Katie Hampson's Sketch of the Menin Gate Has Been Specially Commissioned for This 10Th Issue of Despatch. a Former Pupil in B
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Katie Hampson’s sketch of the Menin Gate has been specially commissioned for this 10th Issue of Despatch. A former pupil in Blackpool Katie, now 19, is a university student and shows what the record number of entrants for this year’s Armistice Prize could aspire to. More about Katie’s work and the Armistice Prize submissions are inside Despatch. Also read about: Billy Bagot and how the Preston Pals are remembered on Preston Railway Station; how the students at the Staff College, Quetta helped win the war; of the Irishman who tutored many British Generals; of the unique photos taken by a 2nd I/C of a Lancashire battalion in 1914; and much more…… Editor’s Musing Memorial on Preston Railway Station (see Page 21), it seemed appropriate that On the evening of 27th July I was the usual “In Memoriam” article should be relaxing, glass in hand, when my mind a man from the ranks of the Preston Pals. wandered to speculate about what William Bagot (“Billy”) of 3 Liverpool Brigadier General Reggie Kentish would Street, Preston was think of the unfolding Olympic opening the second son of spectacle on TV. In 2011 I had told how George and Reggie was complimented by Haig for his Elizabeth Ann work on officer training, motivation etc Bagot. He was and briefly spoke of his role as employed in his Commandant of the British Teams at the father’s butcher’s 1920 and 1924 Olympics in Antwerp and shop prior to taking Paris respectively. The TV spectacle the oath on 7th was a far cry from photographs of the September 1914. He was 19 years 8 opening ceremonies in Reggie time. months old and would need to stand his Reggie’s teams did well finishing 3rd tallest to meet the minimum height and 4th in the medal tables respectively requirement of 5ft 3 inches when being and on conclusion of London 2012 I examined (his recorded height was 5’ speculated how he would have marvelled 3¼”). He was one of the 219 men listed at this year’s happening including the on the Preston Pals Roll of Honour Paralympics. published by As founder of the National Playing the Preston Fields Association one thing which would Herald and not please Reggie is the publicised loss who left of sports fields. Let’s hope the petition Preston against their loss is successful (I have Railway signed it & mentioned his name!). Station in On a more pragmatic thought I am September grateful to David and Pat Shackleton for 1914 bound 10 of the 13 Epitaphs in this Despatch for Tidworth and many more for future Issues. where they formed “D” th MORE INFORMATION FOR ARTICLES WHEN: Company of the 7 Battalion Loyal North (+P) : photos, maps in Photo Gallery, Lancashire Regiment (7LNL). (+S) : supplementary information report Together with the 7th battalions of the See our website www.wfanlancs.co.uk and look King’s Own Royal Lancaster, East against this Despatch Lancashire and South Lancashire Regiments they composed 56th Brigade William BAGOT, Lance Serge ant 13181, in 19th Division. The Battalion’s early “D” Company (Preston Pals) 7th Battalion days were somewhat chaotic, the new Loyal North Lancashire Regiment: Terry volunteers having very few trained Dean officers and NCOs to command them, no organised billets or equipment. By early When preparing Despatch and having July 1915 the Battalion was judged regard to Paul Conlon’s report about the sufficiently trained to be mobilised and commemoration of the Preston Pals Billy crossed to Boulogne on the 17th. 19th Division was assigned to join the forward again to help secure La Boiselle Indian Corps south of Merville. The where they were involved in action for 4 days, during the course of which the Battalion’s Lieutenant Wilkinson gained a posthumous VC. After a period in camp near Albert the 19th Division moved to attack the German’s Switch Line north of Bazentin- le-Petit on 23rd July. However 7LNL could make no progress attacking the German’s Intermediate Trench which was strongly held and they suffered very Battalion undertook intensive training in all forms of trench warfare going into the trenches with other regiments of British and Indian brigades. In September 19th Division were deployed to possibly take some part in the Battle of Loos and until late November 7LNL spent periods in the ont line north of Festubert. On 19th fr heavy casualties in the process. They October Billy was appointed Lance were relieved and moved back to dug- Corporal (unpaid). st th outs in Mametz Wood. Between 1 to In April 1916 19 th Division was 24 July the Battalion had 18 officers and