Trench Lincs 16th November 2025
- trenchlincs
- Nov 15
- 28 min read
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Good Morning,
Welcome to this week’s Trench Lincs, and have any of you been to the cinema to see The Choral?
I went with my wife last Tuesday and the first thing I need to mention is, that it is not a traditional war film. The film is set in a Yorkshire mill town in 1916 during WWI, and there are no overseas scenes of fighting in France.
The film, written by Alan Bennett – now 91 years old, explores the relationships within the fictional town of Ramsden through the eyes of the town’s Choral Society.
The new choir master, Dr. Guthrie (Ralph Fiennes) has lived and studied in Germany for many years, speaks German and has many German friends, he is therefore, eyed suspiciously by many of the townsfolk.
The Choral Society is planning to stage The Dream of Gerontius, an Oratorio by Sir Edward Elgar based on a poem by John Henry Newman, that explores the release of the soul after death.
However, the Choral Society is robbed of many male members by the call up of men for the army, and when the first wounded and amputee men of the town return home from France, there are some excellent scenes of a steam train pulling into the station and men in uniform and in Hospital Blues alighting from the carriages.
Dr. Guthrie visits the hospital and recruits a young man who has lost his right arm as the male lead tenor, which does not initially go down well with Mr Duxbury, the mill owner who funds the Choral Society. We also meet Mrs Duxbury who is in perpetual mourning as the Duxbury’s have lost their only son earlier in the war.
There is a cameo appearance by Sir Edward Elgar who is shocked that an amateur Choral Society has made significant changes to his famous Oratorio, by basing the story of death and the release of the soul on the events then happening on the Somme in the summer of 1916.
I won’t give too much more of the story away, but needless to say, the film is very poignant, tragic in parts, thought provoking and historically very good, with good uniform accuracy, plenty of Prince of Wales’s Own West Yorkshire Regiment cap badges, and a marvellous depiction of life in a provincial town including the shops and the pubs. Add in a young black Salvationist girl who really can sing and you have a most enjoyable and watchable film of one hour and fifty minutes.
Bennett, in his writing, has very successfully captured many themes that we are all aware of in the historiography of the Great War, including bereavement – the dreaded knock on the door from the Telegram Boy, patriotism, conscription, conscientious objection, Military Service Tribunals, medical examinations, and even the young boys of the town and their desire to lose their virginity before heading for France.
The film ends with a wonderful scene of all the young conscripts leaving their home town on the train, as the families crowd the platform, to start their basic training, whilst the ‘conchie’ is arrested and taken away by the Military Police. Little did those boys know that their blooding will be at Arras and Passchendaele in 1917.
If you like the cinema and are interested in the social aspects of the Great War, please make an effort to go and see it, and let me know what you think.
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FORTHCOMING EVENTS.
Next Lecture - Lincoln & North Lincolnshire Branch, WFA - Monday, November 24th - Doors open 7.00pm for 7.30pm start - Royal Naval Association Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln, LN6 7BG.
Jonathan D’Hooghe - “Sir Horace Smith Dorrien – His Defining Battles, Isandlwana 1879 and Le Cateau 1914. What if?”
I have the great pleasure in being your speaker on November 24th. This will be a debut for a new talk titled, “Sir Horace Smith Dorrien – His Defining Battles, Isandlwana 1879 and Le Cateau 1914. What if?”
Is it possible to have a hero from more than 100 years ago? This talk will explore the life of Smith Dorrien and will pose the question, what might have been the outcome of the Great War if Smith Dorrien had been killed at Isandlwana?
I hope it will provoke a lively debate!
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Next Meeting - Spalding & South Lincolnshire Branch, WFA - Thursday, November 27th - Doors open 7.00pm for 7.30 pm start - Spalding Baptist Church, Swan Street, Spalding, PE11 1BT –
November 27th - Tim Coltman presents "The Story of the Two Crosses: William Coltman, VC, DCM & Bar, MM & Bar".
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.
Tim gave this presentation to Lincoln Branch in September; those who were present will confirm that it was an excellent event telling the story of the life and times of a remarkable, and very modest, man. If you missed it at Lincoln, here is asecond chance to catch it. Attendees should note that as we cannot monitor the main entrance door from our meeting room, you may find on arrival that it is locked. If so, please ring the doorbell on the single door to the right of the main door.
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The Leadenham Military History Group’s next meeting will be on Tuesday 25th November at 7.30pm at Leadenham village hall.
The speaker on this occasion is Sean McCabe who will give a talk titled – ‘The Tet Offensive’ The events of January and February 1968, a military defeat but a political win for the North Vietnamese.
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The next event in the Friends of Lincoln Tank 2025 season, will be held on Thursday 4th December when the Annual Show and Tell evening will be held at the Royal Naval Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln, LN6 7BG.
This pre-Christmas social event will include a buffet and give anyone who wants to speak for ten minutes, the opportunity to bring along a Great War artefact and tell everyone about it.
