serving with the RFC were 2nd Lt Friends E W C Perry and 2nd Air Mech H E Parfitt Ambulance both of whom died on 16 August 1914 Unit. Paul and are buried in St Achuel, Amiens. never forgot Thankfully I had mentioned it to an the misery he interested friend in France who this year had solved the mystery! Reading the witnessed and in 1923 commissioned a memoirs of the priest of up to mid painting entitled “The Mount of Olives” by 1915 he came across the following, Joseph Southall (1861-1944) and "Tuesday the 18th August, British presented it to Avelgem in their memory. convoys and troops pass through on their Unfortunately the original disappeared way towards Mons, aircraft flying during WW2 but in 2009 his family overhead. One of these planes crashes presented a copy, made from the original near . Everyone rushes towards by the Medici Society, to the church. the scene; Mr Fleury arrives first along Following on from our visit, we with the mayor of Poeuilly, Mr Laleux. discovered that the Historial in Peronne, The pilot is badly injured and has a has on display the uniform of an officer broken leg, his mechanic is dead. The named Cadbury who served with the pilot is driven to the hospital in Peronne, British Red Cross. Paul’s mother was as is the body of his unfortunate called Geraldine Southall Cadbury. companion. The latter is buried on the A leading artist in the Arts and Crafts 20th.” movement, Joseph Southall was born into a quaker family and after his father’s FIRST ON THE ROLL OF HONOUR ALL death lived with his mother’s family, in GLORY TO HIS NAME - 2nd Lieut E W C Perry RFC 16th August 1914 Birmingham. Could they have been related? Yet Avelgem Visit another puzzle to solve!!

On a visit to Avelgem in Belgium, a Editor’s Note: David’s article reminded town on the River Scheldt, liberated by me of the closing pages in Brigadier- the DLI in 1918, we ventured into the General Sandilands (Sandy) little red 18 book “A Lancashire Brigade in France”. of Kerkhove and Tenhove. Many After the reduction of Brigades from 4 to prisoners were taken and an immense 3 battalions in early 1918 it was no longer quantity of material fell into our hands. a Lancashire brigade since the 104th Two motor ambulances filled with Brigade then comprised the 17th and 18th German wounded, were captured and Lancashire Fusiliers (LFs) and the 19th taken back intact with their contents. The Durham Light (DLI). I have taken credit for this capture provides a subject the following passages from Sandy’s for lively argument between the 19th DLI book since they may also be of interest and the 17th LFs. The ambulances were with the coming anniversary of the used for months afterwards by the Armistice. Division. On October 27th the Brigade took over The Scheldt everywhere forms a the line near Avelghem. We had become considerable obstacle and several accustomed to fighting in deserted channels and overflows made the task of country but here civilians in large crossing it one of particular difficulty. numbers were still living in the villages Repeated attempts were made to cross and farms. Every effort was made to the river, and finally on the morning of 9th clear these poor people from the area, November the 105th Brigade succeeded but, unfortunately the enemy’s gas shells in getting small parties across to the caused heavy casualties, particularly opposite bank. At 9 a.m., without among the old people and young previous warning the 104th Infantry children. Brigade received orders to march with a As the French on our left were view to pursuing the enemy and to experiencing considerable opposition attacking them should they attempt a about Oudenarde, it was decided to further stand. attack along the left bank of the Scheldt When we reached the Scheldt it had with a view to threatening the enemy’s become evident that no serious line of communication and causing them opposition was to be feared and it was to go back in front of our allies. decided to pass the whole Brigade over The performance of our gunners in the river before dark. During the night keeping the heavy howitzers in action at the greater part of the transport crossed Avelghem, within some 1000 yds of the by pontoon bridges. enemy’s outpost line, was magnificent. Orders for a further advance were then Even war-torn veterans were amazed at received. We were to pass the outpost the barrage which was put down. The line at 9 a.m. and push forward. This infantry attack which followed can be necessitated an early start, but the men, counted the finest achievement of the in spite of already having marched 14 104th Infantry Brigade during the war. miles, were at the top of their form and The 19th DLI attacked on the right were prepared for anything. We were moving along the left bank of the Scheldt; greeted with extraordinary enthusiasm. the 17th LFs (commanded by Lt Col Officers and men were given beer, bread, Gilbert Mackereth – page 12 refers) were cigars and apples as they passed along. in the centre, and the 18th LFs on the left. We had expected to be left in peace The bridge ar Rugge was seized and during the next day but we were again saved by the 19th DLI, who were further ordered to press on at all costs. We had responsible for the capture of the villages recently received large drafts of young 19 soldiers and the men were mad with man who could be heard muttering ‘we excitement and willing to march till they have a long way to go’. He nearly left the dropped. So off we all started again. ‘Mayor of Bradford’ behind who was About 10 a.m. on 11th November trying to photograph the cemetery when it orders were received that there should be was empty! no movement after 11 a.m. but that every This is not the place to talk about the effort should be made to seize the rest of the trip (all WW2) but we did enjoy crossing of the Dendre at Grammont by it and returned home safely. that hour. Orders to this effect were A few days later my wife and I made a immediately sent to the 17th LFs who return trip on the Hull-Zeebrugge ferry were leading. The result was a wild rush and headed for Alsace. We stayed in the on horses and bicycles. The Divisional village of Barr (between Strasbourg and Commander, in his car, was the first to Colmar) and one of our trips was a cross the bridge, where he waited the circular tour of the central Vosges. When 17th LFs to come up and the Armistice. we arrived at the summit of the Col de Sainte Marie aux mines we noticed signs PRO ARIS ET FOCIS (FOR OUR for a WW1 military cemetery and a ALTARS AND OUR HOMES) - viewpoint. The cemetery was just a few Cpl S A Abbott, Gloucs Regt (18) yards away hidden in the woods and it was quite interesting. We then started to 2010 WFA Tour to Normandy: Andrew climb up to the viewpoint and as we Brooks (+P) climbed up through the trees passed

