Trench Lincs 22nd March 2026

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Good Morning,

Welcome to this week’s Trench Lincs, which comes to you today from Tallinn in Estonia, where my wife and I are enjoying a long weekend city break. So apologies to Lincoln WFA and Leadenham Military History Group, as I shall be absent tomorrow night and on Tuesday.

I have a wide array of snippets for you this week, not the least of which is the fact that yesterday was the 108th anniversary of the German Spring Offensive of 21st March 1918.

This was Ludendorff’s and Germany’s last attempt, if not to win the war in the west, then to so weaken the Anglo-French alliance, that they would be in a much stronger negotiating position at a peace conference. In reality, the offensive eventually so weakened Germany’s position, that by November, they had no option but accept unconditional surrender. I have put a few words about the offensive together below.

You will also find contributions from Melvin Dobbs, Chas Parker and Andrew Sayers, and it is still not too late to consider a trip to Leeds this coming Friday, for the visit to the Royal Armouries. Given the cost of fuel, most attendees are travelling by train.

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FORTHCOMING EVENTS.

Next event TOMORROW - Lincoln & North Lincolnshire Branch, WFA - Monday, March 23rd 2026 - Doors open 7.00pm for 7.30pm start - Royal Naval Association Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln, LN6 7BG.

In this evening's talk, Chris will examine how the British, French and Turkish forces' developed their application of airpower in a complex campaign, fought in a hostile environment, and with meagre resources when compared to the Western Front.  He will be discussing not only the technology and tactics, but also the environment, enemy and command personalities and cultures in a talk which first saw the light of day when Chris presented a brief introduction to air power at Gallipoli as a "stand" during the highly successful Lincoln Branch battlefield tour of Gallipoli in 2022 led by our good friend Dudley Giles.   

The aircraft available were very early machines such as the Wight Pusher, Short 135 and Sopwith 807 floatplanes along with BE2c, Maurice Farman and Breguet B2 landplanes which were flown with great skill by characters such as Commander Charles Rumney Samson RN, Commodore Roger Keys RN and Wing Captain Frederick Sykes RNAS who did a remarkable job of undertaking photographic reconnaissance flights over Gallipoli.  The Turks were flying even more primitive types; witness Flt Lt Cemal Bey flying a Bleriot XI-2 during the campaign!

Christopher Finn joined the RAF in 1972 as a navigator. He flew predominantly the Buccaneer and was an electronic warfare, weapons and tactics specialist.  During Operation GRANBY he was, as a newly promoted Wg Cdr, the UK’s “SO1 Bucc” in the Coalition Air HQ in Riyadh.  His final flying tour was as the Officer Commanding the Navigator and Airman Aircrew School.  A graduate of the Joint Services’ Defence College he gained an MPhil in International Relations at Cambridge University in 1999 and went on to be the Director of Defence Studies (RAF).  From his retirement in 2005 to 2015 he was a Senior Lecturer in Air Power Studies at the RAF College Cranwell.  Chris is an Accredited Battlefield Guide, specialising in airpower and combined operations.  He lectures extensively on RAF and airpower history, but can turn his hand to most military history subjects, and is also a volunteer guide at the BBMF and both a guide and lecturer for the CWGC.

If you are unable to attend this lecture, you will have a second chance to hear it at Spalding on Thursday, April 23rd 2026.

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Next Meeting - Spalding & South Lincolnshire Branch, WFA – Thursday March 26th, 2026 - Doors open 7.00pm for 7.30 pm start - Spalding Baptist Church, Swan Street, Spalding, PE11 1BT.

March 26th - John Chester presents "Honour & Tradition".

John first presented this lecture to Lincoln Branch in January 2026 when he covered "Honour and Tradition" in all 3 branches of the British military up to and including WW!.  In this revised version, he will be concentrating on the British Army.  When Britain went to war in 1914, it was with a Navy that had ruled the seas since Nelson’s day and acknowledged to be the best in the world, and an Army that had not suffered a major defeat for centuries and policed the empire. Both the aristocracy and the people knew their place.  Many military traditions had been established and honour was to be found in the aristocratic officer class.  However, World War I greatly affected these traditions and, when the war ended, officers were heard to say: “Thank God that’s over. Now we can get back to proper soldiering!” So, just how did Honour and Tradition stand up to the trials of WWI?  Come along this evening and find out.