It may be a generic item of uniform, weaponry, postcard, picture or it may have a special place in your family’s history. Whatever it is, please do come along and share your treasures with the group.
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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 20th November when Tim Willbond will present – ‘Douglas Bader and the Duxford Big Wing.’
Having just read Stephen Bungay’s excellent book ‘The Most Dangerous Enemy – A History of the Battle of Britain,’ whilst on holiday, I think that this will be an excellent talk.
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The East Midlands (Nottingham) WFA Branch meets again on Friday 12th December at 7.30pm at St. Peter’s Church Hall, Church Street, Ruddington, Nottingham, NG11 6HA. All welcome.
The speaker on this night will be Tim Lynch who will talk about 'The Enemy Within: Germans in Britain 1914-18.'
Tim gave this talk in Lincoln in October and if you missed it, John Beech and friends would be delighted to see you in Nottingham on the 12th of next month.
German camp gardens on the Isle of Man.
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This coming Thursday, 20th November, will be Cambrai Day once again.
The Friends of the Lincoln Tank Group will hold their annual service of remembrance at the tank memorial on the traffic island at the city end of Tritton Road at 11am.
The service will commemorate all of the tank crews who so bravely went into action at Cambrai on 20th November 1917.
Everyone is welcome, please assemble by 10.45am. It is a 5 minute walk from Morrisons car park where you can leave your car for the duration of the service.
There was snow on the ground in 2024.
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I also have news this week of a walk being organised by Steve Williams on 19th November with a reserve day of 26th November in the event of bad weather on the 19th.
The walk will take place on Snake Pass in Derbyshire and is a circular 4-mile walk from the meeting/parking area up to the Bleaklow Bomber crash site.
In November 1948, an American B-29 crashed on a routine domestic flight from RAF Scampton to the US base at Warrington on a moorland plateau of the Snake summit killing the crew of 11 and two military passengers.
Whilst the walk is relatively short and on well-marked tracks, the crash site is at 633 metres, and is the second highest point in Derbyshire. It is essential to wear walking boots and be properly equipped and dressed, as the weather can change in an instant out on the hills. Bill Roffey notes that the going can be very boggy and the car parking is limited, so putting walkers together and sharing cars is imperative.
After completion of the walk, there will be lunch at the Commercial Inn at Glossop.
So that Steve can plan ahead and book lunch numbers, it is essential that anyone fancying joining the walk drops me a line please. Everyone is welcome. I will send out joining instructions to all interested parties. Hope you fancy the trek!
How To Find The B29 'OVEREXPOSED' Bleaklow Plane Crash Site ✈︎ BEST Walk Route | The Walking Northerners
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We will start this week with news of Remembrance Services on Sunday 9th and Tuesday 11th. I was at the City Ground last Sunday to see Nottingham Forest record a first win in the Premier League since August.
Before the game there was an immaculate minute’s silence from the 30,000 crowd and a stand out performance from Luke Pallister, the bugler [Actually a trumpet! – Ed].
Photos below.
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Felicity Sayers kindly sent me a Facebook post of the memorial at Dorrington that has been created for this year’s commemorations, featuring a Lincoln built (obviously) WWI tank.
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On Tuesday at Thorpe Le Fallows, despite the weather, there was a record turnout for the annual Lincoln WFA Service of Remembrance. The event was expertly marshalled by Peter Garland, Neil, the bugler, was top notch once again, many of the attendees volunteered to place poppy crosses for each of the men recorded on the memorial, Mike Credland laid a wreath on behalf of the WFA and a council member laid a wreath on behalf of Sturton by Stow Parish council.
There was then a good humoured and light hearted lunch at the Dambusters Pub to finish off the day.
Mike Credland laid the WFA wreath.
Peter Jacobs and his daughter, Becky, were in attendance and laid poppy wreaths.
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My youngest daughter Katie, is the Business Admin Team Leader at Newark and Sherwood Council, and she kindly sent me this Armistice Day missive from the council, so as to share it with you.
The council email details the story of Lance Corporal John Duesbery of the 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters. He was severely wounded on the Somme in September 1916 and as he lay dying in a shell hole, he took out his pocket book and pencil and penned a few lines as his last words to his mother.
The council wrote to all employees thus; ‘The 11th hour of the 11th month marks the day when the guns finally fell silent in November 1918 after the brutal “War to End All Wars”, that claimed millions of lives in Britain, Germany and Europe.
The 11th of November is the day when we contemplate the cost of war and the price of our freedom, and we remember those whose lives were lost in all wars, those whose lives were forever changed and all who serve to keep us safe and at peace.
We say the words, “we will remember them.” In light of Remembrance Day approaching, I wanted us to remember L/Cpl John Duesbery of D Company, 2nd Battalion Notts and Derby Regiment, The Sherwood Foresters.
