Trench Lincs 23rd November 2025
- trenchlincs
- Nov 22
- 23 min read
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Good Morning,
Welcome to this week’s offerings from Trench Lincs. We have a varied array of tales for you including more news from Nadine in Belgium, travel tales from John Pritchard and Ray Sellers, and an account of the walk to Snake Summit in the snow last Wednesday to visit the crash site of the B-29 Bleaklow Bomber.
And for those of you who live near to Lincoln, I hope I will see you at the Naval Club tomorrow night for my new talk – full details below.
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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?”
Tomorrow, I have the great pleasure in being your speaker. 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.
You can also click on the link below to see the Leadenham events for the first six months of 2026.
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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 final event for 2025 will take place on Thursday 11th December when the Annual General Meeting and Members Night will be held. All welcome for a 7.30pm start.
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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 is Tim Lynch, who will talk about “The Enemy Within – Germans in Britain 1914-18.”
Tim gave this talk in Lincoln in October and it is very informative. John Beech and friends at Ruddington would be delighted to welcome you if you can attend on December 12th.
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I received one email about this year’s Poppy Appeal and the RBL, and the general feeling that the annual Poppy Appeal is declining, especially amongst younger people.
The writer wishes to remain anonymous and wrote; ‘Following on from this morning’s TL: I used to volunteer as a RBL collector. This required me to stand outside, often in poor weather, in ?? City Centre.
An awful lot of people would say that they didn’t have any cash but would happily pay on a card. There were no card machines - probably a cost issue. So my takings would be relatively low, to the extent I had been able to count what money had gone into the collection tin.
Nevertheless, I felt that I was making a small but hopefully useful contribution.
Then the RBL found that it did have the cash ……not for card machines but for a DEI “person”.
Adios one volunteer!
The local RBL organiser is now always desperate for volunteers, which she cannot get. I have not said anything to her, but in my opinion she should have resigned, as maybe HQ might have noticed as she has been an organiser for years.
My suspicion is that this was a deliberate decision taken in the knowledge that it would provoke the inevitable response, and that it actually forms part of the attack on traditional values that is going on across the Country.’
The writer makes some interesting points. Do you have anything to add? Please let me know.
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Please click on this link to read the latest edition of The Tiger newsletter.
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There was a small but dedicated attendance for the annual Cambrai service at the Lincoln Tank memorial on Thursday 20th November.
Chairman of Friends of the Lincoln Tank, Richard Pullen, made the opening address and welcomed everyone present. Alwyn Killingsworth, read out all of the names of the Lincolnshire men who died whilst serving with the Tank Corps, and Neil the bugler was his usual immaculate self with faultless renditions of The Last Post and Reveille. Finally, Richard and Mike Credland laid wreaths at the memorial on behalf of FoLT and the WFA.
Following the service, attendees retired for coffee and cake at a nearby cafe.
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I will start this week with reader’s travels from Ray Sellers and John Pritchard. Both are regular contributors to TL and first up is John.
John writes; ‘I have been out and about - last weekend visiting friends in the Wirral, the posh side of Liverpool!
Shirley and I stopped on route to Birkenhead at Matlock Bath then Buxton. Here are the respective war memorials from each town.
Buxton
Matlock Bath
In Liverpool - close to the ferry landing there is a memorial for the merchant seamen who were lost at sea during the 2nd World War, there was an outdoor remembrance service held - in the rain, which was very well attended, and a ships siren sounded at 11 am for two minute’s silence.
John then continued; ‘I have just seen on YOUTUBE - a film trailer that is going to be released; "A Memory Owed" 15th November at 8pm.
It looks like it was filmed at East Kirkby and features the Lancaster "Just Jane".
It looks quite good and is free to view.
Please click on the link.’
Thank you John for the tip off.
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Ray has been touring the Emerald Isle and notes; ‘I spent some twelve days in Ireland back in October mainly to attend a major Shackleton gathering at his birthplace in County Kildare.
My wife and I toured the Republic back in 2006, and briefly visited Ulster way back in 1997, so I decided to catch up with some of the places we missed on these previous visits.
Here are some notes to accompany the first four photos, this time all taken in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Ulster.
Photo ending 89 is the VC Memorial. It’s really surprising that so many were from this one county in Ulster. Our friend Arthur Wood should take note.
Photo ending 98, is of the Enniskillen Castle which dates from circa 1500.