This tour was a departure from the usual visit to the Western Front with a party of thirty-six setting off from Hull to Rotterdam heading for the Normandy beaches. However we did manage to visit two WW1 sites on the journey to Bayeux. Harry Taylor our own WW1 guide gave us a tour of the cemetery at Wimereux where we saw the grave of John McCrae. Harry had plenty of other stories regarding this cemetery, especially one about another medical man who had numerous German bunkers, machine – been exceptionally brave but did not write gun posts and old trench lines. The a poem and so was unknown. We then viewpoint itself was on the top of a travelled down the coast for a few more machine-gun post and the views were miles to Etaples and spent at least an magnificent. hour at this massive cemetery. Once We had a long conversation with the more our guide had many stories but owner of the roadside café/shop who was many of the party including Bill very interested in the fortifications of the Martindale, Bill Myers and Denise North surrounding area and from a postcard had their own people to find. They display on a wall in the shop he had eventually had to be hauled back to the produced a series of cards for sale (see coach by their unfeeling tour operator/tea illustration, across). This area and the 20 area of the southern Vosges are full of went on to join the AIF and take some similar WW1 sites and must be worth an well known photographs. extended visit. The exhibition is well worth a visit and will finish on 3 January 2011. If you have never visited the Liverpool Maritime Museum before, there are static displays on the First and Second World Wars too.