John enjoyed a career in the Royal Air Force and has served the Western Front Association as Branch Co-ordinator and, until quite recently, Parade Marshall at the WFA's Annual Armistice Day Service of Remembrance and Commemoration at the Cenotaph in London.  He was also the founder and former Chairman of the Spalding & South Lincolnshire Branch.   

Note that, theBranch meets in an anteroom of the Church from where we cannot monitor the front door.  If, on arrival, you find the door is locked, please ring the bell, which you will find on the single door immediately to the right of the main double doors, to gain entry. 

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The East Midlands (Nottingham) WFA branch will hold their next speaker event on Friday 10th April 2026 at 7.30pm. The branch meets at St. Peter’s Church Hall, Church Street, Ruddington, NG11 6HA.

The speaker on this night is Phil Drabble, and his talk is – “Travels With A Tiger – The Western Front.”

I assume this is regarding a man in the Leicestershire Regiment, and should be of interest to those of us south of Newark?

Everyone welcome.

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The Leadenham Military History Group’s next meeting will be on Tuesday 24th March at 7.30pm at Leadenham village hall.

Again, this evening will be a two-part event.

SHOW and TELL: FROM CUT to THRUST by John Goacher. The evolution of British Army Swords and Swordsmanship in the 19th Century, with some genuine examples to look at. 

PRESENTATION: THE LINCOLNSHIRE YEOMANRY by Michael Credland. The history of the regiment, particularly in the Great War. Richly illustrated including unpublished photographs.

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The Friends of the Lincoln Tank Group continue their 2026 season in April. The venue, as usual, will be the Royal Naval Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln, LN6 7BG with a 7.30pm start. Entry is £5, and everyone is welcome.

Thursday April 30th -  Jo Costin will talk about “The Cambridge Kitcheners”

A look at the men of Cambridgeshire who volunteered for the New Army following Lord Kitchener’s famous recruiting campaign.

The Royal Naval Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln. Doors will open at 7.00pm for a 7.30pm start. An entry charge of £5 is payable on the door. Refreshments will be available at the bar and we will have our usual raffle. There is ample car parking available on site.

Don't forget, you do not have to be a member of FoLT to attend. Everyone, old, young, male, female will be welcomed. Just pop down on the night. I do hope you can make it and I will see you on the night.

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A third 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 16th April 2026 with a start time of 7.30pm.

The speaker on this occasion is John Steel, who will speak about ‘Bristol Fighters – Built by Marshalls of Gainsborough.’

Guests always welcome - £3.00 entry for none LAS Members.

Bristol F2B

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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.

April 8th Andy Stuart

'Tales from the Great War.' The story of Arthur Walton, my grandad.

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I am very pleased to be able to let you have details of the next two Trench Lincs/Lincoln WFA outings for March and April.

This coming Friday March 27th, there will be a self-drive group outing to The Royal Armouries in Leeds. Please register with me if you would like to go – everyone welcome.

I will then organise car sharing if required, or take the train from Newark.

Royal Armouries Museum | Royal Armouries  click on the website link.

There are 1,200 payable car parking spaces on site but admission to the museum is free.

Armouries Drive 

Leeds 

LS10 1LT 

[Four booked in so far]

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Then, on Friday 24th April at 13.00h, I have booked a group visit to the WWII Fighter Control Room at RAF Digby, near Sleaford, Lincs.

As this is an operational RAF base, you will need to register with me, and drivers will need to give me details of their cars – Registration, make, model and colour. You will also need photographic ID with you on the day – driving licence, passport etc.

Would love to see a good turnout, and new faces are especially welcome. I look forward to hearing from you.

[Eighteen booked in so far] ONLY TWO PLACES LEFT - Party size will be limited to 20.

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Harking back to last Sunday and my book review, Ian Prince wrote; ‘Thank you for another thought provoking edition of T.L. [My pleasure Ian. Thank you for your kind words – Ed]

I found the article on John Glubb's book very interesting, in particular his writings about the Somme area, we have had many adventures there, walking and cycling equipped with books, maps modern and old, plus a compass! You found a gem in that book.

