by James | Apr 9, 2018 | Uncategorised
Today we commemorate the 101st Anniversary of the death of one of our local men.
Lance Corporal John Thomas Taylor, 8th battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, was born in Rippingale in 1896.
Son of Rippingale farm worker John Edward Taylor and his wife Sarah Ann Barber also of Rippingale.
By 1911 John Thomas Taylor was living with the Levesley family in Scottlethorpe Road, Edenham and was working as a waggoner on a farm.
When the war broke out John was one of the many villagers to join up and he was posted to the 8th Battalion Lincolnshire regiment.
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.
John Taylor was a casualty of this action.
Grantham Journal Saturday 2 March 1918
Lance-Corpl J T TAYLOR, Scottlethorpe
The parents of Lance-Corpl John Thomas Taylor of the Lincolnshire Regiment, who live in the hamlet of Scottlethorpe, belonging to the village of Edenham, a few days ago received the official notice that he has been missing since April 1917 and is now believed to be dead, as nothing further has been heard of him since then. He was their only child. On the outbreak of the war in 1914, he with others from this village joined the Lincolnshire Regiment as privates at once. They all went to the front in September 1915 and fought at Loos. Since then Taylor had been made Lance-Corporal and joined the Machine Gun Section. All in the parish sympathise with the parents.
In memory of Lance Corporal John Thomas Taylor, 11889, 8th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment who died on 9 April 1917 Age 21
Son of John Taylor of Scottlethorpe, Bourne, Lincs
Remembered with honour, Arras Memorial.
Lest we forget
by James | Apr 7, 2018 | Uncategorised
Today we commemorate 101 years since the death of Bourne man, Private Cyer Parker of the 2nd/4th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment.
Cyer John Parker was born in Bourne in the spring of 1893. One of 10 children born to John Thomas Parker, a Farm Labourer of Bourne and his wife Mary Ann Copper from Toft.
By 1911, Cyer is still living in Bourne with his parents and was working as an assistant General Dealer.
Cyer joined the 2nd/4th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment during the war, unfortunately due to a lack of surviving records the details of his service is not known
During the time immediately before his death, the 2nd/4th Battalion was in action.
On the 23rd February 1917 the 2nd/4th Lincolnshires dembarked on the SS Lydia from Southampton and arrived in Le Harvre, France the following day. They had been appointed to the 59th Division (2nd North Midland) and the 177th Brigade.
They took over a sector close to Estrees but within two weeks they were in pursuit of the retiring German army, finding themselves crossing the Somme and by 18th March they occupied Peronne.
During Spring of 1917 the enemy carried out a tactical withdrawal back to the Hindenberg Line, this allowed them the shorten the front and hold better defensive positions.
On the 31st March the 2/4th Lincolnshire and the 2/5th Leicesters were involved in the capture of Hesbécourt and Hervilly, before moving east to take Hill 140 as part of the 177th Brigade.
On the 2nd April the 2/4th Leicestershire Regiment were unsuccessful in their goal to take Fervaque Farm. The Lincolnshires were tasked with the same goal the following day but again were unsuccessful.
On the 5th April the Battalion was once more in action near Templeux. By Noon they had took a new outpost on the line between Templeux and Hargicourt village and suffered heavy shelling during the afternoon.
The 6th saw more heavy shelling and the battalion HQ was hit. A patrol that advanced to and old German trench north of Hargicourt was shelled out. The day saw 4 killed and 16 other ranks wounded.
On the 7th patrols were sent out to take German posts on the outskirts of Hargicourt but no enemy were found there. The patrol laid up for the rest of the day but saw nothing. The afternoon saw more heavy shelling and the post was shelled out and moved to a disused German trench. 1 other rank was killed and 6 wounded.
Private Cyer John Parker lost his life on the 7th April as a result of these actions.
In memory of Private C Parker, 2nd/4th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment who died on 7 April 1917
Remembered with honour, Templeux-Le-Guerared Communal Cemetery Extension.
RIP
Lest we forget
by James | Apr 5, 2018 | Remembrance, Uncategorised
Today we are paying our respects to Bourne man Henry Knowles who died of wounds on 5th April 1915.
Lance Sergeant Henry Knowles, 2nd Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, was the son of William and Jane Knowles of Folkingham.
Buried in Le Tréport Military Cemetery.
Home to over 10,000 hospital beds and a harbour facing England, Le Tréport became one of the main ports of repatriation for wounded soldiers heading home.
by James | Mar 30, 2018 | Uncategorised
Today we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of one of our local Billingborough men.
