Trench Lincs 20th September 2026
To become a subscriber and receive Trench Lincs into your inbox complete with all photos, email me at trenchlincs@gmail.com
Buongiorno di Italia,
Welcome to this week’s TL which I hope you find of interest. The Italian Front has certainly lived up to its reputation for being scenic, rugged and for the men of 100+ years ago, very dangerous. Crossing into Slovenia has been a great experience as we walked in the footsteps of a young German subaltern, a Lieutenant Erwin Rommel!
The mountains around Caparetto (Kobarid today) are a real eye opener. Complete sections of trenches in the mountains still exist, many battlefield cemeteries are laid out and museums are in abundance.
Bovec Cemetery
Italian trenches on Hill 1114
At Kobarid museum
I will compile a full report starting next week.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS.
Next Meeting - Lincoln & North Lincolnshire Branch, WFA – Monday 28th September 2026 - Doors open 7.00pm for 7.30pm start - Royal Naval Association Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln, LN6 7BG.
Nick Shelley presents a new talk, "Motorcycle Despatch Riders in1914", based on the book "Two Wheels to War" published by Helion in 2017, researched and written by Nick and his brother Martin.
"In 1914 the Army had just begun to mechanize the work of despatch rider signallers. So when war was declared in August 1914, urgently and at high pace, hundreds of volunteer motorcyclists, many riding their own machines, were recruited to join the BEF in France. Against all odds, they not only helped to save the BEF during the Retreat from Mons, but also helped to prevent the fall of Paris in September. Furthermore, from October 1914 they played a part in keeping the BEF intact when the opposing armies dug in across Belgium and France to create the Western Front.
Nick Shelley's talk tells the story of those 1914 motorcycle despatch riders through the eyes of just one Signals Company - the motorcyclists, officers and men of the Signals Company attached to 5th Division.
The talk originated in Nick's partnership with his brother. Martin Shelley, deeply knowledgeable about early motoring and enthusiastic about vintage vehicles, decided to research the brothers Cecil and Alick Burney. They founded a motorcycle firm in 1912, and Martin knew they were among the very first to answer the Army's call for motorcyclists by bringing motorbikes they had designed and built to the service of the Army. Less than 3 weeks after enlisting they came under fire at Mons. Between the heatwave in France in August, and the harsh Christmas weather in Flanders, 400 motorcyclists followed the Burneys to France.
Nick and Martin's research identified the Burney brothers' exact contribution to this campaign, and found much evidence about the original 12 motorcyclists attached to 5th Division, their friends and families, and their colleagues in arms. His story about them is illustrated with original photographs and documents from many sources, including letters from the front.
Just as the motorcycle despatch riders were not trained soldiers, Nick Shelley is an amateur historian. He studied English literature at Cambridge and worked with offenders as a Probation Officer for many years. Later he retrained in civil law, and for a few years before retirement had a successful legal practice dealing in legal costs, making many court appearances, either as an advocate or as an expert witness. In his spare time, he rode and tinkered with 1920's motorcycles and enjoyed researching the lives and achievements of early motoring pioneers, such as the despatch riders. The project was not only on paper - Nick and Martin built connections with many of the motorcyclist’s families, including six of their sons and daughters and other family members who shared first-hand knowledge of these men."
Nick recently presented this talk to Spalding & South Lincolnshire Branch, WFA, where it went down extremely well, attracting a larger than normal audience for the branch. At the heart of the talk are the photographs and highly descriptive letters home (which in 2026 should come with a "listeners discretion is advised" warning as they are at times pretty graphic in their description of events) -written by Captain W H L Watson which he published in his - initially uncensored - classic first published in 1915, "Adventures of a Despatch Rider" in which he tells the story of the 12 despatch riders - with nicknames like "Huggie", "Spuggy" and the ironically named "Fat Boy" - of 5th Signals Company. This is a talk not to be missed!
Nick will have copies of the book "Two Wheels to War" written by his brother and himself for sale at £20.00 per copy. Hardback, 296 pages, fully illustrated and containing the full biographies of the men, their machines, and more besides. One for every WW1 historian’s bookcase.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The next meeting of the Friends of the Lincoln Tank Group will be held on Thursday 29th October at the Royal Naval Association Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln, LN6 7BG at 7.30pm.
The speaker on this occasion is me!