Photo ending 48 is the Regimental Museum within the castle grounds, devoted to the Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards and the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, both of which are well worth a visit.
Photo ending 76 is a display about Lawrence Titus Oates, who served with the Dragoons in the Boer War. He is better known for his participation in Captain Scott’s ill-fated expedition to the South Pole in 1912. – the man who sacrificed himself to help the other members of the expedition.’
Thank you Ray, and there will be more next week.
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It was good to hear from Alan Hicks again this last week. Alan has been continuing his research into Marianne Battelle Harris and has now penned this up date for us; ‘I wondered if your readers might find the following updated information of interest? It's a follow on from my story of the Harris family that you published in Trench Lincs a few weeks ago.
You may recall that my interest was aroused when I found a gravestone in the churchyard on Brant Road in Lincoln which contained the names of three Harris siblings. They were Marianne Battelle Harris, George Thorold Harris and Gilbert Thorold Harris. Marianne served with the Women's Royal Air Force and was based at Waddington. She died of pneumonia in early 1919. The two brothers "did their bit" and sadly failed to return home. George was killed in April 1918 and is remembered at the Tyne Cot memorial whilst Gilbert is buried in Egypt having died of wounds suffered in Gallipoli in August 1915.
I noted in my original piece that the brothers are remembered both on the Boultham Memorial and inside St. Helen's Church, but sadly that Marianne had no other recognition save for her own gravestone. I am happy to report however that I have discovered that a splendid memorial exists to all the women of the British Empire who lost their lives in WWI and is located within St. Nicholas's Chapel in York Minster.
Ancient stained glass windows named "The Five Sisters" dating back to 1250-1260 were removed from the Minster for safekeeping subsequent to a German Zeppelin raid on York in 1916. When the time came to reinstall the windows after the war had ended it was found that they were in need of some restoration and a fundraising campaign was started by a lady called Helen Page Little. She had been in Egypt in 1915 and seen the terrible sight of wounded soldiers being evacuated from the Gallipoli peninsula.
She recalled "I was witness to the untiring devotion under great difficulties of the nurses and other women who gave themselves up, entirely regardless of their own health, in some cases with fatal results, to alleviate the suffering of the men." Sufficient funds were secured to restore and reinstall the windows and money was left over which provided for ten oak screens to be designed and carved bearing the names of 1513 women who lost their lives during the war. Mrs Little deemed the screens "the Roll of Honour for the Empire's Female Dead."
The Five Sisters windows were rededicated in 1925 by the then Duchess of York "sacred to the memory of the women of the Empire who gave their lives in the European war of 1914-1918." I am pleased to report that Marianne Battelle Harris's name appears on the oak screens and she is therefore also remembered for her service to King and Country.’
The Harris brothers on the Roll of Honour at St. Helen's.
Thank you Alan for your ongoing work into Marianne Harris. You have unearthed a story that would otherwise have been lost in time.
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Last Tuesday night saw the first serious snowfall of the winter in the Derbyshire Peak District, and it was therefore, perfect timing for the proposed walk on Snake Summit to the B-29 Bleaklow Bomber crash site.
Last minute cry offs saw the party number only two – Steve Williams and myself. We parked up on the side of the A57 jumped out of the car and very nearly jumped straight back in again – it was freezing to say the least and the north wind was biting.
However, after donning our cold weather gear and making sure we had our flasks, we set off up the Devil’s Dyke, part pathway, part shallow stream all of which is part of the Pennine Way trail. After about a mile and a half, we stopped to check the GPS and then turned off the Pennine Way to cross another mile or so of open moorland.
The Devil's Dyke - Pennine Way.
Although the snow wasn’t ridiculously deep, it did blot out the tracks and after another twenty minutes or so, we stopped in a gulley out of the wind to have a cuppa and check the map once again. As Steve was orientating our route, I looked back down hill towards the Pennine Way and saw a lone walker heading towards us.
We waited for another ten minutes until the walker caught us up and introduced herself as Jenny from Southampton, who was in the area for a solo walking trip. Jenny explained that she was heading for the crash site too and she had seen our footsteps turn off the Pennine Way and had followed. It wasn’t a day or a landscape to be out on your own, so Jenny tagged along with us as we made the final ascent to the site of the crash.
