Good Morning,
All of a sudden March is coming to a close and hopefully spring is in the air. Did you remember to put your clocks forward one-hour last night?
It has been another busy week at Trench Lincs and I have received plenty of new material from our readers which you will find of interest in the next couple of weeks.
My trip to Normandy and the D-Day beaches is now only a week away, and our party of eight will be joined by Matt Kelly and his wife flying in from the USA, and I have just heard that our special Belgian friends, Nadine and Philip will be joining the party too. You will find more news from Nadine below.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS.
Next Meeting - Lincoln & North Lincolnshire Branch WFA - Monday, March 31st - Doors open 7.00pm for prompt start at 7.30pm - Venue: Royal Naval Association Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln, LN6 7BG.
Guest Speaker for tomorrow evening, Andrew Moody, presents "The Great War on the Silent Screen."
Andrew Moody is a WFA member and completed the MA in Britain and the First World War from Wolverhampton University in 2022. His dissertation was on the subject of the Great War in early post war cinema, on which subject he has written and lectured about for the last couple of years. He has also been involved in the independent project to build a full scale working replica of a Medium "A" Whippet tank which made its debut at Bovington Tank Museum's "Tankfest 24" event. The story of the real and working replica of "Musical Box", as the tank was named, is told in another of Andrew's talks called "Musical Box, 1918 and 2024".
His presentation this evening covers the decade following the end of the Great War, when cinema audiences boomed and movies were by far the most popular source of entertainment in the country. It was natural that the momentous events of 1914-1918 would feature on the silver screen in some form or another, but, exactly how could such a medium accurately and sympathetically represent the experience of the men in the trenches, and the civilian population caught up the conflict?
The 1920's movie industry produced many innovative, thrilling and imaginative popular films of the conflict, some of which have endured while most have been forgotten by all but historians and commentators on popular culture. Taking a look at the films of the 1920's and how the war was presented back to the people who had lived through it, the attempts at memorialisation and the introduction of melodrama, holds a mirror up to a traumatised society and a nation looking for meaning in a post war world that had changed forever.
In this presentation - which runs for around 60 minutes excluding a break for refreshments and questions - we will look at films such as The Lost Battalion, Ypres, Mons, The Big Parade, Wings, Tell England, Journey's End, Splinters and more! This view of history made for the silver screen is something completely different from our usual fare, and is not to be missed, but, should you be unable to attend, don't worry, you will have another chance to see it at Spalding Branch WFA on April 24th.
[REMINDER – I shall be at the Naval Club for 6.30pm on the night giving Steve Baldwin a lesson in Great War ancestor research. If anyone wants to join us, please do – Ed]
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The East Midlands (Nottingham) WFA Branch meets again on Friday 11th April at 7.30pm at St. Peter’s Church Hall, Church Street, Ruddington, Nottingham, NG11 6HA. All welcome.
The April speaker is Shaun Higgins who will present – ‘Strange Meetings’ The life of Wilfred Owen MC, in his own words.
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Next Meeting - Spalding & South Lincolnshire Branch, WFA - Thursday, 24th April - Doors open 7.00pm for prompt start at 7.30pm - Venue: Spalding Baptist Church, Swan Street, Spalding, PE11 1BT.
Guest Speaker for the evening, Andrew Moody, presents "The Great War on the Silent Screen."
Andrew Moody is a WFA member and completed the MA in Britain and the First World War from Wolverhampton University in 2022. His dissertation was on the subject of the Great War in early post war cinema, on which subject he has written and lectured about for the last couple of years. He has also been involved in the independent project to build a full scale working replica of a Medium "A" Whippet tank which made its debut at Bovington Tank Museum's "Tankfest 24" event. The story of the real and working replica of "Musical Box", as the tank was named, is told in another of Andrew's talks called "Musical Box, 1918 and 2024".
His presentation this evening covers the decade following the end of the Great War, when cinema audiences boomed and movies were by far the most popular source of entertainment in the country. It was natural that the momentous events of 1914-1918 would feature on the silver screen in some form or another, but, exactly how could such a medium accurately and sympathetically represent the experience of the men in the trenches, and the civilian population caught up the conflict?
