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Remembrance – John Edward Chapman

by James | Apr 27, 2018 | Uncategorised

Today we mark the 101st Anniversary of the death of Billingborough man John Edward Chapman, who died of wounds whilst serving with the 1st/4th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment on 27th April 1917.

John was born in Bourne in 1890 to Joseph Chapman, an Innkeeper born in Lincoln and his wife Sarah Jane Clarke. They were married in 1889 in the Bourne district and went on to have 4 children:

John Edward Chapman, 1890, Bourne
Amy Ruth Chapman, 1892, Bourne
Bertha Chapman, 1897, Horbling
Herbert William Chapman, 1900, Billingborough

The young family lived at 21 Woodview Bourne but by 1901 they can be found living at the Crown Inn, Billingborough.
The 1911 census has them still living at the Crown Inn but by now John is working as a Drayman, Innkeeper.

John enlisted in the Territorial Force in Bourne and was posted to the 1st / 4th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, although it is currently not certain when. John’s medal records do not show a 14/15 star and so we can assume that he didn’t see active service abroad until at least 1916.
John’s younger brother Herbert also enlisted and served in the 3rd Leicestershire Regiment although never saw active service abroad.

As it is uncertain when John joined we will only look at his movements through the Battalion Diary of the 4th Lincolns for his final month.

The 1/4th Lincolnshire Regiment fought in the 46th (North Midland) Division and within that the 138th Brigade which consisted of the 1/4th Lincolns, 1/5th Lincolns as well as the 4th and 5th Leicestershire Regiment. For many months at the beginning of 1917 the 4th Lincolns would relieve the 5th in the front line and vice versa and so the movements of the two Battalions were inextricably linked.

1st April 1917 – Estree Blanche

We hold church service in the Sucerie (Sugar House). The building makes a spacious improvised cathedral and there is plenty of room even when the 4th Lincs Regt, R.E’s, M.G’s and T.M.B’s have marched in.
We cease wearing the Bose Respirator and smoke helmet, which before, had always been carried on the person whilst on parade.

2nd April 1917
Platoon Training under platoon commanders

3rd April 1917
Platoon and Company drill.

4th April 1917
Reorganisation of sections. Parades are as strong as possible and at 11.15am the companies are ready for inspection by the C.O.
The second in command and one officer per company carry out tactical exercises under the brigadier.
The Brigadier has kindly offered to present a cup, to be called the Febvin Cup for an inter-company football cup-tie. Battalions will play inter-company matches to arrive at the best team.

5th April 1917 – Estree Blanche
We pass the starting point at 10am to take part in a Brigade Route March. We join beyond Cuhem and thence we pass through Laires, Boncourt, Flechin and return to Estree Blanche, having covered a distance of roughly eleven miles.

6th April 1917
The Battalion marches to the training area allotted to the 138th Brigade and carried out tactical exercises. The large wood proves too much for some platoon commanders and readjustment is needed before exit is made on the farther side.
D company prove the victor in a well contested match with A company and have to meet C company, who have already vanquished B Company.

7th April 1917
The Battalion practices the Trench Attack on B training area, men remaining in Estree Blanche march to the mine at Flechinelle where are excellent shower baths.

8th April 1917 – Estree Blanche
Church parade in the Sucerie. Easter Sunday is favoured with a warm bright sun. The first spring day of the year.

9th April 1917
A Divisional route march. The Battalionjoins the 138th Brigade at Flechin and the Division at the cross roads 1 mile South East of Febvin Palfart. They march us then by Westerhem, Auchy, Rely and Estree Blanche. At Rely the whole Division marches past the corps commander, who expresses his pleasure at the marching and general appearance of the men.

10th April 1917
The Battalion spends the day on the training ground. Open warfare, under rules laid down in S.S 144 is practiced.

11th April 1917
The 4th Lincolns take part in a Brigade attack across open country the breaking up into artillery formation by platoons and diamond formation by sections is very successful as is also the extension formation of waves. In the later stages of the attack however, the leadership by platoon section commanders is severely ostracised.
The G.O.C attends and addresses the officers after the practice.
12th April 1917 – Estree Blanche
Companies under company commanders. Specialists at their subjects. 2/LT H.R.Greenwood arrives from the base and is posted to A company.

13th April 1917
The Battalion marches to Le Cornet Bourdois, 2 miles North of Lillers.
Estree Blanche is left at 8am and we arrive at our new billets at 12.30pm. Le Cornet Bourdois is remarkable for the quantity and quality of its waters. There are springs at every house and the doctor is enthusiastic in its praise.

14th April 1917
Parade under company commanders: companies will be ready to move at short notice.

15th April 1917
Church parade is ordered but owing to the wretched weather the parade is cancelled. Very little rain is needed to convert the fields into marshes. The Battalion has the Thresh Disinfector for 2 days and makes full use of it.

16th April 1917 – Vendin Lez Bethune
The Battalion marches to Vendin Lez Bethune a distance of less than 9 miles. The route is by Lillers and Chocques. We leave Le Cornet Bourdois at 9am and arrive at Vendin shortly after midday.

17th April 1917 – Vendin Lez Bethune
Platoons under Platoon Commanders. Special attention paid to small tactical exercises and solutions as laid down in S.S. 143

18th April 1917
Companies under Company Commanders. Bad weather prevents carrying out of tactical schemes on training ground South West of Chocques.

