Trench Lincs 14th September 2025
- trenchlincs
- 3 hours ago
- 26 min read
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Here we are now halfway through September. Is it just me or is this year disappearing at an alarming rate?
Tomorrow, September 15th, sees the 109th anniversary of the first tanks in history going in to battle on the Somme. We are all rightly proud of the fact that these first tanks were designed and built in Lincoln, but what did they actually achieve?
Commander in Chief, Sir Douglas Haig, made the decision to commit the first 49 Mark I tanks on 15th September 1916 between the villages of Flers and Courcelette. Undoubtedly, he could have waited until a greater number of tanks were available and of the 49 that were committed to battle, only 32 made it to the start line due mainly to mechanical failure.
The tanks were deployed in small groups of 2 or 3 to accompany the infantry, in their frontal attack. Only 18 tanks were deemed to have taken a significant part in the battle, the others broke down or ditched in shell holes.
Nevertheless, the sight of these rumbling 30 ton monsters petrified the German defenders and where the tanks remained in action, British objectives were taken.
The British press reported; “When the German outposts crept out of their dugouts in the mist of the morning of 15 September and stretched to look for the English, their blood was chilled to their veins. Two mysterious monsters were crawling towards them over the craters. Stunned as if an earthquake had burst around them, they all rubbed their eyes, which were fascinated by the fabulous creatures.”
The British gains on this day were some 2,500 yards on a three-mile front, a major but limited breach of the German second line of resistance. The trouble with launching a completely new and untried weapon was that no one in high command had any idea what the tanks were capable of, and nor did any of the junior field commanders understand the necessity of infantry and tank co-operation. Indeed, many of the men crewing and commanding the tanks had never been in action before, by and large, the men of the Heavy Branch Machine Gun Corps on this day were young and inexperienced.
After the action, Gunner William Dawson stated; “Our tank commander was 2nd Lt. Macpherson, a fine and likeable young fellow, but he like all of us had never been on a battlefield or in action before. Indeed, that was the position of practically the whole of the 32 tanks which took part in this first action. The briefing and instructions regarding objectives were quite inadequate and there was little or no co-operation between the infantry and the tanks.”
As Britain came to terms with the losses in men sustained in July on the Somme, the introduction and action of the tanks gave a very timely uplift to public morale, and gave a great filip to the government propagandists who were able to use the new wonder weapon in their press releases, where probably the most reproduced and famous quotation from this action came from a Royal Flying Corps pilot who reported; "A tank is walking down the High Street of Flers with the British Army cheering behind." Such offerings were a great boost to the public.
After September 15th, the MKI tank was now known to be unreliable, mechanically deficient in many areas, e.g. they did not have external exhaust systems and painfully slow, but they did give a glimpse of what may be possible in the future. It would take another fourteen months before the full weight of the tank's capabilities would be showcased at Cambrai in 1917, and even then, the high command could not take advantage of the tank’s success on 20th November – it was a very slow and painful ‘learning curve,’ and sadly, a learning curve that the British did not build upon between the wars, so that when the Germans launched their western offensive in May 1940, their tanks outgunned and out manoeuvred the armour of the BEF and their French allies.
However, at the end of the September 1916 battle, Sir Douglas Haig noted; “Wherever the tanks advanced, we took our objectives and where they did not advance, we failed to take our objectives. Go back and make as many more tanks as you can.”
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
You can read more Lincoln tank news below.
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FORTHCOMING EVENTS.
Next Lecture - Lincoln Branch Western Front Association - Monday, September 15th - 7.00pm for 7.30pm start - Royal Naval Association Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln, LN6 7BG – TOMORROW NIGHT
Tim Coltman will present "The Story of the Two Crosses: William Coltman VC, DCM & Bar, MM & Bar". The presentation traces the life and times of this highly decorated soldier who was Tim's Great Grandad. William went to war in World War 1 but, because of his strong Christian faith (he was a member of the Plymouth Brethren), refused to carry a weapon and fight, instead volunteering in January 1915 to serve as a stretcher bearer in the 1/6th Battalion, The North Staffordshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's). The presentation follows his life from where he was brought up, through his service in the British Army and the events that earned him his decorations, to his funeral in 1974, and the subsequent events that have taken place in recognition of his achievements. William was born on 17th November, 1891, and died on 29th June, 1974. He is now described as the highest decorated non-commissioned soldier of the British Army in World War 1.
