Remembrance – Richard Christian

Remembrance – Richard Christian

by | Nov 22, 2018 | Remembrance

On 22nd November we remember Kirkby Underwood soldier, Richard Christian who died 100 years ago this day. Richard born in 1884 was one of 10 children born to Robert Christian, a bricklayer, and his wife Elizabeth Marshall, both born in Kirkby Underwood. By the age of 16 Richard was a horseman on a farm and living with the Ruskin family in Swinstead. One year later Richard attested to the militia of the 4th Lincolnshire Regiment on the 22nd May 1902 and was living in Billingborough.
Richard drilled with the 4th Battalion Lincolnshire regiment until April 1908 when he was discharged when the Territorial and Reserve Forces act disbanded the volunteer and militia units and placed the men on regular army reserve. In 1911 Richard was living with his mother and younger siblings in Kirkby Underwood, his father having passed away. Richard married Kate (Catherine) Maples in the Autumn of 1913 and by 1918 they had 4 children. Richard joined the Durham Light Infantry during the war and was later transferred to the 409th Company of the labour Corps. The 409th company was known as the Kesteven and Lindsay company which was based at Lincoln. The labour Corps traditionally took men who were wounded and then classed as less than A1 fitness and this would indicate that Richard was either wounded or, at the age of 34 not fit for front line service. Richard died in England on the 22nd November 1918, 11 days after the end of the war. Rather than an act of war Richard was the victim of a family tragedy. On the 19th November Richard and Kate became parents for the 4th time when baby Kate was born. Only 3 days later both Richard and his wife Kate died within hours of each other of acute influenza (Spanish Flu being rife at the time) and baby Kate eventually died on the 29th November. All three are buried in Billingborough churchyard in a grave marked and tended by the Commonwealth War Grave Commission. Richard Christian is commemorated on the Kirkby Underwood memorial.

Remembrance – William Sisson Hyde

by | Nov 7, 2018 | Remembrance

On the 7th November we remember Dunsby man, William Sisson Hyde.

William was born in Morton in early 1897 and was the first of three children born to Samuel Hyde and Lucy Taylor. Samuel was a farmer and shortly after William’s birth the family moved to Dunsby.

William’s military records cannot be found but the medal roll would indicate that there was a William Sisson Hyde originally in the Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby regiment).
When a soldier was wounded and moved to a hospital back home, they could be attached to a different regiment when recovered and sent back into active service which could explain why most records show that William was in the 5th Battalion Lincolnshire regiment.

The army list for August 1918 shows that William was awarded the rank of 2nd Lieutenant on 28th May 1918 and was serving in the 5th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment.

The next mention of William was in the Battalion Diary of the 8th battalion Lincolnshire regiment notes that they received reinforcements on the 19th October 1918 and amongst the officers listed is William Hyde, 2nd Lieutenant.

The battalion diary for November 1918 sees the 8th Battalion Lincolnshire regiment involved in front line action to the north east of Caudry. An entry for the 4th November describes the action of the day and lists 2nd Lieutenant W S Hyde as being wounded.

2nd Lieutenant William Sissons Hyde died of wounds on the 7th November and is remembered with honour at Caudry British cemetery and on the Dunsby War Memorial.

A transcription of the battalion diary along with more family information can be found on William’s page

 

         

Remembrance – Walter Sandall

Remembrance – Walter Sandall

by | Oct 24, 2018 | Remembrance

Today we remember Walter Sandall of Rippingale who died 100 years ago this day.

Born in 1893, Walter was one of nine children born to Edward John Sandall and his wife Mary Pridmore.

In 1911 Walter was working as a horseman on a farm in Scredington and was living with The Whotton family.

Before the war Walter had served with the 1st Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment and had bought himself out of service.

He was living back in Rippingale when in October 1914 he re-joined the Army, this time with the Lincolnshire Yeomanry.