The American B-29, on a routine flight from RAF Scampton to Warrington descended from low cloud and hit the second highest point in Derbyshire in November 1949, killing all 13 men on board. The impact was obviously catastrophic as we found debris from the aircraft scattered over a wide area, but many sections of the aircraft were recognisable – engines, a section of wing etc.
After taking the obligatory selfies and recording the crash site debris, we walked to the nearby Trig Point where I promptly slipped on the ice and landed on my backside! Fortunately, there was not too much laughter!
Steve and Jenny.
The three of us then set off down a steep descent and crossed two streams before meeting the Devil’s Dyke once again, which allowed a fairly gentle finish to the walk and arrival back at the cars. Saying goodbye to Jenny, who was setting off for home, Steve and I made our way home via a light lunch stop, which completed our wonderful and rewarding adventure.
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Charles Anderson’s lengthy piece last week into names that may or may not have been missed by the CWGC, elicited a revealing and detailed response from old friend, David Moore.
David comments; ‘Hope all is well and thank you for the latest edition of TL, keep up the good work, it is very much appreciated and I always look forward to your mail coming through every Sunday. [Thank you for your ongoing support David – Ed]
I'd like to offer a couple of responses to previous topics you posted this week, hope you find them worth a read? [We definitely do – Ed]
First, on the subject of the database of all Lincolnshire men:
After reading the article, I had a quick look and just picked out a name on the list: Albones, John George. Within a couple of minutes of online searching I had discovered the man, Listed as John Albans, 30247, 2nd Lincs Regt, Born Hagworthingham, Lincs, KIA -27th Feb 1917. (Previously noted as L/Cpl 92 Albans, arrived France 13/8/1914, transferred to Lincs Regt 7/10/1916)
No pension or service documents but all his other records are there to be found, and much more once you start delving deeper.
His pension card shows his wife Edith, with daughter Ethel, living Sausthorpe, Spilsby.(Next to Hagworthingham).
That's the joys and pitfalls of technology. Treat it as a modern tool and use it alongside the older methods, then read between the lines to try and make it as accurate as possible.
Those men of the early 20th century weren't as lucky as us...!
Reason for discrepancy? maybe he couldn't spell his name correctly on attestation? (My grandfather signed X, and he even gave his address wrong because he'd recently moved to Pinxton from South Normanton and probably couldn't remember it.)
The fault usually lay with the soldier, not the Army records office or IWGC.
Incidentally, John Albans(Albones) also lost his Brothers, William Albones 3rd Battalion Lincs Regiment 9th May 1917 buried at Hagworthingham, and Alfred Albones 8th Battalion Lincs Regiment on 31st January 1919 buried at Charleroi, Belgium.
There were three other brothers, Martin (DLI and badly wounded), Harry (Lincs Regt), Frank (Canada 1st Manitoba Regt, no overseas service), all served the colours. *note that all these were recorded correctly.’
Thank you for that explanation David, and it just goes to show how you have to check and re-check all the available information.
David then continued by noting; ‘I carry out many long hours of research on the names I locate as graffiti on the old stone walls and in the tunnels over in France, mostly servicemen of course, but occasionally women who served too.
During my research (on foot across the region as well as finger tapping at home) I often find that names on local memorials and websites are incorrect, insomuch as misspellings or incorrect initials, regiment etc.
Occasionally some names are not present at all, though usually through family choice. Then there are the names of individuals that seem to have no connection with a village/place of commemoration; but that is usually down to local history not being passed down verbally or families moving away and leaving no connecting history. If we leave it too long it just gets harder, how many of us wish that we'd asked grandad more questions!
The CWCG (Formerly IWGC), and every member of their organisation from Sir Fabian Ware down, conducted a massive undertaking to fully commemorate the fallen and to allow us to remember and pay our respects to each and every individual, and they continue to strive to do so today.
Of course there are going to be errors, but not too many when you consider the scale of the task!
The problem of errors in local and regional areas at home, be it on monuments, memorials or databases, is purely down to local management at the time, and there are many, many examples.
I take my hat off to Jonty and Charles, but it'll be a hell of a job to get everything 100% right.’
Secondly, David posted his thoughts regarding Thomas Hussey, the young man who was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1763 aged 10.