MARTIN’S CORNER: Martin Simpson – Chairman, Cumbria Branch WFA

To remind everyone our Christmas “” Exhibition at Liverpool Lunch and AGM will be at the Hundith Hill Maritime Museum (until 3 January 2011); Hotel, Lorton, Nr Cockermouth th Gaynor Greenwood commencing 12 noon on 5 December 2010. The speaker will be Graham Kemp ’s expedition to the who will talk on Decadence and theatre in in “Endurance” is an inspiring WW1. There is a good choice of menu story of unbelievable hardship and and the cost is £18. Contact me for more bravery. The “Endurance” sailed to the details if you are interested in coming (tel: South Atlantic just after the First World 01229 584141) War began and it must have been with The programme that I have put amazement that, on their rescue in 1916, together for the first half of next year is as the men discovered that the war was still follows (all meetings at Penrith British Legion commencing 7.45pm): going on. I have always wondered how many of Feb 17th: ‘Monty’s Mentor’ - Terry Dean the men went on to serve in the First April 21st: ‘3 Generals sent home’ – Leslie World War and what happened to them. McHugh The “Endurance” exhibition at Liverpool Maritime Museum has helped to answer May 2011: Proposed tour of Italian Front these questions. It’s an excellent (more details to follow) exhibition, with the photographs taken at th June 12 : Occasional Day at Hundith Hill the time enlarged to reveal fascinating Hotel with 3 speakers details. There is an absorbing account of what happened and there are BRANCH AFFAIRS: biographies of the men. I made a further brief search on the internet to add to this information and some of the men served in the War, with two being killed. It would appear that Timothy McCarthy was killed in action on SS Narragansett on 16 Branch Who’s Who?: March 1917 and Alfred Cheetham was killed when the SS Prunelle was Since joining the Branch over 5 years torpedoed on 22 August 1918. The ago I have remembered faces but “Endurance” photographer, ” struggled with names. Others may have the same problem. Also a Who’s Who for 21 the Branch could be significant help for many must have felt during those new attendees. gruelling days of August 1914. It made What I have in mind is a Branch leaflet the post-talk coffee and biscuits a similar to Despatch (but not available on welcome relief! our website) which would contain a Turning to the material as opposed to passport type photo and brief details of the method, Terry very much addressed “members”i.e. the activities of the BEF during the period of the Retreat from Mons at all levels, Name from GHQ through Corps, Division and Contact Details (address, tel no, email Brigade, down to individual Battalions address) and Regiments, Companies and Occupation (current or pre-retirement) Squadrons, and even to Sections of men. Interests This multi-layered approach ensured that Any comments at AGM next meeting. a comprehensive picture was presented, and I am sure that attendees left with a MEETING REPORTS better understanding of the Retreat than before, I certainly did. Two topics stuck in The Lancashire Contemptibles: May my mind. 2010 (32 attended) The first was the adequacy of the reservists recalled to the colours at the It is to be hoped that when Terry outset of war, leaving behind the Dean’s latest talk, this time on the comparative comfort of civilian life. Unfit Lancashire Contemptibles, is compared and lacking training in the latest to Walt Disney’s output, no one draws the equipment (Terry mentioned rifles, but inference that Terry provided a Mickey the army’s webbing was also new to Mouse performance! Far from it! I would many for example), their unpreparedness suggest that far more than any other might have seen a different outcome presenter in the last few years, he has result. The second was the quality of applied the use of the latest information command with individual commanders technology comprehensively. This was who appeared to pull in different amply demonstrated in the combination directions, and themselves being equally of animation and both still images and unprepared like many of their men. What film footage aligned with maps and sound were the causes of this? Years of commentary, and one may wonder expeditionary warfare fighting the fuzzy- whether Hollywood should beckon? wuzzies? Regarding military service, rank There can be a risk that a presenter and promotion as a means of climbing chooses to show what a ‘whizz’ he is by the social ladder? Whatever the reasons, making use of the ‘bells and whistles’ of and they are surely many and complex, such technology to the detriment of the the Retreat demonstrated that the need subject matter, but fortunately Terry does for military and political preparedness for not fall into this trap. Showing the war, of whatever shade, is essential, movement of a particular Lancashire unit even today! Given that, the military between locations was a welcome cohesion of units under adversity, feature, while the film of marching men whether from internal or external sources, and their accounts brought to life once was a remarkable aspect that merits our more the dryness and the hunger that appreciation. 