Private 42642 Hubert William Reynolds |
1st Bn, Leicestershire Regiment. Killed in Action 23rd September 1918, Aged 19. Buried Mont Huon Military Cemetery, Le Tréport, VII. H. IOB.
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Hubert William Reynolds was born in Loughborough in 1899 and baptised
on 18th June 1899 at Emmanuel Church, Loughborough. He was the son of
Francis Arthur Reynolds and his wife Annie Louisa (née Laker) who were
married at St. George's Church, Camberwell, Surrey, on 27th December
1891. Hubert had two brothers Francis and Louis and two sisters
Constance and Doris. Between 1901 and 1911 the Reynolds family lived at
29 Southfields Road, Loughborough. Hubert's father was a domestic
gardener and by 1911 had progressed to the position of head gardener. Hubert's service papers have not survived but he is likely to have attested in the summer of 1917, when he was 18 years old. He joined the Leicestershire Regiment as Private 42642 and would have been sent for training. At some point in late 1917 or early 1918 he was posted to the 1st Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment in France. In September 1917 the 1st Leicesters completed front and support line trench tours at Hill 70, Les Brebis and Cité St. Pierre. At the end of September the battalion was in south Maroc and early in October at Noeux les Mines before going into the trenches in the St. Emile sector. From Mazingarbe on 21st October the battalion moved to Ligny-lez-Aire and then to Manin for training until 14th November. On 15th November the battalion entrained at Frévent for Péronne and marched to Moislains. After a couple of days under canvas at Dessart Wood the battalion moved forward to the front line at Beaucamp and on 20th November, the first day of the Battle of Cambrai, successfully attacked part of the Hindenburg Line. The battalion was relieved on 26th November and moved to another section of the front line near Noyelles where they suffered heavy enemy bombardment and shelling but nevertheless helped to achieve an advance to Gouzeaucourt. On 1st December the battalion was at Nine Wood and was heavily shelled before being relieved and moving to new positions on the Premy-Flesquières Ridge. On 5th December the battalion moved to positions in the front line on the Hindenburg support system where they remained until 13th December. From 14th December until the end of the year the battalion was at Bellacourt undergoing training. In the early part of January 1918 the battalion was at Courcelles but on 18th went into the trenches on the Moeuvres front. Rest periods were taken at Luck and Lindop Camps near Frémicourt. On February 19th and 20th the battalion moved to the Lagnicourt area, where, when out of the line, they provided large working parties for work on the defences. There were now strong rumours that the enemy was preparing a large offensive and great efforts were made to obtain information through patrols and raids. On 15th March the front line company of the battalion managed to capture a propaganda balloon laden with ten copies of the Gazette des Ardennes, a paper published in French by the Germans for distribution among the inhabitants of occupied territory. On 17th March the battalion went back into Brigade Reserve. On 21st March 1918 the Germans launched their Spring Offensive. When the order to 'Stand To' in battle positions early on 21st March came through to the1st Leicesters some of the men could not immediately be reached as they were detached on work elsewhere. The battalion nevertheless put up a determined defence. By the evening of 21st March, however, C Company had only 1 Officer and 37 Other Ranks left. On 22nd March the enemy put down a very heavy barrage and increased pressure all along the line. When the Germans advanced rapidly between the Lagnicourt to Maricourt Wood road and Vaulx Wood both C and D Companies of the battalion were practically destroyed. The battalion was then withdrawn to Berkeley Camp, Bihucourt, and then to Puisieux-au-Mont where, on 24th March, they entrained for Doullens. After a night at J Camp the battalion entrained for Proven. On 27th March the battalion moved to Winnizeele where reorganisation and training took place until 1st April. On 2nd April the battalion travelled via Ypres Asylum to Belgian Chateau Camp and on the next day proceeded into the front line in the Reutel sub-sector. This area was chiefly duckboard tracks, water, shell-holes and mud and much work was done on the trenches. On 11th April the battalion entrained for a camp at Belgian Battery Corner where they remained for two days. On 13th April the battalion moved, partly by bus, to Dranoutre and into the front line. After being heavily shelled for two days the battalion was withdrawn to a support position in a valley on the west side of Mount Kemmel. On 19th they moved into the front line for two days before being relieved and moving via Westoutre to Vancouver Camp, Vlamertinghe. Here they provided working parties. On 27th April the battalion moved to a new position at Kemmel from where the enemy was heavily defeated on the following day. On 1st-11th May the battalion was in Divisional reserve at Vlamertinghe for work on the Switch line. From 12th-16th May they were at