Sunday again, and I hope as you read this week’s Trench Lincs that many of you will have enjoyed a happy, blissful and dare I say, romantic Valentine’s Weekend.
I took my wife for a romantic weekend to York, just 50 minutes on the train from Newark. I believe that I really surprised her, as she had no idea just how romantic steam locomotives and war memorials can be!! A full report will appear next week.
This coming Wednesday is the outing to the Lancers museum in Derby. There’s still room for any more takers. Please let me know.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS.
I have now received full details for the next meeting of the Lincoln and North Lincs WFA Branch to be held at 7.30pm on Monday February 24th
These details will also apply for the next meeting of the Spalding and South Lincolnshire WFA branch.
The February lectures taking place at Lincoln & Spalding Branches of the WFA within days of each other feature the same speaker, and the same subject. It came to Speaker Secretary Peter Garland's attention that Andy Stuart is visiting family in Boston at the end of the month, and, by pure chance, his visit coincided with the February meeting dates at both branches, which, again by pure chance, were just days apart. So, an invitation was sent out, and Andy will be presenting his talk "Churchill's Intervention, 1918-1920". This is a refined version of the original talk, "Armistice Day 1918; Where the Guns Didn’t Stop", a title which has had you all guessing what it might be about.
Andy Stuart was born in Malaysia in 1960, where his father was serving in the Royal Engineers. Moving back to the UK one year later, he and his family adopted the usual military life of moving between the UK and Germany several times. His formal education took place at Crown Woods School, Eltham, London, close to Woolwich, which explains how he ended up on a short term commission in the Royal Artillery prior to studying economics at Warwick University. He re-joined the Army on graduation from Warwick, and, after time at Sandhurst, served with 27 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, in Germany, Northern Ireland and Thirsk in North Yorkshire.
In 1987, he put his economics degree to use working in the securities and finance markets in the City, regularly travelling to Hong Kong, Tokyo and New York. He left finance behind in 2008 and founded a technology development business. A "lockdown" project led him into the field of authorship with his book "Churchill's Intervention; a tale of escape from the Russian Civil War, 1919-1920".
About the talk: The 1917 Russian Revolution had consequences for the war in France, which led to Minister for War, Winston Churchill, sending men to the frozen north in 1918 to protect supplies and aid the White Russians against the Bolsheviks. April 1919, war weary Britain still had men fighting in the frozen north in danger of being stranded and kit captured by the Bolsheviks. Churchill decided a relief force is required, and calls for volunteers to join the North Russian Relief Force. Many former BEF volunteers, unable to settle into civilian life in the "land fit for heroes", respond to Churchill’s call.
The talk will look into the 1917 Russian Revolution and its consequences for war in France; the reasons for Allied intervention in the north, east and south of Russia in 1918; which countries were involved; why did WW1 veterans volunteer; the story of Dyers Battalion and the Czech Legion; and the collapse of the White Russians in 1918. Not for the first time, Churchill's military and political ideas left a lot to answer for.
The venue will be the Royal Naval Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln, LN6 7BG. A warm welcome awaits you. New faces always welcome and assured of a warm reception.
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[Historical Note – My maternal grandfather, Charles Alfred Lester, served in the Tyneside Division Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on the North Atlantic supply routes, supplying the White Russian forces in 1918/1919, on-board as a Signaller – Ed]
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The East Midlands (Nottingham) WFA Branch meets again on Friday 14th March when Simon Keable Elliott will speak about ‘Robert Keable and the South African Native Labour Corps.’
The talk will be held in St. Peter’s Church Rooms, Church Street, Ruddington, Nottingham, NG11 6HA with a start time of 7.30pm. Everyone welcome.
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The Spalding and South Lincolnshire WFA Branch will next meet on Thursday February 27th – As at Lincoln earlier in the week – see above for details.
The venue is Spalding Baptist Church, Swan Street, Spalding, PE11 1BT with a start time of 7.30pm.
