Good Morning,
I hope you have enjoyed your extra hour in bed this morning? Today’s TL contains numerous notices of forthcoming events and I hope that you will be energised into supporting one or two of them.
The volunteers who organise and run these events deserve our support, so as we run up to Christmas, let’s make an extra effort to attend.
NEWS & EVENTS
Next Lecture TOMORROW NIGHT – Lincoln & North Lincolnshire Branch – Western Front Association – Monday, October 28th – 6.30 for 7.00 pm start – Royal Naval Association Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln, LN6 7BG – Tim Lynch – Going Back, Pilgrimages to the Western Front.
Tim Lynch is an old friend of Lincoln Branch, having visited us in the past. Hailing from Tankersley in South Yorkshire, his lifelong interest in military history led to a career as a writer and presenter working on books, articles, TV and radio projects. He says he recently dropped all pretence of actually working for a living and instead now roams around acting as a battlefield guide to anyone who will listen. He is well known on the lecture circuit with 13 lectures on various subjects to his name.
This evening he will be presenting his illustrated talk, “Going Back, Pilgrimages to the Western Front” which examines the growth of battlefield tourism after the war as veterans returned to the fields where they had fought. It features, among other stories, that of the enormous operation mounted to enable Canadian veterans to attend the opening of Vimy Ridge Memorial Park and looks at why these trips were so important to veterans trying to make sense of their war.
Moving forward to the present day, every year many thousands of people visit the battlefields of the Great War, especially the Ypres salient, as their forebears had been doing before them for over a century. To sum up, this promises to be a fascinating talk on the subject of battlefield tours and what commemoration means today.
Lincoln & North Lincolnshire Branch WFA meets at the Royal Naval Association Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln, LN6 7BG. Doors open 6.30pm for 7.00pm start. Ample free parking being the premises and on the road in front. It’s a friendly location, with a pleasant steward who does a nice line in cut-price chocolates, and all will be made very welcome.
[On the night, the Chairman will take a straw poll about putting back the start time in 2025 to 7.30pm. If you can’t attend on 28th October but have a view about the start time, please drop me a line – Ed]
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The next meeting of the Spalding and South Lincolnshire WFA branch will be held on November 28th: Alex Keyes – England’s Difficulty is Ireland’s Opportunity; Roger Casement and the German-Irish Brigade.
Venue: Spalding Baptist Church, Swan Street, Spalding, Lincs, PE11 1BT.
Times: Doors open 7.00pm for 7.30 pm start.
Further details to follow.
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Alwyn Killingsworth has kindly submitted the following details for the next Friends of the Lincoln Tank speaker event, which will be held on Thursday 31st October.
Alwyn writes; ‘The penultimate 2024 FoLT presentation will be held on Thursday the 31st October. You may recall seeing that FoLT members were recently at the Norfolk Tank Fest when the replica Medium A was on show. Tony Cooke and Kevin Jepson are the main folks involved in this build and we are pleased to confirm Kevin’s attendance on the night. He will tell us the process involved in this project. In his own words the main themes of the presentation will be:
“Why a Medium A and in, particular, Musical Box for a project (code named Project Fast Dog)?
Who is involved?
How did we start the project and the stages of the build - problem solving etc.
Technical details of the build
Where are we now?
What does the future hold for the replica?
There will be additional material on the crew of Musical Box and how much we can learn about shared history simply by connecting people via doing Living History projects like Fast Dog.
The talk will be less about the background to the development of this type of tank and more a focus on the actual building of our replica, the technical issues and the lessons we have learned along the way....... And I want to weave something in about the people side of the story too - the crew and their descendants.”
It is not every day that we can call on someone like Kevin to deliver a talk on these lines – replica builds of Foster tanks do not happen on a regular basis and I believe this will be a unique opportunity to explore this side of our fascinating interest in all things WW1 so one not to be missed.