‘With regards to Thomas Hussey, I have tried and failed, to come up with any solid findings. He does not appear anywhere in 'The List of Officers of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, as they stood in the year 1763, with a continuation to the present time'... (John, Marquis of Granby, of course appears on that list)
He could have been a family friend of the Manners, possibly through the long history of the Hussey family line of John Hussey, 1st Baron Hussey of Sleaford d.1537. That's on the Church of England side of course; But there's another possibility, with an Irish/French connection (see interesting snippet below).
It is an extract from an Irish-British Army officers 1789-98 document, which documents an Irish (Dublin) family with connections in the military across Europe (Including the famous Bishop Thomas Hussey)
'The four Hussey brothers and their father were models of how each oiled the way for the next. The eldest brother, Peter, was sponsored by his father, retired Capitaine Miles Hussey, to become a cadet in Berwick's aged eighteen years, becoming a sous-lieutenant at twenty. The next eldest, Walter, entered Dillon's as a cadet aged fifteen, becoming a sous-lieutenant at sixteen. Then came William, who was entered on the books of Berwick's aged just eleven, receiving a sous-lieutenants commission aged twelve, whilst the youngest, Ignatius, entered Dillon's directly as a sous-lieutenant aged fifteen. It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that the declining age profile of each subsequent entry had everything to do with nepotism, either their father's connections or elder brother's or both'.
Strange to see the examples of early commissions into the French army of these Irish officers, although the issue of Catholicism no doubt had much to do with it. The Irish fighting in the French Army is a very interesting subject, apparently, it lessened the chances of military aged Irishmen fighting against the British at home!
Neither of the above resolve the question but it certainly adds to the conundrum!’
Following on from James Handley’s work in TL 9/11, David has certainly opened our eyes to what is out there if you know where to look!
Finally, David kindly brings us back to the here and now with work he has been doing at Nottingham Forest FC Academy. David writes; ‘I was asked to help out with the Nottingham Forest Academy and Rushcliffe Council for one of their remembrance day activities. The young footballers (under 12's) were very keen to help clean around the memorials at Musters Road, West Bridgford and on Victoria Embankment. They asked many questions, and I was very impressed with the attitude and respect shown by this younger generation. I spoke to them about war and remembrance, and we had a moment of silence at each site.
To stand at the Victoria Cross memorial in the Embankment Gardens and show postcard photos of young men in Khaki, some not much older than the lads were, was a very humbling experience for everyone involved.
Telling them stories of the professional footballers, men like Walter Tull, Tim Coleman MM, Donald Bell VC, all stories of young lads not much older than themselves, had some of them eager to learn more, so Albert Ball VC came up trumps, and they'll have a future visit to look forward to at Old Lenton and Nottingham Castle. The staff have also pencilled in a day at Laxton Holocaust Centre.
It's nice to see the younger generation taking up the flame. (And they all wore a paper poppy.)’
David engages with the young boys of the NFFC Academy.
The boys spent the day tidying and litter picking in the Memorial Gardens on Victoria Embankment.
The Nottingham VC Memorial.
That is a most heartening story David. Well done for spending time with these young men and passing on your knowledge.
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As the days worsen, weather wise, you may want to sit indoors with a cuppa and read articles of great interest. If you click on the link below, you will open Jon Sandison’s article, which has just appeared in the Shetland Times.
Jon, as you know, is an old friend who lives in Lerwick and teaches at the Anderson High School in that town. Jon does a magnificent job running a site called Shetlanders on the Western Front and he is most knowledgeable about the men of Shetland who served in the army during WWI.
Most men of Shetland served at sea in one form or another, so it is very important that Jon flies the flag for the men who served on land, including his own grandfather.
After you have read Jon’s work, you can scroll through the photos below which illustrated the article.
James Smith
John Hay
George Tulloch
William Sandison
Henry Cheyne
Magnus Moncrieff
Thomas White
Peter Irvine.
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Before we head to Belgium, I have some railway news for you, including a link to a wonderful short film about a WWI era narrow gauge Ruston and Proctor locomotive.
Firstly, though, Steve Baldwin drew my attention to three photos taken at the Quorn and Woodhouse railway station back in 2018 of a replica tank on-board a flat-bed railway carriage.
The accompanying text reads; ‘We posted yesterday, a photograph taken at Quorn station in November 2018 showing a recreated WWI tank train using a replica WWI tank and the GCR's resident 04 No. 63601 disguised as ROD 1912 which caused some interest.