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The Leadenham Military History Group’s next meeting will be on Tuesday 25th February, at Leadenham Village Hall with a start time of 7.30pm.
The evening will involve an Interactive Workshop – “The Air Battles In The North Of England, 1940.”
This will be an interactive discussion where participation is encouraged but is not compulsory. Come along and play the role of Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding or simply buy a beer and sit and listen.
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You can also click on this link to see the Leadenham events up to August 2025.
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Next month will see the 2025 series of lectures at the Friends of the Lincoln tank Group start once again.
All meetings on a Thursday night at the Royal Naval Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln, with a 7.30pm start time.
March 13th - Alwyn Killingsworth will speak about "Lt. Bond and tank 743."
"The 15th September 1916, the date on which tanks were first ever used in modern warfare. This is the story of one of the tank commanders who fought on that day. Leonard Charles Bond was the commander of tank 743 at the battle of Flers. Although born in Gravesend Kent, there is a very strong Lincolnshire connection to his story as, indeed, there is to the battle of Flers itself. The presentation will show what the contribution Leonard, and tank 743, had to the battle and how he went on to have a full military career. Oh and yes he had two brothers who also had distinguished WW1 service and whose stories will be touched on."
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Andy Blow has been in touch and I am delighted to let you all have details of his and Richard Pullen’s next two talks. Andy writes; ‘Please be reminded of two one more dates on Tank Tour Two when Richard Pullen and I deliver the story of the Lincoln tanks with old film and images.
We will be at Newark Library on the afternoon of March 12 (subsidised, £3 only). On Friday night, March 14, we will be at Nettleham Village Hall for an event we are promoting with kind help from the Hall committee. Tickets £10. In each case ticketing is via Eventbrite.
Click here for Nettleham tickets. Thank you.’
[The event at Newark on 12th March is now SOLD OUT]
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I have booked a group visit for this coming Wednesday 19th February at 10.30am to the collection of Derby Museums, The Strand, Derby, DE1 1BS. There are a number of museum halls that can be visited on the day but the main attraction for our visit is the military museum which showcases The Royal Lancers, The Sherwood Foresters and the Derbyshire Yeomanry.
The Soldiers’ Story - Derby Museums | Derby Museums
Parking is only 50m away from the museum at Parksafe on Bold Street, Derby.
As an addition to this museum visit, I have arranged with Matt Colley to visit St. Augustine's Church, Upper Dale Road, Derby, DE23 8BP to view the Colours of the Derby branch of the Old Contemptibles. Meet at the church at 9.45am or at the museum at 10.30am.
So that I can confirm numbers with the museum staff, please let me know if you will be attending and I am also happy to arrange car sharing etc.
I look forward to hearing from you.
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Please click on this link to read the latest edition of the ‘Last Post.’
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Last Sunday I attended the service of rededication for the churchyard memorial gates at Cherry Willingham. The original gates were unveiled on 17th April 1922 and were refurbished once but have now been completely replaced.
The gentlemen who provided the finance and the carpenter who constructed the gates were all in attendance.
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The service was short and to the point and the large attendance made the day, as did the slice of excellent chocolate cake and a coffee in the 18th Century Georgian church of St. Peter and St. Paul after the service.
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I was delighted to see a good turnout from the Trench Lincs readers – from left to right, Self, Dave Burkitt, Ray Sellers, Chas Parker and Martin Miechowski.
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On the colour by CJS web page, another great British character of the Great War has been featured this week.
Major Hesketh Vernon Hesketh-Prichard DSO, MC.
A remarkable man. Cricketer, explorer, adventurer, writer, big-game hunter and marksman.
Known to all as “Hex”, he was born in 1876 in Jhansi, India. His father was an officer in the British Army.
When he left school he studied law but never worked in that profession.
He married Lady Elizabeth Grimston in 1908, the couple were to have three children.