We are not going to spoil Tim's presentation by going into the details of how William earned his decorations save to say that he did, indeed, go far beyond what was expected of him in order to save the lives of his comrades in arms. We are sure that, when you hear his story from Tim, you will be left beyond any doubt that he deserved the recognition he was given.
Tim Coltman hails from Burton on Trent where he has lived all of his life. Married with 2 grown up children, he worked in agriculture for 30 years before leaving employment in 2024 to concentrate full time on giving this presentation all over the UK, together with a number of other activities. He has been delivering it for 11 years now to World War 1 groups, U3A, Probus, Rotary, and many more history and social groups.
His presentation comes highly recommended by other WFA branches, and, if you miss it at Lincoln, he will be giving it to the Spalding Branch on November 27th.
3FD88E25-FBA0-4903-90BF-463F79AA97C8.mp4 - Google Drive Click on this link to view a 55 second trailer for the talk.
Hope to see you there.
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The East Midlands (Nottingham) WFA Branch meets again on Friday 10th October at 7.30pm at St. Peter’s Church Hall, Church Street, Ruddington, Nottingham, NG11 6HA. All welcome.
The speaker on this night will be Spencer Vignes who will talk about “The Life and Death of Leigh Roose, Sportsman and Soldier.”
Leigh Richmond Roose - The Story of Football's First Playboy Click the link to learn more about this talk.
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Next Meeting – Spalding & South Lincs Branch WFA – Thursday, 25th September – Spalding Baptist Church, Swan Street, Spalding, PE11 1BT - Doors open 7.00pm for 7.30pm.
Talk Title – For King & Country at Loos
‘Deeply regret to inform you that 2/Lt C F B Hodgins 2/Wiltshire Regt is reported killed Sept 25/26. Lord Kitchener desires to express his sympathy. Secretary War Office.’ – Telegram from the War Office dated 29 September 1915.
This is the true and previously untold story of one man’s war on the Western Front during the First World War. As a young man, still in his teens, Charlie Hodgins answered the call to ‘do his bit’ for King and Country. Like so many others, he was never to return. He was killed on 25 September 1915, on the opening day of the Battle of Loos. According to an officer in his battalion, he died 'leading his men with great gallantry, and even when wounded, tried to rise and take them on'. Drawing on the many letters, photographs and telegrams Charlie sent home, along with newspaper articles, war archives and other personal accounts, historian Peter Jacobs has pieced together the final moments of Charlie’s short life. This is a compelling and poignant tale of personal courage and one family’s loss. But it also tells of the tragedy and suffering experienced by a generation of men during the First World War.
The Speaker – Peter Jacobs
PETER JACOBS served in the Royal Air Force for thirty-seven years as an air defence navigator on the F4 Phantom and Tornado F3, after which he completed staff tours at HQ 11 Group, HQ Strike Command, the Ministry of Defence, and the RAF College Cranwell. He has written twenty-three books on military and aviation subjects, and as well as being a keen military historian, he is an active speaker and cemetery tour guide with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
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The Leadenham Military History Group’s next meeting will be on Tuesday 23rd September, at Leadenham Village Hall with a start time of 7.30pm. The evening will consist of two elements.
Show and Tell – ‘RAF Ballon Command’ – A selection of items from a recently unearthed treasure trove – by Tim Willbond.
Presentation – ‘The Deadly Canary’ – Resistance in Denmark 1940-45 – by Tim Sisson.
As a German Protectorate, Denmark had a particular status. This talk will look at a different approach to underground resistance.
Last year, the Leadenham Military History Group staged a most successful and entertaining Trafalgar Dinner. By popular request, the dinner is being held once again on Saturday 25th October in Leadenham village hall.
Tim Sisson writes; ‘Following last year's success, we will again hold our Trafalgar Dinner this year on Saturday, 25th October, at Leadenham Village Hall - 7 for 7.30pm.
Tickets just £26 per person which includes a three course meal, with coffee, prepared by our very own Mike Willgoose, former landlord of the George Hotel. Licenced bar - carriages 11 pm.
This is intended to be an informal occasion for members to get to know one another better in a social context; you are very welcome, indeed encouraged, to bring partners, and it will not be a stuffy formal dinner - far from it. Smart casual dress, no dinner suits required.
Fair warning - sea shanties may (will) be sung, you don't have to join in if you are tone deaf, but why not have a go!