Belgian Chateau carrying wire and stakes to the front line, but during this time a lot of the men were falling sick. The remainder of the month was spent in the support and front lines at Chateau Segard near Vormezeele and suffered a heavy bombardment of enemy gas shells. On 1st June the enemy opened another heavy bombardment of the Chateau Segard sector, followed by gas shelling on 2nd and sneezing gas shelling on 3rd. The battalion was relieved on 6th June amid another enemy gas attack and moved to Dirty Bucket Camp, north-west of Vlamertinghe. The battalion remained in this camp until 13th June and provided working parties. On 13th June 120 men fell sick with influenza. On 14th June 60 men were sent to hospital and the rest of the battalion moved to School Camp where training took place until 19th June. On 20th June the battalion left camp for Proven, entrained for St. Omer and marched to camp at Cormette. Here they had range practice and field firing practice until 24th June. On 25th June they entrained at St. Omer for Mendighem and proceeded to Rainsford Camp, Watou. Here and then at another camp in the Hagebaert area of Poperinghe training continued until 5th July. During the remainder of July the battalion completed two trench tours in the Dickebusch sector and one period in Brigade reserve on wiring work. In addition, between 22nd and 24th they were in action on the Vyverbeek line. On 25th July they withdrew to positions in the right sector of Westoutre and worked at night on cable burying. From 3rd August the battalion was in support in the Dickebusch Lake sector, and from 6th-16th August held the front line. After being relieved they moved to Brigade reserve in the Dickebusch sector and were employed in working parties until 22nd August. On 23rd August the battalion entrained at Wellington Junction near Ouderdom, travelled by light railway to Winnezeele, changed trains for St. Momelin, and marched from there to Tilques. Training began on 26th and included practice in marshalling and escorting prisoners. On 29th August the battalion marched to Mentque for sports. From Mentque on 1st September the battalion entrained at St. Omer for Corbie and marched to Franvillers. From 3rd-10th September there was training in attack technique and open warfare. On 11th they moved to Daours and three days later to Monchy-Lagache by bus. Preparations were now made for an attack. On 17th September the battalion moved to the concentration area in Jean Devaux Wood where they were shelled twice and then through heavy rain, dense mist and shelling to Holnon Wood. The battalion went into the attack on 19th September and incurred 290 casualties. On 20th September the battalion managed to hold the line in spite of constant shelling. In the early morning of the 21st the battalion was relieved and moved back to a quarry in order to reorganise. During the afternoon of 23rd September the enemy persistently shelled the area and Hubert, aged 19, was killed in action. Hubert was buried in Trefcon British Cemetery, Caulaincourt, Grave C. 21. He is remembered on the memorial in Emmanuel Church, Loughborough, and on the Carillon. Hubert's brother Francis served with the Machine Gun Corps and survived the war. |
Sergeant 17224 Horace Richards |
7th Bn, Leicestershire Regiment. Died a Prisoner of War late 1917 [exact date unknown], Aged 29.
Commemorated Arras Memorial bay 5.
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Family portrait of Sgt Horace Richards with his father T. F. (Freddy) Richards, Grandma Richards (or Grandma Brookes) and Kathleen Richards (later Mrs. Onions) |
Horace Richards was born in 1888 in Leicester, the second son of Thomas
Frederick ('Freddy') Richards and Emma Richards (née Mee) who were
married on 2nd December 1883 at St. Margaret's Church, Leicester.
Horace was baptised at St. Margaret's Church on 15th July 1888. At the
time he was born his father was a shoe riveter and his parents lived at
8 Foundry Lane. By 1891 the family had moved to 26 Wand Street and
Horace's mother was also working as a hose linker. The family moved
again the following year to 3 Liverpool Street. By 1901 the family was
living at 181 Belgrave Gate, Leicester, and Horace's mother was a sweet
shop manager while young Horace was an engineer's teller on boot
machinery. In 1893 Horace's father had begun his career as full-time union official, taking up a post with the Leicester Branch of the Boot and Shoe Operatives. From 1894-1903 he was also a member of Leicester Borough Council. He was M.P. for Wolverhampton West from 1906-1910, after which he returned to trade union work and local politics. He was later a Labour councillor for Braunstone West, Leicester, from 1929-39. By 1911 the Richards family had moved to Uppingham Road, Leicester and Horace, aged 22, was an unemployed clerk. Horace's parents later moved to 65 Hill Rise, Birstall. Horace had one older brother Charles Frederick Richards and a younger sister Annie. Two other siblings John and Frances had died under the age of three. Horace married Mary Lizzie Brookes in Leicester in 1913 and their daughter Kathleen was born in Leicester in the early summer of 1914. Mary Brookes came from Thurlaston but in 1911 her family lived at 9 Rectory Place, Loughborough. Horace