The 1920's movie industry produced many innovative, thrilling and imaginative popular films of the conflict, some of which have endured while most have been forgotten by all but historians and commentators on popular culture. Taking a look at the films of the 1920's and how the war was presented back to the people who had lived through it, the attempts at memorialisation and the introduction of melodrama, holds a mirror up to a traumatised society and a nation looking for meaning in a post war world that had changed forever.
In this presentation - which runs for around 60 minutes - we will look at films such as The Lost Battalion, Ypres, Mons, The Big Parade, Wings, Tell England, Journey's End, Splinters and more! This view of history made for the silver screen is something completely different from our usual fare, and is not to be missed.
A still from the 1916 film - The Somme.
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The Leadenham Military History Group’s next meeting will be on Tuesday 22nd April, at Leadenham Village Hall with a start time of 7.30pm.
There will be a Show and Tell of Royal Observer Corps equipment from the 1930’s, followed by a Presentation by Chas Parker – “The Royal Observer Corps in Lincolnshire and Humberside.”
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The second presentation in the Friends of Lincoln Tank 2025 season of talks is fast approaching and will be held on Thursday 24th April. We are delighted that FoLT member David Moore will deliver his talk “Taking Refuge: (16th Tank Battalion graffiti at Gouy-en-Artois)”.
In David’s own words:
“In July 2017, a wall collapsed behind the Mairie/Ècole in the village of Gouy-en-Artois, Pas de Calais, France. It created an opening into a small tunnel network dating back to the 17th century.
Initial exploration with a group of local specialists revealed previously unseen WW1 names written on the tunnel walls that belonged to a group of men from the 16th Battalion Tank Corps.
This presentation will look at the work of the A.R.R.R.A.S. group and the findings of research conducted by me on the 10 men that left their names on the walls in December 1918.
Beginning with a short history of the creation of underground quarries in northern France and their development into refuges through to the present day, and onto the arrival of the British Army at Gouy en Artois in 1916 and the main topic on the lives of some of the men of the 16th Battalion Tank Corps that left their names on the walls of this village refuge in 1918”.
I am sure you will agree this sounds to be a fascinating talk covering a topic that I, for one, have never considered before and know very little of.
The venue will be, as ever, The Royal Naval Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln. The entrance fee for the event is £5.00 payable on the night on the door. Doors will open at 7.00pm for a 7.30pm start and I hope many of you will be able to join and support us on the evening. Refreshments will be available at the bar and there is plenty of parking available on site. Don’t forget you do not need to be a member of FoLT to attend. All will be warmly welcomed – old and young. See you all then.
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Another group who meet at the Royal Naval Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln, LN6 7BG are the Lincs Aviation Society.
I now have great pleasure in advertising their forthcoming events, which take place on the third Thursday of each month - entry is £2 for members and £3 for visitors.
The next speaker event is on Thursday 17th April at 7.30pm when the speaker will be Brian Riley who will present “Airborne Forces in South Lincolnshire 1944.”
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As I mentioned previously, my recent trip to York has elicited a lot of interest for a return visit.
Therefore, a date has now been set for Wednesday 30th April. I shall be on the 09.46 train out of Newark Northgate station and returning at 17.33.
If you would like to join the party (already 9 strong) please just book your train ticket and let me know. [3 are travelling by car – Ed]
We shall visit the Army Museum and the Kohima museum which expects to be open for our private visit. I will need to submit names (and vehicle registration numbers if not travelling by train) five days before the 30th, we will also to visit other attractions as time allows.
I look forward to hearing from you as to enter the Kohima museum, which is on MOD property, I will need to give your details in advance and you will need to bring photographic ID with you on the day.
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You will recall the very tragic death of Squadron Leader Mark Long last May 25th when a BBMF Spitfire crashed on take-off.
Mike Kennedy has now kindly made me aware of a service and the unveiling of a plaque in memory of Squadron Leader Long which is to take place on 24th May at 13.00h at Market Stainton.
Details can be found in the poster below.
Squadron Leader Mark Long.
[Looking at my calendar, I won’t be able to attend on 24th May, so if any TL readers aim to attend, please send me a photo or two – Ed]
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Tidying up the loose ends from last week, we are indebted to that expert in all things Victoria Cross related, Arthur Wood. Arthur has spent many years photographing and documenting the nation’s VC winners and this week, Arthur has kindly supplied the following photos from his collection with regard to the Bradford brothers, as discussed last Sunday, and Francis Grenfell.