If you want to bring a group, we can accommodate tables of four, six, eight, ten or twelve - but don't dally, as numbers are limited by space. At the other end of the scale, you are very welcome to come alone or as part of a couple, when you will be seated with others.
You can book a table by emailing me on milhistory@btinternet.com, or call me on 07967 352218.
This year we will ask for payment in advance which can be made direct to the following account:
Account name: Timothy C Willbond LHS 2024
Account number: 0047 0593
Sort code: 30 13 52
If you make a payment into this account, please put the code TR25, followed by your surname, as the reference.
We look forward to welcoming you again for an enjoyable evening.
Once again, I have reserved a table for myself and friends, and currently have Peter Garland, Steve Williams, James Handley and Robin Sayer booked in. We have room to add another three – if you would like to join our party, please send your £26 as detailed above and let me know.
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The next presentation in the Friends of Lincoln Tank 2025 season of talks will be held on Thursday 30th October when Peter Jacobs will present for ‘King and Country’. – See the Spalding and South Lincs notice above.
The venue as usual is the Royal Naval Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln, LN6 7BG. 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Everyone welcome.
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Another group who meet at the Royal Naval Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln, LN6 7BG are the Lincs Aviation Society.
I now have great pleasure in advertising their forthcoming events, which take place on the third Thursday of each month - entry is £2 for members and £3 for visitors.
The next speaker event will be held on Thursday 18th September when Bill Carrie will speak about ‘Civil Aircraft – Keep ‘em Flying’
Please arrive 7pm for a 7.30pm start.
Chas Parker also notes; ‘Please find attached the latest edition of Air Link. Another busy month ahead and a good speaker for the meeting on the 18th [As above – Ed]. Bill is a former Warrant Officer who was involved with the Nimrod AEW3 programme and he is going to tell us about working on civil aircraft after leaving the RAF.
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Will you be in Belgium in the first week of October? If you are, you may want to attend the last event for 2025 of the Friends of the Tank Memorial Ypres Salient Group.
David Williams, the FotTMYS Secretary writes; ‘Dear Friends and Supporters of the Friends of the Tank Memorial Ypres Salient,
You are hereby cordially and respectively invited to join us and participate in our final FotTMYS Ceremony this year.
The day will be dedicated to pay our respects to all those Officers and Soldiers who gave their lives in the pursuit of peace on the fields of the Ypres Salient.
The British Ceremony will highlight the brave actions of Captain Clement Robertson VC and Gunner Cyril Allen DCM who fought side by side in Zonnebeke, a place now known to us all as Robertson’s Bridge.
We will hold a small but respectful Ceremony at the Bridge before moving on to Oxford Road CWGC Cemetery to pay our respects to Captain Roberson VC at his final place of rest.
The afternoon will commence at the TMYS Memorial for a Service of Remembrance for the fallen followed by a Special Invitation from the German Volksbund.
Post our Remembrance Parade those who would wish to attend the German Service will be made most welcome by our hosts.
I have attached a full program of the day’s events for your information, this is all contained within the same document that I have attached to his email making it easy for you to print and use as your own detailed guide.
As you can see I have included all the addresses of the locations we will visit and the travel times between those places of interest. This will permit you to participate in the full agenda of the day, or if you wish to come to any of the events as you feel would be pertinent.
Should you need any further information about the days program I am here to assist, and I will be enthusiastic to help in any way that I am able.
On behalf of our Chairman and the Friends of the Tank Memorial I look forward to seeing you all on the day.
Until then,
My best Regards.
DAVID
Friends of the Tank Memorial Ypres Salient
Agenda for the Morning & Afternoon Ceremonies
Saturday 04 October 2025
11H00 : Assemble at Reutelhoekstraat 17, 8980 Zonnebeke.
11H30 : Commencement of Ceremony at Robertson’s Bridge
12H00 : Move to-Oxford Road Cemetery.