In addition to his writing, travelling and explorations he found time to play first class cricket. He played for Hampshire, the MCC and several other teams.
When war was declared in 1914 he applied for a commission in the Black Watch and the Guards. He was turned down because of his age, he was 37 at that time.
He was however appointed as Assistant Press Officer at the War Office and was first sent to the front line in France in February 1915.
He was appalled by the poor marksmanship and tactics of British snipers. At that time German snipers were dominating the front lines and inflicting regular casualties.
“Hex” was determined to use his expertise as a hunter and marksmen to redress the balance.
He demonstrated how to calibrate telescopic sights. He borrowed more sights and hunting rifles from friends and acquaintances to equip British snipers.
He was responsible for the introduction of dummy papier-mâché heads to help detect the position of enemy snipers and of better armour plate protection. He taught field craft and the use of camouflage.
His methods were so successful that he was instructed to formalise sniper training in August 1915 and in August 1916 he founded the School of Sniping in First Army.
He was awarded the Military Cross in October 1916. The citation read:
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has instructed snipers in the trenches on many occasions, and in most dangerous circumstances, with great skill and determination. He has, directly and indirectly, inflicted enormous casualties on the enemy."
His efforts enabled British snipers to gain dominance over their adversaries and thereby greatly reduce British casualties.
His success was further acknowledged with the award of the Distinguished Service Order in March 1918. Additionally, his work with the Portuguese Expeditionary Corps was rewarded by being appointed a Commander of the Military Order of Avis.
In 1920, he wrote the critically acclaimed book Sniping in France.
This remarkable man died from sepsis in June 1922 aged 45.
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Hesketh-Prichard’s book is still held in high esteem today and remains in print and a quick search reveals it can be bought for £5 on line.
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Hesketh-Prichard writes; ‘“Now, if any one cares to do a mathematical sum, and to work out the number of battalions we had in the line, they will be surprised at the figures, and when they multiply these figures by thirty and look at the month’s losses, they will find that in a war of attrition the sniper on this count alone justifies his existence and wipes out large numbers of the enemy.”
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In recent weeks we have looked at aspects of the Old Contemptibles and their post-war comrades association groups. Next Wednesday, those of you who choose to visit Derby will have the opportunity to visit St. Augustine’s church and see the Derby branch OC colours laid up in the church when the branch closed as the last of the few grew too old to carry on.
This week, I have received from Tim Chamberlin via Barbara Taylor, some photos and a biography of Old Contemptible, Chum Basil Farrer.
Barbara writes; ‘Basil Farrer. 2nd Battalion The Green Howards/RAMC. France and Flanders.
Basil was born in Lancashire, he believed he was illegitimate and was brought up by an aunt and uncle in Bradford. He did not get on with them particularly well, nor did he see his mother very often and I am not sure he really liked her.
As soon as he was old enough, he started running away and once got as far as London, but was always returned. His friend next door was Ernest Simpson (not to be confused with the CSM who famously wrote about the war. This one may have been killed with the Bradford Pals). Ernest and his sister had a row one day and he determined to join up and asked Basil to go with him. Only too happy, as he hated working in the mill, off they went. Basil’s sister came to fetch Ernest back, but it was just the job for Basil – aged 15 in 1913. Maybe if he could have seen into the future; who knows? He joined the 2nd Battalion, The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment). The ‘old sweats’ of course, knew that he was a boy and took him under their wing and persuaded him that he should transfer to be a stretcher bearer. He did and as a bearer, he went to war.
He was on duty when some wounded from his battalion were brought in to be shipped down the line. He knew them, of course, but one chap was blinded and straight away recognised Basil’s voice. Basil decided he must go back to the battalion and in due course, this was granted. Wherever they were on Christmas Day 1914, there was no truce and footy; he was adamant about that. Basil was ultimately wounded near the Butte de Warlancourt in late 1916. Then unfit for the line, he ended up in the Pay Office at Nottingham, where he met his wife.