The book will be on order before I see you next. I looked at Amazon's offering, but always compare with 'Abe Books', they have a fantastic range of sellers and I found hard back copies for sale. If you have not looked at Abe Books before I can recommend them, often much cheaper for second hand than Amazon (just check location of seller as many are US or Australian and postage can be expensive).’

I am pleased that my book review made an impression on Ian. I have now finished the book, and there are a number of areas that John Glubb commented on that I know I will return to in the future. Ian’s comments about comparing sellers’ sites is also very true and topical.

Of particular emotional relevance is Glubb’s return to 7 Field Company Royal Engineers after 11 months in hospital. When I wrote about the book, I hadn’t reached August 1917, when Glubb was seriously wounded. As I read on, I discovered that his face was shattered by shell fragments which smashed his lower jaw which was hanging, held only by the skin of his cheek.

Glubb remained in this state for three months until November 1917 when he eventually arrived at a specialist facial wound hospital at Frognal in Kent. Here he underwent facial rebuilding by two men who would eventually become famous for their pioneering work, surgeon Colonel Gillies and dentist Major Fry.

In July 1918, Glubb returned to the Western Front having turned down a ‘cushy’ Staff Officer’s position offered by his Major General father. On arrival at the 50th Division HQ, (7 Field Company RE served as part of 50th Division), he discovered that the division including the ancillary components, Engineers, transport, signals, veterinary section etc. had all been overrun in the German Spring Offensive in March.

They then moved to a supposed ‘quiet’ sector of the front in the south to refit and re-build, where they were overrun for a second time in the German Blucher-Yorck offensive. Virtually all of the officers of his Field Company and many of the men he knew had been killed. His description of finding this out is very poignant and telling on a young man, still aged only 21, and having been through so much over the last 11 months.

I really hope that you will follow Ian’s decision to buy a copy of the book – ‘Into Battle’ by John Glubb.

David Moore also knew of the book and comments; 'I had a quick glance over TL at breakfast this morning and noticed your Glubb story. I’ve had this great book some years and have followed his route across the front, and I often use some of the stories on my tours.' [There will be more from David about this book on the 29th - Ed]

Well, there couldn't be any better book recommendation than that. Thanks David.

Ray Sellers also noted that 'there are three more books about John Glubb. - 1. A SOLDIER WITH THE ARABS written by himself, dealing with his exploits during WII. 2. GLUBB PASHA by James Lunt. 3. GLUBB PASHA by Trevor Royle. Unlike T E Lawrence (Of Arabia), he is sadly almost forgotten these days.'

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As already mentioned and above in Glubb’s book, yesterday was the 108th anniversary of the opening of the German Spring Offensive. This huge attack, primarily on British 5th Army front, is reflected in the Lincolnshire Regiment casualties in the In Memoriam section at the foot of this blog.

The German Spring Offensive, fought between March and July 1918, was Germany’s final large-scale attempt to win the First World War on the Western Front before American forces could arrive in overwhelming numbers. Known in German as the Kaiserschlacht (“Kaiser’s Battle”), the offensive consisted of a series of coordinated attacks designed to break the stalemate of trench warfare that had dominated the conflict since 1914. Although the offensive initially achieved dramatic successes and threatened Allied positions, it ultimately failed to secure a decisive victory and exhausted German resources, contributing to the eventual defeat of Germany later in 1918.

Strategic Background.

By early 1918 the strategic situation had changed significantly. The collapse of the Russian Empire after the Russian Revolution allowed Germany to sign the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, which ended the war on the Eastern Front. This freed up around fifty German divisions that could be transferred to the Western Front. German leaders, especially General Erich Ludendorff, believed this temporary numerical advantage provided a narrow window to defeat the Allies before the rapidly growing forces of the American Expeditionary Forces could fully deploy.

Germany’s strategic objective was not necessarily to capture Paris immediately but to split the British and French armies. If the British forces were pushed back toward the Channel ports and cut off from their supply bases, Germany hoped Britain might be forced to negotiate peace. To achieve this, Ludendorff planned a series of offensives targeting weak points in the Allied lines.

Operation Michael (March 1918).

The first and largest attack, Operation Michael, began on 21st March 1918. The offensive targeted the undermanned British Fifth Army along the Somme sector, an area devastated by earlier fighting during the Battle of the Somme. The Germans used new tactics that differed from earlier mass assaults. Specially trained “stormtrooper” units infiltrated weak points in enemy defences, bypassing strongpoints and advancing quickly into the rear areas.