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Richard Pullen was quick off the mark with an explanation about the model tank that I featured last week. For once, I was correct with my identification of the tank being a ‘Tadpole’ although, it never came into active service.
Richard writes; ‘A great issue of Trench Lincs yet again. The Tadpole Tank you ask about was a machine created by Wm. Foster and Co Ltd in Lincoln as an antidote to the wider trenches that the Germans were digging. A longer tank can obviously cross a wider gap much more effectively. Sets of the Tadpole Tails were shipped out to France and could be retrofitted to the existing Mk IV. The Stokes Mortar to the rear was supposed to be operated by a two-man crew who could fire smoke or gas bombs to help with the tanks advance or if many Tadpoles were advancing together, they could create their own creeping barrage.
The Tadpole Tails never saw action, as the adaptation made the machines far too long and almost impossible to steer, something now known in tracked vehicle design as the L over C ratio. Making the machine longer also made it unstable, leading to twisting and flexing, so the sets were left at the railhead and never fitted. In the end, the Tadpole was not needed anyway as the new, longer Mk V and Mk V* tanks were starting to come into service.’
Model of the 'Tadpole'.
Following Richard’s response above, I was not surprised to hear the next day from Alwyn Killingsworth.
Alwyn comments; ‘Thanks for another full and fascinating edition of TL. Obviously, I had to take up the challenge thrown down as regards the “tadpole tail” model tank. I think it would be easiest if I simply quote from the David Fletcher booklet published by Osprey titled “British Mark IV Tank” (pages 32-33 and still widely available).
“While the fascines used at Cambrai certainly worked they were a clumsy solution to a problem, being heavy, labour intensive and a one shot trick since they could not be recovered and used again. One alternative to the problem of wider trenches was to stretch the tank, although this would raise problems connected with steering. Fosters came up with a device known as “the Tadpole Tail”, which extended the track frames rearwards but, most of the time at least, remained clear of the ground. The attachment lengthened the tank by 2.7m (9ft) and required 28 more track plates on each side and an extension of the chain drive to the rear sprocket. As often is the case, the modified tank worked adequately well on trials but did not stand up so well to continued use, the tail being too light and flexible to remain rigid enough. A substantial number of these tails were made and shipped to France, but there is no evidence to suggest they were employed on service tanks. The original modified MKIV, a male machine, was used for various trials including sledge-towing and the mounting of a Newton mortar in the gap between the rear frames and set to fire forward over the tank. The Tadpole Tail was also fitted experimentally to the MK V tank, but it does not appear to have been popular with Central Workshops personnel in France, who came up with a solution of their own. This is more normally associated with the MK V, but there are some references that suggest that an early stage in the process a MK IV was adopted by having an extra 1.82m (6ft) section of hull inserted just to the rear of the gun sponson aperture, which effectively extended the body of the tank”.
So as can be seen, the tadpole tank was not a production model in its own right, but more an experimental modification to the existing MKIV and MK V machines. I have attached some photos which may be of interest:
1. A MK IV tadpole photographed outside the Foster factory. The painted outline of the original hull shows the extent of the lengthened tail.
2. The MK IV male Tadpole Tail, posed at Dollis Hill to display its rear extension and a 6in mortar mounted to fire over the tank. Tests were also carried out on firing from inside male sponsons.
3. Central Workshops France taken sometime in 1918 (Mediums A’s in full view) showing the stored and unused Tadpole Tails.
Thank you Richard and Alwyn and especially for the three fascinating photos.
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Last week we covered David Gray's story of the Belgian mother and child who were killed by a German shell whilst watching British wounded soldiers pass by. The story came from a letter written home to Peterborough by George Jantzen of the Northamptonshire Regiment. David wondered who George Jantzen was, and I was able to quickly find a surviving Medal Index Card for him, thus proving his existence.