19th April 1917
Starting at 1pm the Battalion marched from Vendin Lez Bethune to Cite St Pierre. The Iron Gates, Maroc, were passed at 7.30pm and the Battalion reached its destination soon after 8pm. The total distance was about 14 miles.

20th April 1917 – Cite St Pierre
A fairly quiet day. Ignorant of the country and of the exact enemy positions we exposed ourselves needlessly.

21st April 1917
The enemy bombarded the place intensely from 2pm until 8pm. Over 200 8” and 5.9” shells fell on the railway just south of buillets. It was evident that the enemy were searching for 4.5 inch battery immediately West of our billeting area. He had no success.

22nd April 1917 – Cite St Pierre
On the 22nd, we supply carrying parties to the 4th Leicesters who are the left Battalion on the Brigade front. They are successful in capturing Copper Trench with 10 Prisoners.

23rd April 1917
We relieve the 5th Lincs Regiment in the right battalion sector. The method of holding the line is entirely new to us and most interesting. Trenches serve only as a means of approach and advanced posts are concealed in houses which occupy commanding positions. There is little protection in the way of wire and obstacles, this necessitates a super alertness. The men are helped much by knowing that they are top dog and are ready to seek encounters.

24th April 1917
It is evident that the enemy is very nervous. We are the witness on this night of a magnificent display of red, green and white enemy lights followed by and intense defensive barrage which must have stretched two or three miles to the south.
On this night also NCOs patrol of A company attacked enemy sentries in a strong post and were successful in killing one man.

25th April 1917 – Cite St Pierre
The enemy continues his plan of intermittent shelling with some success. A carrying party under 2/LT Baker, in Corkscrew trench were unlucky with a shell, one wounded and 2/LT Baker half buried.

26th April 1917
We side step to the right and take over the front hitherto held by one battalion of the Staffords and for the last two days by the 5th Lincs Regiment. C and D companies take their place in the line, A and B companies are in support.
A telegram of support from the G.O.C on the good work of A company’s patrol of the night of 24th/25th.

27th April 1917
We do not have our advanced posts in any definite system of trenches and too many visitors during the daytime only invite disaster. We see hardly and movement in the enemy line and it is our intension that he shall see little of us.
With a view to farther operations four battalion scouts rcoonnoitre by night a number of houses beyond our advanced posts.
They return with information that 3 or 4 of the enemy are patrolling these houses. This confirms information already gained by 2/LT B.S.Halliday.

It is on this day the 27th April that a telegram arrives at the crown Inn stating that John is dangerously ill with a gun hot wound to his right thigh.
We estimate that this gun-shot wound would have been received around the 23rd or 24th of April. John Chapman was moved to a hospital in Boulogne following this wound and later succumbed to his injury on the 27th April, the day that his father received the first telegram. A second telegram arrived at the Crown in on the 30th April notifying Mr Chapman of his sons death.

Grantham Journal Saturday 5th May 1917
BILLINGBOROUGH
KILLED, WOUNDED AND MISSING:- Another of our brave boys has made the great sacrifice. We refer to Pte Ed. Chapman (Lincolnshire Regiment, T.F.) aged 27, whose father Mr J E Chapman, Crown Hotel, on Saturday received an official telegram stating that his son was dangerously ill aboard suffering from severe gunshot wound in the right thigh. This was followed on Monday by another wire stating that he had succumbed. Pte Chapman was well known and much liked. He assisted his father, the local agent for Messrs Warwicks and Richardsons Ltd., and was at one time secretary of the Town F. C.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
In memory of Private J E Chapman, 202117, 1st/4th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment who died on 27 April 1917 Age 27
Son of Joseph E and Sarah J Chapman, of Crown Hotel, Billingborough, Lincs
Remembered with honour, Boulogne Eastern Cemetery.

We will remember them.

Remembrance – Percy Victor Barsby

by James | Apr 25, 2018 | Uncategorised

This week we are remembered Bourne and 5th Lincolnshire regiment man, Percy Victor Barsby, who was died of wounds 101 years ago on the 25th April 1917.

Percy Barsby was born in Bourne late in 1897 to John Edward Barsby, a postman born in Bourne and his wife Ada Jane Hall also of Bourne. They were married in 1871 and had 4 children;
Ethel Valentina Barsby, 1896, Bourne
Percy Victor Barsby, 1897, Bourne
Thomas William Barsby, 1899, Bourne
Leonard Barsby, 1905, Bourne

Percy was living with his parents on West Street Bourne in 1911 aged 13.

Percy enlisted in the army in Lincoln to the 4th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment and although the exact date is not known newspaper cuttings would indicate that he first saw action overseas just after Christmas 1916.
The same newspaper report indicated that he spent several weeks in hospital and his army effects papers also show that although he was originally in the 4th battalion, he had been transferred to the 5th battalion before his death.

As it is not possible to follow his movements through his army career due to lack of official record, we can follow the 5th Battalion through April of 1917 through the Battalion diaries, hence giving an indication of what life was like for Percy before he made the ultimate sacrifice. Unfortunately the writing in this diary is not the easiest to transcribe and so some words may be lost.

April 1st 1917 –
Church parade at 11:30 AM attended by Joint Officer Commanding 46 division. Who Afterwards presented a Gallantry medal to Lance Corporal S Parr. Platoon training half hour each platoon. Weather cold and showery, snow in evening.

April 2nd 1917 –
Weather very cold, ground covered with snow. Battalion carried on for hours training in the morning. Lecture by Brigade joint commander 138 Brigade to all officers at 4:30 PM.