Private Jim Rylott 242061 of the 2nd / 5th battalion Leicestershire regiment died of pneumonia on 30th March 1917 whilst on active service with his battalion in France, age 19.
Jim was born in Billingborough in 1897 to James Rylott Avison and his wife Catherine Gale both born in Boston.
From 1897 the family had been living in Billingborough where James was working as a poultry labourer.
Jim is listed on the 1911 census as the 3rd surviving son of the the 13 children born to James and Catherine. They had lost 7 children before 1911.
Jim later enlisted in the Leicestershire Regiment in Lincoln.
The 2/5th Battalion, Leicestershire embarked in Southampton and sailed on the SS Huntscraft arriving in Harve, France on the 21st February 1917.
After a night in rest camp no 1, the battalion entrained for Saleux where they were billeted for three nights before moving to Bayonvillers.
In the early part of March the Battalion was in line around Bayonvilles and on the 8th March went into trenches on the main Amiens to Estrees Road to relieve the 8th Durhams.
The brigade received word on the 17th that the enemy had retired from their positions. They advanced on the 17th and consolidated the new positions on the banks of the River Somme, sending patrols over the river the following day without seeing any enemy.
After a few days in divisional reserve in Foucaucourt the Battalion was moved to Le Mesnil and then Eterpigny. By the following day, 29th, the division was based at Catelet and the 2/5th Leicesters moved to Hancourt.
It is not known when Jim fell ill during this period and how long he was in the line during the early part of March 1917.
The Grantham journal reported
OUR HEROES. – Mr and Mrs J Rylott of High Street have received the sad news that their son Pte. Jim Rylott (Leicestershire Regiment) has died from pneumonia, while on active service abroad. He was in Ireland during the troubles last year. Much sympathy is expressed for the family in their bereavement.
In memory of Private Jim Rylott, 2nd/5th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment who died on 30 March 1917 Age 19
Son of James and Catherine Rylott of High Street, Billingborough, Lincs
Remembered with honour, Bray Military Cemetery.
by James | Mar 21, 2018 | Uncategorised
On 21st March we remember Morton man, Harold Handford who was killed this day 100 years ago in 1918.
Harold Hanford was born in Morton, Lincolnshire in c 1899.
His birth was registered in Bourne in the March quarter of 1899 indicating a birth between January and March of that year.
Harold was the eighth child of James Hanford a Journeyman Butcher from Morton and his wife Elizabeth Ann Pikett (Also know as Elizabeth A Foster of Billingborough).
Harold’s father, James, was born in Morton c1866. He married Elizabeth Ann Pickett in 1889, she was born in Spilsby c1868. This marriage was registered in the Bourne District but it is likely that this could have taken place in Billingborough.
The children of James and Elizabeth Ann are:
Charlotte Elizabeth c1886
Agnora c1890,
Frances c1892,
James Fisher c1893 (WW1; Lance-Corporal Lincolnshire Regiment)
Alfred Sydney c1894 (WW1; Leicestershire Regiment)
John Foster c1896 (WW1; Driver)
May c 1898
Harold 1899 (WW1; 2nd Bn Lincolnshire Regiment)
Jesse 1901
Eric 1903
Gwendolen Pickett Hanford 1903
Violet Ann c 1905
Georgina Mary c 1907
Dora c 1908
Frank c 1911
Charles Ernie c1912
On the 1911 census Harold Hanford was a boarder in the Sandall Household in Morton. Herbert Sandall was a horseman on a farm along with Harold’s brother Fisher. Along with younger brother Eric the three boys were boarders with the Sandall family.
Harold is next mentioned in a clipping from the Grantham Journal from 21st July 1917 where his family is mentioned within the Morton correspondence because his parents had four sons all serving with the Army.
The Soldiers Died in the Great War records show Harold’s place of residence as Bourne Lincolnshire.
Other comments on the CWGC records show that Harold was the Son of James and Elizabeth Hanford, Morton, Bourne, Lincolnshire.
The final piece of information about Harold was found in the Grantham Journal of 5th July 1919. This mentioned that Harold’s parents had now received official confirmation that Harold was now officially presumed killed having been listed as missing on 22nd March 1918.
Military History
Harold’s war office records are yet to be uncovered and may be part of the records that were destroyed by fire in the Blitz.
The Medal Rolls do not show a Harold or H Hanford in the Lincolnshire Regiment and so more research will need to be done on this point.