Now however, thanks to Nick Davey, we can all read a lot more about George Jantzen. Nick writes; 'Further to the item in last week's 'Trench Lincs' (23 March 2025) by David Gray concerning the Belgian mother and her child, and your subsequent challenge regarding George Jantzen (1887-1935), I felt that I had to respond. When it comes to anything related to the Old Contemptibles, Peterborough or the Northamptonshire Regiment (during the Great War, Peterborough was part of Northamptonshire) you have my full attention. So when all three are involved in one item and there is also a challenge, then a contribution is sure to follow! So please accept the attached contribution and I hope that you may find it worthy of inclusion in the forthcoming issue of 'Trench Lincs'.
I am a Peterborough-based member of the Cambridgeshire Branch (WFA), and a colleague of Matt Colley in the branch's Old Contemptibles Research Group. For the last four years, I have been researching the 250 or so, members ('Chums') of the Peterborough Branch of the Old Contemptibles' Association. You will see in the footnote to my piece that I'm quite confident that William Evans, a member of this branch, was a half-brother to George. As the eldest sibling in the family it is likely that William was an important figure in George's life, especially as there was no father present at times. Indeed, both joined and served in the 1st Northamptonshire Regiment. Evans is one of the many men that I've researched, and my memory was jogged when I came across him while researching George.
I attach a copy of George's letter that was reproduced in the 'Leigh Chronicle' (21 May 1915, p.04), recounting his experience at Aubers Ridge on 09 May 1915. [Interesting to note how the ordinary Tommy was not necessarily aware of his location, as George believes Aubers Ridge is at Ypres? - Ed]
Thank you for all the effort that goes into producing a very informative and enjoyable weekly read. I really don't know how you find the time!' [Neither do I sometimes!! - Ed]
GEORGE JANTZEN (1887-1935), 7571, 1st NORTHAMPTONSHIRE REGIMENT
Sadly, George Jantzen appears to have lived a relatively short life and one punctuated by family tragedies. He was born in Grantham, Lincolnshire, in the July-August-September Quarter, 1887 to William (1845-1894) and Mary Jantzen (b. c.1862). William had been previously married to Martha Hubbard (b. 1852), but she had died in 1883. He subsequently remarried, to Mary (record not found, but c.1886), before his own death in the O-N-D Quarter, 1894 (Peterborough).
George Jantzen first appears on census return of 1901 living with his stepfather, Abraham (32 yrs) and mother, Mary Cook[e] (39 yrs) in Chapel Street, Peterborough, his mother having remarried in O-N-D Quarter, 1897 (Peterborough). George (13 yrs) is recorded as a brickyard labourer and is living with his siblings, Charles (14 yrs), Herbert (12 yrs), Nellie [Ruth Nelly on civil registration document] Jantzen (09 yrs), and William Evans (18 yrs) – see footnote. Ruth Nelly, now married, is the sister to whom the photograph of the Belgian mother and baby was sent to at 58 Bamber Street, Peterborough in the summer of 1915.
Militia attestation forms survive for George and show that he attested to the 3rd Northamptonshire Regiment (Service no. 7202) on 12 October 1904, in Peterborough. His age is recorded as 17 years, 10 months, and his occupation is given as labourer. One month later, on 12 November 1904, George signed up for Regular service with the Northamptonshire Regiment (Service no. 7571). Unfortunately, his service records documenting his time with the Colours have not survived, but if with the 1st Northamptons it is quite likely that he spent time overseas on garrison duty in India.
The 1911 Census records George as a 24-year-old ‘Soldier on Furlough’, residing at 174 Belsize Avenue, Woodston, Peterborough in a household now headed by his younger brother, Herbert Jantzen (22 yrs). His mother, Mary Cooke (49 yrs), and younger sister, Ruth Nellie [Nelly] (20 yrs) are also resident, but there is no mention of stepfather, Abraham. Mary is listed as married rather than as a widow, so presumably Abraham is alive. Whether he is just away, or has permanently left the family, remains open to speculation. William Evans is also absent , although his name and details are crossed-through, implying that he still makes up part of the family unit.
A year later, and perhaps having left the Colours and going on the Army Reserve, George married Eleanor Agnes Bland (born c. 1891) in the O-N-D Quarter, 1912, in Hull, East Yorkshire. George’s elder brother, Charles, was by the time of the 1911 Census, living in Hull with his wife Grace, having married in the October-November-December Quarter, 1910 (Hull). Herbert and Ruth Nelly would join their brothers and settle in Hull, in due course.