April 3rd, 4th 1917 –
Training

April 5th 1917 –
Brigade route march via Flechin, Cuhem and Laires starting at 9:30am. A fine day, march completed 1.30pm
In the afternoon rounds were played for the company football cup given by BJC 138th Brigade. A beat C (3-1) and B beat D (2-0)

6th April 1917 –
Training in trench attack carried out by whole Battalion on > area from 9am to 3pm. Weather showery.

7th April 1917 –
training on ? area – weather fine. Advance in artillery formation through wood was practiced under general supervision of J.O.C, who insisted on a repetition and consequently left the battalion out until 4pm. Very valuable instruction but the fact that the Battalion was left without food until 4pm breakfasts being at 7.30am, and that the final match in the inter company was fixed for 2.30pm, rather affected the morale. The match was played at 4.30pm, when A beat B by 3 goals to 2.

8th April 1917 –
Easter Sunday – Very fine day. Church Parade at 10.30pm. Lecture by the adjutant to NCOs at 2.15pm.

9th April 1917 –
Weather fine but very cold. Divisional route march, battalion started at 10.25am. March via Auchy to Estree Blanche, after home via Cuhem and Flechin arrived at 3pm. Corps commander inspected the Division en route. C.Os conference at Brigade HQ 6pm.

10th April 1917 –
Weather bitterly cold, snow during night; frequent blizzards with bright intervals during the day. Al companies performed 3 hours training in artillery formation and extended order. Divisional tactical? Of Estree Blanche for COs , brigade staff. ‘?’ disinfector allotted to battalion from 7.30am onwards, it arrived at 8 without coal, there was ? delay. A certain amount of good was finally accomplished but ? the disinfector is allotted for a reasonable time, the whole process is a farce, and the time spent wasted: both clothing and blankets must all be disinfected under general conditions of care this is ?

11th April 1917 –
Weather very cold, ground covered with snow this morning. Battalion paraded at 8am and took part in Brigade scheme of open attack: corps commander, and J O C 46th Division were present. Operation over at 12.30pm, when dinners were eaten (the cookers having met Battalion at 12.30 at Cuhem) in pouring rain, which continued until billets were reached at 2.30pm, and for the remainder of the afternoon. Warning order was issued that Brigade would move to fresh billets tomorrow, near Bethune; this was subsequently cancelled.

12th April 1917 –
Weather still very cold, ground covered 2 to 3 inches with snow, but sharp thaw during the day. Only ½ hour platoon training performed, remainder of day spent in interior cleaning. All men bathed.

13th April 1917 –
Weather fine. Battalion marching in Brigade at 500 yard intervals, left Fervin-Palfart at 8am and marched via St Hilaire, Lillers and Busnes to Hollanderie and La Pierriere. Good billets but practically no training ground. Battalion arrived in new area about 1pm, being inspected en route by GOC 46th Division, who afterwards forwarded advise ? of the Battalion.

14th April 1917 –
Weather fine. Companies performed 3 hours training during the morning, with bayonet fighting, musketry, physical exercises, ?. lecture to officers at 6pm. Officers drill under brigade? at 2.30pm.

15th April 1917 –
Weather very wet all day. Church parade cancelled. ½ hour platoon training only performed following order to move sent day received.

16th April 1917 –
Battalion marching in Brigade at 500 yard intervals, left Battalion starting point at 10.10am, and marched via L’Ecleme and Chocques to Vendin and Oblinehem (Near Bethune) arriving at 1 pm. Fairly good billets but men split up into small parties. Weather bright and fine.

17th April 1917 –
3 hours training carried out during morning in spite of bad weather. In afternoon each company carried out a small outpost tactical scheme with officers and NCOs. In addition a CMS ? ? staff took a class of NCOs – 2 from each platoon. Weather cold and showery. CO 2nd in command of brigade inspected ? training grounds.

18th April 1917 –
A warning order was issued at 9pm last night and definitive orders at 3am, for the Battalion to move at 1pm to take over, proceeding via Bethune, Noeux Les Mines, Bully Grenay to Brigade HQ at Meroc. Portion of Battalion is in old German front and support lines. HQ in old British front line opposite Cite St Pierre, North West of Lens. Battalion relieved 8th Royal West Surrey(Queen’s), relief being completed about 2am on the 19th.

19th April 1917 –
CO and Company commanders reconnoitred during the day positions to be taken over at night in front line from 9Th East Surrey Regiment. Relief began at 9pm, and was completed by 2.15am, D and B companies in front line. With three platoons in posts and 1 in support, and A and C companies in reserve in cellars in Cite St Pierre. In front line parts arer in places in trenches and others in houses, all lately vacated by the enemy who hold a line approximately 400 yards away. Weather fortunately fair, but cold.

20th April 1917 –
Very heavy shelling of both front line companies and also Battalion HQ during the day, and specifically from 10pm to midnight. Battalion HQ is an abandoned former Regimental HQ at crossroads and is especially marked. Gas Alert ordered.

21st April 1917 –
Weather fine. Started shelling ? afterwards both by day and night. A few ?

22nd April 1917 –
Weather and other conditions as yesterday. Orders received that the attack on Hill 65 would take place by Brigade on our right (139th) at 4.45 tomorrow and that co-operation by patrols from this Battalion was required. Arrangements made to push forward the line if the attack succeeds.