Jonathan D’Hooghe will present a new talk – “The Importance of the Battle of Cambrai and the Men Who Made it Possible”
This talk will take a look at the opening of the battle of Cambrai on November 20th 1917, but more importantly, the talk will examine why it was so important to the BEF and the BEF’s development of warfare, that would eventually lead to the defeat of the German Army one year later. A small number of very interesting characters made it happen - but who were they?
Everyone welcome, especially new faces. You do not need to be a member of FoLT to attend meetings, but members of FoLT pay just £10 a year and receive £250 of membership benefits from Ancestry and the British Newspaper Archives. It is well worth joining.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Next Event - Spalding & South Lincs Branch, WFA is on Thursday 22nd October 2026 at 7.30pm.
Full details to follow shortly.
Spalding & South Lincolnshire Branch WFA continues to meet at the Spalding Baptist Church, Swan Street, Spalding, PE11 1BT. Meetings continue to be held in the evenings of the fourth Thursday in the month, and doors open at 19.00 hours for a 19.30 hours start. Meetings are held in a pleasant main room of the Church and there is ample - unrestricted - on street parking in front of the building. Free refreshments are served at the end of the meeting. Finally, please note that, for security purposes the main double front doors are kept locked as we cannot monitor them from our meeting room, therefore, you may need to ring the doorbell located on the single door to the right of the main double doors in order to gain entry.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
The East Midlands (Nottingham) WFA branch will hold their next speaker event on Friday 9th October 2026 at 7.30pm. The branch meets at St. Peter’s Church Hall, Church Street, Ruddington, NG11 6HA and all visitors will be made very welcome.
Dr. Derek Clayton will present: “The Battle of the Sambre: Crossing the Canal.”
A detailed look at the events of the last week of war on the Western Front when the BEF successfully crossed the Sambre and Oise canals.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Leadenham Military History Group’s next meeting will be on Tuesday 22nd September at 7.30pm at Leadenham village hall.
The speaker on this occasion is Chris Finn. His talk is entitled – “Fly Navy, Walk Sideways – A Crab’s Time with the Fleet Air Arm.”
Chris’ amusing and informative account of his time as an RAF pilot under the wing of the Senior Service.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Another group who meet at the Royal Naval Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln, LN6 7BG, is the Lincolnshire Aviation Society.
The next meeting of LAS will be held on Thursday 15th October at 7.30pm.
Talk Title – Flying, Fighting & Reflection – The Life of Battle of Britain Fighter Ace, Wing Commander Tom Neil DFC & Bar, AFC, AE
Tom ‘Ginger’ Neil was one of the elite band of RAF fighter pilots who were later to become known as ‘The Few’. During the Battle of Britain, he flew Hurricanes with 249 Squadron, destroying at least fourteen enemy aircraft for which he was twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross; he was then just twenty years old. Tom then went with the squadron to help defend the besieged island of Malta, after which he returned home to lead 41 Squadron, the first unit to be equipped with the new Spitfire XII, as the RAF went on the offensive in north-west Europe. He then served in a liaison role with the Americans during and after the D-Day landings. After the war, Tom remained in the RAF and became a test pilot before commanding 208 Squadron, a Meteor jet fighter-reconnaissance squadron, in Egypt’s troubled Canal Zone, for which he was awarded the Air Force Cross. On leaving the RAF, Tom became a successful author and his time was always in demand by the media and public alike as he became a voice and face of ‘The Few’. Tom died in 2018, three days short of his ninety-eighth birthday. Here, using first-hand accounts from the man himself, Peter Jacobs talks about the remarkable life of Tom Neil.
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, including Flying, Fighting & Reflection – The Life of Battle of Britain Fighter Ace, Wing Commander Tom Neil DFC & Bar, AFC, AE.
Everyone welcome especially new faces.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Peterborough Military History Group meets at the Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery in Priestgate, Peterborough, PE1 1LF, on the second Wednesday of every month, 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
Everyone welcome, especially new faces.
Wednesday October 14th, - Jo Fedorak will present - “The German V2 Rocket Programme of WWII.”
+++++++++++++++++++++
Felicity Sayers spotted this advertisement for tours of Sleaford cemetery on 7th and 8th November and thought TL readers may be interested?
++++++++++++++++++++++
Tying up the loose ends from last week, Felicity Sayers found the answer to Chas Parker's question - Where was the Lincolnshire Road Car Bus Company war memorial originally sited?
The World War II (and WWI) memorial plaque was mounted inside the administrative office area rather than the active, dusty depot floor where the buses were stowed. This was done to ensure a respectful and prominent display for the staff members who lost their lives.