The tank was called 'Shirley', and was built for an open air theatre production in Milton Keynes in 2014 and acquired by the now Quorn Senior Station Master in 2018, ready to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War in November.
Throughout the summer of 2018 she was restored and placed on a tank flat which was being restored at the same time by Quorn Wagon and Wagon.
Following the Armistice weekend, the pair ended laid up in the sidings at Quorn before Shirley found a new home being used to educate children on the First World War, and moved away in the Autumn of 2020.’
Bill Pinfold then chimed in with this news; ‘I just noticed this clip on YouTube. It is great that these special little trains, especially a Ruston and Proctor from Lincoln, are now emerging from hiding in a barn for so many years. It can be seen at the museum at Vale of Rheidol railway, Aberystwyth.
Please click on the link above to watch the short film.
Thank you Steve and Bill.
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Our good friend, Nadine, in Ronse, Belgium has been beavering away with her ongoing research as to life in Ronse during both world wars.
This last week, Nadine has come across a newspaper article from 1944 explaining the tragic death of a family of three.
Nadine writes; ‘Here is summary of a newspaper article which appeared on Saturday 13th May 1944 about the tragic death of a young family of three, a father, mother and their 5-month old baby boy on 9th May 1944 in an explosion caused by fuel tanks dropped from Allied bombers, no doubt on a flight to Germany.
This newspaper, t’Volk van Ronse (The People of Ronse) was not a clandestine newspaper, so appeared under German supervision. The journalists and the printer of that newspaper were considered people who collaborated with the enemy after the war and were sentenced by the Belgian War Tribunal.
The article reads as follows:
‘Three persons incinerated.
Tuesday at about 3:30 a.m., the people of our town were woken up by sirens. A formation of English and American airplanes appeared in the night sky above our town, when suddenly three burning fuel tanks were dropped, followed by a gruesome explosion. A house on Athstraat was completely destroyed, killing the inhabitants. The bodies of Georges Remi Declercq, 32, his wife Mariette Van Brakel, 32 and their baby José, born on 23 December 1943, were found incinerated under the rubble which was once their home. The mother was found still holding her baby in her arms.’
I explained to Nadine that the fuel tanks were most likely ‘Drop Tanks’ fitted to aircraft to give them a longer range, especially fighters so that they could escort bombers over their targets in Germany and home again. I assume a residue of fuel in the tanks ignited?
A German supporting newspaper was bound to report the incident in as bad light as possible for the Allies.
Below is a photo of Drop Tanks that fitted an American P-51 – as you can see, they were pretty hefty items.
If you click on this link, it will open Nadine’s PDF showing all of the photos relating to the article above.
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A Lincolnshire family of military repute was the Bromhead (pronounced Brumhead) family. Perhaps the most well-known member was Gonville Bromhead who won the Victoria Cross at Rorke’s Drift in January 1879 and was played by Michael Caine in the film, Zulu.
Gonville Bromhead was born in Versaille, France in August 1845. His was a military family and he had big boots to fill. His great grandfather had served under General Wolfe at Quebec and his dad had fought at the battle of Waterloo. Bromhead grew up in Lincolnshire and in April 1867 he purchased a commission into the 2nd Battalion 24th Regiment of Foot.
In the army he was soon nicknamed “Gunny” by his fellow officers and excelled at sport – representing the regiment at boxing, wrestling and cricket. Popular with the men, he was soon promoted to Lieutenant – a rank he still held when the battalion was sent to South Africa in 1878. One issue worth noting was that Bromhead’s hearing was steadily deteriorating by this time – although it seems he was still perfectly capable of doing his duty, it may have undermined his confidence.
He and his unit served in the Ninth Cape Frontier war against the Xhosa and It was during a skirmish with the enemy that the commander of B Company – Captain Godwin Austen – was accidentally shot and wounded by one of his own men…He was sent back to England to recover and the command of the company passed to Gunny.
At the start of the invasion of Zululand in January 1879 B company was tasked with defending the small mission station on the border at Rorke’s Drift which was now a store and a hospital. They were also to defend the nearby pontoons across the Buffalo river.
Eventually promoted to Major, ‘Gunny’ Bromhead served in India and died of enteric fever at Camp Dabhaura in Allahabad, India, on 9 February 1891, in his 46th year. He was buried in McPherson’s Cemetery, which is part of the New Cantonment Cemetery in Allahabad.