and his wife subsequently moved to Loughborough. Horace's mother had died in 1915 and his father had remarried in 1916 to Mary Jane Charlton Bell, secretary of the Leicester Women's Branch of the Boot and Shoe Operatives. Freddy Richards supported the war: "I advised both my boys to join up and should have done so myself if I had thought that by doing so I could have done more good. I have sung the 'Red Flag' and was prepared to fight for it and kill militarism in this or any other land." Horace enlisted in Loughborough in 1916. He joined the Leicestershire Regiment as Private 17224. His service record has not survived and the precise dates of his enlistment and when he was sent to France to join the 7th Battalion are unknown. The war diary for the 7th Battalion, however, notes that between 16th November 1916 and 20th February 1917 nine drafts of Ordinary Rank soldiers (amounting to 327 replacement men) joined the battalion. It is reasonable to assume that Horace was in one of these drafts. Throughout this time the battalion was in the Hohenzollern Sector firstly in the front line or support trenches with rest billets at Mazingarbe, Philosophe, or Vermelles and then in training at Cauchy-à-la-Tour and Houtkerque. Back in the trenches in March 1917 they experienced what one soldier called 'the bombardment of our lives'. Records reveal that Horace was twice promoted, to Corporal and then Sergeant, while he was with the 7th Battalion. On 29th March the battalion entrained at Noyelles for Saulty-Larbret and marched to La Cauchie and on to Moyenneville. On 4th April the battalion went into the front line at St. Leger Croisilles. On this day Horace went missing. In late April 1917 Horace’s wife received a letter from 2nd Lt. L. J. Judge, B Company, 7th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, as follows: ‘Dear Mrs Richards, You will doubtless have heard by now of the disappearance of your husband, but I thought I would give a few facts that you may not yet have received. He was on patrol reconnoitring near the enemy lines, about 1000 yards from our line and was in charge of the party. He, wishing to reconnoitre ahead without much noise, left the main party and went ahead with a Corporal. They met a party of the enemy and according to a prearranged signal, called up the others. The whole then opened fire on the enemy. The enemy was beaten off and our party then withdrew a short distance. When they gathered together it was discovered that your husband was missing. They immediately returned to the scene of the action to search for him but the enemy opened fire on them. They made four attempts to go back but were driven back every time. As the morning light was breaking, they had to return to our lines. The follow night a party searched the ground again but without success. We have considered the circumstances thoroughly and hold out every hope of his being a prisoner of war. In an advance like the Somme when a fellow is missing one cannot hold out much hope because of the shelling, but in the present class of warfare one can hold great hope. If he is a prisoner of war whether wounded or not you should hear within 2 months or 10 weeks. He was an excellent soldier and we are very sorry to lose him.’ Although some sources assumed that Horace had been killed in action on 4th April he does seem to have been captured by the Germans. Information given in the Birmingham Daily Gazette (10th December 1917) which is repeated elsewhere was as follows: 'Mr. T.F. Richards of Leicester, President of the National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives and formerly M.P. for Wolverhampton West, has been notified that his son, Sergeant Horace Richards, has died in Germany where he had been for some time a Prisoner of War.' Horace’s date of death is therefore unknown, but it was probably in the summer/autumn of 1917. Horace was aged 29 when he died. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial Bay 5 and on the memorial in the former St. Peter's Church building, Loughborough, as well as on the Carillon. |
Lance Corporal 241441 Henry Arthur Richardson |
1/5th Bn, Leicestershire Regiment. Died of Wounds 13th May 1917, Aged 27. Buried Noeux-Les-Mines Communal Cemetery, I. R. 23.
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Henry Arthur Richardson was born in 1890 in Derby and baptised at St.
Chad's Church, Derby, on 20th April 1890. He was the son of Arthur
Evans Richardson and his wife Kate (née Dryden) who were married in
1882 in Aston, Birmingham. Henry's father was a boiler maker. In 1891
the Richardson family was living at 14 Northumberland Street, Derby,
while Henry's father was lodging in Ravenstone with Snibston while
working. By 1901 they had moved to Thorpe Acre, Loughborough. Henry had
three brothers William, Charles and Howard and one sister Ethel. Two
other siblings Florence and Robert had both died aged one. Henry's
brothers William, Charles and Howard all went to Canada to join their
uncle William Richardson in Brandon, Manitoba, in 1900, 1905 and 1911
respectively. Henry, meanwhile, became a gardener, and worked for Mr.
Albert Chapman of Roseby House, Loughborough. Henry's father died in
1916 and his mother subsequently lived at One Ash Farm, Thorpe Acre.