Current Status: The plaque was salvaged prior to the 2001 demolition. The company's corporate archives, office memorabilia, and surviving vintage fleet are now preserved by the Lincolnshire Road Transport Museum in North Hykeham.
Thank you Felicity for that comprehensive answer.
++++++++++++++++++
Arthur Wood, our resident expert on all matters appertaining to Victoria Cross winners has kindly provided this photograph of John Green's headstone from Foncquevillers Cemetery. You will recall from last week, that Green won his VC on 1st July 1916 at Gommecourt.
Stuart Ainsworth also has some more information for us with regard to John L Green VC. Stuart notes; 'Really great to see the piece on Captain John Green VC as I live close to Buckden and visit the memorials in the village regularly. There is also a Leslie Green Road in Houghton and his name also appears on the Houghton and Wyton war memorial in the Houghton and Wyton Burial Ground.
Houghton and Wyton war memorial. Thank you Stuart.
++++++++++++++++++
With being away this last week, TL is a little shorter this week, but we will start the new stories in Belfast courtesy of Marcus Dunbar.
Marcus visited the Shankill Road area and sent me these photos from this staunchly loyalist part of Belfast, where the sacrifice of the Great War, and especially the men who served in 36th (Ulster) Division are never forgotten.
The Formation and Service of the 36th (Ulster) Division in the First World War
The 36th (Ulster) Division was one of the most famous British Army formations of the First World War. Its soldiers were recruited mainly from the nine counties of Ulster, although men from other parts of Ireland also served in the division. The division became particularly associated with the opening day of the Battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916, when it suffered enormous casualties while attacking German positions near Thiepval. Its history reflected the political divisions of pre-war Ireland, the enthusiasm for military service among many Ulster unionists, and the extraordinary human cost of the First World War.
The origins of the 36th Division can be traced to the political crisis in Ireland before the war. The introduction of the Third Home Rule Bill in 1912 caused considerable opposition among Ulster unionists, who feared that an Irish parliament in Dublin would threaten their political position and their connection with Britain. In response, approximately 500,000 people signed the Ulster Covenant in September 1912, pledging to resist Home Rule. The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) was subsequently organised as a large paramilitary organisation prepared to oppose the implementation of Home Rule by force if necessary.
When Britain entered the First World War in August 1914, the leadership, particularly Sir Edward Carson, of the UVF encouraged its members to support the British war effort. Thousands of UVF volunteers enlisted in the British Army. Their military organisation and experience helped provide the foundations for what would become the 36th (Ulster) Division. The British government had already decided to expand the army dramatically through the creation of new divisions, and the Ulster volunteers provided a ready source of recruits.
The division was formally established in September 1914, although its organisation and training continued for many months. It was initially commanded by Major-General Oliver Nugent, who remained its commander when it went to France. The division consisted largely of men from Ulster regiments and included the 107th, 108th and 109th Infantry Brigades. Many of its battalions had strong connections with the pre-war UVF. The division was therefore unusual in having a distinctive political and regional identity.
Training took place in various locations in Ireland and Britain. The soldiers had to transform themselves from civilian volunteers into professional soldiers capable of fighting on the Western Front. Training was often difficult because the rapidly expanding British Army suffered from shortages of equipment, instructors and weapons. Nevertheless, the men of the 36th Division developed a reputation for discipline and determination. The division eventually crossed to France in October 1915 and became part of the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front.
For several months, the division served in relatively quiet sectors of the front, gaining experience of trench warfare. Conditions were extremely difficult. Soldiers faced mud, cold, artillery bombardment, machine-gun fire, disease and the constant threat of death. Although the men had joined for different personal and political reasons, their experiences in the trenches increasingly created a shared military identity.
The division’s most important action came during the Battle of the Somme, which began on 1 July 1916. The British plan called for a major offensive against German forces along the Somme River. The 36th (Ulster) Division was ordered to attack German positions near Thiepval Wood and the Schwaben Redoubt, a heavily fortified German position.
The attack began at 7:30 a.m. after a week-long British artillery bombardment. At first, the Ulster Division made remarkable progress. Many of its soldiers crossed No Man’s Land rapidly and succeeded in reaching and penetrating German trenches. Some units advanced further than neighbouring British formations and reached positions deep inside the German defensive system. However, the success could not be sustained. The division became exposed on both sides, while German machine-gunners and artillery inflicted terrible casualties. German resistance was particularly strong around the Schwaben Redoubt.