withdrawn into general reserve for 454 other ranks killed, wounded and battalion training prior to moving towards nd missing. Billy was promoted Lance the Somm th e and on 22 April Billy Corporal (paid) on 25 July and 2 days accide ntly suffered a bayonet wound to later was promoted further to Corporal. his thigh. He was back with his battalion However he had suffered from his recent when they moved southwards from th experiences and on 29 July he was Estree Blanche in May. evacuated to a Field Ambulance. On 1st July 19th Division were in th th He was back with his Battalion after reserve to 8 rd and 34 Divisions who several days and on 3 August moved attacked Ovillers and La Boiselle th with 19 Division to occupy the line firstly respectively and it was intended Billy’s at Messines then in the Ploegsteert area. Division would continue the attack on La In October they moved back to the Boiselle after dark. However following Somme and in November attacked south the morning’s failures 19th Division’s nd of the Ancre taking nearly 200 prisoners. ncelled and on 2 th attack was ca July 19 Division then moved out of the line in 7LN L moved back to the railway cutting late November to the south of Doullens near Albert. Next day 7LNL moved 3 and Billy had leave which allowed him to Outtersteene where he died from his spend his last New Year at home. wounds on 2nd August 1917. For the first half of 1917 19th Division The 7LNL were relieved on the night of saw no major action but in May prepared the 3rd/4th August by which time all the to take part in the attack at Messines and objectives had been taken. The Battalion 5 days before the attack Billy was was not called into offensive action again promoted Lance Sergeant. At 3.10 a.m. although casualties were suffered when on the 7th June the nineteen huge mines holding the line. In early February 1918 were exploded and C & D companies led manpower shortages led to the Battalion the Battalion’s attack capturing all the being disbanded like many others, so objectives. In July more time was spent that other units could be brought up to training prior to the next stage of the strength. Third Battle of Ypres. Billy is buried in Bailleul Communal At 3.50 a.m. on 31st July all companies Cemetery Extension and on 18th October we called to say “Hello” to him and left a small poppy wreath in remembrance. HE GIVETH HIS BELOVED SLEEP – Lance Sergt W Bagot Loyal North Lancs Regt QUETTA CLASS 1913: Paul Conlon (+S) In last May’s Despatch Terry Dean reported on the front page photograph showing the staff at the Staff College, Quetta in 1913. The photo was in the album of Captain Arthur Mordaunt Mills who was Adjutant of the college at that time. Mills had annotated names on of the Battalion attacked on a front of 700 many photos, including one showing the yards south of Hollebeke but were held students at the college and Terry invited up 100 yards short of their objective. 122 a reader of Despatch to examine the Brigade to the immediate left of 7LNL contribution made by the pupils to the failed to capture Forret Farm and enemy war effort. A copy of the photo showing machine guns in the Farm and their students and staff is across. artillery fire caused many casualties in There were 51 students and the Battalion. information has been found on all of Billy’s diminutive frame perhaps helped them. The class consisted of 49 stop him being successfully being Captains and 2 Majors, 3 of the class had targeted by bullets but he could not avoid already won the VC. the indiscriminate artillery fire and he The students at Quetta were highly suffered shrapnel wounds to his chest motivated career soldiers and had been and abdomen. He was taken to No 53 identified as having potential for Casualty Clearing Station at advancement. As such we could expect 4 5: Hogg, Johnson, Brown, Tobin, Dixon, Duigan, McLaughlin, Anderson, Wilson, Teesdale, Meinertzhagen 4: Palmer, Ogle, Wilmer, McPherson, Pope, Ponton, Bowring, Loch, Binny, Coningham, Villers-Stuart 3: Howell, Crowdy, Officer Clarke, Charles, Murray K, ??, Dent, Ogg, Cadell, Skipwith, Hutchinson 2: Craster, Hanbury, Costello, Magniac, Carr-Harris, Powell, Macleod N, Gribbon, Gillies, De Burgh, Maitland, Fergusson, 5 Row 2 cont’d: Rainsford- Hannay, Murray A, Wylly, 1 Bottom (Staff/Students): Mills, De Pree, Taylor, Isacke, Au stin, Braithwaite, Sheppard, Skeen, Shuttleworth, Macleod W, Hore-Ruthven them to make a significant contribution to November 1914. This War was an unsuccessful amphibious assault by Casualties 8000 men in East They were never going to come Africa, launched on 2 through the War unscathed and ten of November 1914. them were killed during the War.