As ever, the venue will be The Royal Naval Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln. Doors will open at 7.00pm for a 7.30pm start. Entrance will be £5.00 on the door. You do not need to be a member of FoLT to attend. All are welcome – old, young, male or female. Refreshments will be available at the bar and there is ample car parking to the rear of the club. Hope to see you all on the night.’
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The next meeting of the Leadenham Military History Society will be Tuesday 19 November 2024.
Military quiz: Air, Land and Sea. Test your knowledge with the return of our popular quiz! Teams of up to five to be formed in advance, or on the night.
Presentation: 61st Troop Carriers Mid-Air Collision, by Dave Bristow. A brief history of the USAAF 61st Troop Carrier Group based at RAF Barkston Heath in 1944.
The meeting will be held at Leadenham Village Hall with a start time of 7.30pm.
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Tony Nutkins notes that; ‘The Spa Singers will be performing their annual Remembrance concert of songs poems and readings “We Will Remember” to honour the fallen of war and conflict at St. Peters church, The Broadway, Woodhall Spa at 7.30 pm on Wednesday 6th November. There is no admission fee. The performance will last approximately 70 minutes with no interval and there will be an Act of Remembrance including the Last Post and the Rouse. There will be a voluntary collection for the Royal British Legion.’
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Please find a link below to this month’s The Tiger newsletter.
……and a link to the latest Last Post newsletter.
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On Monday 11th November at 11am, there will be the annual Armistice Day Service held at Thorpe in the Fallows. This service is organised annually by the Lincoln and North Lincs WFA branch, and everyone is welcome to attend. Please be at the memorial for 10.45.
Thorpe in the Fallows can be found just off the A1500 Scampton to Sturton By Stow Road.
If you would like to go for a light lunch after the service, it will be at Tillbridge Tastery, High Street, Sturton By Stow. The café have asked for an idea as to numbers, so please let me know if you plan to attend.
Last Wednesday, Robin and I held a working party at Thorpe in the Fallows war memorial to give it its annual tidy up in readiness for the service.
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On Wednesday 20th November at 11am, there will be the annual Cambrai Day service held at the Tank Memorial on Tritton Way, Lincoln. This event is organised by Friends of the Lincoln Tank and again, everyone is welcome to attend. Please be on site for 10.45.
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To complement the Cambrai Day service listed above, please see the following details of Tank Tour Two which starts on the evening of the 20th November with a dinner at the White Hart Hotel in Lincoln.
Andrew Blow has full details for you and writes; ‘Richard Pullen and I are launching Tank Tour Two – with revised talks, new film, new images, new anecdotes - on the night of Cambrai Day, Wednesday, November 20th, after a gap of six years. (We appeared 18 times in TT1 between 2015 and 2018).
Our main theme is the internationally important story of the Lincoln tanks and William Foster & Co Ltd, and we will be acknowledging the skill and energy of their leaders, workers and munitionettes.
After months of planning we are trying to ensure a good start so we are beginning with a “Dine with Heritage” launch at the White Hart Hotel, Lincoln, birthplace of the tanks, from 6pm on that day.
The Tank Room (where Tritton and Wilson invented the tank) will open from 6pm (as will the bar!) We will bring exhibition materials and memorabilia too. There’ll be illustrated talks of 45 minutes from each of us, and a two course meal, plus coffee and mints, in the convivial surroundings of the King Richard Room as the evening unfolds from 7p.m.
Address for the online order of tickets (£39.95):
Afterwards we will be heading off to more orthodox venues e.g. libraries, village halls….wherever a host organisation can welcome us. Four venues are booked and other conversations are being held. We are grateful to the newly-renovated White Hart Hotel for sponsorship enabling us to undertake the Tour.
Last time round we heard a priceless 1940s anecdote about Sir William Tritton (still working at Fosters at the time) and also met 95 year old Eva, who was billeted with Sir William and Lady Tritton in WW2 after the nurses accommodation at Lincoln County Hospital suffered bomb damage.