Travel time : 15 minutes
12H15 : Arrive Oxford Road Cemetery
12H30 : Commence Short Service of Respect Captain C. Robertson VC
12H50 : Depart Oxford Road Cemetery to town square, Langemark
Travel time : 10 minutes
13H00 : Arrive Het Munchenhof Pause for Coffee and Croissant
13H45 : Depart Het Munchenhof to TMYS Poelkapelle
Travel time : 10 minutes
14H30 : Arrive TMYS
15H00 : Commence Ceremony TMYS (details on Order of Service which will be distributed at the Ceremony)
15H30 : End of TMYS Ceremony Photo Shoot
15H45 : Depart TMYS German Mil Cemetery via Brooding Soldier (due to direct route road closures)
Travel time : 20 minutes
16H05 : Arrive German Mil Cemetery
16H30 : Commence Ceremony at German Mil Cemetery
17H45 : End of German Military Ceremony
18H00 : Depart Mil Cemetery to La/Po Town Hall for Reception
18H45 : Depart La/Po Reception for FotTMYS Dinner at Lo
Travel time : 25 minutes
For those booked to dine at our FotTMYS Evening Dinner :
19H15 : Arrive Hotel Oude Abdij Lo.
Should any TL readers be in Belgium on 4th October, please take some snaps and write a short report for us. Thank you.
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You may recall that in TL 31st August, I gave you all a heads up about a new Lincolnshire book that will be published in October. The book, by Matt Limb, details the lives and actions of the Lincolnshire Regiment’s ten Victoria Cross winners.
I have received this week a latest press release from Mike Credland and here it is; ‘ A new book, Valour - The Victoria Cross & The Lincolnshire Regiment, will be published in October 2025, telling the extraordinary stories of ten men of the Lincolnshire Regiment awarded the Victoria Cross, Britain’s highest award for gallantry.
Spanning nearly a century of conflict, from the Indian Mutiny of 1857 to the final battles of the Second World War, this book brings together for the first time the acts of courage, sacrifice and leadership that shaped the regiment’s proud history.
With a foreword by Lord Ashcroft, the custodian of the world’s largest collection of Victoria Crosses, the book has been carefully researched and vividly written by Matt Limb. It pays tribute to ordinary men who, under unimaginable pressure, chose duty, selflessness and bravery.
Of particular note in Lincolnshire, Corporal Charles Richard Sharpe VC was the only Victoria Cross recipient of the regiment to have been born and lived most of his life in the county. Born in a small village near Sleaford, he left farm work to join the Lincolns and went on to be awarded the Victoria Cross in 1915 for his courage at the Battle of Aubers Ridge. His story makes him not only a national hero but a true Lincolnshire “Yellow Belly.”
Priced at just £15.99, Valour - The Victoria Cross & The Lincolnshire Regiment will be published on 1st October 2025 - Lincolnshire Day - at www.TheGreatBritishBookshop.co.uk
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On Tuesday 9th September, a plaque was unveiled by Guy Martin at the White Hart hotel in Lincoln to recognise the role that the White Hart played in the design and development of the tank in 1915.
There was a good sized audience to watch the 11am ceremony and a good turn out of regional media, Andrew Blow of Blow by Blow productions was also on hand to record the ceremony and I was pleased to bump into an excellent turnout of Trench Lincs readers.
However, the highlight was 'Deborah' at the top of Steep Hill. The replica MKIV tank that now resides in Norfolk had been transported to Lincoln to cap off the day. You may recall that Guy Martin hosted a tv programme some eight years ago about the tank that saw Deborah constructed as part of the project, primarily by workers at the JCB plant at Uttoxeter.
Guy Martin unveiled the plaque from worldoriginsite.org
Deborah looked resplendent.
Do you fancy being the front Lewis gunner?
Andy Blow and Richard Pullen were on hand to record the events of the day.
Mike Credland, John Robinson, Ray Sellers and Alwyn Killingsworth (pictured) were joined by Keith Burrell, Peter Jacobs, John Kirk, Steve Baldwin and others of the Trench Lincs readership.
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I am always delighted to hear from readers, especially new contributors. I am also very pleased to hear that TL has 'rung a bell' or in this case provoked some discussion, so Jo Stacey's email this week was most welcome.
Jo writes; 'A very interesting read, as usual, many thanks Jonathan. I hope your family had a safe journey back to Australia.[They did thank you - Ed] I thought I would let you know that although you may not have received many emails about the (Jonty Wild) piece on war memorials, it provoked several conversations in our house, and a visit to our local Spalding cemetery to search out the CWG gravestones. We did wonder what would happen if a family did not necessarily want a memorial erecting, so your story about your Great grandmother was very interesting. What a lady!'
Thank you very much Jo for your comments and I am so happy to hear that as a result of reading TL, you found the time to take a trip to Spalding's CWGC plot. It is so important that we never forget the sacrifice of those who went before us.