22 In conclusion, Terry is again to be on whether Field Marshall French (a complimented in assembling a range of distant relation of Dyett) would have material and then presenting in a taken the same decision as that made by cohesive fashion. (Barrie Bertram) Haig which put Dyett in front of the firing squad. The talk gave plenty to think Crime and Punishment in the Great War: about. (TD) June 2010 (39 attended) In the footsteps of James Bailey: July Starting by exploring the differences 2010 (26 attended) between a crime in civil life and the army Bill Martindale outlined how the different James Bailey, a First World War forms of punishment had been phased veteran, was superintendent of Parks and out with firing squads ceasing at the end Cemeteries in . In 1937 he of the Great War and corporal travelled to Belgium to see how the punishment in 1948. For minor offences IWGC kept their cemeteries. Using by troops such as absence without leave photos which James had bought showing and drunkenness, punishments were Ypres immediately after the War and his determined by commanding officers. own photos taken in 1937, Denise North Field punishment number 1 involved had photographed the same locations being tied to posts, trees or wheels of and showed us photos from all three gun-carriages and could be very dates. hazardous for offenders if they were Winston Churchill would have liked bound-up at crossroads subject to enemy Ypres to remain in its ruined state as a shelling. permanent memorial, but the Belgians Bill questioned how effective were the wanted to rebuild Ypres as it had been. punishments in changing behaviour citing Luckily Jules Cooman, an architect, had Louis Harris who committed a string of measured and photographed the Cloth offences, his last being in June 1918 and Hall before the War, so, with the he was the last to be shot. Imprisonment mediaeval plans, the Hall was rebuilt was attractive to some as a means of exactly. avoiding front line duties and in 1915 Denise took us on a tour of the such sentences were suspended until reconstructed Ypres Town Square, telling hostilities ended. Introduction of us the stories of the buildings and conscription brought a new wave of showing how many fascinating offenders with 16,000 conscientious architectural details there are above shop objectors needing to be considered. level. Other photos shown included the The cases of Lieut Colonels Elkington Post Office and convent, which were not and Mainwaring of St Quentin fame in the destroyed, and three of the remaining retreat from Mons were considered as temporary wooden hut accommodation was Sassoon’s statement of defiance. provided after the War. Denise’s talk Mentioning the pardoning of 306 “Shot at could become an enlightening town trail Dawns” in 2006 gave Bill the opportunity of Ypres and I hope she can publish it to outline the role of the Commander in one day. (Gaynor Greenwood) Chief in authorising executions. After HEREABOUTS DIED A VERY explaining the case of Sub Lieut Dyett of GALLANT GENTLEMAN - the Royal Naval Division he speculated Capt H T Maffett Leinster Regt 23 Aeronauts and Balloonatics: August instance was described as a very stable 2010 (36 attended) machine with a 75lb radio which could only send and not receive. In the early part of the war it could take half an hour to wind the balloon down in the event of an attack, something that later on would only take minutes. It could take up to fifty men to handle the balloon on the ground but usually only two men operated the balloon at about 4,000ft, three miles behind the front line. They soon had two- way communication with the ground by a telephone cable running down the wire holding the balloon. Geoff Barker commenced his talk with Apparently quite a few of the British some historical introduction about the use balloon officers were disabled. One of balloons in warfare. In the Napoleonic known as ‘Gilbert the Filbert’ had a metal Wars a French balloon L’Entreprenant plate as a foot. Another character was airborne for ten hours observing the amongst the balloonatics was Lt. Mac movement of the Austrian troops. The Gilchrist who survived for over 200 hours Austrians complained that it was not and four forced jumps, the last being on warfare to use balloons! By the time of the 17th September 1918 when his the Boer War the British had four balloon