By carrying the story to the people we get feedback and stories which I don’t think we would otherwise get.
Short biographies:
Richard, is well-known to many of your readers, and is a Military Historian, Chairman of the Friends of the Lincoln Tank, and author of “Landships of Lincoln”.
I’m a film-maker involved on and off with the story of the Lincoln tanks since the late 1970s when I found the only known WW1 film of the tanks on Fosters test ground. I’ll be playing this film in TT2. I was working for Yorkshire TV at the time and this discovery led me to a meeting with William Rigby, then aged 89. He was the young Fosters draughtsman who was in the room with Wilson and Tritton doing the engineering drawings as they devised the tank.
I also met Harry Emans of Sheffield who entered the first ever tank battle at Flers-Courcelette during the Battle of the Somme in September 1916. Like many of the machines that set off that morning, his soon broke down in atrocious ground conditions. Both men appeared in a 12 minute film we made for Yorkshire TV’s Calendar programme, a film now unfortunately lost.
In my later career at Blow by Blow Productions, I have produced with Richard as Presenter the “Birth of the Tanks” DVD – commended by the Curator of the Bovington Tank Museum - and the “Lincoln Tank Weekend” DVD about the unveiling of the Lincoln Tank Memorial, a ceremony included relatives of Tritton, Wilson and Rigby.’
Thank you very much Andrew, I am sure TT2 will be well supported. Please let me have dates and venues for future events.
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Saturday 19th October saw a good turnout at Leadenham Village Hall for the first, of what I hope will be many, Trafalgar Dinners.
A lot of hard work had gone into the setting with each table named after one of Nelson’s ships. The evening began with a short resume as to the importance of the battle of Trafalgar and after each of three courses of wonderful food, including roast beef of Olde England, despatches were read out from various captains of Nelson’s fleet, before the second smallest ship present, HMS Pickle, was metaphorically sent back to Blighty to take the news to London.
Click the link below.
The Trafalgar Way - History of The Pickle
After the beef, all present enjoyed a hearty interlude of sea shanty singing culminating in a rousing finale of a ‘Drop of Nelson’s blood wouldn’t do us any harm……..’
The evening ended with port and coffee, The Loyal Toast and The Toast to The Immortal Memory.
Next year, will see the 220th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar and I do hope that the brace of Tims at LMHS will seriously consider repeating the dinner, and at the risk of mixing my battles by 390 years, I can safely say that ‘And gentlemen in England now a-bed, Shall think themselves accursed they were not here.’ [Speech of Henry V at Agincourt – Ed].
By coincidence, Steve Williams, who was at the dinner last Saturday, has flown out to Gibraltar this week and has sent us the following photos from Trafalgar Cemetery. The cemetery was started in 1798 and is the final resting place of many Trafalgar casualties who died of wounds following the battle on 21st October 1805. As you can see from the fresh wreaths, these men are remembered annually on the 21st.
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Melvin Dobbs certainly made a good tour of Norfolk this last summer and here is his latest epistle; ‘Before I get to talking about Norfolk Memorials, I want to thank you for putting together a super itinerary with associated maps and wording for the tour last week. [Thank you Melvin – Ed]
I thoroughly enjoyed this Tour and the camaraderie and banter amongst fellow travellers.
Please find three photos attached.
1. Village Memorial at Southrepps, which is sadly in a poor condition.
2. A modern Roll of Honour board within the Church.
3. A photograph of the "Southrepps Boys" who enlisted in 1914.
Interestingly all fully named with the exception of the Village Postman named as just Mr Pearson. I presume because of his standing within the community?’
It is an interesting photograph Melvin and we are grateful to someone within the village who had the foresight to arrange for it to be taken before the lads set off, some never to return.
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Jon Sandison, like the House Marten, has ventured south for the winter! Leaving Shetland for a long awaited Pilgrimage to Winston Churchill’s last resting place at St. Martin’s church, Bladon near Blenheim Palace.