The attack began with a massive artillery bombardment using high explosives and poison gas. Dense fog helped conceal the advancing German infantry, and the British lines were rapidly overwhelmed. In the first days of the offensive the Germans achieved their greatest advances on the Western Front since 1914, pushing Allied forces back over many miles.

However, despite the dramatic gains, German forces struggled to maintain momentum. Supply lines could not keep up with the advancing troops, and the devastated battlefield made movement difficult. The objective of capturing the critical railway centre of Amiens was not achieved. Meanwhile, the crisis forced Britain and France to coordinate more closely.

The dotted purple line shows the limit of the german advance in the spring and early summer of 1918.

Allied Command Unity.

The danger posed by the German advance led the Allies to appoint a unified commander. On 26th March 1918, French General Ferdinand Foch was given overall command of Allied forces on the Western Front. This decision improved coordination between British, French, and American units and helped stabilise the front.

Despite severe pressure, the Allies managed to halt the German advance near Amiens in early April. Operation Michael ended without achieving its strategic goals, though the Germans had captured large areas of worthless and previously devastated territory.

Generalissimo Ferdinand Foch.

Operation Georgette (April 1918).

After Operation Michael stalled, Ludendorff launched another offensive in Flanders called Operation Georgette in April 1918. The aim was to capture key Channel ports such as Calais and Dunkirk, which were vital for British supply and reinforcement.

The German attacks initially forced the British back and threatened the town of Ypres, a symbolically important location due to earlier battles such as the First, Second and Third Battles of Ypres. Once again, however, the Germans achieved tactical successes but could not translate them into decisive strategic results. Following Douglas Haig’s famous ‘Backs to the Wall’ speech, allied resistance stiffened, reinforcements arrived, and German casualties mounted.

Haig's order - "‘There is no other course open to us but to fight it out. Every position must be held to the last man: there must be no retirement. With our backs to the wall and believing in the justice of our cause each one of us must fight on to the end. The safety of our homes and the freedom of mankind alike depend upon the conduct of each one of us at this critical moment’.

Later Offensives (May–July 1918).

Ludendorff continued launching additional offensives throughout the spring and early summer. These included Operation Blücher–Yorck in May, which targeted French lines along the Aisne River. The attack was initially very successful, and German troops advanced rapidly toward Paris, causing panic among civilians and governments.

German forces reached the Marne River, less than 50 miles from the French capital. Long-range artillery such as the famous “Paris Gun” even shelled the edge of the city. However, as with earlier attacks, German troops outran their supplies and became increasingly exhausted.

The final phase came with the Second Battle of the Marne in July 1918. German forces attempted one more push but encountered stronger Allied defences and significant American participation. This time the Allies launched a powerful counter offensive that forced the Germans to retreat.

The Paris Gun.

Reasons for Failure.

Several factors explain why the Spring Offensive ultimately failed despite early success. First, Germany lacked clear strategic objectives after the initial breakthroughs. Ludendorff often redirected attacks opportunistically rather than concentrating on decisive targets.

Second, German logistics were insufficient. Advancing troops depended on captured Allied supplies because their own transport systems could not move quickly across the shattered landscape of the Western Front. As the offensive progressed, shortages of ammunition, food, and reinforcements slowed operations.

Third, the Allies increasingly benefited from American manpower. By mid-1918 hundreds of thousands of fresh American troops were arriving each month, strengthening Allied defences and morale.

Finally, German casualties were extremely heavy. Many of the highly trained ‘stormtroopers’ were lost in the early phases of the offensive and could not be replaced easily.

Consequences.

Although the Spring Offensive temporarily threatened Allied defeat, its failure marked a turning point in the war. Germany had used up its last reserves in a series of costly offensives that achieved no decisive victory. When the Allies launched their own counter offensives during the Hundred Days campaign, German forces were too weakened to resist effectively.

The Spring Offensive therefore represents Germany’s final gamble in the First World War. It demonstrated new tactics and temporarily shattered the trench stalemate, but it also exposed the limits of German military power by 1918. Within months of its failure, the balance of the war shifted permanently in favour of the Allies, leading to the Armistice of 11th November 1918 and the conclusion of the conflict.