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As mentioned recently, Marcus Dunbar has been in France and I am sharing a selection of his photos below, including this interesting Great War memorial at St. Nazaire with a very American theme.
https://www.theamericanmasonicgreatwarproject.com/the-sammy-saintnazaire-france click the link for further details of this interesting memorial.
Etretat - below
Froberville - below
Saumur memorial wall with fine classical victory iconography – below.
If you ever have reason to visit Saumur in France, there is an excellent tank museum in the town.
Tank Museum - Tank Museum Click this link to view the web site
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Staying overseas, regular TL contributor, Melvin Dobbs, emailed me from Malta with a reminder that in the Great War, Japan was allied to Great Britain.
Melvin notes; ‘I am in Malta at the moment on a bit of a tour and I thought I would send a couple of interesting pics today taken at the Capuccini/Kalkara Naval Cemetery, where the cemetery is overseen by the CWGC and a splendid Japanese naval memorial resides.
Memorial to the men of the Imperial Japanese Navy 2nd Detached Squadron who died in the Allied cause between 1914-18.
Headstone to a Gunner of the Royal Malta Artillery.
Memorial to soldiers killed in a grenade filling accident October 1915.
Thank you Melvin. Some very unusual and original memorials and headstones for the TL readers.
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On 4th September, Andrew Thornton gave a very informative and entertaining talk about the Old Contemptibles at the FoLT meeting in Lincoln.
Chatting to Andrew after the event, he kindly agreed to send me the links to his blogs and research which I think many TL readers will find of interest.
Andrew notes; ‘Good to meet you last night. As promised, here are the links to my blogs:
The ‘Old Contemptibles' Association Scrap Book blog:
My blog relating to aspects of the 1914 Battle of Mons and the Retreat:
Andrew continues; ‘For specific references to the Lincoln Branch, these can be found here by using the Search button:
Thank you for the heads up Andrew. The OC’s are a very special topic in the historiography of the Great War, and you are to be commended for your ongoing work.
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Staying with the Old Contemptible theme, Mike Credland was in touch this week with a reminder that an OC lies in Metheringham churchyard.
Mike comments; ‘Photographs as promised Jonathan showing Lance Corporal Arthur Morris's grave in Metheringham Cemetery.
I've not had chance to do much research on him, but he served in France with the 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards.’
I had time to carry out a swift search for Arthur Morris and found his Medal Index Card easily. Arthur arrived in France on 21st August 1914 and his card notes his service with the 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards as well as later service with the Royal Sussex Regiment.
As you would expect, he was awarded a 1914 Star with Clasps and Rose as well as the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
All four battalions of the Coldstream Guards, being regular soldiers and all in the UK in August 1914, arrived in France before the opening shots were fired on 22nd/23rd August at Mons.
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The Old Contemptibles have featured regularly in TL in recent weeks, and in a similar vein to Mike Credland's piece above, Steve Baldwin discovered another 'new' OC in Newport Cemetery, Lincoln.
Steve notes; 'Here are the photos of my newly found OC. This is the grave of George J. Gilbert and his wife Gertrude. It seems George served in the the Royal Field Artillery.'
Like Arthur Morris above, I had a quick look for a surviving Medal Index Card. Sure enough, George J Gilbert was easy to find. He served with 25th Brigade RFA and arrived in France on 16th August 1914. The 25th Brigade consisted of 113, 114 and 115 Batteries and this Brigade served with, and was under the command of 1st Division for the entire war.
George Gilbert's MIC.
Thank you Steve for this latest piece of detective work.
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In preparation for the tour of Nottingham memorials that I am conducting on 10th October for Matt Colley and friends, I went to visit the Holy Trinity Church in Lenton. I won’t reveal at this stage why I went, you will have to attend the tour or wait for Trench Lincs on 12th October, but I found another memorial plaque that I was not aware of. [If you want to attend please let me know, and I will give you the meeting place and timings – Ed]
Before the war Dorothea Mary Lynette Crewdson was the middle child of three born to Henry and Margaret Crewdson. Dorothea was born in Bristol in 1886; the family later moved to Lenton in Nottinghamshire, where her father worked as a solicitor. The family were well off and employed a number of household servants. Her mother was an expert painter.