balloon went up in flames. sections and a photograph of ‘The Heron’ This was another excellent talk from a showed these balloons to be round in member of the Bradford Mechanics shape. A few years later some pre-WW1 Institute WW1 Group. (Andrew Brooks) types were tear-drop shaped but they behaved poorly when it was windy. German Commerce Raiders: September Geoff then went on to explain how by 2010 (26 attended) the time of WW1 the use of balloons had become an accepted part of warfare and Actions reminiscent of ‘Pirates of the he proceeded to show how the contest Caribbean’ were covered in Graham between the balloon’s ability to defend Kemp’s well researched and very themselves was matched by the ever entertaining talk. increasing development of the aeroplane Small merchant ships were modified which was trying to shoot them out of the with disguised guns and large holds for sky. At no time was it easy for pilots to mines & prisoners. One such was the bring them down and for the men in the Mowe with her 6in guns disguised as balloons it must have been a terrifying derricks and an 8,000 mile range. Her experience when the planes attacked. At first journey took her to Cape Wrath, La least the ‘Balloonatics had parachutes! Rochelle, the Azores, accounting for a As the talk progressed Geoff described ship a day for 7 days. Anything and many events, which were sometimes everything was taken, soap, gold and the comical, as well as giving detailed much prized ‘Cardiff coal’. Prisoners and illustrations of the balloons, aeroplanes booty were transferred by rowing boats and the men involved. The BE2b for 24 and the captured ships sent off to neutral them, accounted for over 200,000 tons of ports as a ‘prize of war’. shipping sunk. The impact of raiders was not only the Graham has promised us ‘Part One’ of loss of materials etc. but also their the talk covering the early part of the war presence closed off shipping lanes as at some future date. (Pete Bamford) merchant ships were scared to sail and insurance costs soared. War Graves and things….: Oct 2010 (+P) Her second voyage was to the US (31 attended) trade routes which had previously been untouched. The true extent of US Starting by speculating on the vast involvement in the war effort was number of individuals who each year revealed; 9,000 tons of munitions and 3 stand in front of evocative WW1 graves ships being taken in one day, 100 and memorials David Shackleton went on vehicles and supplies of top quality steel give a master class on such things. on another. This voyage captured almost Supporting his thoughtful words was a 120,000 tons of booty and 26 ships. stunning photo gallery of images covering One of the most colourful raider dawn to dusk. (Some of the photographs captains was Count Felix von Lucknow; are on our website) his previous exploits had been running David rightly gave credit to the away from school to go to sea, being Commonwealth War Graves Commission saved by an albatross, becoming a (CWGC) for the job they do in keeping kangaroo hunter and a prize fighter. He records and maintaining the cemeteries. mastered an ex US sailing clipper It can be (virtually) guaranteed that the renamed “Seeadler” disguising the crew individual in each grave matches the as Norwegian sailors, even to the extent information on the standard shaped of one, ‘Josephine of the big feet’, being headstone. Standard religious markings dressed as his wife to trick his enemies. are used and regimental badges always He managed a successful raid in a ship shown above the religious marking when with a cargo of champagne, which proved known. David suspected that guidance most popular with the crew. His ship was given to next of kin on the nature of foundered in the South Seas on a reef at inscriptions on headstones whilst the Mopelia where he styled himself Government decreed ‘Governor of the last German colony’, inscriptions were not allowed. before managing to reach Fiji in an open Having described the CWGC boat. guidelines David went on to show Another captain, Karl August Nerger, photographs of exceptions which proved with a reputation for being ‘lucky’, the rules! Regimental badge below achieved the then longest ever sea religious marking; 3 badges entwined voyage, 65,000 miles, lasting 18 months together for 6 soldiers; musical notes for in command of the SMS Wolf. He laid inscription; either Noyce or Lumber in mines of , sailed round one grave and non-standard headstones. Australia & New Zealand, to The photo gallery also showed a number where again mines were laid in the of Corsehill (red) gravestones which was harbour. These exploits, which were kept one subject in a lively question and secret with naval presence to prevent answer discussion after David’s excellent talk. (TD) 25