The inscription on his grave memorial states: ‘This stone was erected by his brother officers of both Battalions in token of their esteem.’
A fellow officer wrote:
"Major Bromhead VC was beloved by all ranks, and during the thirteen years I served with him I never heard him say an unkind word to or of anyone. He was the quintessence of an English gentleman, gentle, kind, modest to a degree, retiring – the soul of honour – a most perfect character indeed.
He had the misfortune to be deaf, but he was an exceedingly well-read and well-informed man on all subjects, and I never saw a trashy book in his hand. He was a good game shot, and a few years ago quite the best slow bowler in the army.
It will be a long, long day ere his place will be re-filled in the roll of the regiment which had the honour of claiming him."
Major ‘Gunny’ Bromhead – a true Lincolnshire hero and gentleman.
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On 12th November, I travelled down to Peterborough where Matt Colley gave me a guided tour of the Cambridge WFA Old Contemptibles exhibition. The exhibition at Peterborough Museum is on until the 27th of November, and it is well worth a visit.
The exhibition is small in size but crammed full of essential information, and explains clearly who the Old Contemptibles were and how you became one.
The focus of the exhibition is on nine men selected from the Roll of the Peterborough Old Contemptible branch and includes Corporal Charles Richard Sharpe VC of the Lincolnshire Regiment, who won his Victoria Cross at Rouge Bancs on 9th May 1915.
One of the other featured men is William Poyntz.
Also on display is the Old Contemptible Branch Roll of Honour which is a large book on loan from St. Kyneburgha church at Castor, where the branch laid up its standard in 1972. The book is currently open at the page which records William Poyntz’s name.
Therefore, what another amazing Trench Lincs coincidence it was when a family arrived to view the exhibition. One of the party, John Woolley, was over on holiday from New Zealand, and as he looked at the book, he suddenly blurted out that the name at the bottom of the page under Poyntz, Sergeant D Querney, was his grandfather!
If that wasn’t enough, the next visitor through the door was Andy Baker, a stonemason of great repute who has kindly assisted me in the past with renovations of war memorials in both Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.
I couldn’t have picked a better day to visit.
The Peterborough OC Standard, laid up in St. Kyneburgha's church, Castor.
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Having featured officers lately, I chose to revert to the ranks this week in my selection of a young man who gave his all and is now featured on Colour by CJS.
Private Frank Pailthorpe.
Frank was born into a working class family, along with three siblings, in Hyde, Cheshire in 1899, where his father was a joiner.
He served originally in the South Wales Borderers but was transferred to 13th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Frank was killed on 26th August 1918 during an early morning attack on Bazentin le Grand.
The battalion war diary entry for that day states that they suffered “4 other ranks killed, 27 wounded, 5 missing, 2 gassed”.
Frank Pailthorpe was 19 years old and today, he rests in Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval, Somme, France.
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We have discussed Great War propaganda over the years here in Trench Lincs, and this week I have a poster for you that should stir the heart of all True Englishmen. It was new to me, and shows just what is still out there waiting to be discovered.
In Memoriam the Lincolnshire Regiment 23rd November.
1915
13037 Private Bertram Owen Webster, 6th Battalion, aged 32. Buried in Pieta Military Cemetery, Malta.
18161 Private W H Foster, 8th Battalion. Buried in Chapelle D’Armentieres New Military Cemetery, France.
1916
Second Lieutenant Cecil Wilfred Spicer, 2nd Battalion. Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
1917
14995 Private A E Battram, 6th Battalion, aged 23. Buried in Noeux les Mines Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
201223 Private J Baumber, 4th Battalion. Buried in Chocques Military Cemetery, France.
41297 Private W Henry, 10th Battalion. Buried in St. Martin Calvaire British Cemetery, France.
43418 Private Stafford Hope Venton, 10th Battalion. – Ditto. –
Second Lieutenant William Harold Morris, 3rd Battalion. Buried in Coseley Old Churchyard, UK.
15214 Private A Kitchen, 6th Battalion, aged 22. Buried in Loos British Cemetery, France.
1918
Seven men are recorded as having died on this day following the Armistice. Five of them were in the UK, presumably succumbing to wounds received or the flu.
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
Hope you all have a good week, and I hope to see many of you tomorrow night.
Until next week
All best wishes
Jonathan
© Jonathan D’Hooghe
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