Dorothea received a private education and had a good command of French and German. In the years before the outbreak of war in 1914, there are some suggestions that she became involved with the Women’s Social and Political Union (Suffragettes) who were very active in Nottingham. She also undertook work with a charity which supported lonely girls working in domestic service. In 1911, she took a decisive step which would shape the rest of her life: volunteering to join the British Red Cross for training as a Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse.
She passed her examinations and qualified the following year, joining No.36 South Nottinghamshire Detachment. When war broke out in 1914, Dorothea volunteered to serve and undertook a number of duties ranging from helping serve refreshments at Nottingham Railway Station to more specialist nursing work at Nottingham’s General and Women’s Hospitals.
Early in 1915, Dorothea volunteered for service in a military hospital overseas and in May she received a letter calling her up for service in a military hospital in France. She was ordered to report to No.16 Stationary Hospital at Le Treport, near Dieppe.
Stationary Hospitals were divided into surgical and medical wards. Dorothea served on both, each bringing different challenges and pressures. When major battles were not being fought, convoys of wounded would still arrive regularly. Such was the effectiveness of the evacuation process that many would not stay long before being sent on to the next stage of their medical journey.
Extract from Dorothea’s diary TUESDAY, 28TH SEPTEMBER 1915, 2 A.M. "Well, here we are in the thick of it. I have always been told that one day we shall be busy and the time seems to have come at last but oh! the suffering and misery it means is heart-rending. There seems to be a tremendous battle raging. The general attack is from our side and the news from the men who came in with each convoy is encouraging… But it means a tremendous rush of work in all the hospitals tonight. We have had twenty extra beds put into the ward, brought in before midnight by crowds of orderlies and already we have 21 patients. There is hardly room to turn in the ward for all the beds."
After nearly two years working at Le Treport, in 1917 Dorothea was posted to another hospital at Wimereux before being posted to No.46 Stationary Hospital at Etaples.
During World War One, the area around Etaples was the scene of a very large concentration of reinforcement camps and hospitals. Well away from German guns, the area was still at risk from bombing raids by German aircraft. In the summer of 1918.
Dorothea was on duty when German bombers raided the area. For her conduct during an air-raid, Dorothea was awarded the Military Medal, ‘for gallantry and devotion to duty during an enemy air raid. Although herself wounded, she remained at duty and assisted in dressing the wounds of patients.’
Dorothea served for more than three and half years as a nurse in France, working through the great battles of the Somme and Third Ypres. Even with the end of the war in November 1918, the work in the hospitals continued, as a flu pandemic swept the world. Dorothea did not succumb to flu despite treating many patients with it.
At 3.30am, while on night duty in March 1919, Dorothea wrote how flu was still rampant on the wards but she ended on a positive note: “This finishes my volume. Next will come the ‘peace number’ of the diary and will see me home again I expect.”
Sadly, on 12 March 1919, Dorothea died suddenly of peritonitis. She was posthumously awarded the Royal Red Cross.
She is buried at Etaples Military Cemetery, alongside more than 11,000 others who died in the military hospitals there during World War One.
Extract from the letter her parents received from Matron M.F. McCord: "It has been a dreadful shock to us all (as she was always apparently so well and healthy) and to you all what must it be. I know she was a devoted daughter and sister. Here she was loved by everyone – so thorough, thoughtful, and reliable was she that any seriously ill patient who had her for a nurse was more than fortunate – and so honourable, gentle and loyal, always working straight on out to help and helping with all her mind as well as her body. She is a serious loss."
The information above is from the CWGC, and I would also surmise, that Dorothea would have known Lincolnshire lass and nurse, Jane Bemrose MM, as they were at Etaples at the same time and won their MM’s during the air raids there.
Dorothea Crewdson MM RRC.
Dorothea’s brother, Henry, served in the Coldstream Guards and was badly wounded in 1917. He did make a full recovery and went on to command the 1st/8th Sherwood Foresters in the 1939-45 war, rising to the rank of Brigadier.
Dorothea with her brother, Henry.
When Henry died, his son, Richard, found seven volumes of Dorothea’s diaries amongst Henry’s possessions. He edited the diaries and had them published. You can click this link to buy the book.
Dorothea's War: A First World War Nurse Tells Her Story: Amazon.co.uk: Crewdson, Dorothea, Crewdson, Richard: 9781780224824: Books
It just goes to show what tales are lurking in our often neglected and rarely visited inner city churches! - and as mentioned, if you want to join the tour on 10th October, drop me a line.