Evidence on the baptism record of George and Eleanor’s first child (see below) suggests that at the outbreak of war in August 1914, George was a reservist and was working as a Railway Shunter in Hull. At the time of his recall and mobilization, Eleanor was expecting their first child.
George was among the first contingent of 1st Northamptons (1st Division, 2nd Brigade) to set sail for France in August 1914. The regiment departed Southampton on 12 August aboard the SS ‘Galeka’ and disembarked in [Le] Havre on 13 August 1914. During the remainder of that year, he is likely to have taken part in the Retreat from Mons, the Battle of the Aisne, and the First Battle of Ypres.
Whilst records for George are scant, we do know that he was admitted to No. 2 General Hospital (Le Havre) on 15 October 1914 with a shrapnel wound to the left ear. He was discharged to a Convalescent Camp on 03 November 1914. Recorded as serving with “B” Company, 1st Northamptons, George is likely to have been wounded sometime between 09-14 October when the battalion underwent heavy shelling, according to the War Diary, although it states that “no harm” occurred.
Meanwhile, back in Hull, Eleanor gave birth to the couple’s first child, George Reginald, during the October-November-December Quarter, 1914. The baptism document (referred to above), records the parents as residing in Finkle Street, Cottingham, Hull. Tragedy was to strike, though. Eleanor was to die before the war was over, during the July-August-September Quarter, 1918, at the early age of 27 years.
A letter written by George to a [half-] brother, Harry, in Leigh, Greater Manchester, was published in the ‘Leigh Chronicle’ (21 May 1915, p.04), and entitled ‘800 Killed and Wounded’ (see attachment above – image courtesy of Findmypast). It describes the sheer horror and carnage experienced and witnessed by George at Aubers Ridge on Sunday 09 May 1915. This disastrous engagement saw the British sustain over 11,000 casualties and resulted in the decimation of the 1st (and 2nd) Northamptons. The 1st Northamptons suffered a total of 558 casualties, while the 2nd Northamptons, only recently rebuilt after losses at Neuve Chapelle in March, sustained a total of 426 casualties. The Northamptons were not alone in experiencing such shocking losses.
George Jantzen survived the war and subsequently remarried in the April-May-June Quarter, 1920 (to Eveline Cuthbert, in Hull). On the 1921 Census, George and Eveline are recorded as living at 05 Elizabeth Terrace, Bean Street, Hull, with George Reginald (06 yrs) and their first child together, Ernest Arthur (08 months). George’s occupation is given as Shunter (for North Eastern Railway) at the Paragon Railway Station, Hull [NB. During the Great War, NER lost a total of 2,236 men who had served overseas. They are commemorated on the North Eastern Railway Memorial in York. This was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens]. Tragedy, however, was to strike again. On Christmas Day, 1923, Ernest Arthur Jantzen died at the age of three years and two months. Having overcome the loss of young Ernest, Eveline gave birth to a daughter, Gladys, in the April-May-June Quarter, 1926.
George Reginald emigrated to Canada a few years after leaving school at the age of 14 years. He subsequently served in the Canadian Army during WW2.
And finally, a notice in the ‘Hull Daily Mail’ (31 August 1935, p.03) records the passing of George Jantzen on 29 August 1935, aged 48 years. He was survived by his wife, Eveline; his son, George; and his young daughter, Gladys. Although George was issued with his ‘Clasp & Roses’ on 23 January 1920, there is no record of him joining the Hull & District Old Contemptibles Association, which was formed in late 1926.
FOOTNOTE
I am quite confident that William [Henry] Evans was George’s half-brother, having been born prior to Mary marrying George’s father (William Jantzen). He also had enlisted in the Northamptonshire Regiment (20 April 1903 at Peterborough; Service no. 6969). Fortunately, his service records survive and next-of-kin information within the documents supports the suggestion that Mary is William’s mother and that George is a half-brother. William was among the first draft of men to reinforce the 1st Northamptons and landed in France on 27 August 1914. Although there is no record of a ‘Clasp & Roses’ being issued, he is nonetheless listed as a member of the Peterborough Branch of the Old Contemptibles’ Association. He sustained a bullet wound (back) in the 1st Northamptons’ (”C” Company) famed bayonet charge on 17 September 1914, at the Battle of the Aisne. This was also the day of the well-known ‘White Flag’ incident involving “A” Company.'