The precise date of Henry's enlistment is unknown but he joined the 1/5th Leicestershire Regiment in 1915 as Private 4127. He was later re-numbered as Private 241441 and sent to France on 28th October 1915. When Henry joined 'A Company' of his battalion they were at Drouvin on route marches and parades. After a move to Calonne-sur-la-Lys the battalion did two trench tours between Neuve Chapelle and Festubert . They then moved on to billets at Merville for training.Training continued at Thiennes from 19th December until Boxing Day when the battalion moved into billets at Aire. In early January 1916 the battalion was sent to Marseilles to await transport to Egypt. They had only just embarked on H.M.T. Andania when orders came that they were to disembark and travel back to the Somme area of Picardy - Gallipoli had been successfully evacuated and they were no longer needed in Egypt. In mid-February orders came for the battalion to take over the line north of the River Ancre opposite Beaumont-Hamel. On 29th February the battalion moved to the area of Doullens where the men worked on improving the trenches despite being subjected to a considerable bombardment from the enemy with mines and craters being blown. From 9th March 1916 the 1/5th Leicesters were in the area of Vimy Ridge, Pas de Calais, either in the front line, in support, in reserve or at rest. On 27th April the battalion was sent to the neighbourhood of Neuville St. Vaast to work with the French and English tunnellers and then to billets in Luchaux for bayonet training. This was followed by a period at Souastre digging cable trenches, and constructing bomb stores and gun pits in preparation for a 'big push'. On 4th June 1916 the battalion was moved up to trenches near Gommecourt. This was followed by further training at Warlincourt. On 30th June the battalion assembled in a trench near Foncquevillers Church ready for the diversionary attack at Gommecourt on the first day of the Somme Offensive planned for 1st July. On 1st July 1916 the 46th Division of the Army, of which the 1/5th Leicesters were part, had 2445 casualties at Gommecourt. Henry survived this battle and on 3rd July went with his battalion into billets at Bienvillers. On 7th July they relieved the 4th Lincolnshires in the trenches opposite Essarts-lès-Bucquoy. The battalion remained in the area of Monchy-au-Bois until 29th October, either in the trenches or resting at Bienvillers or Pommier. The battalion's next move was to Millencourt for intensive battle training, returning to Halloy and then Souastre at the beginning of December. The battalion remained at Souastre until 11th March 1917 and then moved once more up to the line taking over 2,600 yards of frontage from the La Brayelle road to the Hannescamps-Monchy road. On 17th March they moved into Gommecourt for road mending before moving to Bertrancourt, Raincheval and then Rainvillers not far from Amiens. On 28th March the battalion marched to Saleux, entrained for Lillers in the north, and marched to Laires. Training took place until 13th April and continued for three further days at Manqueville, after which the battalion moved to the western outskirts of Lens. From there they marched to Bully-Grenay and went into the front line trenches where they were heavily shelled. On 29th April the battalion went into rest billets in cellars at Cité St. Pierre until 3rd May when they went into support trenches. On 8th they went into billets at Fosse 10 near Petit Sains for training and on 12th into reserve at Angres. At some point Henry, now a Lance Corporal, was wounded and he died of his wounds on 13th May 1917, aged 27. The chaplain of a casualty clearing station sent his wife a letter that conveyed the sad intelligence that her husband died of wounds. The letter stated: 'It is with very deep regret I have to tell you that your husband passed away in this hospital to-day. He was brought in so badly wounded that his case was hopeless, and he gradually became weaker and passed away quite peacefully. You may rest assured everything was done to save his life. Please accept my sincere sympathy in your terrible trouble'. Henry was buried in Noeux-les-Mines Communal Cemetery, Grave I. R. 23. He is remembered on the memorial at All Saints' Church, Thorpe Acre, as well as on the Carillon. Henry's brothers Charles and Howard both served with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Both survived the war. Poem by Lance Corporal Henry Arthur Richardson of A Company, 1/5th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, written at Christmas 1916. The Plough Inn of the poem is at Thorpe Acre, Loughborough and is still used by members of the Richardson family. The gentleman 'Marston' in the second verse was the grandfather of RSM 'Tommy' Marston, a legend within the Leicestershire Regiment. Tippit is game that involves guessing which of the opposing team is holding a coin in his clenched fist. It is in the Plough Inn crowded, on a cold and winter's night. You can see the old boys faces, brimming with delight. The old king pin of course was there, telling all he knew. And Marston, still on politics, until his nose went blue. I often sit and wonder, what the taproom is like. Now Hallam's gone and left it, to join the Wymeswold tykes. I fancy I can see you, in the taproom bright. With Gaunty playing 'Tippit', with Smithy on his right. And Crossy sits a wondering, which side will have to pay. So he can have a drink, out of the winnings (that's his way). I expect that Perry's busy, mopping down the Brown. Though I hope he won't go bald-headed, and show a shining crown. I can see old Teddy smiling, as he rakes his shekels in. So he reddens up his dewdrop, with a little drop of gin. Let's hope there will be meetings, of faces old and new. And so I send this greeting, from across the sea to you. I hope you all will think of me, when mopping down the Brown. Of times when we got slotted, in old Thorpe Acre town. I will close this little story, from across the water blue. To wish you all a Jolly Christmas, and a Happy New Year too. |
Private 11507 Samuel Robbins |
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2nd Bn, Leicestershire Regiment. Killed in Action 25th September 1915, Aged 18.