By the end of the first day, the 36th Division had suffered approximately 5,500 casualties, including more than 2,000 killed. This represented an enormous proportion of its strength. The losses demonstrated the devastating nature of the Somme offensive and the vulnerability of infantry attacking fortified positions protected by machine guns and artillery.
The attack by 36th Division on 1st July 1916 from the Official History.
The bravery of the Ulster soldiers at the Somme was widely recognised. A number of Victoria Crosses were awarded to soldiers of the division for actions during the battle, although one of the recipients was subsequently discovered to have been serving with another formation at the time. Among the best-known recipients was Lieutenant Geoffrey Cather, who repeatedly entered No Man’s Land under heavy fire to rescue wounded men before being killed himself. The actions of these soldiers contributed to the division’s reputation for courage.
The memory of the Somme subsequently became particularly important in Northern Ireland. The battle was incorporated into the commemorative traditions of the unionist and Protestant communities, and 1st July became a significant date of remembrance. The sacrifice of the 36th Division was used to demonstrate the contribution made by Ulster to Britain’s war effort. However, it is important to recognise that the soldiers of the division were individuals with varied motivations, and not every soldier necessarily shared the political views associated with the UVF or Ulster unionism.
The 36th Division continued fighting after the Somme. It took part in further operations on the Western Front, including actions during the Battles of Messines in June 1917, where it fought shoulder to shoulder with the men of the predominantly nationalist 16th (Irish) Division, and the German Spring Offensive of 1918 where the troops held a number of redoubts for several hours south-west of St. Quentin. The battle of Messines in particular, demonstrated that British forces had learned important lessons from the Somme, particularly in co-ordinating infantry, artillery and other weapons.
In 1918, the division faced another severe crisis during the German Spring Offensive. Beginning on March 21st, German forces launched a massive attack intended to break through the Allied lines before American forces could arrive in large numbers. The 36th Division suffered heavy casualties during the fighting and was eventually withdrawn for reorganisation. By the end of the war, the original volunteer army had been transformed by casualties, reinforcements and years of combat.
The First World War had a profound effect on the men of the 36th (Ulster) Division and on Northern Ireland. Thousands of its soldiers were killed or wounded, and many survivors returned home physically or psychologically affected by their experiences. The division was disbanded after the war, but its legacy survived. The Somme in particular became central to Northern Irish remembrance, especially through the annual ceremonies held on 1st July.
The formation and service of the 36th (Ulster) Division therefore cannot be separated from the political circumstances of Ireland before 1914. It emerged partly from the Ulster Volunteer Force and the unionist opposition to Home Rule, but it became a genuine fighting formation of the British Army. Its soldiers served in some of the most dangerous battles of the Western Front and suffered catastrophic losses. Above all, the story of the 36th Division illustrates both the military commitment of its soldiers and the terrible human cost of industrial warfare. Its actions at the Somme ensured that the division would become one of the most remembered British formations of the First World War, while its legacy continues to influence how the war is remembered in Northern Ireland.
Thank you Marcus for your photos from Belfast.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Robin Sayer has also been away again, this time in Norfolk and sent me these snaps from Cromer. First is the parish WWI Roll of Honour and the other three relate to the life of Squadron Leader R G A Barclay, whose father was Reverend Barclay and who was vicar of Cromer in 1939.
I had a quick look for information about Barclay and you too can read his full life story by clicking here.
Battle of Britain London Monument - F/O R G A BARCLAY and what a life he lived.
A very successful Battle of Britain pilot, shot down over France, he escaped to Spain to fight another day, and was then killed in North Africa in 1942.
Thank you Robin.
+++++++++++++++++++++
This last week, on 15th September, it was 110 years since the first Lincoln designed and built MKI tanks rolled into action on the Somme between the villages of Flers and Courcelette.
The early tanks, indeed all WWI tanks, were not war winning machines on their own, but they heralded a new way of fighting and helped to unlock the stalemate of the trenches on the Western Front. The debate still goes on as to whether Sir Douglas Haig launched the first ever tank attack too soon, but in reality, the only way to learn to use tanks was to operate them under battlefield conditions.
The First Use of Tanks in Battle: 15 September 1916
The first British use of tanks in warfare took place during the Battle of the Somme on 15th September 1916. The British designed and introduced a new type of armoured fighting vehicle, known as the tank, in an attempt to break through the German defensive trench systems and overcome the problems that had made attacks on the Western Front so difficult. Although the first British tank attack was only partially successful, it marked an important moment in military history. The appearance of tanks demonstrated the potential of mechanised warfare and eventually transformed the way armies fought.