Lance Corporal Duesbery was killed on or around 13 September 1916 in the vicinity of Ginchy on the Somme. Unlike many of his fellow soldiers whose remains were never recovered, John Duesbury’s body was eventually found, along with a notebook in which he wrote what was to be his final journal entry.
"Dear Mother, I am writing these few lines severely wounded. We have done well, our battalion advanced about 3 quarters of a mile. I am laid in a shell hole, with 2 wounds in my hip and through my back. I cannot move or crawl. I have been here for 24 hours and never seen a living soul. I hope you will receive these few lines as I don't expect anyone will come to take me away. But you know I have done my duty out here now for 1 year and 8 months and you will always have the consolation that I died quite happy doing my duty.
"You must give my Best of Love to all cousins who have been so kind to me the time I have been out here, and the Best of Love to Mother and Harry and all at home.”
Importantly, the note tells us a great deal about how John lived. His loyalty, his sense of duty, his selflessness and care for others.
When we fall silent on Tuesday 11 November at 11am and say “we will remember them”, we should remember John Duesbery and resolve to live our own lives with kindness and loyalty.’
Lance Corporal John Duesbery.
John Duesbery's pocket book found on his body and returned to his family.
I am sure that that is a sentiment we can all agree with. Thank you Katie for sharing the council’s email with us.
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Tim Chamberlin can always be relied upon to carry the mantle of remembrance into Aslockton Primary School and this year he writes; ‘I hope you have received photos of me conducting the service at St Thomas's church Aslockton for the local C of E school? A boy and a girl read out the names of the fallen from the honours board which I had installed.
I had a neighbour attend wearing his South Atlantic medal and a serving Warrant Officer with 30 years-service in the RAF also in attendance. The service for the school is a pleasure and I have organised it for several years.’
Well done Tim, you are a credit. Tim then continues; ‘Last Sunday I was at the 207 Squadron Memorial to remember the 251 aircrew lost from RAF Langar on air operations in a 10-month period during WWII, and don’t forget that the next Newark Arms Fair is at the showground on the 23rd November!’
Thank you for the reminder Tim.
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The Reverend Alan Keeler has also been in touch with regard to Remembrance Services and comments; ‘I hope you are well? Many thanks for the weekly edition of Trench Lincs.
Last Sunday was Remembrance Sunday and I officiated at Besthorpe church with a two-minutes silence at 11am. We were a small congregation but we included reading a roll of the fallen from the two local villages.
I then found this article from today's BBC News website interesting.
BBC News - How the spirit of commemorating has changed since the last WWI veterans died.
I will be out at 11am and will be interested to see how 11am is observed.’
Thank you Alan. I clicked on the BBC link and read the article and agree with much that it has to say. What do you think?
I replied to Alan to say; ‘I shall be at Thorpe le Fallows this morning at 11am but I tend to agree with the article that you pointed me to.
I do not think that I have seen a young person sporting a poppy this year and yesterday, whilst Christmas shopping, I noted many older people wearing poppies, but most of them are now enamel or diamante badges that last from year to year, thus negating the need to buy a new one each year.
I also know many ex-servicemen who now shun the RBL because of their perceived ‘wokery’ – spending £70,000 pa [Actually £35,000 when I checked – Ed] on a Diversity Officer has not gone down well with the veteran community.’
Since Tuesday, there have been several articles about the lack of enthusiasm for the poppy appeal this year, and the abuse suffered by the RBL volunteers manning the stands. What is the answer going forward? I hope to hear from you.
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Trench Lincs does not want to become overtly political and I cannot vouch for the accuracy of the ‘leaked’ letter below, but I publish it firmly with tongue in cheek as it ties in with the current lack of enthusiasm for the annual poppy appeal and sums up what our politicians are doing to our military forces at present.
If you are not aware of the story, an Army Top Brass, has written to all regiments telling them to cut ties with ‘old clubs’ that regiments have been historically associated with, all in the name of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
The leaked letter purports to read like this;
“From Evelyn Webb-Carter: Grenadier and retired Major General:
Letter to the Deputy Chief of the General Staff,
Dear General Eastman,
Thank you for your recent circular on inclusivity and private members’ clubs, a document so consumed by moral purpose that one almost forgets we’re supposed to be an army, not an HR department.
You’ll forgive me for saying that, to many of us, it reads less like a directive from a fighting force and more like an email from a diversity consultant on her third soy latte. I’m sure the enemy will be delighted to know that, before we shoot at them, we’ll first review whether their club rules align with our “values of equality and respect”.
The men and women of this and most other regiments have spent years learning to fight, fix, and, where necessary, fall. They did not enlist to be lectured on gender access to the billiards room. It’s hard enough to get recruits to march in step these days without demanding they complete an inclusivity audit of White’s.
We’ve taken the liberty of conducting your proposed “review of affiliations.” The findings are as follows:
1. We are a regiment.
2. We fight wars.
3. We occasionally drink.
4. Our “policies” extend to saluting the flag, cleaning the kit, and making sure no one dies unnecessarily.
As for “engagement with clubs”, we’ll leave that to those who enjoy committees. Most of us prefer a pint.