Commemorated Loos Memorial panel 42-44.
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Samuel Robbins was born in 1898 at Barrow Street, Quorn, the son of
Edward Robbins and his wife Florence (née Butler) who were married in
Loughborough in 1884. At the time Samuel was born his father was a
stone quarryman, but he later moved to Loughborough and became a
striker in an electrical engineering firm. Samuel was originally one of
thirteen children, his surviving brothers being John, Edward and Cyril
and his surviving sisters being Mary, Sarah, Annie, Ellen, May, Dorothy
and Gertrude. In 1911 the family were living at 23 Sparrow Hill,
Loughborough. |
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Sam's last letter
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Private 12294 George Roberts |
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2nd Bn, Leicestershire Regiment. Died of Wounds 20th May 1915, Aged 41.
Buried St. Vaast Post Military Cemetery I. D. 1.
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George Roberts was born in 1874 in Nottingham, the son of Robert
Roberts, a dropper maker for lace making, and his wife Lucy (née
Turner) who were married in Nottingham in 1862. George had an older
brother John and a sister Eliza as well as four other siblings who died
young. The family lived at 8 Meynell Court, Nottingham. In 1891 George, aged 17, was a fitter and living at home but soon afterwards he joined the 2nd (Derbyshire) Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters, with whom he served for over ten years. The battalion was serving in North India and in 1894 moved from Umballa (now Ambala) to Solon (now Solan) in Himachal Pradesh. In 1897 they moved again, this time to Sitapore (now Sitapur) to counter the continuing unrest on the North West Frontier with Afghanistan. Despite this activity, the British lost control of an alarming amount of territory including the Khyber Pass. The response to this encroachment by the tribesman was the organisation of the Tiral Expedition, in which the 2nd Derbyshires took part in the successful attack on the Dargai Heights and the Khyber Pass was recaptured. In April 1896 the 2nd Derbyshires returned to Sitapore and prepared to depart for Aden. After a brief spell there the battalion moved to Malta, returning to Britain in 1902. Just before leaving Malta some soldiers from the 2nd Battalion volunteered to join the 1st Battalion of the Derbyshires in South Aftrica, but there is no evidence that George Roberts was among them. In 1902 George married Nellie Hazard in Nottingham and they had two children, their daughter Ivy May being the only one to survive. In 1911, George, now a dropper maker for lace machines, was living with his family at 37 Nathaniel Road, Long Eaton. By 1914 the family had moved to 50 Cobden Street, Loughborough. On 2nd September 1914 George, aged 40, reenlisted at Loughborough and joined the 3rd Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment. He was transferred to the 2nd Leicesters and embarked for France on 19th March 1915. Less than two months later on 20th May 1915 George died, aged 41, in No. 19 BF Ambulance from wounds received in a military operation near Bethune. He is also commemorated on the Roll of Honour at St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. |
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Private 40686 Walter George Robinson |
1st Bn, Leicestershire Regiment. Killed in Action 24th April 1917, Aged 19.
Commemorated Loos Memorial panel 42-44.
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Walter George Robinson was born on 13th October 1897 in Hamilton,
Lanarkshire, the son of George Robinson and his wife Mary Martha (née
Lovett) who were married in Sandgate, Kent, on 22nd November 1881. Walter was born six months before his father, a Regimental Sergeant Major with the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), was finally discharged from military service after twenty-five years with the Colours in England, Ireland, Scotland, India and Malta. Walter had three brothers Frank, Herbert, and Sidney and two sisters Emily and Annie. In 1898 the family lived at 10 Carleton Avenue, Garngadhill, Glasgow, but by 1911 Walter's mother had been widowed and she was living with Annie and Walter at 19 Cambridge Street, Loughborough, not far from relatives. (Mary Martha's father had been a coffee tavern keeper in Frog Island, Leicester.) Walter joined the Bible Class at All Saints' Parish Church and when he left school got a job at the London Central Meat Company's shop as a trainee butcher. On 19th August 1914 Walter attested at Loughborough to join the Leicestershire Regiment for six years and was sent to the Depot on 24th August. He became Private 12682 but was speedily discharged twelve days later 'having made a mis-statement of age on enlistment' - he had said he was 17 when he was actually 16. His second attestation in late 1915 was accepted and he was eventually posted to the 1st Battalion of the Leicesters in France sometime in 1916. (His later service record has not survived.) It is possible that Walter was among five batches of reinforcements of Ordinary Ranks sent to the battalion in the Ypres Salient in April and May 1916, or that he was with a further batch sent in January 1917. On 1st August 1916 the 1st Leicesters left the trenches at Potizje on the Ypres Salient and entrained at Proven for France. They reached billets at Léalvillers, Somme, on 4th August and on the following day marched to camp in Mailly-Maillet Wood. A period of training and working parties followed. On 14th August they went into the trenches opposite