Basil had found he had a penchant for languages and had become a fluent French speaker and then taught himself Spanish. After the war and his discharge, it was his ambition to teach English as a foreign language in Spain. He had secured a post, but could only get as far as Paris on the money he had. He got lodgings and found a job, working for a shipping company, which ultimately became part of Cunard, the office being run by another ex OC. Basil came back to marry Gladys and never went to Spain! They lived in Paris until Basil retired in 1960; apart, of course, from the German occupation of the Second World War. Basil joined up again, too old for the front line, but his language skills were essential, especially after D-Day and the allied advance.
In 1940, he had to get his family out of France and took them to the coast. Basil believed they were going to sail to England on the RMS Lancastria and only once he had returned to Paris did he hear that it had been sunk and believed they were lost. A few days later, he had a telegram from Gladys to say they were safe and with her parents in Nottingham. Jacques, their son, about 15 at this point, was set to be doctor had his education continued there, but he never returned to Paris to live and became an architect.
After the war, Gladys and Basil returned to their apartment in Paris, where the landlord had looked after everything for them. In the early days of occupation, the Germans kept going to see if he was there, but realised that the landlord was telling the truth and that Basil was gone. I was always surprised that they hadn’t used the apartment themselves, but no; nothing was stolen or damaged. Basil saved and managed to pay half his rent for the five years they were gone, which was amazingly honourable.
Basil and Gladys retired to Exmouth in Devon in 1960. Sadly, Gladys died in 1966 and Basil decided to move to Nottingham as that is where Jacques was. He was always an active member of the Old Contemptible’s Association and I was privileged to accompany him on some of their last Pilgrimages.
After I had introduced him to the WFA and Lyn Macdonald, he was invited on several trips to the battlefields, which I know he enjoyed and savoured. He was interviewed on television; Wogan on one occasion along with Frank Sumpter and orally by the IWM. Basil often felt that some of the veteran’s memories were ‘faulty’. He used to say to me “Old men forget”. He would have included himself in that sometimes too. Basil died in 1993, a pity, as it had been his ambition to be the last surviving OC.
His last public engagement was in July 1993, less than two months before he died. This was to unveil the Old Contemptible’s plaque that was put up in the cloister area at Westminster Abbey. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother was in attendance. Here he was photographed with Lady Patricia French, a granddaughter of Field Marshal Sir John French.’
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Many thanks to Barbara for her photographs, life story and recollections of Basil Farrer.
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It was good to hear from Steve Baldwin again this last week. Steve acts as a guide at various CWGC plots and cemeteries, and for this coming year, he has taken on guiding at Stamford. Steve writes; ‘If you would like to look into a mystery, how about Private A Roe (WRAF) who died 25/01/1919. Her first name could be Annie and her real name was Freeman. She is buried in Stamford cemetery.’
What a challenge Steve laid down. One I could not resist. The result was actually easier than I imagined as I found Annie Roe in the Women’s RAF records quite easily and her service record and her CWGC record both note that she served as Roe but was otherwise known as Freeman. Whether this was due to divorce, or that her husband had been killed in the war, I don’t know – and I have thrown that part of the story back to Steve.
However, Annie, aged 49, enlisted on 6th January 1918 and was posted to No1 Training Depot at Stamford as a ‘Household Worker’. The RAF came into being on 1st April 1918 and she transferred to the WRAF on 19th April 1918. She was granted paid leave on 16th August 1918, noted as sick on 21st November 1918, was back in service on 7th December 1918 and then granted 12 days Christmas leave on 18th December 1918. Sadly, Annie was recorded as sick once again on 19th January 1919 and she died on 25th January 1919 and is buried with a CWGC headstone in Stamford.
One can perhaps surmise that the Spanish Flu was the cause of her death?
Steve replied; ‘Thanks for this information. She didn't have much of a military career and, as you suggest, probably contracted Spanish Flu.