Plan of the southern pincer action at Aubers Ridge May 9th 1915. 1/Northants position can be seen on the British right flank at Chocolat Menier Corner.
A big thank you to Nick for this extremely detailed piece of work.
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I am pleased to include the latest snippet from Nadine in Ronse, Belgium. Her continuing studies into life in Ronse during the German occupation of 1914-18 has unearthed an unusual German edict.
Nadine takes up the story; ‘I came across this poster, one of many that were put up in the streets of Ronse during WW1, always to inform the people about new orders, never good news.
The poster, written in Flemish, reads as follows in English:
‘TOWN OF RONSE.
The Mayor of the Town of Ronse notifies the inhabitants once again that the German authorities shall severely punish those who still keep pigeons (a minimum two-year prison sentence) and that the town itself shall also pay heavy fines upon discovery.
He requests his fellow citizens to strictly obey the commands of the German authorities.
Ronse, 21 October 1915.
The Mayor of the Town of Ronse,
Dr. O. Delghust.’
No doubt the Germans were afraid the pigeons would be used to pass messages and ordered all birds to be confiscated. They controlled everything and everyone, or so they thought they were, not taking into account the inhabitants’ rather high degree of disobedience to and aversion of interference by any authority, let alone an occupying one. Not complying immediately with the orders given by the Germans was their way of opposition and resistance.
A few years later, Emmanuel De Gand wrote an entry in his war diary which indirectly refers to this pigeon snippet. He wrote in 1918:
’31 January.
All citizens received the order that as from 13 February all mattresses have to be taken to the Kommandatur. This certainly must be in order to recover the wool. We are simply told to sleep on straw. And so we shall do. But rest assured Fritz, we will sleep better and more peacefully than your Kaiser on his soft mattress and under his thick duvet. An elderly neighbour, a good man who in peace time always got up at the crack of dawn to check on his pigeons, now all stolen by the Germans, now gets up at nine. This good man, stretched out on his straw in the safety of his own bedroom, scoffs and mocks those who have deprived him of his fine woollen mattress.’
The German Army must have been in very dire straits by the beginning of 1918 to commandeer used mattresses to any extent and from where ever!
Yes, Nadine, it was a real sign that the Royal Navy’s North Sea blockade was having an ever increasing effect on the German home front, and this pressure would only intensify as 1918 wore on towards the November Armistice.
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Steve and Karl Williams have been walking in the Lake District in the past week, and they ‘conquered’ Skiddaw, not an easy walk/climb/clamber!
All the Walking Routes up Skiddaw | Mud and Routes click the link for more information.
Steve also kindly found time to send me these two photos from Keswick. The first is the Keswick town war memorial and the second remembers the men of the Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith Railway Company.
Keswick
Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith Railway Company.
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Skiddaw, is a mere pimple compared to the mountain ranges that can be viewed by visitors to Nepal, and recent Nepal visitors are Ray Sellers and his wife.
Ray travelled extensively and comments; ‘As you know, I have recently been to Nepal. As its neighbour is India, it’s NOT a destination for the faint-hearted! However, there are some excellent museums there. We visited The Nepalese National Museum, The International Mountain Museum, The Nepalese Military Museum, and The Gurkha Museum in Pokhara. Our readership will probably be most interested in the latter, so I have forwarded a small selection of photos I took there. We had a superb trip with glorious weather, beautiful mountain scenery, amazing wildlife, and stunning Temples. We were in a group of 12, but 8 of them, went down with the dreaded Delhi belly! Keep up the good work with Trench Lincs.’
This is a small selection of Ray's photos. If you would like to see some more, please contact me and I will put you in touch with Ray.
I was in Sri Lanka some years ago watching the cricket and had a full on attack of the Delhi Belly, so I can sympathise with those on Ray's tour who were affected.
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I had a lot to write about last week, so did not include a WWI colourised photo from CJS. However, an excellent photo has appeared on the CJS site this last week, and I reproduce it below for you.
The youngest Canadian serviceman to be killed in the First World War was Clifford Robinson Oulton.
Clifford was born in December 1901 in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. He had five siblings.
Aged just 14 he lied about his age and enlisted in the Canadian Army and he arrived in France in October 1916.
