Trench Lincs 5th October 2025
- trenchlincs
- Oct 4
- 26 min read
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Good Morning,
Welcome to October and sunshine holidays are now just a memory for 2025, although I am pleased to be safely back in Blighty.
Below, you will find news of forthcoming events, a short piece on my unexpected discovery on the island of Capri, some interesting replies to the recent the article about John Baxter from Shirlee Cottam and Tony Nutkins, and news about Riber Castle in Derbyshire courtesy of Dave Moore.
Mike Credland has a link for us between the London Royal Tank Regiment memorial, featured last week, and Lincolnshire, and Arthur Wood, the guru of the nation’s VC winners, has another photo for us and a mild rebuke for Ray Sellers! You will also see the next episode of Ray’s travels across the south of England.
I ran out of time this week to write about Pompeii but will hope to let you have my thoughts next Sunday. Hope you enjoy the read?
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FORTHCOMING EVENTS.
Next Lecture - Lincoln Branch Western Front Association – Monday 20th October - 7.00pm for 7.30pm start - Royal Naval Association Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln, LN6 7BG.
October 20th - Tim Lynch presents "The Enemy Within: Germans in Britain, 1914-1918".
More details to follow.
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The East Midlands (Nottingham) WFA Branch meets again on Friday 10th October at 7.30pm at St. Peter’s Church Hall, Church Street, Ruddington, Nottingham, NG11 6HA. All welcome.
The speaker on this night will be Spencer Vignes who will talk about “The Life and Death of Leigh Roose, Sportsman and Soldier.”
Leigh Richmond Roose - The Story of Football's First Playboy Click the link to learn more about this talk.
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Next Meeting – Spalding & South Lincs Branch WFA – Thursday, 23rd October – Spalding Baptist Church, Swan Street, Spalding, PE11 1BT - Doors open 7.00pm for 7.30pm.
Dr. Scott Lindgren - presents "A Concept Vindicated: The Battle of the Falkland Islands, 1914.
More details to follow.
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The Leadenham Military History Group’s next meeting will be on Tuesday 28th October, at Leadenham Village Hall with a start time of 7.30pm. The evening will consist of two talks.
The Grand Old Lady – A Short History of HMS Warspite, the Royal Navy’s Most Decorated Ship – By Tim Sisson.
RAF Bruggen Tornado Operations 1988-1998 – By Dave Bentley.
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The next presentation in the Friends of Lincoln Tank 2025 season of talks will be held on Thursday 30th October when Peter Jacobs will present for ‘King and Country’.
The venue as usual is the Royal Naval Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln, LN6 7BG. 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Everyone welcome.
Talk Title – For King & Country at Loos.
‘Deeply regret to inform you that 2/Lt C F B Hodgins 2/Wiltshire Regt is reported killed Sept 25/26. Lord Kitchener desires to express his sympathy. Secretary War Office.’ – Telegram from the War Office dated 29 September 1915.
This is the true and previously untold story of one man’s war on the Western Front during the First World War. As a young man, still in his teens, Charlie Hodgins answered the call to ‘do his bit’ for King and Country. Like so many others, he was never to return. He was killed on 25 September 1915, on the opening day of the Battle of Loos. According to an officer in his battalion, he died 'leading his men with great gallantry, and even when wounded, tried to rise and take them on'. Drawing on the many letters, photographs and telegrams Charlie sent home, along with newspaper articles, war archives and other personal accounts, historian Peter Jacobs has pieced together the final moments of Charlie’s short life. This is a compelling and poignant tale of personal courage and one family’s loss. But it also tells of the tragedy and suffering experienced by a generation of men during the First World War.
The Speaker – Peter Jacobs.
PETER JACOBS served in the Royal Air Force for thirty-seven years as an air defence navigator on the F4 Phantom and Tornado F3, after which he completed staff tours at HQ 11 Group, HQ Strike Command, the Ministry of Defence, and the RAF College Cranwell. He has written twenty-three books on military and aviation subjects, and as well as being a keen military historian, he is an active speaker and cemetery tour guide with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
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Another group who meet at the Royal Naval Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln, LN6 7BG are the Lincs Aviation Society.
I now have great pleasure in advertising their forthcoming events, which take place on the third Thursday of each month - entry is £2 for members and £3 for visitors.
The next speaker event will be held on Thursday 16th October when the seas will replace the skies and Dave Drury will present – “The Loss of HM Submarine Thetis.”
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In conjunction with Robin Sayer, we are organising an outing for October, on Wednesday 22nd. The outing is open to everyone, but you will need to make up your own travel groups.