If it’s all the same to you, General, we’ll continue to measure inclusivity by whether a comrade will pull you out of a ditch under fire, not whether they’ve read the Equality Act.
We remain, as ever, devoted to King, Country, and the faint hope that one day our generals will remember what an army is for.
Yours, with enduring respect and mild despair,”
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Continuing last week’s poetry slot, Tony Nutkins has found another ‘unknown’ poem for us, Tony notes; ‘I found it in the book "I Have a Rendezvous with Death at Some Disputed Barricade" - Frederick van Agmall published by Equilibriums Belgium 2002 ISBN 90-77120-017.’
Private Thompson.
As Private Thompson used to say,
He couldn’t stand the War;
He cursed about it every day
And every night he swore;
And while a sense of discipline
Carried him through thick and thin,
The mud, the shells, the cold, the din
Annoyed him more and more.
The words with which we others cursed
Seemed mild and harmless quips
Compared to those remarks that burst
From Private Thompson’s lips;
Haven’t you ever heard about
The Prussian Guard at “X” Redoubt,
How Thompson’s language laid them out
Before we came to grips?
Author - Anonymous
A clever play on words, and an almost comedic second verse – it made me smile! What do you make of the poem? Please let me know.
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Tying up a loose end from two weeks ago and my photo of the recently turned up 9.2” shell, Wayne Evans in Belgium writes; ‘The Somme does not have a monopoly on large calibre shells! The attached image is from a farm close to the Broodseinde ridge.
Can any of your readers identify it as to whether It’s one of ours or one of 'theirs'?’
Come on TL readers, what do we think?
I replied to Wayne and asked him how his work on the 59th (2nd North Midland) Division attack at Kansas Cross to Dochy Farm was going.
Here is Wayne’s response; ‘Dochy Farm project - in a nutshell its morphed!
After the presentation I gave near Robertson's Bridge on 4 October ref Lewis Pugh Evans VC, I was packing away the Standard for the next venue, when a guy came up to me and said that after the presentation he would have to revise their own account of the action - he was the Curator of the Memorial Museum Passchendaele in Zonnebeke - who also happens to be the Deputy Mayor of Zonnebeke. He asked me if I could furnish him with the account I had just given, which I did. He also asked if I have any other presentations of local interest. I had worked in the past on the 3rd Division's attack on Zonnebeke on 26 September 1917, and that I am currently working on the 59th Division over the Langemarck - Zonnebeke road, to which he showed keen interest, so this project may end up in the MMP also.
Having looked at the battle more closely - the area around Dochy Farm, being close to the divisional boundary between 3rd and 59th Divisions, it also draws the attention of the 58th (London) Division to their left, as their advance along the Gravenstafel ridge would protect the left of the 59th s grip on Otto Farm, which in turn would protect 59th’s hold on Dochy Farm. I'm also looking at the New Zealand histories and the 3rd Australian Division war diaries and maps to see who was doing what and when!
All I can say at the moment is that I have completed the 'battlefield walk' from Frezenberg to Tyne Cot, as troops around Dochy and Otto farms would have come under long-range machine-gun fire from that area.
I have to wait until all the maize is in and the leaves are off the trees/vines for the photographs.’
Thank you for the update Wayne, sounds fascinating, as the 59th Division is very close to our hearts here in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
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I have written quite a lot in recent weeks about the ongoing infrastructure works in and around Lens in northern France. During these works, they are expecting to uncover up to 1,000 sets of WWI human remains. As you know, after many months of painstaking research, including DNA analysis, the remains are all to be re-buried in the new Loos British Cemetery Extension, including recently, four sets of remains of Lincolnshire Regiment soldiers.
However, the Lens project does not have a monopoly on the discovery of WWI human remains. Our great friend in Ronse, Belgium, Nadine Dezaeytijd tipped me off to a Belgian burial that took place this week at De Panne.
The newspaper article was in Flemish but here is Nadine’s translation for us; ‘Last year the remains of an unknown WWI Belgian soldier were discovered in Diksmuide-Kaaskerke along the Ijzer river bank. The War Heritage Institute did research and found out the soldier was killed from the summer of 1915 at the earliest, according to a button carrying the emblem of the Belgian lion. This type of button was on the new Belgian Army summer uniforms as from 1915.
From the 494 still missing Belgian soldiers in that particular period and region, the researchers could narrow down to four missing soldiers. From the four, only one family member was still alive, DNA was compared but unfortunately there was no match.
In the presence of the Belgian Minister of Defence, the unknown soldier received a national military honorary burial during which the coffin, draped with the National Standard, was taken from the Trench of Death by cart and four horses, as was the custom, to the cemetery of De Panne.’
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Also from last week, I wrote about Thomas Hussey, the young man who received a commission in the Royal Artillery at the age of 10 in 1763. I asked if anyone could add to the story.