In summary, the German Spring Offensive was a bold but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to secure victory before American intervention could change the balance of the war. Its early successes created one of the most dramatic crises of the war for the Allies, yet its failure exhausted Germany’s remaining manpower and their last opportunity for victory, and paved the way for the final Allied advance that ended the First World War on the Western Front.

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I do enjoy a good tour and mooch around our parish churches. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to call and find them locked. However, a week last Monday, Robin Sayer and I set off from Welbourn to work our way towards Bourne.

First stop was at Ancaster church which was open. The Great War village memorial can be found in the entrance porch, although it is need of some restoration.

The WWII memorial tablet is on the wall inside the church.

Some of the villages we called at, like Londonthorpe and Folkingham, have appeared in TL before for various reasons, but on past visits, I haven’t always been able to access the church, and this has been the case at Londonthorpe.

The churchyard at Londonthorpe contains a large CWGC plot for men who died of illness or through accidents whilst training at nearby Belton Park, but on this visit, the church was open and I soon found the village memorial tablet, which commemorates four men of the village who gave their lives in WWI, and explains about the death of Lieutenant John Baker and his sister, and notes that their parents paid for a memorial window in the church.

At the next village of Welby, the church was locked, so I attach a photograph of the village memorial which sits in St. Bartholomew’s churchyard. It consists of a polished Aberdeen granite obelisk on a plinth and was unveiled in August 1920.

Next stop was at Swarby church which was also open. This small village lost four men in the Great War and they are remembered on a stone tablet which was adorned with knitted poppies.

We next arrived at Aswarby, which was the home village of George Bass, the man who discovered that northern Tasmania was not attached to Australia, and thus discovered the straits that are named after him.

Within the church, I did not find a memorial as such, but there was a nice framed and hand drawn Roll of Honour which names eight men of the village who enlisted and ‘did their bit.’

Moving on, we arrived at the church in Osbournby which proved to be a revelation as to the number of wonderful memorials on display. First up are the two village tablets that remember the men of Osbournby and Scot Willoughby who died in both world wars.

I then spotted a very nicely coloured memorial shield that remembers Trooper E J Mackinder of the Sherwood Rangers, who died of illness in South Africa in 1901.

I then noticed an American Stars and Stripes flag hanging on the wall, and I expected to find that it commemorated a US battalion or regiment billeted at Osbournby in the build up to Arnhem or D-Day. However, I couldn’t have been more wrong.

The flag covered the coffin of William Baxter, when he was buried in Detroit in 1985. William was a native of Osbournby who had emigrated to the USA in 1910 aged 21 in search of a better life. When America entered the Great War in 1917, William joined up to serve the cause and saw service with the 339th Infantry Regiment.

After William’s death, his sister Emma, brought the flag back to Osbournby in 1986. A remarkable story.

Folkingham was next on the agenda. This is the churchyard where the CWGC eventually agreed to erect a headstone for William Patman who was buried there and then his final resting place was lost. A story that we have covered in TL before, but on this occasion, it was gaining access to the church that we came for.

Here we discovered a Roll of Honour to the men of the village that served in both world wars.

There was also a 1914-18 memorial tablet which contains Patman’s name.

Arriving in Bourne it was time for a coffee and a sandwich before a visit to the Bourne town cemetery where there are a number of CWGC headstones. One in particular that Robin wanted to visit was his namesake, R J Sayer. It is always somewhat spooky to see your own name on a grave stone!, as I know only too well from the time my good friend Nadine took me to Ghent in Belgium, where my namesake is remembered.

Robin Sayer's namesake.

My name appears on this tablet at St. Baaf's Cathedral in Ghent, Belgium. 

Leaving the cemetery, we parked outside Bourne Abbey church, and on entering the church we discovered a very well kept Great War memorial in the form of a wooden board with hinged doors which not only lists the dead of the town, but on the inside of the doors, it is a Roll of Honour for the men who served and survived.

There are two WWII memorials to the men of the town and to the 1st Battalion the Parachute Regiment which was billeted in the town in 1944.

I also found a nice family memorial tablet remembering Harry Allen of the 2nd Battalion, Warwickshire Regiment who was killed in October 1916, and a Boer War private memorial for Private Bennett Rodgers who died in South Africa in 1901 whislt serving with the 2nd Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment.