The French army likewise, produced a large number of heavy and light tanks, the Schneider, St. Chamond and Renault FT-17’s, whereas the Germans did not see the light at the time with their small number of A7V’s, but they certainly did unlock the potential of armoured warfare in 1939/40.
The idea of developing an armoured vehicle capable of crossing trenches and protecting its crew from machine-gun fire had emerged from the conditions of trench warfare. Since 1914, the Western Front had become dominated by long lines of trenches, barbed wire, machine guns and artillery. Traditional infantry attacks were extremely costly because soldiers had to cross open ground while exposed to enemy fire. Cavalry, which had previously played an important role in warfare, was largely ineffective against these defensive systems.
British military and political leaders therefore became interested in developing a vehicle that could cross difficult terrain, destroy barbed wire and provide protection for infantry. The Landships Committee was established in 1915 to investigate the possibilities of such a machine. Engineers and manufacturers, especially William Fosters of Lincoln, developed several experimental designs. The term “tank” was adopted partly as a security measure: early vehicles were described as tanks or water carriers in order to disguise their true purpose.
However, the first operational tanks were the Lincoln built British Mark I. They were enormous machines, weighing around 28 tons, and were divided into two main versions. “Male” tanks carried heavier guns, including 6-pounder naval guns, while “female” tanks carried machine guns. They were powered by petrol engines and had a maximum speed of only a few miles per hour. Their armour was designed primarily to protect their crews from small-arms fire and shell fragments.
The tanks were extremely difficult to operate. Conditions inside were hot, noisy and uncomfortable, while fumes from the engine could make breathing difficult. Communication between crew members was also challenging. The vehicles had poor visibility and were mechanically unreliable. Nevertheless, military planners believed that their ability to cross trenches and withstand machine-gun fire could make them valuable on the battlefield.
The British decided to use tanks during the Somme offensive in September 1916. The Battle of the Somme had begun on 1st July and had already resulted in enormous casualties. The British and French armies had struggled to make a decisive breakthrough against German defensive positions. By September, British commanders hoped that tanks might help infantry capture German trenches and strengthen an attack in the area between Flers and Courcelette.
The tank attack began on the morning of 15th September. Around 49 tanks had been allocated for the operation, although only about 32 reached their starting positions in time to participate. Some broke down before the attack began, while others became stuck in the difficult terrain. The tanks were organised to support infantry attacks across a broad section of the front.
At approximately 6:20 a.m., the infantry assault began. The tanks moved forward behind or alongside the advancing soldiers. Their appearance had a psychological effect on the German defenders, as no German soldiers had ever encountered such vehicles before and were reportedly shocked by their presence. Tanks could cross shell holes and trenches that would have stopped ordinary vehicles, and their armour offered some protection from rifle and machine-gun fire.
One of the most successful tanks was known as “D 17”, nicknamed “Dinnaken”. It advanced 1 ½ miles towards the German defensive position at Flers and played an important role in helping British troops capture the village. Other tanks also contributed to the advance, although their performance varied considerably.
The attack nevertheless revealed the serious limitations of the new weapon. Many tanks broke down because their mechanical systems were unreliable. Others became stuck in mud or shell craters. Some could not keep up with the infantry. Their slow speed also made them vulnerable to artillery. German soldiers soon discovered that artillery shells could destroy or disable tanks, while their crews were vulnerable if the vehicles became immobilised.
The terrain of the Somme was another major problem. Years of artillery bombardment had transformed the battlefield into a landscape of deep shell craters, mud and damaged trenches. Tanks had been designed to cross difficult ground, but even they could not easily cope with every obstacle. Their tracks frequently broke, and their engines overheated.
Despite these problems, the attack at Flers-Courcelette achieved some important successes. British troops captured the village of Flers and advanced several thousand yards in places. The tanks contributed to this success, particularly by helping infantry overcome machine-gun positions and by creating confusion among German defenders.
However, the tanks did not produce the breakthrough that British commanders had hoped for. Their numbers were too small, their reliability was poor and there had been insufficient experience in coordinating them with infantry and artillery. The first use of tanks was therefore an experiment rather than a decisive military revolution.
The reaction to the tanks was mixed. Some British commanders were impressed by their potential, while others believed that they were unreliable and unsuitable for warfare. The tank’s advocates argued that the problems experienced on 15th September could be solved through better design, training and tactics. Over the following years, tanks became increasingly important as the British Army learned how to use them more effectively.