The Yeomanry were a cavalry unit who were based at the barracks at Lincoln and were essentially a forerunner of the Territorial Force before the war. The four squadrons of the Yeomanry were based in the Grimsby, Brigg, Lincoln and Stamford/Bourne and Men were recruited locally In the Bourne Area their patron was the Earl of Ancestor.
Several other local farmers joined the Lincolnshire Yeomanry including Leonard Miller, Everitt Cook, Edward Franks and George Jessop. In most cases the soldiers took their own horse from civilian life into service with them.

Walter carried out his training and home service, first at Oakley Barracks and then at Lowestoft and Sprowston. His training was not without incidents which had landed him in trouble with his seniors.

The 1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry Embarked in Southampton on 27th October 1915 for Salonika and war in the Dardanelles. During the voyage the destination was changed due to a threat by the Turks on the Suez Canal. After leaving Gibraltar the Mercian was attacked by U38 who out of torpedoes attacked with its guns. In the ensuing battle the Mercian returned fire with what little it had and U38 dived. Following putting into port at Oran, Algeria, to bury the dead and transfer the wounded to a military hospital, the Mercian went to Malta where it was fitted with a 3″ quick firing gun. From Malta the Mercian and the Yeomanry eventually disembarked in Alexandria on 21st November 1915

The Lincolnshire Yeomanry saw action across the middle east for the whole of the war, including Egypt, Palestine and also the battle of Gaza.

In February 1917 the Yeomanry was disbanded with most of the men becoming part of the Machine Gun Corps and Walter was transferred to the 18th Squadron of the Corps on 27th February 1917.

Walter Died on Pneumonia on 24th October 1918 and is buried in Beirut Military Cemetery.

In Memory of Private Walter Sandall, 95973, 18th Squadron Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry) who died on 24 October 1918.
Remembered with Honour Beirut War Cemetery
Grave Ref: Bay 3 and 4

Walter was one of seven cousins from our villages who did not return home at the end of the war, a generation missing for their family.

Walter is also remembered on the Rippingale war memorial.

    

Photographs © War Graves Photographic Project and CWGC

Remembrance – Charlie Sharp

Remembrance – Charlie Sharp

by | Oct 20, 2018 | Remembrance

Today we remember Charlie Sharp of Rippingale who was killed in action 100 years ago this day in 1918.

Charles Sulman Sharp was born on 17th January 1889 in Witcham, Cambridgeshire, England to Sarah Maria Sharp also born in Witcham.

Charlie originally lived with his grandparents in Witcham but by 1911 had moved to Waverley near Stamford. At this time he was working as a wheelwright and living with the Dalton family as a boarder.

On 17th October 1917 Charlie married Rippingale woman, Maud Hill in Spalding.

Although his army records have not been found, Charles made the rank of Lance Corporal indicating that he may have served for a long period before his death in 1918.

Charlie Sharpe died during the final month of the Great War and the location of his grave would indicate that we would have been wounded somewhere in the Ypres Salient and then taken back to Duhallows Advanced dressing station on the outskirts of Ypres.

His wife Maud lost not only her Husband but also her two brothers, Arthur and George Hill during the war. She later remarked.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission remember Charlie Sharp with the following entry;

In Memory of Lance Corporal Charlie Sharp, 140972, 63rd Field Company, Royal Engineers who died on 20 October 1918 Age 29
Husband of M Cunnington (formerly Sharp) of 89 Station Road, Langley Mill, Derbyshire. Born Rippingale, Lincs.
Remembered with Honour, Duhallow A.D.S. Cemetery.

Charlie is also remembered on the Rippingale memorial.

   

Remembrance – William Elfleet Close

by | Oct 9, 2018 | Remembrance

Today we pay our respects to Bourne Man, Private William Elfleet Close, 31105 5th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Died of accidental injuries 100 years ago on 9th October 1918, age 37.

Son of Thomas and Catherine Close of 3 Elm Terrace, North Road, Bourne, Lincolnshire.

Rouen St Sever Cemetery became the final resting place for over 11500 First World War soldiers, nurses and personnel that passed through the 15 hospitals stationed locally.

Rest in Peace