Bourne has a very impressive town cenotaph as a war memorial, but we could not get close to it as major refurbishment works are currently taking place.

At this point, we decided to head for home but stopped at St. John the Baptist church at Morton. Here there is a very impressive and listed, wayside cross in the churchyard to the men of Morton and Hanthorpe, and the names of all the men from this parish are recorded on a metal tablet within the church.

We intended to call at Rippingale, but time beat us, and so we have a starting point for the next day out.

Many folk will thank that our nation’s war memorials are a dry and boring subject, but if you value our heritage and the sacrifice of our ancestors, then please do make time to visit your local churches, and if you make a discovery, please drop me a line here at TL.

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Two weeks ago whilst reporting on the outing to Crich, I mentioned that post-war memorialisation at church and chapel could often lead to discord, especially if the fund raising efforts over lapped.

As always, there are exceptions to the rule. Chas Parker takes up the story; ‘Following your recent comments, I was reminded that I visited Reepham Church for a funeral recently and the reception was in the Chapel afterwards.  The memorial in the Church is supported by a poppy wreath and candles and more information in the form of short framed biographies of the dead. Interestingly, both memorials are the same, but the one in the Chapel has a WWII casualty added (J W Elvidge) ‘

As the memorials are identical and contain the same names, I can only surmise that the village came together to identically memorialise all of the village dead in both locations – church and chapel. As the chapel memorial has one name added from the second war, I assume that J W Elvidge was a member of the chapel congregation. I further assume that there was a joint fund raising exercise rather than two organisations competing against each other. If you know any more about the story of Reepham, please let me know.

Reepham chapel and church have identical memorials.

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Andrew and Felicity Sayers moved to Leadenham before Christmas and from an email received this week, Andrew is getting out and about and noticing items of interest. He writes; I spotted this Canadian notification telegram for sale in Navenby Antique shop. It reports the death of Captain Thomas Whitmore of the Canadian Medical Services in August 1918.’

[How it has ended up in Navenby, I do not know. – Ed]

Andrew then had a stroll through Leadenham churchyard where he spied an Edwards family headstone that memorialised Edward and Sarah Edwards, and also noted the death of their son, Arthur, Killed in action in France on 16th May 1917.

Interestingly, the CWGC database does not list an Arthur Edwards killed on 16th May 1917, although there is an Arthur Edwards killed on 16th May 1915. I wonder if there was a mistake made on the headstone? Again, if you can throw any more-light on this matter, please let me know.

Doctor Thomas Whitmore was easy to find in the Canadian service records, and if it is of interest, here is the link.

WHITMORE, THOMAS (2 digital object(s)) Genealogy / Military / First World War Personnel Records

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Melvin Dobbs saw two posts on Facebook recently regarding the Ball family of Nottingham. The first was from Caroline Wood, who has attended some Lincoln WFA meetings in the past.

Caroline is related to the Ball family and writes; ‘Picture 1. of the two Ball Brothers with the following text:

The two Brothers are my great uncle, Captain Albert Ball VC, and my grandfather Second Lieutenant Arthur Cyril Ball.

Albert wore his hair parted on the left and Cyril wore his parted on the right.

Albert was the eldest but they were so alike as boys.

My Grandfather was instrumental in starting the ATC Cadets at Trent Lane in Nottingham, 138/139 Squadron as Wing Commander.’

Caroline’s FB post and picture neatly segued with another post regarding her grandfather, Arthur Ball, that was on the SMALL TOWN, GREAT WAR. HUCKNALL 1914-1918 Facebook page, which is run by Ken Grundy.

The post recorded Arthur Ball’s time as a prisoner of war and notes; ‘Second Lieutenant Arthur Cyril Ball, 60 Squadron Royal Flying Corps, was shot down by Vizefeldwebel Otto Esswein of Jasta 26 (pictured) and taken prisoner on 5th February 1918.

The brother of the Ace, Albert Ball, he was repatriated on 14th December 1918 and a week later was interviewed in the local press about his experiences during his captivity.

"PRISON FOR SMILING"

THE ADVENTURES OF LIEUT. A. C. BALL PLACED IN BARBED WIRE CAGE FOR EXHIBITION.