The first tank battle also had an important psychological significance. The German Army now knew that the Allies possessed a new weapon capable of crossing trenches and resisting small-arms fire. Although German forces developed methods of combating tanks, the appearance of armoured vehicles contributed to the wider development of combined-arms warfare.
The experience of 15th September 1916 led to improvements in tank design. Later British tanks, the MKIV and MKV, were generally more reliable and were designed with the lessons of the Somme in mind. Tanks were increasingly used alongside infantry, artillery and aircraft rather than being treated as an independent weapon. This approach became particularly important during later battles, including the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917, when the British used hundreds of tanks in a much larger and more coordinated operation. [Come and listen to my talk on 29/10! – Ed]
The first use of tanks on 15th September 1916 was therefore both a failure and a success. It was a failure in the sense that the tanks did not achieve the breakthrough that their supporters had hoped for, and most of the vehicles were lost through mechanical failure, enemy action or difficult terrain. However, it was a success because it demonstrated that armoured vehicles had a genuine role to play on the battlefield.
The introduction of tanks was one of the most significant technological developments of the First World War. The Western Front had created a military problem that traditional weapons could not easily solve. Tanks offered a possible answer by combining armour, firepower and mobility. Their first appearance at Flers-Courcelette showed both their potential and their weaknesses.
Ultimately, 15th September 1916 should be remembered as the beginning of modern armoured warfare rather than as a decisive tank victory. The tanks used that day were primitive, slow and mechanically unreliable, but they represented the beginning of a major change in military technology. Within a few decades, tanks would become central to warfare. The machines that first appeared on the Somme were far from perfect, but their debut demonstrated that the battlefield of the future would increasingly depend on mechanisation and mobile firepower.
++++++++++++++++++++++
TRIP TO FRANCE 1st – 4th SEPTEMBER PART II
We all met up once again at Dud Corner Cemetery on the morning of 3rd September. After a quick overview of the battle we drove deep into the heart of the British offensive under the shadows of the Double Crassiers (slag heaps). The Crassiers are said to be about twice the height today that they were in 1915, but nevertheless, they were defended in strength by the Germans as they faced the attack of the 47th (2nd London) Division on 25th September, the southern most point of the British attack, which was made in support of a much larger French attack further south in Artois.
Whilst smaller in numbers than the French offensive, it was the first time that the BEF had launched an attack on such a scale with 6 divisions attacking on the first morning behind the first use by the British of gas – from south to north: 47th (2nd London), 15th (Scottish), 1st Division, 7th Division, 9th (Scottish) and 2nd Division.
Initial success was achieved, particularly by the London lads who captured Loos town and pushed on towards Hill 70, and by the Scots of the 9th Division who captured the Hohenzollern Redoubt and most of the village of Auchy les Mines.
However, the great debate that still carries on today, is Sir John French’s decision to hold back the 1st Army Reserves more than 5 miles behind the front line, rather than let Sir Douglas Haig have them as a readily available army reserve. With very primitive lines of communication, the reserves, including the 8th Lincolns, were thrown too late into battle and in a piecemeal manner, giving the Germans time to bring up their counter attack divisions and drive the British in most locations back to their starting point, with substantial casualties.
We walked over the ground that the London Territorials attacked over on that fateful day, and found that the ground was still littered with reminders of the war.
Matt Kelly looking pleased with his find!
After a coffee break in Loos town, we headed to the Hill 70 memorial park, looked across to Bois Hugo, where the 8th Lincolns came to grief in their first ever attack and paid a visit to the Loos British Cemetery and the new extension where it is expected that around 1,000 sets of remains will be interred over the next few years, following their discovery in the construction of a new hospital.
Loos British Cemetery extension.
After lunch we headed north to Quarry Cemetery, the last resting place of Captain Fergus Bowes Lyons, the late Queen Mother’s brother. Quarry Cemetery was a forward dressing station during the fighting in front of the Hohenzollern Redoubt, and Bowes Lyons had been wounded there whilst attacking with the 9th Division.
We were joined by 5 lads from the London area who arrived at the cemetery and who listened to my talk of the subsequent fighting at the Redoubt by the Guards, the 28th Division, and on 13th October by the 46th (North Midland) Division.
After a few questions, we returned to the cars and drove around to the farmyard and the 46th Divisional memorial, designed and constructed by Mike Credland and pals, the site of the service that will be held there next month. I then conducted a battlefield walk and talk which went down well, and yet again, we found plenty of battlefield detritus.