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In conjunction with Robin Sayer, we are also organising another outing for October, on Wednesday 22nd. The outing is open to everyone, but you will need to make up your own travel groups.
Robin writes for us; ‘As discussed a couple of weeks ago please find a bit more detail on a trip to Eden Camp, Malton, North Yorkshire. Proposed date is now WEDNESDAY 22nd October.
Eden Camp is a family owned and run business that started over 30 years ago.
Originally a prisoner of war camp, it was built on an agricultural plot on the outskirts of Malton in early 1942 by a small contingent of army personnel who had travelled down from Castle Douglas, in Scotland.
Their task was to construct a barbed wire enclosure and erect tents to form a temporary camp to house Italian prisoners of war captured by Allied forces in North Africa. The camp’s location on Eden Road earned it the name ‘Eden Camp’ and its first residents, 250 Italian prisoners, were escorted from Oldham and marched through Malton to their new home. Once settled, they began work on constructing a larger and more permanent camp. At its peak, Eden Camp was supplemented by a large area of tented accommodation and could house around 1,200 prisoners at any one time. The Italian prisoners gave way to German POW’s in the summer of 1944, with the successful Allied invasion of Normandy. The German prisoners, like the Italians before them, were put to work locally in agriculture and they lived in the huts at Eden camp until 1948, when they were finally released, three years after the war had ended.
In 1985, local businessman Stan Johnson discovered that POW Work Camp 83 was still generally intact and thirty-five of the original huts were in roughly the same condition as when the last of 1,200 inmates left for the ‘Fatherland’ in 1948. Mr Johnson brought the site and initially invested £750,000 to create, within the original camp, the world first Modern Theme Museum.
The huts have been re-equipped to tell the story of the People's War, the social history of life from 1939 to 1945. So many simple display exhibits in cabinets are dull affairs, but not Eden Camp. Realistic tableaux, with moving figures, authentic sounds and smells have been created to “transport you back in time.”
Each hut covers a different aspect of the war, starting with the rise of the Nazi Party, Hitler and the outbreak of the War. Other topics include: Rationing, ‘Save It’ Campaigns, Evacuees, Propaganda, Home Guard, Home Front, The Blitz, Air Raid, and Gas Precautions, Animals at War, The Land Army, The Street at War, Women at War, Timber Girls, The Munition Factories, The Observer Corps, The Auxiliary Fire Service, The Green Howards, The WRVS, The Red Cross, Civil Defence Corps, The Rescue Services, The Bevan Boys, and of course WW2 Army, Navy, Royal Air Force, WW1, The Falklands War etc.
During the winter months of 2012 and 2022 significant refurbishment works have been undertaken around the site - a new Blitz experience in Hut 5, a re-modelled front entrance and new exhibition spaces including a huge Heritage Exhibition Hall which provides an undercover display of a growing collection of unique and rare military vehicles and equipment. including 2 CVRT variants Swingfire (anti-tank missile) and Striker (Javelin anti-aircraft Missile) [on both of which I qualified as a Warrant Officer instructor, says Robin]
Eden camp is a museum with a difference. It is historical, educational, exciting and good day out allow at least 3 to 4 hours to visit.
Eden camp has a well-stocked cafe and of course a gift shop, parking is free.
Admission is £19 on the day or £17 if booked on line.
EDEN CAMP, Malton, YO17 6RT.
World War 2 Museum Yorkshire: Eden Camp Modern History Museum Click the link to view the web site.
We aim to meet at the camp from around 10.30am, so please let me know if you are able to make a car load and attend this special day out.
For those of you who want to set off a little earlier, Robin and I will be visiting Malton church yard at 9.30am – anyone is welcome to join us.
Lying in Malton church yard is my ancestor Sapper Maurice D’Hooghe. Maurice worked for the Ordnance Survey prior to 1914 and therefore, it is no surprise that he was enlisted into a mapping company of the Royal Engineers.
Although he was not a front line fighting soldier, Maurice was not immune to the perils of war and as he surveyed the front, he was badly affected by gas, evacuated back to the UK, he did not recover and died of the effects of the gas in 1919.