23rd April 1917 –
At 4.45 three patrols (with the bombing portion of a platoon) supported by the remainder of the platoon, were pushed forward but all were met by heavy machine gun and rifle fire? ? our trenches in strong points before reaching their objectives. These patrols were found by A and C companies which relieved B and D companies last night. Two Patrols of C company was cut off by heavy fire and took refuge till dusk in a hole 50 yards from our line, and then returned ?
A company patrols returned without casualties, C company two wounded only. The Battalion was relieved at night by the 1/4th Lincoln Regiment, relief being completed at 1.30am and proceeded to Brigade reserve in cellars in Cite St Pierre.

24th April 1917 –
Sudden orders received at 9am that Battalion would relieve 1/5th South Staffords on the sector on immediate right at night. Officers went to reconnoitre as usual. Posted 1 company as a outpost company, 3 platoons in posts and 1 in support in Cite St Theodore North West of Lens. One company in support in Crimson trench and Crook Redoubt, and 2 companies in Lievin (with Battalion HQ) in reserve. Relief completed at 2.15am.

25th April 1917 –
Weather bright and fine. A comparatively quiet day, some shelling on support line and in Lievin, but much less than usual. Quiet night.

The Grantham Journal on Saturday 5th May 1917 carried this report.
BOURNE, ANOTHER war fatality – News was received on Thursday morning the Private Barsby, son of Mr and Mrs J Barsby, West Street, Bourne has been killed in action. He was mortally wounded by a bursting shell on 24th April, and died before regaining consciousness. Private Barsby went out just after Christmas and for several weeks was in hospital. Latterly, he had been in action with other Bourne boys.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
In Memory of Private Percy Victor Barsby, 242390, 5th battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment who died on 25th April 1917, aged 19
Remembered with honour, Maroc British Cemetery, Grenay

We will remember them.

Remembrance – Fred Lloyd

by James | Apr 24, 2018 | Uncategorised

Today we commemorated the 101st anniversary of the death of Bourne man Fred Lloyd of the 8th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment who was killed in action this day, 24th April 1917.

Fred was born in Bourne in early 1879, the son of George Lloyd b 1835 in Edenham, a farm labourer and his wife Hannah Currell b 1843 in Watton Hertfordshire.

George and Hannah had 6 children although one had already passed away before the 1911 census.
Lewis Lloyd, 1872, Edenham
Emma Currell, 1873, Edenham
Charles Lloyd, 1875, Edenham
Sarah Ann Lloyd, 1876, Edenham
Fred Lloyd, 1879, Bourne

In 1881 Fred, being only 3 years of age was living with his parents at 4 Spring Cottage, South Fen, Bourne. 10 years later the family were living in West Fields Bourne.

By 1901 Fred was with the Army and most likely in India. After another 10 years the 1911 census shows that Fred is living with his parents again but this time in Burghley Street, Bourne and he is working as a Bricklayer’s Labourer at the age of 32.

Fred first attested to the army in November 1896 at the age of 18, joining the 3rd Battalion South Wales Borderers. He declared that he had previously been serving in the militia and that he had a mutlilated little finger on his right hand.

Fred had a chequered career once being imprisoned for striking a superior officer during his home service and then after being posted to India he was imprisoned once for striking a superior officer and twice for using insubordinate language.
in 1904 whilst in India he signed up to extend his service to a total of 8 years.

He eventually was posted home in 1905, 4 years after his final imprisonment and then served another 3 years with the regiment at home even after being put on Army reserve in January 1905. His first period of service ended on 22nd November 1908.

Fred enlisted in Bourne and rejoined the army in 1914 and was sent abroad, as an old contemptible in 1914 earning him the 1914 star, which was later added to with the award of a clasp.
We can only assume that this was with either his old regiment or with a different regiment to his eventual posting in the 8th Lincs. The 8th Lincolnshire Regiment was not sent abroad until September 1915 and therefore the exact movements of Fred or the date of him joining the 8th Lincs is unknown.

We can only say for certain that he was with The Battalion in the last month of his life.

Taken from the 8th Battalion Diaries:-

The Battalion trained at Grimsby during August 1914, and then at Halton Park in November. The Battalion moved into billets at Leighton Buzzard for the winter of 1914

In the spring of 1915 the Battalion moved to Halton Park Camp, Wendover and miniature rifle practice commenced. After completing the musketry course and a Review by Lord Kitchener, the Battalion moved to Witley Camp North, marching past His Majesty the King and Lord Kitchener, 12 August 1915.

All the Battalion commanders had been in retirement at the outbreak of war. Of the 21st Division in which the 8th Lincolnshire were attached only 14 officers had any previous experience in the Regular army.

The Battalion entrained for overseas service at Milford Station on 9 September 1915 leaving England the next day, sailing via Folkestone to Boulogne. For a week the Battalion stayed in the Watten area before receiving orders to move to the front.

A long and really arduous march took place which led the Battalion to the front and their first engagement of the war, The Battle of Loos.
During this battle an immediate gain was overturned and the highly inexperienced Battalion suffered tremendous losses.

In their first battle the 8th Battalion lost 22 of their 24 officers. 471 other ranks were killed, wounded or missing that being nearly half of all men in the Battalion.

The next major offensive for the Battalion was during the battle of the Somme in July 1916. The Battalion saw action in Albert, Bazentin Ridge, Fleurs-Courcelette, Morval, Gaudecourt, Transloy Ridge and eventually in November the Battle of The Ancre.