I wonder why she decided to change her name when enlisting? [Can anyone help on this? – Ed]
I am meeting someone from Stamford Town Council next week so she may be able to shed some light on this for me.
I am going to be doing CWGC tours at Stamford this year.’
Thanks Steve. We do love a good mystery! And please let me have your CWGC tour dates in due course.
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Steve also kindly sent the following after my recent walking trip to Hayfield. Steve notes; ‘I assume, as you didn't mention it, you did not visit the churchyard in Chapel en le Frith? [No, not on this occasion – Ed]
If you had you may have found the CWGC Graves of three casualties of the Sherwood Foresters, one of whom was 63 years old.
Their details are as follows -
Company Quartermaster Serjeant William Thomas Flanagan (5947).
Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) 6th Battalion. Died 17 August 1918 aged 63 years.
Lance Serjeant J. Vanes (240526)
Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) "B" Coy. 1st/6th Battalion. Died 13 November 1920 aged 26 years.
Private R. Vanes (240646)
Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) 1st/6th Bn. Died 09 May 1921 aged 23 years.
In addition to the three Sherwood Foresters, you would also be able to find, side by side, three 1180 Squadron. A.T.C. members.
Cadet 1st Class Ernest Leslie Hall (aged 17), Cadet Desmond John Fox (aged 17) and Cadet Peter Bond (aged 14).
They all died on 8th September 1943 in a Lancaster crash just 2 miles away from RAF Wymeswold, where they had taken off to return to RAF Elsham Wolds.
All the crew of the Lancaster were also killed, except one who had just got off the aircraft to go home on leave.
Peter Bond is the youngest person named on the Walls of Remembrance of the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln.’
CQMS Flanagan was the son of Mortimer and Amelia Flanagan and the husband of Florence. They all resided in Chapel en le Frith. The Vanes lads were brothers, and I would think it is unusual for two brothers both to die post war, in 1920 and 1921?
The story of the three Air Cadets killed in a Lancaster accident was quite easy to find thanks to the online work of the Barrow on Soar Heritage Group. Click on these links for the full story
Or Was it a Lancaster? - Barrow Heritage Group
Witness to the Lancaster Tragedy - Barrow Heritage Group
The three young Air Cadets, who must have been so excited about flying in a Lancaster, all worked at the Ferodo works in Chapel en le Frith and their funerals attracted a huge attendance as the residents of the town turned out en masse.
Young Peter Bond’s parents, George and Mary, chose this for their son’s headstone epitaph; ‘Who Took The Great Flight, To Live In The Heart Of Those He Loved Is Not To Die.’
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Peter Bond, Ernest Hall and Desmond Fox are buried together at Chapel en le Frith. [Sorry about the quality of the photo which was courtesy of Jane Butler – Ed]
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Melvin Dobbs has been out and about once again and comments; ‘I am away at the moment in Warwickshire, and attended a Masonic meeting last night at a place called Guy's Cliffe on the outskirts of Warwick.
An unusual venue, within an old chapel attached to a former Baronial home now in ruins due to it going up in flames whilst a TV or film company was producing a film "the Last of the Vampires".
Whilst in the refectory part of the building I spotted this interesting plaque (VAD). The other pictures are attached for context.’
It looks to be an interesting location Melvin. You can read more here A brief history of Guy's Cliffe House » Historical Image Archive
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To finish this week, please find a short piece that I researched and wrote recently which I think is worth repeating for Trench Lincs.
A Guide to The Weaponry of the Royal Artillery in the Great War.
Prior to 1914, the primary purpose of the Royal Field Artillery had been the destruction of enemy troops in the open by the firing of and bursting of shrapnel above their heads.
However, as war on the Western Front evolved from 1915 into a bloody stalemate with troops entrenched in ever deeper trenches and dugouts from the English Channel to the Swiss border, so the need for heavier artillery firing high explosive and gas grew.