Returning to the cars, we headed for the village of Vermelles and the original 46th Division memorial from the 1920s, before a stop at St. Mary’s ADS cemetery where John Kipling has now been identified as lying.
Two further cemeteries are walkable from St. Mary’s, so we paid a visit there too and then we sheltered from a sharp shower, before deciding, at Neil’s suggestion, to head for Bethune Town Cemetery, as he wanted to visit the grave of Lord Ninian Crichton Stuart, who was the subject of an excellent talk at Lincoln WFA back in December 2021.
I had not visited Bethune Town Cemetery before, and what a treasure trove it was. Wandering around the two CWGC plots, I came across a second peer of the realm, a VC winner, several Lincolnshire regiment soldiers, a gorgeous private headstone to a Captain Sidney Cesari of the RAMC, and the story of a brave Irish Franciscan nun who defied the Germans in both world wars.
Lord Thynne (Marquess of Bath and owners of Longleat)
Private B Pond, Lincolnshire regiment. A 1914 casualty.
Sister Marie Laurence (Born Kate McCarthy) served in the 4th Field Ambulance as a nurse in WWI and was an active member of the French Resistance in WWII. She was betrayed, arrested, tortured, sentenced to death and shipped off to Ravensbruck, where miraculously, she survived until liberation, before returning to Ireland where she died in 1971.
Cemeteries are a treasure trove of historical interest.
The VC winner was Lieutenant Frank de Pass who served with the 34th Poona Horse, an Indian Cavalry regiment. He was the first Jewish recipient of the Victoria Cross, and as I mentioned last week, the BEF would not have survived the winter of 1914-15 without the arrival of the British Indian Army.
On 23rd November 1914, near Festubert, the Germans had dug a sap up to a trench manned by 34th Prince Albert Victor’s Own Poona Horse, and blown a breach in it. This was guarded by Lieutenant F A de Pass. The enemy had blocked their sap with a sandbag traverse and on the 24th de Pass, with three Indian troopers, had crawled up the sap and blown up the traverse. However, this was repaired by the Germans and on 25th November de Pass was shot by a sniper from behind it while trying to repair the parapet of the British trench.
In the best traditions of Trench Lincs, here is Frank de Pass’ VC Citation.
“For conspicuous bravery near Festubert on the 24th November, in entering a German sap and destroying a traverse in the face of the enemy’s bombs, and for subsequently rescuing, under heavy fire, a wounded man who was lying exposed in the open. Lieutenant de Pass lost his life on this day in a second attempt to capture the afore-mentioned sap, which had been re-occupied by the enemy.”
Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette of 16th February 1915. 18th February 1915, Numb. 29074, p. 1700
Frank de Pass VC
After a good hour exploring the cemetery, the party drove into Bethune town centre where an excellent early dinner of gallettes and beer finished off the day.
The Bell Tower in Bethune main square.
Friday the 4th September was heading for home day. Matt and Dan Kelly set off for Normandy and the D-Day beaches whilst my party headed for Camblain l’Abbe at the request of Neil Strange.
Neil’s wife’s two great uncles, David and Joseph Rear, both served in the 4th battalion Lincolnshire regiment, within 46th Division. Along with Mike Credland, I had the great pleasure in researching the Rear brothers on behalf of Neil and his wife some time ago, but this was the first time that we had had chance to visit the location where the boys were billeted.
Records showed that the 4th Lincolns were in billets in Camblain l’Abbe in April 1916, before the battalion took its turn in the front line trenches just west of Carency. The battalion manned a trench known as Ersatz Alley, and it was here that German miners blew a camouflet on 20th April 1916 beneath the trench and David and Joseph Rear, along with eleven others were buried alive. Due to German fire, it was not possible to attempt to dig out the buried men, and I assume they are still entombed to this day. With no known grave, their names appear on the Arras Memorial.
It was a very moving visit for Neil and I hope we can return at some point to walk the ground.
The village war memorial in Carency.
Being so close to Vimy, we headed for the Canadian visitor centre but as we passed through the town of Souchez, we made a poignant stop at the Cabaret Rouge CWGC cemetery.
The cemetery, named after a red brick and red tiled café which the men passed on their way to the front, is one of the bigger cemeteries in the area and is the last resting place of a considerable number of men of the Lincolnshire Regiment. We had a good walk around and paid our respects to many of them.
I also noted that the CWGC are making great strides at Cabaret Rouge in replacing RAF headstone badges with RFC badges where the airman died before 1st April 1918. This historical oversight is rightly being corrected after all of this time.
The new RFC badge.