During the spring of 1917 the German Army retreated to the heavily fortified defensive Hindenburg Line.
When the retreat started the 21st Division were at Halloy spending a period out of the line in training exercises.

On the first of April the Battalion attended a voluntary Church Parade at Neuville Au Cornet before the following day being route marched to Denier for an attack on a trench system. Over the next days the Battalion moved to Avesnes-le-Conte, Givenchy-le-Noble, Lattre St Quentin before arriving at Duisans to withdraw equipment ready for their move onto the assembly area at Arras.

The Battalion entered the Battle of Arras at Battery Valley on the 9th April 1917 at 4pm digging in until 8pm.
The Battalion moved east and halted around midnight. At daybreak considerable enemy activity was observed round Monchy-le-Preux, also enemy troops and transport moving north east from Roeux. Artillery was asked for in both cases but there was no response.

At 9am the Battalion prepared to advance to its original objective as soon as the 111th brigade advanced on Monchy.

At 10:30 am Major Greatwood was informed that the 8th Somerset Light Infantry were in Monchy and that he must support them. They advanced to teh valley but in this advance they suffered heavy casualties as they had no artillery support.

At 4pm Major Greatwood issued orders to attack Monchy with the 8th Somerset on the right, Lincolns on the left. Again with no artillery support they had to dig in on high ground receiving orders to attack at dusk.
When they had already opened out for the attack, orders arrived from Brigade cancelling the attack and consolidate the position and patrols were posted in front.

By the end of the 10th April the Battalion had 9 officers wounded, 30 other ranks killed, 187 other ranks wounded and 8 missing.

12th April 1917 – Arras
battalion withdrawn from the line and moved to Arras

13th April 1917 – Duisans
Battalion moved to Duisans and billeted there for one night.

14th April 1917 – Beaufort
Battalion moved to billets in Beaufort.

16th April 1917 – Beaufort
Battalion in billets

17th April 1917 – Beaufort
Battalion in billets, training carried out

18th April 1917 – Beaufort
Battalion in billets, training being carried out.

19th April 1917 – Beaufort
Battalion moved to billets in Montenescourt.

20th April 1917 – Beaufort
Battalion moved by buses to Arras – Battalion in support.

23rd April 1917 – Arras
Battalion in attack. Middlesex right front battalion. York and Lancaster regiment left front Battalion. Somerset Light Infantry Right support Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment left support Battalion.
Casualties, 20 officers killed, 2nd Lieut W.S.Dickinson, D.J.B Busher. Other Ranks killed 20., Wounded 102, missing 14.

25th April 1917 – Arras
Battalion in reserve.

Lance Corporal Fred LLoyd was reported as being killed in action on 24th April 1917.

Grantham Journal Saturday 5th May 1917
LOCAL CASUALTIES:- Lieut Arthur Wherry was wounded in action last week and on Thursday reached Dover. He is now in Hospital at Wanstead, suffering from a fresh wound in the thigh caused by shrapnel. The wound is not of a serious character and Lieut Wherry is favourably progressing towards recovery. News was received last week that Pte Parker had been killed in action. Pte Parker, up to the time he joined up was employed by Messrs. Foley and Butler and was closely associated with the Wesleyan Church and School being an energetic worker. On Monday, an intimation was received at Bourne that Pre Fred Lloyd of Burghley Street has been killed in action. Pte Lloyd had spent several years in the Army and on the outbreak of war was called up as one of the reserve men. He had been home several times during the intervening period and had not long been out on active service after his last leave. On Wednesday the death in action of another Bourne boy was notified, Pte George Marvin, son of Mr and Mrs Hy Marvin, Bedehouse Bank. He went out with his regiment early in the New Year and leaves a young widow and one child.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
In memory of Lance Corporal F Lloyd, 8464, 8th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment who died on 24 April 1917
Remembered with honour, Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension.

Remembrance – Harry Chamberlain

by James | Apr 23, 2018 | Uncategorised

Today we remember Harry Chamberlain of Dunsby and of the 8th battalion South Staffordshire Regiment. A local soldier that made the ultimate sacrifice 101 years ago this day, 23rd April 1917.

Harry was born in Dunsby in the spring of 1895, to James Chamberlain, a farm labourer born Essendine and Elizabeth Fowler born Pickworth, Rutland. The coupe had married in Stamford in 1874 and Harry was the 7th of 9 children. The family had lived in Morton and then on to Dunsby around 1887.

The children of James and Elizabeth are:
James c1879,
Arthur c1882,
Lucy c1884
Mary Elizabeth c1887
John William c1890
Annie Julia c1892
Harry 1895 (WW1; 8th Bn South Staffordshire Regiment)
Flora c1896

In both 1901 and 1911 Harry can be found living with his parents in Dunsby. The 1911 census shows us Harry working as a Groom on a farm.

Harry enlisted in Derby although the date is not known. We can see from his medal records that he did not see oversees service until 1916.
He originally joined the Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) having a number 43111 and again it is not known when he transferred to the 8th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment, number 43003.

As we are unsure of Harry’s exact movements through the war then we can only really look at what he went through in April of 1917. This has been taken from the Battalion Diary and is one of the best descriptions of life in the line during the battle of Arras. Unfortunately as the action gets hotter the writing in the diary deteriorates and so my transcription also is not perfect.

1st April 1917- Oppy
Battalion bathing

2nd April 1917 – Beaudricourt
Work on roads at all Bouque Maison Abandoned

3rd April 1917 – Beaudricourt
Brigade field day divisional conference at DHQ

4th April 1917 – Beaudricourt
Battalion training. Notice to move received.