British artillery in the run up to 1914 consisted primarily of Field Guns operated by the Royal Field Artillery (RFA) and the Royal Horse Artillery (RHA). The RFA was equipped with the 18 Pounder and the RHA with the lighter 13 Pounder – both well equipped to fire shrapnel at the enemy in the open. The heavy artillery was manned and operated by men of the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA).
The 13 Pounder. This light gun was used by the batteries of the RHA and worked primarily with the cavalry, with one battery being available to each cavalry brigade.
The 18 Pounder and 4.5 inch Howitzer. These were the guns that the RFA went to war with in August 1914. Both guns fired a relatively light shell to a maximum range of some 7,000 yards. Four batteries were in support to each Infantry Division.
The 60 Pounder. At the start of the war, the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), only had six batteries of the 60 Pounder available. It fired a 60lb Lyddite or Shrapnel shell to a maximum range of 10,500 yards. It was regarded as being a particularly effective weapon but required a large team of horses to move it from location to location.
The 4.7 inch. Until British industry caught up with the war time economy and requirements, the heavy artillery relied upon this outdated Boer War veteran which fired a 45lb shell a maximum of 9,000 yards.
The 6 inch 30 Hundredweight (cwt) Howitzer. Was another relic from the Boer War firing a 100lb shell around 6,500 yards. It was deemed to be a very accurate weapon but required at least two hours to prepare the firing platform before it came into action. It was therefore, not very mobile and required a team of twelve draught horses to move it.
The 6 inch 26 cwt Howitzer. Replaced the 30 cwt model in the early summer of 1915. It had a maximum range of 10,000 yards and had its own recuperative hydraulic system which did away with the need to construct a firing platform. This howitzer became the standard medium howitzer of the British Army and by the war’s end, some 1,300 had been in action firing over 22 million rounds.
9.2 inch Howitzer. This weapon was only just coming into production when war was declared in 1914. When on the road, the three separate sections, barrel, carriage and cradle and the bed, travelled independently and had to be assembled at the firing location. The whole gun weighed over 15 tons and could fire a 290lb shell 10,000 yards, which later increased to 12,700 yards. Eventually, over 450 of these monsters saw service firing over three million rounds.
8 inch Howitzer. This new weapon came into service in the summer of 1915 and was a stop gap attempt at creating a new heavy weapon. It was a 6 inch howitzer with its barrel shortened and bored out to 8 inches, fitted onto a special carriage with each wheel standing 6 feet tall and weighing a ton. The whole gun weighed 14 tons and was moved by mechanical caterpillar. The 200lb shells were winched into place by using a crane, rammed home into the breech by the gunners before a 20lb bag of cordite was installed as the firing charge. The 8 inch could fire one round a minute propelling the shell over 10,000 yards and the recoil of the gun was taken up by the gun moving backwards on vast wooden ramps.
The 6 inch Mark VII and 6 inch Mark XIX. Both of these weapons came into service in late 1915 and early 1917 respectively, and they replaced the original 6 inch and later 8 inch howitzers. They were considerably lighter, more mobile and could eventually fire a shell to 17,000 yards – nearly 10 miles.
12 inch Howitzer. The first 12 inch guns arrived on the Western Front at the end of 1915. Some were on road mountings and others were on railway mountings. They fired an 850lb projectile up to 15,600 yards. Other railway mounted guns included 9.2, 12, 14 and 18 inch heavy guns.
One branch of the RGA, stationed in India, was equipped with the 2.75 inch field gun and 3.7 inch Howitzers. The field gun could be dismantled and carried on mules in mountainous terrain and these Mountain Batteries, equipped to fight on the North West Frontier of India, also saw service in Gallipoli and the Middle East.
To read more about life in the Royal Artillery, I recommend the entertaining memoir, ‘The Gambardier’ by Mark Severn (The Nom de Plume of Major Lushington Franklin) – he is very open and honest, provides a lot of technical detail about the guns of the RA and their operation, and being a pre-war Regular Officer, he is humorously ‘snobby’ about New Army officers as the war progresses. He is the source of my guide above.