Beaumont-Hamel, where they remained until 19th when they returned to the Mailly Wood camp. On 27th August they left for Flesselles. Here additional training took place. On 8th September they occupied former German trenches in the area of Trônes Wood on the northern slope of the Montaubon Ridge while in the following days the build-up for a series of major battles took place. The battalion took part in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette (15th- 22nd September) incurring grievous losses. They were also in action in the Battle of Morval (25th-28th September), and had a supportive role in the Battle of Le Transloy (1st-18th October). By 21st October the battalion was back in billets at Corbie before moving over several days to Fouquières les Béthune in the La Bassée sector. Most of November was spent in training with one brief trench tour and December in the trenches at Cuinchy, with breaks at Beuvry and Christmas Day at Noeux-les-Mines. January 1917 was spent by turns in the front line and at rest in Mazingarbe. During February there was considerable activity on both sides and many trench raids were carried out. On 21st February the battalion marched to Sailly Labourse and Béthune where the men were accommodated in Montmorency Barracks. At the end of February the battalion was transferred to a front extending north from the Double Crassier at Loos. A carefully planned night trench raid took place on 17th/18th April, and on 22nd the battalion was withdrawn into billets in Maroc. On the following day the battalion was ordered back into the front line. On 24th April Walter, aged 19, was killed in action while on sentry duty. Another Loughborough soldier wrote in a letter that he met his death instantaneously, and was buried beside the railway, a cross being fixed over the grave. Walter is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, Panel 42-44 and on the memorial at All Saints' Church, Loughborough, as well as on the Carillon. Walter's elder brother Sergt. Herbert Robinson of the Highland Light Infantry was decorated on 1st May 1917 with the Military Medal for bravery in the field. He survived the war. |
Corporal 7372 William Arthur Routledge |
1st Bn, Leicestershire Regiment. Killed in Action 22nd October 1914, Aged 28.
Commemorated Ploegsteert Memorial, panel 4, and on the War Memorial, Castle Eden, County Durham.
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William Arthur Routledge
was born in Lambeth,
Surrey, in 1886. He was the son of Arthur Edward
Routledge and his wife Grace Ann Green (née Perkins) who were married on 21st
December 1884 at St. Mary's Church, Lambeth, Surrey. William had three brothers Herbert,
Reginald and John (known as 'Jack') and four sisters Mabel, Maud, Dorothy and
Alice. Three other siblings Ethel, Charles and Walter died in infancy.
William's father was an engineer's pattern maker and in 1891 the family lived at 17 Ingram Street, Battersea. By 1894 they had moved to Loughborough and in 1901 were living at 43 Ratcliffe Road. Herbert's parents later moved to 12 Ratcliffe Road. In 1901 William, aged 14, was a fitter in an electrical engineering company. William enlisted at Loughborough on 20th June 1904. He joined the 2nd Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment as Private 7372. In 1906, while stationed in Colchester, he passed a course in Ambulance Training. He was then sent to Belgaum, India. In 1911, and now a Lance Corporal, he was with the battalion in Fort St. George, Madras. In 1912 he returned to England and joined the Durham County Constabulary on 25th May of that year. He was first stationed at Bishop Auckland and was later transferred to Castle Eden where he was a mounted officer. When war broke out William, a Reservist, was recalled to the colours at Glen Parva and posted, with the rank of Corporal, to the 1st Battalion of the Leicesters. On 19th August the battalion assembled in a camp at Coldham's Common, Cambridge. On 7th September the battalion marched to Royston, Hertfordshire, and entrained for Southampton where they embarked on the HMS Braemar Castle. The battalion landed at St Nazaire, Brittany, on 10th September and travelled by train to Mortcerf, east of Paris, arriving early in the morning of 13th September and then began a long march to the British Army in the line at Courcelles, on far side of the Aisne. On 14th September the 1st Leicesters relieved the Worcesters and Royal Irish Rifles in the trenches at La Fosse Marguel where they came under constant shell fire and sniping until they in turn were relieved on 12th October by 106th French Infantry Regiment. On 13th October the Battalion entrained at Fismes, 40 men crammed to each horse box. Some slept on the roof, although it was bitterly cold. They detrained on 17th October at Cassel and marched to take up defensive positions at Croix Blanche. From there, two days later, they marched to Rue de Bois, Armentières, and Bois Grenier, the day on which the First Battle of Ypres began. On 22nd October 1914, when they were defending the chemical factory at Rue de Bois, they were heavily shelled by shrapnel and Howitzers and William Routledge, aged 28, lost his life. Castle Eden War Memorial William is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Panel 4, Comines-Warneton, Belgium, and on the War Memorial, Castle Eden, County Durham. William's brother Herbert served with the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and survived the war. |
Lance Corporal 18318 Albert Rowbotham |
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1st Bn, Leicestershire Regiment. Killed in Action 15th September 1916, Aged 17.