5th April 1917 – Moncheaux
Battalion leave at 8am for Moncheaux (7 Miles) arrive 12 noon

6th April 1917
Battalion resting (Good Friday) Orders received to move to Givenchy-Le-Noble

7th April 1917 – Givenchy-Le-Noble
Battalion Marched to Givenchy-Le-Noble (about 7 1/4 Miles) arrived about 1.30pm

8th April 1917 – Noyelette
Battalion moved here at 12 noon (distance 5 1/2 miles)

9th April 17 – Noyelette (this is the first day of the battle of Arras)

1am – Battalion under 4 hours notice to move

5.30am – Zero hour
11am – Battalion received news of 1st Line being taken

11.30am – Dinners

3.45pm – Battalion has orders to move at 4-20pm

4.20pm – Battalion leave Noyellette

5.40pm – Battalion hears news of capture of 3rd line, many prisoners, cavalry on the way.

8.45pm – Heavy Hail and snow storms.

10.20pm – Orders received to bivouac for the night on road-side, about 3 kilometres west of Arras. Bitterly cold, snow and sleet fall heavily.

10th April 1917 – Arras

12.25am – Orders to send guide for cookers, cookers to arrive for breakfast at 5-30am.

2.20am – Orders received “Be ready to move at 50 minutes notice from 6am.

5.40am – hear that it is impossible to get cookers up for breakfast.

7.45am – 2/Lt Armstrong and 5 NCOs sent to Arras to billet Battalion.

9.30am – ordered to march to Arras at 10-15am. 2/LT Hare rejoins.

10.15am March to Arras

11.30am battalion billeted in cellars

12.55pm – No move possible before 2pm. Dinners and rest. 1 days iron rations to be issued before 2pm. Guide sent for cookers. Leaving Warlus at 12 noon.

4pm – 1 days iron rations arrived and issued.

4.30pm – Cookers arrived. Rum and groceries to be drawn

5.45pm – Tea and Rum issued. Snow storms throughout the day.

11th April 1917 – Arras

2.30am – Orders to send 600 men for working party to 278th Royal Engineers Arras station 9am (Cancelled at 8am).

Results of attack (10,600 prisoners 250 officers, 113 guns, 163 machine guns, 50 trench mortars, capture of Vimy Ridge, advance of 5 miles on 12 mile front.

2.30am “News” Acheville abandoned, Boches retiring to Drocourt and Bois Bernard, prisoners 800 and 40-80 guns. Cav Corps 3 400.
Cav Corps advancing to 1st objective 4pm Batt of 37th Division along ??? Orange-Hill, 4th Army hold ridge Hargiecourt – Le Verquier

8am – working party cancelled

10.30am rumoured that we are North East of Monchy and that 5th Army pushing round Queant.

11.20am – Ordered to detail 400 men for cleaning up at Arras station at 12 noon. 2/LT Hackett to assist Brigade transport officers.

11.45am – Guides sent to Place-de-theatre for rations.

12.45pm – Situation reported “General attack made by 17th, 6th and 7th Corps and 5th Army 15th Division North East of Monchy, 37th Division said to be in Monchy
La-Bergere farm captured, heavy barrage West of Monchy
5th Army gained 1st objective Bollecourt-Queant.

2.30pm Rations arrive

3.30pm Waiting orders “17th Division transfered to VI Corps, ordered to relieve 15th Division to North of Monchy at night.

4.15pm – working party withdrawn.

9.15 pm – 51st Brigade put at 50 minutes notice from 5am (12th inst) to move into reserve in Battery-Valley and Feuchy.

12th April 1917
Snowing all night.

5am – Breakfast

9.30am – Echelon B arrives in Arras. C.O. visits Brigade and leaves plan of attack of 6th Corps. Explained to O.C. Companies

11am Dinners

6.10pm – Orders to send advance parties to reconnoitre accomodation in Railway-Triangle east of Blangy (occupied by 46th Brigade)

6.30pm – 1 officer and 1 NCO per company proceed there.

6.50pm – having order “52 Brigade willprobably relieve 50th brigade on night of 13/14th. 51st Brigade will relieve 52nd in support. 51st Brigade will probably move to Railway Triangle early on morning of 13th.

9.30pm – Orders received to pass starting point at 6-12am 13th inst.Advance parties report many dug-outs (Several Flooded) in Railway Triangle, in embankment 30′ high, also large tunnel. Impossible for progress of G.S and L.W’s. A few H.V Shells on Arras late in afternoon.

13th April 1917

5am – Breakfast

6.5am – Battalion falls in

6.12am – Battalion marches from Arras to Railway Triangle 1 1/2 miles South West of Athies. (100 yards between companies) route “along railway”

8.30am – All in long tunnel order, embankment as in trenches.

1.30pm – Attack by 29th Division and 50th Brigade postponed 24 hours.

1.55pm – S.O.S Changed

5pm – 2/LT Scott, Green, Smith and Whittaker reconnoitre route to Feuchy Chapel

6.30pm – Arrival of rations

8pm – Greatcoats arrive for A,B and 1/2 C companies

14th April 1917 – Railway Triangle

12.05am – Operation orders ” Battalion will relieve 1st Essex and part of 50th Brigade East of Monchy, probably after midnight 14/15th

7am – Breakfasts

9.30am – Companies cleaning up and bury 2 horses, collect and dump salvage.