Lieut. Cyril Ball, R.A.F. son of Alderman and Mrs Albert Ball, of Nottingham, and brother of England's great airman, Captain Ball V.C. recounting his experience as a prisoner of war in Germany to a Post representative, said he was flying over the Hun lines in February last, and had just brought down a Boche, when he came under the fire of the land batteries at about 890ft; and was shot down. No sooner did he fall into enemy hands than he was stripped of all his clothes, with the exception of shirt and breeches, and made to walk six miles to a cottage behind the German lines, where he was told he was going to be shot.

Fortunately, the threat failed to materialise, and, after being kept three days on bread and water in an unlighted room, was placed in the custody of a Hun flying squadron before being handed over to the infantry, who removed him to Inglemunster, where he had two more weeks of existence on bread, water and a particularly horrible type of stew.

From there he was transferred to Ghent, where he was placed in a cage of barbed wire, guarded on either side by a sentry, and surrounded by the people of the town, who evinced a keen interest in the unfortunate victim of Hun kultur.

"It was not until I arrived at Karlsruhe" continued the Officer "that I got my first decent meal, but I did not remain long, and was subsequently two months at Landshut ‘ere my final journey into Prussia"

"The treatment accorded the British Officers in the latter State was, he remarked, terrible. Food with the exception of stew, was not forthcoming, and terms of imprisonment were given for no offence at all". 

Lieut. Ball for merely smiling at the Camp Commandant, received a short sentence; and one poor officer who attempted to escape was deliberately murdered by the guard, who approached within two or three yards of him and shot him in the face!”

"Hospital treatment, too, was simply awful. The buildings swarmed with vermin, and a man from the camp who had been merely shot in the foot had his wound so neglected that in the end his leg had to be amputated"

Nottingham Evening Post 21st December 1918.

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It has been widely reported in much of the media, the Sun newspaper and GB News are two outlets that spring to mind, that people have been buying up British war medals, 92.5% silver, just to scrap them and melt them down such is the value of silver at present.

Here are a few thoughts I have put together from the media reports. In 2026 a controversial trend has emerged in the United Kingdom: First World War British war medals are reportedly being bought and melted down for their silver content. The practice has alarmed historians, collectors, and veterans’ groups because it destroys physical artefacts connected to the sacrifices of millions of soldiers who fought between 1914 and 1918.

One of the main medals affected is the British War Medal (1914–1920), a decoration awarded to service personnel who served during the conflict. After the war ended, the British government issued millions of these medals to soldiers and the families of those who had died. Official records indicate that the medal recognized service across many theatres of war and was distributed widely across Britain and the Empire.

The issue in 2026 is largely driven by the rising price of silver. According to recent reporting, the value of silver has increased dramatically, rising by roughly 150 percent in the past year. Because the British War Medal is made from high-grade silver—more than 92 percent purity—and weighs about 1.2 ounces, its raw metal value has recently exceeded the prices many people previously paid for the medals themselves. 

For decades, many of these medals circulated in antique shops, flea markets, and online marketplaces for relatively modest amounts, sometimes as low as £20. However, with silver prices rising, the bullion value of the medal can now be significantly higher. Reports suggest that the silver content alone may be worth more than £70, making it profitable for scrap dealers or opportunistic buyers to purchase the medals simply to melt them down and sell the metal.

This has led to a situation where medals originally awarded for military service are being treated primarily as a source of precious metal. Once melted, the medals are destroyed permanently, and any engraving on the rim—usually the recipient’s name, rank, and service number—is lost forever. Historians argue that this information often allows families and researchers to reconstruct the personal stories of soldiers who served in the war. When the medals are melted, that connection to individual history disappears.

The trend has caused widespread criticism from collectors and military historians. Many argue that these medals represent one of the few surviving personal artefacts from the First World War, a conflict in which over 900,000 British and imperial servicemen died. Destroying them for scrap value is therefore seen as sacrificing historical memory for short-term profit. 

Some collectors and antique dealers have begun campaigns to rescue medals before they reach the melting pot. For example, one British antiques business has publicly offered to purchase medals at the same price scrap dealers pay for silver, but with the goal of preserving them as historical objects. Through such efforts, dozens or even hundreds of medals have reportedly been saved from destruction and returned to collectors or families interested in preserving their history. 