ARMISTICE PRIZE WINNER 2010

A SOLDIER’S DAY

A soldier’s day is never done, Up at dawn before the sun. With the roar of explosives in your head, Wishing you could have stayed in bed.

Food is a dream, fried eggs and such, Yet we won’t have time to eat too much. Going over at five, the soldiers are there, Crossing their fingers, looking up into air.

See to your grenades, ammunition and guns, For you and the boys know it is not for fun. God will be there, high up in the blue, Waiting for someone, perhaps for you.

The air is cold, just fifty below, You need to keep warm so you don’t freeze a toe. Sharp lookout boys, the target is near, We don’t want to meet the enemy here.

Put on your mask, the air’s getting thin, Return to the battle, some with a grin, Over the wire clutching a gun, ENEMY FIRE! Here comes the fun.

There goes one down, another one too, Our soldiers, too busy to see none gets through. You hear screams of pain, as another goes down, They gasp yell and stumble right down to the ground.

We’re tired, dirty, thirsty and sore, The sun has gone down an hour before. First clean your guns, and do it good boys! The guns that you hold have your life, they’re not toys.

Then you head for the trench, too tired to care, Yet, a letter from home, another from her! I love you she wrote, then you know you’ve won, A soldier’s day is never done.

Sadie Rimmer, St Cecilia’s Longridge 26

It’s a great pity that Sadie Rimmer’s Mar 7th: ‘"There is more to be learnt than excellent poem did not have to fight off in ordinary cases": Major-General Hugh more competition to win this year’s Jeudwine, the divisional school and other Armistice Prize competition. St Cecilia’s aspects of training in the 55th (West Roman Catholic Technology College, Lancashire) Division, 1916-1917’ - Ian Longridge was the only High School to Riley (Major (ret’d) & curator Liverpool submit entries in the competition. Scottish Museum) Peter Bamford, Barrie Bertram and I each marked the 7 poems entered by St April 4th: “First Blitz” - Neil Hanson Cecilia’s using the same marking system (author, lecturer and after-dinner as last year. After Sadie Rimmer the next speaker) best entries were from Albert Hadcock followed by Rachael Gregory. May 3rd (TUESDAY): “French at Similar to 2008 when St Cecilia’s were Gallipoli” - Peter Hart (Oral Historian the only school to enter the competition (IWM) and author) Sadie Rimmer will be awarded £25 and a book (H.P. Willmott’s “WORLD WAR June 6th: “Leadership, Morale, and Esprit 1”) St Cecilia’s will hold the Armistice de Corps – The Winning Factor?” – Terry Prize trophy for the coming year. The Dean (N Lancs W.F.A.) press will also be advised her win. I shall be raising the question of July 4th: “Gommecourt” – Niall Cherry encouraging entries to the competition at (author and N Lancs W.F.A.) next month’s AGM. Could a number of members contact several schools in their Aug 8th (TUESDAY): “Accumulated area in an effort to increase interest? Weariness: living with the effects of war” – Tricia Platts (Bradford Mech. Inst. WW1 "LIFE IS NOT LOST FOR WHICH IS Group) BOUGHT ENDLESS RENOWN" (Spencer) - Capt I G Fleming MC Sept 5th: "Charlie's War: Tales of a Conscript in the 2/5 Duke of Wellingtons PROGRAMME OF FUTURE MEETINGS (West Riding) Regiment" - Dr. Chris (ALL MEETINGS ON MONDAY, 7.30 PM Payne EXCEPT WHERE STATED OTHERWISE) Oct 6th: “A German soldier’s journey from the Baltic to the Black Sea” – Andrew Dec 6th: “A.G.M. and Christmas Social” – Brooks (N Lancs W.F.A.) An invitation to members to speak for ten minutes on any WW1 topic. 7th Nov: “Kemmel Hill Revisited” – Jon Honeysett Jan 3rd: “The Anatomy of an Alias” – Barrie Bertram (N Lancs W.F.A.) 5th Dec: “A.G.M. and Christmas Social” – An invitation to members to speak for ten Feb 7th: “German Commerce Raiders, minutes on any WW1 topic. Part 1” – Graham Kemp (N Lancs W.F.A.)

27 LANCASHIRE’S BEST KEPT WAR MEMORIAL – 2010

Freckleton has won the award for the best kept War Memorial (WM) for 2010. The other highly commended WMs were at Sabden, Bilsborrow and Chipping. The marking criteria were the same as last year i.e.: condition of memorial, condition of surroundings, absence of litter & graffiti, and degree of maintenance required.

LONGUEVAL FOOTBALLERS’ MEMORIAL: (+S)

As 11 a.m. approached on 21st October Emmie and I were surprised and privileged to join an assembly including the Football League chairman, Mayor of Longueval, club representatives, armed forces and relatives for the commemoration of a memorial to the ‘The Footballers’ Battalions’ (17th & 23rd Middlesex) at the fork between the roads to Delville Wood and Guillemont east of Longueval. The moving service was conducted by Fr Owen Beament MBE, Chaplain to Millwall FC. The Two Minute Silence followed a short blast on his whistle by Gareth Ainsworth of Wycombe Wanderers and amongst those laying wreaths were the 3 great- grandchildren (across) of Oscar Linkson ex Man Utd, Barnet and Shelbourne. This would certainly be a memorable moment in their childhoods. (A copy of the brochure for the ceremony and more photos are on our website)

Western Front Association, North Lancashire Branch Chairman: Stan Wilkinson Treasurer: Gaynor Greenwood Tel: 01524 262302 Tel: 01524 410750 Secretary: Dr. Graham Kemp Editor: Terry Dean Tel: 01524 310649 Tel: 01772 864182 Mob: 07866 493210 email: [email protected] email: [email protected] 28 Website: www.wfanlancs.co.uk