12 noon – Brigadiers interviews commanding officers. Battalion will now relieve 2nd Hants in brigade reserve West of Monchy.
29th Division reported to have attacked and gained their objective South East of Monchy in early morning.

2.30pm – Situation. ’29th Division heavily counter-attacked falls back to original line.
Battalion at 30 minutes notice to move.

2pm – Companies send parties for 1 hales grenade per man.

2.45pm – Commanding Officer interviews Officers commanding companies and explains situation.

3.30pm – Quartermaster and 2/LT Hare arrive with rations on pack animals.

3.30pm -Sherwoods and Lincolns move forward at about 4 and 6 pm satisfactorily.

4 – 4.30PM – Heavy Bosche barrage from South of Monchy to North of river Scarpe.

7.45pm – Information from brigade major of probability of standing fast for the night. Companies warned, bivouacs re-erected.

8.15pm – Brigade Majors companies above information. Greatcoats re-issued to companies.
Battalion to stand fast in present position. 29th Division believed to have lost East of Monchy and intend to retake same.
2/LT Kelsey rejoins from hospital (at Echelon “B” transport in Arras)

15th April 1917
Damp morning

12.20pm – Brigadier brings in new situation as indicated by places this morning. Monchy in a narrow salient.

1.35pm – Commanding Officers, 2/LT Scott and Green, and 1 officer and 1 NCO per company reconnoiter route and meet representatives of people to be relieved (1st Lancs first)

1.43pm – Brigade B.O informs us no relief tonight

4pm – Arrival of rations

6.15pm – Battalion sets out to work under 93rd Field Company Royal Engineers on Orange Hill – Chapel Hill line., captain Foster in charge of party.

8.53pm – Commanding officer returns

16th April 1917

2am – 2/LT Green treturns having explained dispositions of 1st Lancs

3.40am – Companies return from working party having completed job. C company 3 other ranks wounded (1 at duty).

7.30pm – Rain

17th April 1917
News received that the French have captured 11,000 prisoners, and are being heavily counter attacked by fresh Divisions. During the morning A and C, B and D companies change positions.

1.25pm – A few shells found the Triangle. 2 other ranks of B company killed

2pm – Commanding officer visits 52nd Brigade HQ North of Monchy (staffs and Borders to attack North of Monchy and River Scarpe.

6.30pm – Snow storms. Orders received that 51st Brigade will relieve 52nd Brigade on 18th inst. Staffs to relieve 10th Lancs first on left, borders on right.

9.30pm – Situation Report “5th and 6th French Armies have taken 12,00 prisoners (16th inst.) many counter attacks. 4th French army attacked on 15 kilometre front from Mauroy to Auberibe: punctuated 1-2 kilometres.

18th April 1917
Rainy mornning, ground terribly muddy

11.30am – Commanding officer attends conference at brigade HQ

2.30pm – Commanding officer explains situation and plans to all officers and NCOs

7pm – 1 officer and 1 NCO per company go ahead to locate posts in front in daylight.

7.30pm – Battalion starts from Railway Triangle along railway to front line South of River Scarpe, North of Monchy-Le-Preux in order D C B A HQ
10th L.F’s leave party behind for short time to continue C.T to A company from railway. 2 companies of Yorks and Lanccs at work during night digging assembly trench North from Lone Copse (right of battalion front) C company ordered to occupy it with one platoon when complete.

19th April 1917

2am – Situation Normal, C company report intermittant shelling 10pm to 11.15pm. 1 platoon of C Company occupy assembly trench North of Lone Copse.

3-3.40am – Each company sends out a patrol 2/LT Barlow went to discover if T trench opposite was held, was fired on twice. Enemy sent up several very lights, much on the alert, occasional sniping.
Touch gained with 7th Borders on right and 5th Gordons on left.
Work during night continuing C.T. from Railway to front line, deepening and widening trench where necessary, extending trenches to make one continuous line.

4.40am – Commanding Officer makes tour of line.

8am – Situation quiet

2pm – Situation normal, intermittent shelling on posts and line. Poor visibility

2.47pm – Orders received that Yorks Regiment (50th Brigade) will relieve us tonight.

6pm Billeting party sent to Brown Line

9.10pm – F.O.O reports and SOS sent up on our front, false alarm. Heavy shelling North of River Scarpe. Promiscuous shelling of railway, Feuchy etc.
Enemy puts barrage 200 yards West of his T Trench – in front of our assembly trench.

9.40pm – Matters quietened down. 2/LT Barlow patrols North East of Lone Copse to discover supposed enemy post. Finds all clear.

11.50PM – Relief by Yorks complete. Companies move independently to Brown Line. Pick up rations from divisional canteen at Feuchy.

20th April 1917

1 AM – Battalion all in Brown Line

3.10am – Enemy shells neighbourhood of battalion bivouacs for 15 minutes. 20 casualties. Spasmodic shelling of area around gun emplacements close to Brown Line and west of it. about a dozen gas shells first over during morning.

4.10pm – Battalion relieved by 9th N.F., march across country to Estaminet corner then via Cambrai Road to Arras. Battalion in caves, all in by 6.45pm

21st April 2017
Battalion bathes in the morning.

11am – Commanding Officer goes to headquarters 51st infantry brigade Railway Triangle for commanding officer’s conference and returns at 2.50pm

2.50pm – (unable to read)

4pm- Commanding Officer sees all officers and informs them of attack. Brigade depot moves from Bernaville to near Citadel Arras.