The task whetted the appetite of James Handley who set to with a gusto but eventually ran into the proverbial brick wall.
James writes for us; ‘Regarding Thomas Hussey, the 10 year old commissioned into the RA in 1763, I’ve tried to do some digging. Unfortunately, I’ve been unable to discover anything really of note apart from the fact that the Hussey family seem to have been Baronets from around the Doddington and Honington area. Someone of that surname was certainly High Sheriff of Lincolnshire in 1668 and I wonder if this young man was a distant relative?
What is more certain is that the Marquis of Granby who commissioned this boy was Lieutenant General John Manners, Marquis of Granby. He was one of Britain’s finest commanders during the 7 Years War, serving with great effect on the continent. He was appointed to the office of Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance in 1759 (the Annus-Mirabilis, which was the namesake for HMS Victory) and subsequently to Master-General of the Ordnance in 1763 which would tie in with when this young man got his commission.
It should be borne in mind that until 1855 the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers were under the jurisdiction of the Board of Ordnance instead of the War Office and as such their officers’ commissions were issued by the Master-General instead of the Commander-in-Chief of the Forces. This ended in 1855 when the Board was disbanded due to the supply debacle in the Crimean War.
In summary, in my humble opinion, the name of Lieutenant-General John Manners deserves far greater recognition than it currently gets, and should be placed not far short of John Churchill or Arthur Wellesley in terms of renown. I suspect, somewhat like Rowland Hill under Wellington, he was never the full commander of an army and this why he is somewhat lesser known. A good summary of his career can be found on Wikipedia here:
Please click on the link’
An excellent effort James, thank you for your hard work. As an aside, a later Marquis of Granby was tasked by the Government in reducing the size of the British Army after the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815.
Many of the old soldiers knew nothing else but soldiering, so used their ‘redundancy’ pay to open public houses, hence why so many pubs, even today, are called the Marquis of Granby.
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We now return to the final part of Chris Sanderson’s travels through France this last summer. Chris comments; ‘This is St. Apollinaire in the Alps, not the Rhone. Included for no other reason than it's where we stayed and a beautiful location, albeit with the all-pervading sorrow of WWI hanging over it. It also has a link to Delphine's family, one of whose cousins still lives in the family house in the village. That sadness is perhaps most amply illustrated by the fact that four of the nine families represented on the memorial in this tiny hamlet (at the time) lost two or more members.’
It looks to be a stunning location Chris, thank you for sharing. Once again, Chris demonstrates clearly how the most loyal and patriotic families often paid the highest price in blood.
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Last week, I featured news of Jonty Wild’s ongoing research with The Herts at War project, and this week, Jonty has asked me to publish a correction to last week’s text.
Jonty notes; ‘Further to my article (Trench Lincs 9/11/2025) I spotted an error in the text. There is a discrepancy for the percentage of Herts men who do not seem to appear on any Herts memorials – entirely my fault - I stated “some 20%” and “21” (in the table), but I also said 29% in the text which was a typo, about 20% is correct – sorry. Happy to answer any questions or explore other stats, if anyone is interested?’
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Jonty’s ongoing detailed research is reflected this week by news from Charles Anderson who has undertaken a monumental task!
Charles writes; ‘In the course of filling the long hours, I decided to make a data base of all Lincolnshire connected service deaths for the old county of Lincolnshire.
Part of it included checking that they were included in "Find a Grave" which resulted in the following men all with a surname beginning with ‘A’ being not recorded by the CWGC or in Soldiers Died.
ABEY Frank. Royal Field Artillery. Unable to identify. Commemorated Keelby Methodist Roll of Honour / Keelby St Bartholomew Roll of Honour / Keelby War Memorial
ADAMS W H. Cannot identify CWGC/SDGW, recorded under minesweepers Grimsby Fisherman's Chapel Memorial
AINLEY William Preston. Headstone notes Chaplain to the Forces at Aldershot (Ham). Second son of Rev Frederick William Ainley of Uffington, Lincs. Died 12th October 1915, aged 27 years. No trace CWGC or SDGW Interred UFFINGTON ST MICHAEL CHURCHYARD. Commemorated Uffington St Michael
AINSLIE Frederic George, C.B. Lieutenant Colonel, 21st Regt of Foot, (Royal North British Fusiliers). Younger son of George Robert and Sophia Charlotte Ainslie nee Nevile, born 1809, died of wounds received 5th November 1854 at the Battle of Inkerman whilst in command of his regiment, November 14th 1854, aged 44, Scutari, Istanbul. Commemorated Aubourn St Peter War Memorial
Mentioned in dispatches from Lord Raglan Nov 11, 1854. “of Lieut.-Colonel Ainslie of the 21st, who was wounded.”