Commemorated Thiepval Memorial panels 2C - 3A.
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Albert Rowbotham was born in Loughborough in 1898, the only son of
Herbert Rowbotham, a steam engine fitter, and his wife Mary Ellen (née
Cheshire). Albert's parents were married in 1895 in Leicester. Albert
had two sisters Ethel and Dorothy. In 1901 the family home was at 44
Russell Street, Loughborough. After Albert's mother died in 1910
Albert's father moved the family to 12 Boyer Street. Albert's sister
Ethel became housekeeper for the family and Albert was sent to
Loughborough Grammar School. His younger sister Dorothy spent a lot of
time with their grandparents William and Eliza Rowbotham of 101 Russell
Street. When Albert enlisted in May 1915 he was aged 16 and working for Loughborough Corporation in the Sanitary Inspector's Office. Albert joined the Leicestershire Regiment as Private 18318. He was sent to France to join the 1st Battalion of the Regiment on 8th December 1915 when he was just 17. In December 1915 the 1st Leicesters were occupying trenches in the Potijze sector or trying to get rest and shelter by the canal bank near Ypres. Between January and July 1916 the 1st Leicesters were still on the Ypres Salient. On 1st August 1916 the 1st Leicesters left the trenches at Potizje and entrained at Proven for France. They reached billets at Lealvillers, Somme, on 4th August and on the following day marched to camp in Mailly-Maillet Wood. A period of training and working parties followed. On 14th August they went into the trenches opposite Beaumont-Hamel, where they remained until 19th when they returned to the Mailly Wood camp. On 27th August they left for Flesselles. Here additional training took place. On 8th September they occupied former German trenches in the area of Trônes Wood on the northern slope of the Montaubon Ridge while in the following days the build-up for a major battle took place. Albert was killed in action on the 15th September, the first day of the Battle of Flers-Courcelette. He was still only 17 but had already been promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial Panels 2C and 3A. |
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Private 144841 George Rue |
32nd Bn, Machine Gun Corps. Formerly 43628 Yorks Regiment. Killed in Action 1st November 1918, Aged 19. Buried St. Souplet British Cemetery I. C. 4. |
George Rue was born in Loughborough in 1899 and baptised on 10th May
1899 at All Saints Church, Loughborough. He was the natural son of
Sarah Rue. In 1901 George was living with his mother and grandparents
George and Annie Rue at 76 Wood Gate, Loughborough, and his mother was
working at home as a maker up of military pants. After George's
grandfather died in January 1910 his mother and grandmother moved with
George to 79 Wood Gate and took in a lodger George Edward Johnson, a
fruit and potato salesman. In 1911 George's mother was working as a
fruiterer and florist. George's grandmother Annie died in early 1917. George's service record has not survived but it is known that he joined the Yorkshire Regiment as Private 43628, probably in the spring of 1917. He then transferred to the Machine Gun Corps as Private 144841 and joined their 32nd Battalion. The date when George was sent abroad is unknown. In February 1918 the 14th, 96th, 97th and 219th Machine Gun Companies were withdrawn from the Infantry and reorganised into the 32nd Battalion of the Machine Gun Corps. The movements of this new 32nd Battalion are documented in the battalion's war diary which runs from February 21st 1918 onwards. The reorganisation took place at Boesinghe Camp, West Flanders. The new battalion had 45 Officers and 793 Other Ranks. Between 21st and 25th February organisation of the companies and guns took place before the battalion moved to Dekort Camp (afterwards renamed Richmond Camp) on 26th February. On 27th February the battalion's guns cooperated with the infantry in a very successful raid on Houthulst Forest. The battalion remained based at Richmond Camp until 27th March, taking part in Divisional action as required. On 26th March A Coy entrained at Elverdinghe for Aubigny and marched to Wanqueten and on 28th March the rest of the battalion entrained for Lattre St. Quentin, while A Coy moved to Ransart before going into reserve at Adinfer. The battalion went into the front line on 31st March, with the battalion HQ at Humbercamps. At 2.00am on 3rd April the battalion supported the infantry in the capture of Ayette, firing 31,000 rounds and at 9.30pm opened fire again in support of the infantry holding Ayette. From 5th to 24th April the battalion was continuously in action firing on enemy aircraft and delivering harassing fire. On 26th April the battalion moved to billets at Saulty and Bienvillers. Training then took place at Saulty until 11th May when the battalion went into action on the front line near Bretencourt and was in action every day. On 23rd May the battalion HQ moved to Gastineau and regular firing continued until the end of June. There were one or two casualties in the battalion nearly every day. At the beginning of July battalion headquarters moved to Berles-au-Bois. On 6th and 7th July all companies were relieved and