You can read more about Maurice [And my other ancestors who served in the 14-18 war by clicking on my web site using the link below – Ed]
Maurice Wright D'Hooghe - Jonathan D'Hooghe
I am fortunate to own Maurice’s Death Plaque, and I know who owns his medals, but the owner will not sell them to me! and he has sadly, been very unpleasant when I made contact with him. However, I do have photos of Maurice’s medals and back in 2021, I visited the Ordnance Survey HQ in Southampton, and they let me view the company war memorial that stands in the grounds.
Sapper Maurice D'Hooghe.
Maurice's plaque which I own. And his medals below which I would love to buy one day!
Maurice's name on the Ordnance Survey memorial at the OS HQ's in Southampton.
Maurice's grave in Malton churchyard, which I will visit at 9.30am on 10th October. You are welcome to attend. His headstone cross has no doubt been pushed over by some jobsworth 'elf and safety Wallah!
I look forward to hearing from you and I hope we get a good turn out on the day.
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This week’s offering from Colour by CJS is an excellent colourisation of a photograph of Tom Dresser.
Private Tom Dresser VC.
Tom was born in Yorkshire in 1892, and had two siblings.
When he was a young boy the family moved to Middlesbrough and his parents bought a tobacconist and newsagent shop. When Tom left school he worked in a local foundry and later in the family shop, before enlisting in the army in February 1916.
Tom was deployed to France in September 1916 and served with 5th and 6th Battalions of The Yorkshire Regiment. During his service at the front, he was wounded in the foot in November 1916.
After he had recovered from the wound, he was posted back to the front and joined 7th Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment in March 1917, and for his actions in the Spring of 1917 near Arras, he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
The citation published in the London Gazette read as follows:
“For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty near Roeux on the 12th May 1917. Private Dresser, in spite of being twice wounded on the way, and suffering great pain, succeeded in conveying an important message from Battalion Headquarters to the front line of trenches, which he eventually reached in an exhausted condition. His fearlessness and determination to deliver the message at any cost proved of the greatest value to his Battalion at a critical period”.
The VC was presented to him by King George V outside Buckingham Palace on 21st July 1917.
Tom returned to France on 26th September 1918 where he served in 74th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps and served with distinction until the war’s end.
After leaving the army, he took over his father’s newsagent business and married Teresa Landers in 1925, and the couple raised four sons.
During the second World War he served in the Home Guard.
Tom Dresser, became a well-known character and ran the shop until retiring in June 1979, but died in April 1982 at the age of 91.
Postscript.
His brother Joe was killed in action on 2nd October 1916 whilst serving with the 9th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment. Joe’s body was never identified, and today, he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
Tom receiving his VC from the King.
Tom Dresser’s Victoria Cross is available to view at the Green Howards museum in Richmond, Yorkshire, having been loaned to the museum by his son.
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IN MEMORIAM - The Lincolnshire Regiment 14th September.
1914
Fifty men of the Lincolnshire regiment died on this day at the 1st Battle of the Marne. They all remembered on the Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial, France.
1915
15392 Private Alfred Henry Smith, 1st Battalion. Remembered on the Menin Gate, Belgium.
13554 Private F Marsh, 6th Battalion, aged 27. Buried in Pieta Military Cemetery, Malta.
1916
16352 Private Walter Henry Jackson, 6th Battalion, aged 26. Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
16820 Private A Keech, 6th Battalion. Buried in Ovillers Military Cemetery, France.
8626 Sergeant R McDonald. – Ditto. –
10509 Private Ernest Speechley. – Ditto. –
9010 Lance Corporal R Wand. – Ditto. –
18368 Private F E H Wass. – Ditto. –
1917
18543 Private Harold George Salter Parkinson, 2nd Battalion, aged 24. Buried in Canwick Road Cemetery, Lincoln.
1918
41457 Private J Edwards, 6th Battalion. Buried in Vis en Artois British Cemetery, France.
31522 Priavte A E Murphy. – Ditto. –
26051 Private W Soole. – Ditto. –
7/12230 Lance Corporal George Thomas Armstrong, 7th Battalion, aged 32. Buried in Bertincourt Chateau British Cemetery, France.
14923 Sergeant John William Espin, 6th Battalion, aged 24. Buried in Ligny St. Flochel British Cemetery, France.
1919
25099 Private W J Gempton, Depot, aged 32. Buried in Grimsby Scartho Cemetery, UK.
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
I hope to catch up with many of you tomorrow night at the Lincoln WFA meeting.
Until next week
All best wishes
Jonathan
© Jonathan D’Hooghe
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