6.35pm – Battalion starts for line. Platoons in file. Route Cambrai Road to Estaminet corner thence across country to junction of Railway and the Brown Line.

7.40pm – Commanding Officer receives order from 50th Brigade Not to cross Brown Line before ? ? to work parties being in post line.

10pm – Battalion leave Brown Line to relieve 7th Yorks in front line South of River Scarpe. 7th Yorks have one company out as covering party to a working party of Yorks and lancs digging assembly trench about 600 yards in front of front line. Working party did not arrive and the trench was not dug.
Yorks have a patrol along southern side of canal towards Reaux. Patrol fired upon and discover enemy post in water tower on side of lake.

22nd April 1917.

12.50am – Relief complete with exception of covering party and patrol.

2am – Patrol mentioned above returns and covering party in with ?

4am – Commanding Officer visits front line and goes forward to inspect site of assembly trench and high bank.

6.30am – Commanding Officer returns and dictates operation order for companies (Copy Attached)

3.10pm – Operational Orders issued to companies

7.20pm – Brigade Major calls on Battalion HQ

7.25pm – Artillery Program received

7.30pm – Brigadier calls to see Commanding Officer

8pm – Artillery program issued to companies

8.25pm – Battalion HQ moves to C company HQ in front line

8.30pm – Covering party B Company first and to cover working party Yorks and Lancs digging assembly trenches

10pm – 20 men A company carry forward smoke bombs for special Company Royal Engineers.

9.45pm – Gas projected into the wood west of Roeux

10.30pm – Commanding Officer goes to Brigade HQ for final arrangements as to liaison with 154th Brigade on the left. Returns to Battalion HQ at 11.30pm

12 midnight – Hot tea issued to all men

23rd April 1917

2am – Companies commence moving to assembly trenches. 2nd Lieut Scott ? ? wire from Battalion HQ to assembly trench and reports completion 3.5am

3.30am – Captain Foster reports that all companies are in position in assembly trenches. Commanding Officer reports this to Brigade.

4am – Commanding Officer and HQs move forward to assembly trenches,, incoming telephone speaking staff to transmit messages from HQ to Brigade HQ.

4.35am – Commanding officer inspects first wave who are all in position lying down ready to advance. Men in excellent spirits.

4.45am – Artillery Barrage opened on a line 200 yards west of enemy trench.

4.47am – First wave advances

4.48am – Artillery barrage lifts 200 yards. First wave close in behind.

4.51am – Artillery Barrage lists onto enemy trench. First wave close in behind arrives at enemy wire and under gallery fire from left flank.

4.55am – A company in support joins first wave. Most officers of all 3 companies either killed or wounded. men hold on, firing until 5am when they withdrew slowly having no leaders.

5am – Commanding Officer pushes forward and attempts to rally and encourage the companies which are much mixed up. also asks Artillery Liaison Officer to get barrage which has now gone on to the fire trench back to the enemy front trench.

5.10am – a shout that enemy is leaving and when Battalion rushes forward to enemy trench again for a second time they come under galley Machine Gun fire from the left flank and many more casualties are suffered.

5.30am – Commanding Officer and his officers reform battalion in two lines extended and when this is nearly complete it is received that the artillery have brought back the barrage on the enemy’s fire trench.
A general advance is again made this time with the men of the first line firing from the hip. The same cause viz forward fire from the left stoped the attack at the enemy wire.

5.40am – Battalion finally withdrawn. remaining officers and NCOs rallied and instructed by Commanding Officer to reorganise in 3 companies in the assembly trench and to dig.
About this time the 7th Lincolnshire regiment arrives and about 7am receives orders from the b=Brigade to make another attempt. This was done but had no success.

During remainder of the day Staffords and Lincolns reorganised and dug in whilst the enemy brought down a very heavy barrage on this position.

6pm – 6th Dorsets advanced in extended order over positions occupied by Staffords and Lincolns as far as the enemy wire when they had to withdraw also.

8pm – Commanding Officer received information that the enemy were preparing a heavy counter attack down the Pelves Valley. Ordered B company to attack across the valley joining up north end of high ? with lake and dig small strong posts. This was ordered in spite of casualties inflicted by enemy machine guns.

24th April 1917
4am – Battalion withdrawn to Railway Triangle being relieved by 7th Yorks.

At the end of this action the Battalion Diary reports the following;

Killed:- Captain J Foster, 2/LT S G Whitaker, 2/LT R V Cotterell, 2/LT F S Creasey

Wounded – Lieut A P Whitehead, 2/LT A E Husband, 2/LT W S Bacon, 2/LT W P Rhodes, 2/LT J A Green, 2/LT C A Scott

Wounded and missing:- 2/LT A S Bourne, 2/LT A J Browne, 2/LT J S Stephens.

Wounded on Duty:- Captain G B Langton, 2/LT T H Smith.

Other Ranks:- Killed 26, Wounded 133, Missing 58, Wounded on Duty 1

Total Casulties:- Officers 15, Other Ranks 218

Private Harry Chamberlain of the 8th Battalion South Staffordshire regiment was one of the other ranks killed or more likely missing as a result of this action.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
In Memory of Private Harry Chamberlain, 43003, 8th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment who died on 23 April 1917.
Remembered with Honour Arras Memorial
Panel Ref: Bay 6

Harry is also remembered on the memorial in Dunsby.