Lincolnshire Chronicle, 8 December 1954, page 3. Col 1
ALBONES John George, Ist Lincolnshire Regiment on War Memorial. No entry in CWGC or Soldiers Died in the Great War as Albones or Allbones. Commemorated Hagworthingham (Holy Trinity) Roll of Honour. / Hagworthingham WM
ALCOCK C. Private. 5th Bn, Lincolnshire Regiment. No entry CWGC or SDGW. Commemorated Grimsby St James
ALLEN A, Private on memorial but unable to identify. Commemorated Sutterton W.M. / Sutterton St Mary
ALLEN Edward Henry, the son of Henry Edward and Elizabeth Allen. Born c1896 North Kyme, Lincs and present Pinchbeck 1911 but unable to identify as casualty and no further information. Commemorated Spalding SS. Mary & Nicholas / Spalding WM
ALLEN T. Private on memorial. Possibly Thomas Allen. Born c1874 Gedney Hill, the son of James and Anne Frances Allen. Present Gedney Hill 1901 census but unable to identify as casualty and no further information. Commemorated Gedney Hill Memorial Hall
1901 Census – Thomas son James and Anne Francis Allen, of Gedney Hill, aged 27, Butchers Son, born Gedney Hill
ALLISON William Henry. Unable to identify. Commemorated Lincoln Hannah Memorial Church
ALLTOFT John R, date of death shown as 29th April 1917 on St. Peter’s Memorial, no entry in CWGC or SDGW. Commemorated Barton on Humber. Barton on Humber St. Peter
ALLWOOD Maud H. Voluntary Aid Detachment. No entry CWGC.SDGW. Commemorated Louth Holy Trinity / Louth St Michael
ALVEY J. Unable to identify WW2 Commemorated Gainsborough WW2 Roll of Honour
AMOS Harry, Sapper, Royal Engineers Died (Enteric) Salonica, July 1917. No entry in CWGC / SDGW. Commemorated Bardney St Lawrence / Southrey St John
ANDERSON S. Unable to identify CWGC/SDGW. Commemorated Cleethorpes St. Aidens
ANDERSON Sidney Unable to identify CWGC/SDGW. Commemorated Hough on the Hill
ANDREWS Arthur James Sapper. Royal Engineers. Died 6th August 1920, aged 26 years in Lincoln Book of Memory but unable to identify and no further information.
ANDREWS C R. Unable to identify CWGC / SDGW. Commemorated Boultham St Helen
ANDREWS Edwin. Unable to identify CWGC/SDGW and no further information currently. Commemorated Burgh le Marsh Methodist-WW1 / Burgh le Marsh SS Peter & Paul
The Andrews arrived in Burgh sometime between 1901-1907. The most likely, is the following, the 1911 Census records one Edwin, a Bricklayers Labourer, aged 21, the son of Edwin, a Works Inspector on the railway, and Mary Jane Andrews of 24 Trinity Street, Boston.
Ian Lyall.
ANDREWS Henry Lawrence. Leading Aircraftman. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died of pneumonia following discharge January 1944. No entry CWGC. Commemorated Lincoln City School B of R
ANDREWS Sidney. Barrow on Humber on memorial, unable to identify CWGC/ARH. Commemorated Brigg Heritage Centre
ANDREWS Tom Gunner. Tank Corps. Died 6th August 1920, aged 26 years in Lincoln Book of Memory but unable to identify and no further information. Commemorated Lincoln City WM / Lincoln Memory Book
APPLEBY Ernest George, Born Grantham 6th May 1892. Kings School 21 September 1902 to December 1907. Unable to identify CWGC / SDGW. Commemorated Grantham King’s School WW1
1901 Census - Son of George William [Taxman] and Theresa J Appleby of 6, St. Catherines Road, Spittlegate, Grantham aged 8. Born Grantham
APPLEBY Ernest George, Born Grantham 6th May 1892. Kings School 21 September 1902 to December 1907. Unable to identify CWGC / SDGW. Commemorated Grantham King’s School WW1
1901 Census - Son of George William [Taxman] and Theresa J Appleby of 6, St. Catherines Road, Spittlegate, Grantham aged 8. Born Grantham
APPLEBY G H. unable to identify. Commemorated Louth St Michael
APPLEBY W. L. Private. Commemorated Spalding Baptist Church, unable to identify.
APPLES Peter. H.M.S. Harrage, died 1918, Unable to identify CWGC and no further information currently. commemorated Grimsby St James / Grimsby St. James Kalendar
ARCHER A. Unable to identify CWGC/SDGW Commemorated Spalding SS. Mary & Nicholas / Spalding WM [possibly Pte Reginald Archer see Spalding Guardian 19161103]
ARNOLD A D, Inspector Palestine Police Force, Son of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold, Cisterngate, Louth, Killed 21st May 1948, aged 36.