On his way south, Jon stopped at Methlick in Aberdeenshire where he kindly sent me this photo of the village war memorial complete with the Saltire and the Union flag flying at half-mast to mourn the passing of arch nationalist, Alex Salmond.
We have featured Churchill’s grave before in Trench Lincs but here it is again together with the war memorial at Bladon.
Bladon
Jon also found time to visit Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford.
I hope you have had a successful and enjoyable excursion Jon?
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Bill Roffey always has an eye for a story and here is one that he found with a Lincolnshire interest. Click on the web link below.
Disguise used by Lincolnshire sailor to escape goes on show - BBC News
Charles Hare, from Lincolnshire, joined the Royal Navy aged 11 after his father died, and two years later he was taken prisoner when his ship was captured off the coast of France.
He was held for six years before he escaped, by then aged 19, using the uniform of a French customs officer as a disguise.
He travelled more than 500 miles to return to his mother in Lincoln, walking the last 30 miles from Grimsby because he had run out of money. [From the BBC article which is well worth reading – Ed]
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Returning to last week’s edition, I noted that at Lapugnoy cemetery, that I made a point of visiting Guardsman Frederick Nutkins who I described as the great uncle of TL contributor Tony.
Well, I got it slightly wrong!! Here is Tony’s very detailed and pertinent response; ‘Thanks for another very interesting and diverse edition of Trench Lincs, the contributions by yourself and the members first class as usual.
I am very envious of your battlefield trip, I have many memories of visiting most of those places, many more than once, and thanks again for visiting Guardsman Nutkins at Lapugnoy.
He was my father's cousin, so my first cousin once removed, not my great uncle. Who was his father? George Nutkins, my grandfather's brother.
Guardsman Frederick Nutkins attested on 16th August 1914 and joined the 1st battalion Grenadier Guards depot at Caterham on 19th August, and went to France on 1st May 1915 with the 1st battalion, 3rd Guards Brigade, Guards Division. The battalion war diary, laconically in typical Guards style, states that the battalion went in to front line trenches South East of Big Willie Trench on 14th October.
On 15th and 16th October, they were subjected to "some shelling, front trenches knocked about a bit, about 20 casualties". On 17th October, a bombing attack was made by No.3 Company. from Fosse trench towards Slag Alley, one Officer killed and three wounded - there is no mention of Other Rank casualties. 18th October, "some shelling". On 19th October the battalion was relieved by 3rd battalion Coldstream Guards and went in to billets at Sally La Bourse. The battalion suffered 261 casualties during this spell in the trenches and presumably, as there are only four officer casualties mentioned, there were 257 Other Rank casualties. One of them was Guardsman Nutkins, wounded severely, at some time between 14th and 19th October, died on 23rd October.
Lapugnoy was the site of No.18 Casualty Clearing Station, set up in August 1915 with two sections at Aire a couple of miles away in preparation for the battle of Loos. Haig's doctor, Eugene "Micky" Ryan took command of the CCS in September.
From 25th to 30th September there were 3,711 admissions to the Clearing Station, nearly all wounded, and the wounded cases were reported by Ryan as "very severe indeed, only lying wounded taken in". The lightly wounded were taken to No. 23 CCS at Lozinghem and No. 51 CCS at Lillers.’
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David East, who was on the recent tour writes; ‘I used to live in Dartmouth and the below was in the town garden.’
I was not aware of Theodore Veale’s VC action so I looked it up. Here is his citation.
‘VEALE, Theodore William Henry – Private 8th (Service) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. 20th July 1916 – At High Wood, Somme, he heard cries and left his trench to investigate. He was immediately fired upon but ran on until he reached Lieutenant Savill, who was lying wounded only ten yards from the German lines. He pulled him back and brought him water before returning with a waterproof sheet, on which he dragged him into a shell hole. That evening he led a party of volunteers to the shell hole. When the party was approached by an enemy patrol, he ran to fetch a Lewis gun with which he covered the party whilst they brought the Lieutenant to safety.’