Serving with 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles he fought in the final stages of the Battle of the Somme in November 1916 and then, in 1917, he took part in the Battle for Vimy Ridge, the action at Hill 70 and later in the year he fought in the dreadful conditions of the 3rd Battle of Ypres – Passchendaele.
He was mortally wounded during an attack near Passchendaele village on the morning of 31st October 1917. Clifford suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was evacuated to Casualty Clearing Station 44 where he sadly died on 1st November 1917.
He is buried in Nine Elms British Cemetery west of Poperinge, Clifford Oulton was 15 years and 334 days old.
A further look this week at the CJS site uncovered another young Canadian. Here is his colourised photo.
Private William Edward Dailey.
William was from Ganonoque, Ontario, Canada. He too lied about his age and enlisted in the Canadian Army in July 1915.
He initially joined 59th Infantry Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and sailed to the UK in April 1916.
He transferred to the 4th (Central Ontario) Infantry Battalion and with that unit he fought in the Battle of the Somme and was killed in action on 7th September 1916.
He is buried in Sunken Road Cemetery, Contalmaison.
William Dailey was 16 years old.
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
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In the last TL, I reported on my Saturday afternoon touring various villages and Ducal estates in North Nottinghamshire. One village church that I visited was St. Mary’s at Edwinstowe but I did not write about it last week as one family name on the memorial stood out and I just had to do some further research.
The unusual family name was Rabbitt and there were four men with this surname on the memorial. My first port of call was the CWGC data base of the war dead, and somewhat to my surprise, I found that thirteen men with this surname died in the Great War.
The four that I was looking for were H Rabbitt, F Rabbitt, E Rabbitt and W Rabbitt. The first one to be identified was:
27861 Private Harry Rabbitt who served with 9th Battalion Sherwood Foresters. This battalion served alongside 6th Lincolns in 33rd Infantry Brigade, 11th (Northern) Division and were first deployed overseas to Gallipoli, where Harry was killed on 21st August 1915, aged 22 during the attack on Ismail Oglu Tepe.
[This action features in my current talk about the 6th Lincolns in Gallipoli – Ed] Harry does not have a known grave, and he is remembered on the Helles Memorial.
Harry Rabbitt was born in 1892 the son of the late Samuel, a gardener, and Maria Rabbitt née Cottam of High Street, Edwinstowe.
Harry's father, Samuel was born in 1853 at Kempston, Bedfordshire, he died in 1915 aged 62 years, Maria Cottam was born in 1855 at Edwinstowe, married in 1874 at Nottingham, they had 11 children.
Harry was the brother of William, Arthur, Fred (killed in action 8/7/1916), Theresa, Ida and Ivy Rabbitt. In 1911 they were living at Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire.
Harry Rabbitt
Private Fred Rabbitt. Fred was born in 1887 the son of Samuel (gardener) and Maria née Cottam of High Street. He married Edith Harriett Marrison (dob 20.11.1890) in 1914. He enlisted in the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters on the 5th September. He went into his training at Crown Hill Barracks, near Plymouth. He was drafted out to France the following December and went in to the trenches for the first time on Christmas Eve. He had 19 months of fighting in France without having been wounded, though he had been in hospital suffering from frost bite. His death on 8.7.1916, aged 29, was instantaneous being due to shell-shock. [Sic – most likely artillery fire – Ed]
He was a member of the Men’s Bible Union and Parish Church choir, possessing a natural alto voice, a regular communicant and a man of prayer. He was held in highest esteem throughout the parish, and universal regret was extended to his wife and mother. * Touching reference was made by the Edwinstowe Vicar, the Rev E V Bond, who said, “No words can adequately express our sympathy with his wife, mother and family in their bereavement. He was one of those quiet unassuming men whom we in the parish, and in fact England, can ill afford to lose.”
Fred Rabbitt
71862 Private Walter Rabbitt. He was the son of Joseph (woodman labourer) and Maggie and the brother of Ephraim (aged 20 see below), and Lewis Rabbitt. In 1911, he lived at Mill Lane and later 7 Hazel Grove, of the 11th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters, died on 8.10.1918. Walter enlisted on 27.11.1915, giving his age as 20 years and his occupation as labourer. He is buried in the Doingt Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France.