[Recorded on the Palestine Police Roll of Honour as Osmond David Arnold, 1st British Sergeant, 1329, Shot 22nd May 1948 interred Beir Jah Village, he was a Ministers Guard. http://www.policememorial.org.uk/Colonial/Palestine/PPOCA_Roll.htm ]
TRAGIC DEATH
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Louth Man Shot in Palestine
We regret to announce that Mr. A. D. Arnold, of Louth, whose father is an employee of the Louth Corporation, and resides in Cisterngate, lost his life on Friday last while serving with the Palestine Police.
Mr. Arnold, who was 36 years of age, joined the Forces when he was 18, and his service included six years in India.
He then transferred to the Palestine Police Force, and rose rapidly to the rank of Inspector. His total service in Palestine totalled 12 years.
Deceased was educated at the old school in Westgate, and several of the members of his family reside in Newmarket. He was married six months ago, and his wife is still residing in Palestine.
No details of the sad circumstances which led to Mr. Arnold's death are yet available, except that he was killed by rifle fire.
Louth Standard – May 22 1948.
ARRAND H. R Believed Private, Royal Munster Fusiliers but unable to identify CWGC/SDGW. Commemorated Crowle / Crowle St. Oswald WW1 Plaque / Crowle St. Oswald WW1 Roll of Honour
ARRAND W. E. Lance Corporal. 2nd Bn. Lincolnshire Regiment. Died 22 January 1925. Commemorated Lincoln St Nicholas Lincs Regt 2nd Bn Plaque unable to identify CWGC
ASHBY C. Unable to identify CWGC. Commemorated Spilsby St James / Spilsby W M
ASHCROFT Thomas W, Unable to identify CWGC/Soldiers Died recorded as Sergeant Major, Royal Field Artillery date of death 21st March 1918 in Grimsby St. James Kalendar. Commemorated Grimsby St James / Grimsby St. James Kalendar
ASHLEY George, WW1, more information required to be certain of his identity. Commemorated North Willingham
ASHLEY J. Not found in CWGC/SDGW. Commemorated Belleau St John Baptist
ASHLEY W. Unable to identify CWGC/SDGW. Commemorated Lincoln St Botolph
ASHMORE George T, Unable to identify CWGC / Sailers Died, he is recorded as being a Petty Officer on the St. James memorial, and being on the S.S.Manda in the Kalendar and Fisherman’s Chapel memorials, Missing presumed killed 23rd December 1918. Commemorated Grimsby Fisherman's Chapel Memorial / Grimsby St James / Grimsby St. James Kalendar
GY 1093 steam trawler Manda | Ships Nostalgia
S.T. Manda FD178 | The Bosun's Watch (fleetwood-trawlers.info)
ASHTON F. Unable to identify CWGC/SDGW. Commemorated Boultham St Helen / Boultham W. M.
ASKEW Arthur Sapper 179747. Royal Engineers. Died 16th December 1919, aged 33 years. 100, West Parade in Lincoln Book of Memory but unable to identify and no further information. Commemorated Lincoln City WM / Lincoln Memory Book
ASKEW William Private 40892. Lincolnshire Regiment. enlisted from 7, Albion Place, Monson St, Lincoln, Aug 14. Died 16th January 1919, aged 55 years in Lincoln Book of Memory. Appears to be William Askew, born c1863 Grantham the husband of Kate E Askew. Present 9 St Rumbold Street, Lincoln in 1911 but unable to identify as casualty and no further information. Commemorated Lincoln City WM / Lincoln Memory Book / St. Peter at Gowts
ATKINS Arthur. Not identified CWGC/SDGW. Commemorated Stamford All Saints [Internal & External]
ATKINSON A. E. Major, Royal Army Medical Corps on memorial but unable to identify CWGC/SDGW Commemorated Stamford Broad Street
ATKINSON D. unable to identify CWGC or AROH. Commemorated Cleethorpes M.H.F. School
ATKINSON H. B. Captain, East African F, 1916, OBE on memorial but unable to identify and no further information. Commemorated Stamford Broad Street
ATKINSON John William. Private. 16693. 3rd Bn. Lincolnshire Regiment, enlisted from 3, Union St, Lincoln. 11-May-15. No entry in CWGC/SDGW. Commemorated Lincoln City WM / Lincoln Memory Book
ATTER John. There is no entry in CWGC/SDGW for a John Atter, he is thought to be 278638, Gunner, Royal Garrison Artillery, Commemorated Gainsborough Post Office Gainsborough WW1 Roll of Honour Kirton in Lindsey / Kirton In Lindsey St. Andrew / Also shown as served, named John William in the Morton St Paul's Book of Remembrance.
Groom and postman before the war, He had lived in Gainsborough before the war at Dickenson Terrace and enlisted on 22.9.14. His daughter Grace was born in Gainsborough on 22.6.1910. Prior to the war he was a postman at Kirton in Lindsey GPO. He was demobilised 14.2.19 and was "on demobilization furlough" when he died from influenza and pneumonia two days later. He had just started to work for the Post Office again. At the time of his death he was living in Marsh Street Kirton in Lindsey.