Theodore Veale, born in 1892, survived the war and died in 1980. Lieutenant Eric Savill also survived the war and went onto to become Deputy Ranger at Windsor Great Park, establishing the national Magnolia collection and was knighted for his services in 1955.
Theodore Veale VC.
Interestingly, the Devonshire Regiment won three Victoria Crosses during the Great War and the recipients were, Veale, Sage and Onions!
SAGE, Thomas Henry – Private 8th (Service) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. 4th October 1917 – At Tower Hamlets Spur, Ypres, Belgium, a live bomb fell into a shell hole that he was sharing with eight other men. He immediately threw himself on it, saving the lives of his comrades. He himself sustained very serious wounds.’
Amazingly, Thomas Sage recovered from his wounds to some degree and lived until 1945.
Thomas Sage VC.
ONIONS, George – Lance Corporal 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. 22nd August 1918 – Having been sent out with another man to make contact with the battalion on the right flank of his unit at Achiet Le Petit, France, he observed the enemy advancing in great numbers. He and his comrade placed themselves on the flank of the advancing enemy and opened rapid fire. The Germans began to waver and some hands went up. He then rushed forward with his comrade’s assistance took two hundred of the enemy prisoner and marched them back to his company commander.’
George Onions, born in 1883, rose to the rank of Major with the Royal Irish Constabulary and died in 1944.
George Onions VC
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Late October 1918 was a tumultuous time on the Western Front, the German army was in full retreat although making brave rearguard stands as it fell back. The German home front was in turmoil and politically the German Parliament, with a new Chancellor, Prince Max of Baden, was attempting to convene a peace conference by opening dialogue with President Wilson of the USA.
The British and French would accept nothing less than a full unconditional surrender but the Germans tried to preserve their position through their talks with the USA. President Wilson, on October 24th, replied that the Allies would not deal with the present Monarchial autocracy or militarists, and therefore, there cannot be peace without a full surrender.
The Germans insisted that the new government was democratic and constitutional but with the Kaiser, Hindenburg and Ludendorff still in power the Allies would not countenance peace terms.
On this day in 1918, 27th October, the Germans finally accepted that the Allies would dictate the terms of the Armistice and that they would have to accept the terms or face total destruction. In addition, the 27th October also saw the start of the great Italian offensive, the Austro-Hungarian front collapsed and as the Allied leaders met on 28th October at Versailles to agree their terms for Germany’s surrender, the Austrians asked for a separate peace accord with the Allies.
On October 31st, The Ottoman Turks surrendered and signed an Armistice. Germany now stood alone.
Next week, I will take you through the events of early November as the fighting in France and Flanders entered its last stages.
Ottoman Turks surrender to British troops.
The Armistice of Mudros which ended the fighting between the Allies and the Ottoman Turks.
IN MEMORIAM – The Lincolnshire Regiment 27th October.
1914
Twenty two men of the regiment are recorded as having died this day as the Race For The Sea continued.
1916
40098 Sergeant Harold Ernest Goodley, 2nd Battalion, aged 19. Buried in Grove Town Cemetery, France.
24894 Private Herbert Tyson, 2nd Battalion. Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
1917
41235 Private Robert Dawson, 10th Battalion. Buried at Etaples Military Cemetery, France.
200965 Private A Glover, 4th Battalion, aged 19. Buried in Philosophe British Cemetery, France.
1918
41186 Private Samuel Smith-Clayton, 6th Labour Company, aged 47. Buried in Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
42883 Private C H Elm, 2nd Battalion. Buried in Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel, Germany.
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
Until next week,
Kind regards
Jonathan
Email me on: trenchlincs@gmail.com
© J C J D’Hooghe.
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