moved to billets in Saulty until 7th July. On 18th July the battalion moved by train to Proven into GHQ Reserve and continued training until 5th August. On 7th August the battalion entrained at Proven for Hengist and proceeded by bus to Gentelle Wood and on 10th and 11th August supported a major attack in the Battle of Amiens. After several days rest the battalion moved on 18th August to the area of Villers-Brettoneaux and returned to action. On 23rd August the battalion took part in the Battle of Albert and remained in action until 27th August when the enemy began to retreat. At the beginning of September the battalion continued in action as the infantry made attempts to bridge the Somme but were held back by enemy fire. At the beginning of September the Allied infantry persisted in their push forward to a line east of Mancourt and Vraignes, west of Tertry and east of Monchy-Lagache. On 10th September the battalion supported the 97th Brigade in an attack on Marteville and Attily. On 14th and 15th September the battalion was relieved and proceeded to La Neuville. Training took place there and at Valley Woods, near Estrées, until 27th September. On 28th September the battalion marched to Le Verguier trench to cover an attack on the Hindenburg line on the following day, after which the battalion HQ moved to Magny-la-Fosse. On 3rd October the battalion was involved in an attack on Mannequin Hill and in operations at Chataignes Wood and Sequehart. On 6th and 7th October the battalion moved via Vendelles to Bouvincourt for training until 17th October. After two days at Bellenglise the battalion moved to Bohain. On 22nd and 23rd October A and C Coys carried out barrages from St. Souplet while B and D Coys practised tactics and built emplacements. Until 30th October all Coys then carried out emplacement building and gun and arms drill. On 30th October D Coy moved forward to St. Souplet and A Coy moved up to the front line. On 31st October the battalion HQ moved to Bazuel, B Coy moved to St. Souplet and C Coy joined A Coy in the front line. On 1st November B Coy moved to a barrage position at Bazuel and George, aged 19, was killed in action on this day. He was buried in St. Souplet British Cemetery, Grave I. C. 4. On 24th April 1920 George's mother married George Edward Johnson at Emmanuel Church, Loughborough. Both bride and groom were living at 5 Victoria Street, Loughborough. |
Driver T221490 Michael Russell |
Killed in Action 23rd September 1917, Aged 25. Commemorated Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Panel 56. |
Michael Russell was born in the Marylebone Workhouse, Northumberland
Street, London, on 5th September 1892. He was the natural son of
Elizabeth Russell, about whom nothing else is known. Michael's whereabouts until 1916 are equally obscure but he is known to have been employed at the Empress Works in Loughborough when he enlisted at Loughborough in the summer of 1916. He joined the Army Service Corps as Driver T221490. His service papers have not survived. The Army Service Corps (ASC), sometimes referred to in a joking, disparaging way as Ally Sloper's Cavalry, were the unsung heroes of the British Army in the Great War. Soldiers could not fight without food, equipment and ammunition. They could not move without horses or vehicles and it was the job of the ASC to provide them. In the Great War, the vast majority of the supply, maintaining a vast army on many fronts, came from Britain. Every bullet, blanket, bandage, artillery battery or tin of bully beef had to be manufactured and transported where and when it was required. By 1918 each Army Division of about 12,000 men needed about 1,000 tons of supplies every day, equivalent to two supply trains each of 50 wagons. Using horsed and motor vehicles, railways and waterways, the ASC performed prodigious feats of logistics and was one of the great strengths of organisation by which the war was won. At its peak, the ASC numbered 10,547 officers and 315,334 men. The ASC was organised into units known as Companies, each fulfilling a specific role. Michael's service number, prefixed with the letter 'T', indicates that he was in horse transport. Most Horse Transport Companies were under orders of Divisions, with four normally being grouped into a Divisional Train. Others were part of the Lines of Communication where they were variously known by subtitles as Auxiliary Supply Companies or Reserve Parks. The ASC Horse Transport Reserve Parks were in the deep rear behind the battle fronts and handled rations and forage for an Army Division. The drivers usually used heavy draught horses such as Shires or Clydesdales so that their wagons could carry heavier loads. Getting close to the front was the relatively easy part of the process. The problems really began around seven miles behind the front. Anywhere beyond this point was potentially within range of the devastating effects of long distance artillery shelling. Michael was mostly based at 2 Reserve Park at Poperinghe with 30 Company of the ASC. On 23rd September 1917 he was taking food up to the trenches when he was hit by an enemy shell. His body was never found. He was aged 25. Michael is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Panel 56. |