Walter Rabbitt's headstone.
301764 Corporal Ephraim Rabbitt was the son of Joseph (woodman labourer) and Maggie and the brother of Walter (killed in action 8.10.1918 see above), and Lewis Rabbitt. In 1911, they lived at Mill Lane and later 7 Hazel Grove. Both Joseph and Ephraim were woodman labourers. He enlisted on 27th November 1915 at Worksop. He joined the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry at Pontefract on 30th November 1915. His training was at Cannock Chase. He landed in France on 6th October 1916 and was serving with the 8th Durham Light Infantry when he was wounded on 25th April 1917 and died as a result of his wounds that day. Ephraim is buried in Bucquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux, Pas de Calais, France. He was highly respected by his workmates. The deceased was of a quiet and unassuming character, and of sober and industrious habits. * It was recorded that he was one of the very best N.C.O.’s. Ephraim was a man on whom we could always rely to do his best and be cheerful.
Ephraim Rabbitt.
Harry and Fred were brothers and Walter and Ephraim were brothers, and of course, the two sets of brothers were cousins. One can only imagine the sadness within the family and village as the news from abroad arrived in Edwinstowe.
Whilst doing this research, and without wanting to be flippant, I came across this picture of Germans on the Western Front after a day hunting Rabbits! and Hares etc. It sadly seemed apt.
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On Wednesday this week, there was an excellent turn out for the monthly outing at Newark Air Museum. I have to admit that I have driven by many times but had not visited until this week.
The museum has more to offer than meets the eye. The aircraft on display are primarily from the 1950s to the 1980s and many are household names to aviation buffs, Canberra, Hunter, Shackleton, Harrier, Jaguar, Lightning, Vulcan etc. but tucked away in some of the exhibition huts are little gems of items from both world wars, including, saved war memorials, photos, memorabilia and ephemera, and my favourite, a superb photograph that I hadn’t seen before of Captain Albert Ball VC, standing proudly complete with sword in the uniform of a Second Lieutenant in the 2nd/7th Battalion (Robin Hood Rifles) Sherwood Foresters – this was prior to his service with the Royal Flying Corps for which he is more famously known.
Second Lieutenant Albert Ball.
Shackleton
English Electric Lightning
Memorial to men of No.4 School of Technical Training.
Saved memorial remembering John Basil Pierce - KIA October 2nd 1918.
Saved memorial to the men of the Equity and Law Life Assurance Company that fell in both world wars.
Memorial to Guy Gibson VC - Presented by men of the Dutch Resistance.
Neat model of WWI SE5A.
In addition, there is an excellent café and shop on site and I can recommend a visit to you all.
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Last week, I finished by setting a quiz. I asked if anyone knew what tank stands today outside the courtyard at Thoresby Estate.
The answer is that it is a Conqueror Tank. The Conqueror entered service in 1955 and was due to serve in West Germany alongside the Centurion tank in the event of a Soviet invasion. In the end, only 180 were ever produced and after just 10 years, the Conqueror was withdrawn from service.
A correct answer was received from Peter Garland and Frank East.
IN MEMORIAM - The Lincolnshire Regiment 30th March.
1915
167 Private Thomas Gould Dennis, 10th Battalion, aged 22. Buried in Mablethorpe Cemetery, UK.
9817 Private Cecil William Wright, 1st Battalion, aged 17. Buried in Ramparts Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium. (**)
1917
30201 Private A Jackson, 10th Battalion. Buried in Faubourg D’Amiens Cemetery, Arras, France.
200752 Private William Henry Garrill, 2nd/4th Battalion, aged 19. Buried in Peronne communal Cemetery Extension, France.
1918
42874 Private A W Dowson, 2nd Battalion. Buried in Le Cateau Military Cemetery, France.
1919
43854 Private William Frederick Hill, 3rd Battalion, aged 20. Buried in Hounslow Cemetery, UK.
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
(**) Cecil William Wright was just 17 when he died of wounds at Ypres and was interred at Rampart Cemetery, Lille Gate, Ypres. He was the son of Frederick and Sarah Wright of Grantham, Lincs.
Hope to see many of you tomorrow night?
Until next week
All best wishes
Jonathan
© Jonathan D’Hooghe
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