This is not the first time the phenomenon has occurred. In earlier periods of high silver prices—such as during the 1970s—similar waves of melting reportedly destroyed large numbers of historic medals. The current surge in metal prices has revived the same economic pressures.

Ultimately, the controversy highlights a broader debate about how societies value historical artefacts. To some, a war medal is simply an object made of precious metal. To others, it is a symbol of personal sacrifice and national memory. The destruction of these medals in 2026 illustrates the tension between financial value and historical significance, raising questions about how best to preserve the physical reminders of the First World War for future generations.

The medals of Richard Harvey of the Lincolnshire Regiment. Richard was aged only 16, and it would be a disaster if medals like these were melted down for their precious metal value.

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We finish as usual with a colourised photograph and short biography courtesy of Chris at Colour by CJS. I chose this man as he fought on the opening day of the German Spring Offensive on March 21st 1918.

“They charged, sabres drawn, just like at Waterloo.”

Lieutenant The Honourable William Hugh Cubitt

William was born in Knightsbridge, London, the third of six sons of Henry Cubitt, 2nd Baron Ashcombe and Lady Ashcombe of Dorking.

William was educated at Eton, and at the outbreak of war he joined the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, as a Cavalry Cadet.

He was commissioned in the 1st (King’s) Dragoon Guards in November 1914, and deployed to France on 22nd May 1915 and joined the regiment at the front seven days later.

William served in the Cavalry Corps throughout the war waiting for the “breakthrough” that would allow the horsemen to exploit the breach and lead to victory.

That opportunity never presented itself but William saw action in the Battle of Loos in 1915, in the Battle of the Somme in 1916 and at Arras in 1917.

And then, during the German Spring Offensive in 1918, he took part in one of the last charges by British Cavalry in the new age of tanks and machine guns.

In the afternoon of 21st March 1918, a mounted squadron from the 1st (King’s) Dragoons (The Royals) and the 10th Hussars was ordered to check the rapid German advance towards the vital Somme crossings near the village of Ham.

With sabres drawn, “Knee to knee at first, opening out a little as they dashed forward, the 10th and the Royals covered the ground at a gallop.  Many fell, among them Lieutenant Cubitt, but the German fire was wild and did not stop the horsemen, who came right in among them, cutting them down left and right.”

William was severely wounded in the charge and died three days later at 46th Casualty Clearing Station.

Today, William is buried in Noyon New British Cemetery. William Cubitt was just 22 years old.

Postscript

Baron and Lady Ashcombe lost two other sons in the war.

Captain The Honourable Henry Archibald Cubitt, 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards, was killed on 15th September 1916 on the Somme.

Lieutenant The Honourable Alick George Cubitt, 15th (The King's) Hussars, was killed on 24th November 1917 at Cambrai.

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In Memoriam the Lincolnshire Regiment 22nd March.

1915

9084 Private C Wells, 2nd Battalion, aged 24. Buried at Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, France.

7689 Drummer Ethelbert Valentine Shepherd, 2nd Battalion. Remembered on the Le Touret Memorial, France.

8504 Sergeant George Robert Hird, 2nd Battalion, aged 25. – Ditto –

5045 Company Sergeant Major C Newton, 2nd Battalion. Buried in Rue Petillon Military Cemetery, France.

15435 Private Arthur Seaman, 3rd Battalion, aged 19. Buried in Chatteris Cemetery, UK.

8310 Corporal Joe Beech, 1st Battalion, aged 36. Buried in Bristol Cemetery, UK

1916

Second Lieutenant Albert Edward Smith, 1st Battalion. Remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium.

3812 Private James Goodwill, 5th Battalion, aged 16. Buried in Ecoivres Military Cemetery, France.

1918

After the opening of the German Spring Offensive, 105 men of the Lincolnshire Regiment are recorded as having died on this day.

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

The 1916 casualties above are noticeable in so much as Private James Goodwill, who was killed by a rifle grenade explosion, was only 16 years of age, and Second Lieutenant Albert Smith’s photograph was easily found on line, and is attached below.

Second Lieutenant Albert Edward Smith. Note two wound stripes on his lower left sleeve,

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I look forward to seeing those of you who are travelling to Leeds on Friday.

Until next week,

All best wishes

Jonathan

www.jonathandhooghe.co.uk

e: trenchlincs@gmail.com

© Jonathan D’Hooghe