IN MEMORIAM - The Lincolnshire Regiment 16th February.
1916
11136 Private G Atkin, 7th Battalion. Buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium.
10975 Private John Henry Clarke, 7th Battalion, aged 24. Buried in Bedford House Cemetery, Belgium.
1918
Captain Anthony Lionel Fenwick (*), 6th Battalion, aged 24. Buried in Philosophe British Cemetery, France. [See below – Ed]
37372 Private Hugh Robinson, 3rd Labour Company, aged 30. Buried in Rocquigny Equancourt Road British Cemetery, France.
1919
40886 Private J Taylor, 1st Battalion, aged 39. Buried in Melton Mowbray Cemetery, UK.
(*)
An undergraduate turned soldier, Anthony Lionel Fenwick was born at Storrington, West Sussex, on 16th December 1893, second son of Walter Lionel Fenwick and his wife, Millicent Fenwick (née Montagu), who later purchased Witham Hall, near Bourne, and became lord of the manor of Witham-on-the-Hill and the principal landowner in the parish.
He was educated at Harrow and then became an undergraduate at Trinity College, Cambridge and when war was declared, Anthony was among the first to join up, being formally enlisted on 22nd August 1914. He was commissioned in the 6th Battalion, the Lincolnshire Regiment, and sailed with his unit to Gallipoli, landing at Suvla Bay on 5th August 1915.
A shortage of front line officers meant that Anthony was attached to the 6th Border Regiment and it was with this unit that he took part in the attack on Chocolate Hill on 21st August 1915. When the commanding officer was wounded, Anthony and a fellow officer, Lieutenant Durlacher, obtained a stretcher and were carrying the injured man to a place of safety when he was hit again and killed.
Fenwick and Durlacher then rescued five or six wounded men from burning undergrowth under heavy rifle fire. Later in the day, as all the senior officers had been killed or wounded, Anthony took temporary command of the battalion and oversaw the unit's eventual withdrawal from the fighting.
For his conduct on Chocolate Hill Anthony was recommended for the Military Cross and was subsequently mentioned in despatches by General Sir Ian Hamilton; the latter distinction being listed in the London Gazette of 26th January 1916. He went on to fight in France and Flanders with the 6th Lincolns, taking part in the battles of the Somme and Ancre in 1916 and the Passchendale offensive the following year.
On the night of 16th February 1918, he went out on a night patrol near Hulluch with the object of capturing some German prisoners for intelligence gathering purposes. As he was crossing No Man's Land, he came unexpectedly upon a German gun pit and was shot dead by machine gun fire. He was initially listed as missing but his parents were informed of his death when his body was found in a crater over a month later on March 23rd. He was 24 years old and was buried at Philosophe British Cemetery near Bethune.
After Anthony's death had been confirmed, his parents received a number of glowing tributes to their son. His colonel wrote: "Your son will be much missed both as a friend and as an officer by all of us, we were so fond of him. He was quite fearless and a very capable leader."
Another officer wrote: "His officers and men were very fond of him and would have followed him anywhere. He had no fear. Would that we had a few more like him."
Text courtesy of www.falakros.net/bourne/portrait/fenwickanthony.htm
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Of great interest to me is the story that Fenwick rescued five or six wounded men from the burning scrub in Gallipoli. It also notes that all senior officers of the 6th Borders, where he was attached, were killed or wounded – therefore, there was no one to write a recommendation for the Victoria Cross. It was on this same day that the Adjutant of the 6th Lincolns, Percy Hansen, did receive a VC for exactly the same rescue of wounded men from the burning undergrowth in the same location. How the vagaries of war can affect your life story!
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
I look forward to seeing some of you on Wednesday in Derby for a good old catch up.
Until next week
All best wishes
Jonathan
© Jonathan D’Hooghe
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