Souchez is also the home to a fine French memorial to the 77th Infantry Division, otherwise known as the Barbot Division after its much loved commander, General Ernest Jacques Barbot. The men of this division were elite Alpine Chasseurs (mountain troops) famed for their bravery and aggression, but in 1914, they made their name, not in the mountains, but in the successful defence of the town of Arras.
In autumn 1914, during the "Race to the Sea," the German Army launched a massive assault to capture the strategically vital city of Arras. The newly formed 77th Division was rushed to the Artois Front to defend it.
On October 20th 1914, a violent German artillery barrage rained down on Arras. When German infantry broke through a neighbouring sector, General Barbot famously rallied his exhausted staff and men, declaring:
"Whilst I am alive we do not retreat. So, Gentlemen of the Staff go to the men. Raise their hearts! Repeat everywhere: We stand fast, we will not let Arras go!"
In May 1915, the 77th Division was positioned in front of the village of Souchez to take part in the Second Battle of Artois—a massive French offensive aimed at seizing the strategic high ground of Vimy Ridge.
On May 10th 1915, just a day after the offensive began, General Barbot was mortally wounded by artillery shrapnel while dashing across open ground to supervise his front-line troops near Souchez.
His death devastated his men. Barbot was fundamentally a "soldier's general" who routinely rejected stuffy military protocol to sit, talk, and share the dangers of the trenches directly with his infantrymen. The French affectionately dubbed him the "Bayard of the Great War," comparing him to the legendary, fearless medieval knight Chevalier de Bayard.
We then arrived at the Vimy Canadian Visitor Centre, and although I have been on many occasions, the exhibitions regularly change, so there is always something new to see, and on this visit, I was not disappointed.
An exhibition featuring young Newfoundland and Canadian soldiers caught my eye, including James Franklin, who is believed to be the first black soldier to be killed in action whilst serving with the CEF.
I was particularly taken with an exhibition of Canadian recruiting posters, and here are a selection for you to peruse.
After a quick drive by visit to see the famous Canadian memorial at Vimy, it was time to head for the motorway to start the drive for home.
All in all, a very successful and enjoyable trip to locations old and new.
As I have previously mentioned, if you want to put a car party together and join the next trip to France, 12th – 15th October, please let me know.
++++++++++++++++++++++
Our regular finishing point is the work of Chris Seager at Colour by CJS and this week’s biography is that of Captain Baron James MC.
Captain Baron Trevenen James MC
Baron was born in London where his father was a barrister. Baron was educated at Cheltenham College and then at Cambridge University where he studied engineering.
He was interested in flying and took lessons at Hendon, and qualified as a pilot in June 1912, and later that year he joined 2 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps.
Soon after the outbreak of war he was deployed to France where he served with 6 Squadron and was tasked with artillery observation and reconnaissance.
Baron was awarded the Military Cross for his work during the Battle of Festubert in May 1915 and for operations over Hooge in Belgium, and in addition he was mentioned in dispatches twice.
Working with Captain Donald Lewis, Baron James was instrumental in the introduction and refinement of the “clock code” system used for reporting the results of shell fire relative to the target.
A contemporary assessment of him read as follows:
"In his line, artillery observation, he was quite the most competent officer in the Flying Corps. We are indebted to him not only for all his flying out here, but also for his work and the experiments he carried out before the War."
"He had been the pioneer in wireless ranging with artillery, that our first successes in this were owing to him. The Army Commander has written about him to Headquarters to that effect."
However, on 13th July 1915 Baron was flying at 6,000ft over Verlorenhook when his BE2a aircraft took a direct hit from anti-aircraft fire and was blown to pieces.
He has no known grave but is commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial.
Baron James was 26 years old.
++++++++++++++++++++++
In Memoriam the Lincolnshire Regiment 20th September.
1915
8372 Sergeant Albert Winterton, 7th Battalion, aged 23. Buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium.
12684 Private Ernest Walter Adams, 7th Battalion, aged 24. Buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, France.
1916
Eleven men of the Lincolnshire Regiment are recorded as having died on this day.
1917
Seven men are recorded as having died on this day.
1918
Fifteen men are recorded as having died on this day.
1919
33798 Private W Watson. Depot. Buried in Bishop Auckland Cemetery, UK.
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
Apologies for the lack of detail above. I have just not had the time this week!
++++++++++++++++++++++++
I look forward to hearing from you.
Until next week,
All best wishes
Jonathan
© Jonathan D’Hooghe
Comments