Peter Bradshaw
AUGUSTUS E F, Unable to identify CWGC /SailorsDGW. recorded as Rating, St. James and H.M.S. Actacon, on the Kalendar memorials. Commemorated Grimsby St James / Grimsby St. James Kalendar
South Africa
AISTHORPE J. Private. 5632. 2nd Bn, Lincolnshire Regiment. Died of disease 7th January 1901. Victoria West
Son of Elizabeth Aisthorpe of Market Rasen, noted on census as ‘adopted son’ of John and Elizabeth Newton. Born 1878 Market Rasen (as army record) or Lincoln (as census/birth recorded Lincoln District) and enlisted Lincoln 20th Jan 1900. Died of Dysentery 6th January 1901 (as army record, not 7th).
M, Peck
ALLEN H. Private. 5117. 2nd Bn, Lincolnshire Regiment. Died of disease 23rd December 1900. Pretoria
Death on the 23rd December at Pretoria from enteric fever announced at yesterday’s daily prayers
Grantham Journal 29 December 1900, pg 5
ANDERSON W. Private. 2526. 2nd Bn, Lincolnshire Regiment. Killed in action 11th July 1900, Zilikats Nek
ATKINSON Arthur William. Trooper. Nottinghamshire Yeomanry (Sherwood Rangers). Son of Draper and Elizabeth Jane. died of enteric fever 6 May 1901, aged 26 years. Commemorated Osbournby St Peter & Paul.
Jonathan, do you have any suggestions as to how these men can be commemorated? Find a Grave have only sent the A’s since that is what I am working on at the moment, but it gives you an idea as to the scale of the problem.
I am now making my way through the B's and in the first 20 pages of 351 there is a further 20 names. So God knows what the final total is going to be? surely the CWGC haven't missed that many without knowing where they are buried? how can we commemorate them?’
Wow! Charles, you have taken on a thankless task there. I checked out the first man on your list, Frank Abey – indeed as you say, he is commemorated on all of the Keelby memorials, but there is no record of him in the Commonwealth War Graves data base.
If you were to go through the entire alphabet, how many additional men could be added to the country’s known war dead? What would the CWGC say when presented with the evidence?
Are there any TL volunteers who would be prepared to help Charles in this enormous task? Please drop me a line.
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We finish as usual with our weekly offering from Chris at Colour by CJS. Chris’s work brings, in my opinion, a young man back to life for us, a young man who did his duty proudly when the country called out for help.
Lieutenant Leslie Arthur Lea-Smith.
Leslie was born in Watford in 1897, where his father was a successful coal merchant.This enabled the family to educate him at St. Andrews boarding school in Eastbourne, Malvern College and then Magdalen College, Oxford.
When war was declared he enlisted in the Public Schools Battalion (16th Middlesex) as a private soldier.
In February 1915, on his 18th birthday, Leslie received his commission in the 6th Battalion, East Kent Regiment (The Buffs).
He was wounded in March 1916 during fighting around the Hohenzollern craters near Loos. For his actions he was mentioned in despatches.
The citation read “He ran forward with a Lewis gun, and served it during a fierce attack by German bombers until it jammed. Then he left the gun and took to bombing, and that single figure of his flinging grenades like an overarm bowler kept the enemy at bay until reinforcements reached him."
Leslie fought in the early days of the Battle of the Somme and was killed during the assault on Ovillers on 7th July 1916, just four days after my great uncle was killed at the same location.
Leslie Lea-Smith was just 19 years old, and today, he is buried in Aveluy Communal Cemetery Extension.
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In Memoriam the Lincolnshire Regiment 16th November.
1914
8946 Lance Corporal Alfred Dennis Mogg, 2nd Battalion, aged 25. Remembered on the Le Touret Memorial, France.
1915
12802 Lance Corporal W Robinson, 7th Battalion. Buried in Menin Road South Military Cemeterty, Belgium.
14546 Private C F Silman, 7th Battalion. – Ditto. –
12412 Private Arthur Tomkinson, 7th Battalion, aged 18. Buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium.
18940 Private J Blake, Depot. Buried in Lincoln Canwick Cemetery, UK.
16209 Private G H Burton, 6th Battalion, aged 26. Buried in Azmak Cemetery, Gallipoli.
1916
Twenty-two men of the Lincolnshire Regiment are recorded as having died on this day as the fighting on the Somme drew to a close.
1917
23485 Sergeant G H Wright, 7th Battalion, aged 26. Buried in Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium.
1918
49823 Private John Normanton Atherton, 2nd Battalion, aged 19. Buried in Hautrage Military Cemetery, Belgium.
7974 Lance Corporal A Ross, 1st Battalion. Buried in Caudry British Cemetery, France.
1919
45188 Sergeant Leo Waters, 1st Labour Company, aged 26. Buried in Hastings Cemetery, UK.
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
I hope you all have a good week and have my talk on the 24th in your diary!
Until next week
All best wishes
Jonathan
© Jonathan D’Hooghe
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