From the Commonwealth War Graves Commission we know that Harold was serving in the 2nd Battalion, The Lincolnshire Regiment, when he was killed on 21st March 1918. This was the day of the Great German Offensive (First Battles of the Somme 1918) which saw the enemy attack across a 54 mile wide line using many more divisions than the allied army.
From the history of the Lincolnshire Regiment we can piece together the following information.
February 1918 saw a great change in the way Divisions and brigades were formed. This saw both the 1stand 2nd Battalions of the Lincolnshire Regiment both being attached to 62nd Brigade (21st Division) on February 3rd 1918. It was very unusual to see two Battalions of the same regiment fighting together.
On the night of the 20th March the 21st Division was holding part of the line east of Epehy and at the southern point of the Flesquieres Salient. The 1st and 2nd Lincolnshires were holding a section of this line near to the Canal Du Nord, just north of Peronne.
Shortly before 5am the enemy opened with an intense bombardment of gas, high explosive shells and trench mortars against the whole British line. Roads behind the line as well as the front line and support trenches were continually bombarded for four hours.
At 9:45am the German Army advanced through the thick fog which hung over the lines. The outpost line was overwhelmed by the enemy before it had chance to put up a fight. The main lines had expended their machine gun ammunition during the early morning fog and fought bravely against advancing enemy mounted units. Battalion headquarters was overrun during the day and fought its way up Chapel Hill. Parts of the 2nd Lincolnshire’s defended Chapel Hill, towards the rear of the front line along with 2 tanks.
The main line held during the day, although at times this was precarious and at some times critical.
The Lincolnshire Battalions were eventually relieved by the South African Scottish by 8am on the 22nd of March and moved safely back to the Pioneer Camp at Heudicourt.
From the battalion diaries of the 2nd battalion Lincolnshire regiment we find the following entry for 21st March 1918;
Batt received order MAN BATTLE POSITIONS ‘C’ Coy comes under the orders of O.C left sector front line (OC 1st Bn Lincolnshire Regiment). A B & D Coys marched independently to their allotted positions in YELLOW LINE. Bttn Head Qtrs marched to railway cutting at W23.a.8.1. This operation was rendered excessively difficult owing to a thick fog and heavy ENEMY gas shelling. Coys established themselves in their positions soon after 7am though stragglers continued to report until 10am.
Distribution C Coy with 1st Bn Lincolnshire Regiment. 3 Coys in YELLOW LINE with left Coy resting on railway at W23 central with the right Coy at approximately W18 central. Bttn Head Qtrs at railway cutting at W23.a.8.1, these positions were maintained all day against repeated attacks by the ENEMY.
About 12 noon a party of the ENEMY succeeded in getting round the left flank under cover of a sunken road at W18.c.9.3 This party was engaged by Bn Head Qtrs and a gun team of the Machine Gun Bn, a number were killed and the remainder (about 50) surrendered.
Harold Hanford was originally reported missing and later presumed as died during action on 21st March 1918.
Memorial
Private Harold Hanford 49402, 2nd Battalion, The Lincolnshire Regiment, is remembered with honour at Le Cateau Military Cemetery in the village of Le Cateau-Cambresis, 17km south east of Cambrai.
Grave Ref: I. B. 7.
by James | Mar 11, 2018 | Uncategorised
In our second remembrance of the day, we remember Baston man, George Thomas Wood, of the 1st Battalion King’s Own Lancaster Regiment, who died 101 years ago today, 11th March 1917.
George was born in the summer of 1895 in the small village of Tongue End, Lincolnshire. The second son of Thomas Wood a farmer from Deeping St Nicholas and his wife Georgina Simmons of Melton Mowbray.
After leaving school George started working on his father’s farm in Baston Fen.
It is not known when George joined the army as the original army records were destroyed in the London Blitz during World War Two.
During February the 1st Battalion King’s Own Regiment was removed from front line trenches around Bouchavesnes and moved firstly to huts at Camp 117 and then to Corbie.
For the rest of February the Battalion continued training before eventually being moved to Vitz-Villeroy, where along with Villeroy-Sur-Authie they were billeted on the 7th March.
The Battalion immediately went back onto training and was receiving replacements to bring it back to Battalion strength. The Battalion moved to Marquay by bus on 22nd February and continued training until it was moved on April 6th for final preparations for the battle of Arras.
It is now yet known how George Wood died, whether this was in training or as a result of earlier action this is yet to be discovered.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
In memory of Private G wood, 27170, 1st Bn, King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) who died on 11 March 1917.
Remembered with honour, Rancourt Military Cemetery.
Also remembered on the memorial in St John the Baptist Baston Lincolnshire
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