Robin writes for us; ‘As discussed a couple of weeks ago please find a bit more detail on a trip to Eden Camp, Malton, North Yorkshire. Proposed date is now WEDNESDAY 22nd October.
Eden Camp is a family owned and run business that started over 30 years ago.
Originally a prisoner of war camp, it was built on an agricultural plot on the outskirts of Malton in early 1942 by a small contingent of army personnel who had travelled down from Castle Douglas, in Scotland.
Their task was to construct a barbed wire enclosure and erect tents to form a temporary camp to house Italian prisoners of war captured by Allied forces in North Africa. The camp’s location on Eden Road earned it the name ‘Eden Camp’ and its first residents, 250 Italian prisoners, were escorted from Oldham and marched through Malton to their new home. Once settled, they began work on constructing a larger and more permanent camp. At its peak, Eden Camp was supplemented by a large area of tented accommodation and could house around 1,200 prisoners at any one time. The Italian prisoners gave way to German POW’s in the summer of 1944, with the successful Allied invasion of Normandy. The German prisoners, like the Italians before them, were put to work locally in agriculture and they lived in the huts at Eden camp until 1948, when they were finally released, three years after the war had ended.
In 1985, local businessman Stan Johnson discovered that POW Work Camp 83 was still generally intact and thirty-five of the original huts were in roughly the same condition as when the last of 1,200 inmates left for the ‘Fatherland’ in 1948. Mr Johnson brought the site and initially invested £750,000 to create, within the original camp, the world first Modern Theme Museum.
The huts have been re-equipped to tell the story of the People's War, the social history of life from 1939 to 1945. So many simple display exhibits in cabinets are dull affairs, but not Eden Camp. Realistic tableaux, with moving figures, authentic sounds and smells have been created to “transport you back in time.”
Each hut covers a different aspect of the war, starting with the rise of the Nazi Party, Hitler and the outbreak of the War. Other topics include: Rationing, ‘Save It’ Campaigns, Evacuees, Propaganda, Home Guard, Home Front, The Blitz, Air Raid, and Gas Precautions, Animals at War, The Land Army, The Street at War, Women at War, Timber Girls, The Munition Factories, The Observer Corps, The Auxiliary Fire Service, The Green Howards, The WRVS, The Red Cross, Civil Defence Corps, The Rescue Services, The Bevan Boys, and of course WW2 Army, Navy, Royal Air Force, WW1, The Falklands War etc.
During the winter months of 2012 and 2022 significant refurbishment works have been undertaken around the site - a new Blitz experience in Hut 5, a re-modelled front entrance and new exhibition spaces including a huge Heritage Exhibition Hall which provides an undercover display of a growing collection of unique and rare military vehicles and equipment. including 2 CVRT variants Swingfire (anti-tank missile) and Striker (Javelin anti-aircraft Missile) [both of which I qualified as a Warrant Officer instructor, says Robin]
Eden camp is a museum with a difference. It is historical, educational, exciting and good day out allow at least 3 to 4 hours to visit.
Eden camp has a well-stocked cafe and of course a gift shop, parking is free.
Admission is £19 on the day or £17 if booked on line.
EDEN CAMP, Malton, YO17 6RT.
World War 2 Museum Yorkshire: Eden Camp Modern History Museum Click the link to view the web site.
We aim to meet at the camp from around 10.30am, so please let me know if you are able to make a car load and attend this special day out.
For those of you who want to set off a little earlier, Robin and I will be visiting Norton Cemetery, Beverley Road, Malton, YO17 9ND at 9.30am – anyone is welcome to join us.
Lying in Norton cemetery is my ancestor Sapper Maurice D’Hooghe. Maurice worked for the Ordnance Survey prior to 1914 and therefore, it is no surprise that he was enlisted into a mapping company of the Royal Engineers.
Although he was not a front line fighting soldier, Maurice was not immune to the perils of war and as he surveyed the front, he was badly affected by gas, evacuated back to the UK, he did not recover and died of the effects of the gas in 1919.
You can read more about Maurice [And my other ancestors who served in the 14-18 war by clicking on my web site using the link below – Ed]
Maurice Wright D'Hooghe - Jonathan D'Hooghe
Sapper Maurice D'Hooghe
I look forward to hearing from you and I hope we get a good turn out on the day. (Weds 22nd October) Both Melvin Dobbs and Peter garland are making the journey and have seats available in their cars – let me know if you would like a lift.
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Now that we are into October, I am very pleased to remind you all once again of the upcoming Old Contemptibles exhibition that will be held in Peterborough at the end of the month.
Peterborough Great War Exhibition - 25th October to 27th November 2025 - Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery, Priestgate, Peterborough, PE1 1LF.
Peterborough Museum's Community Gallery will present an Exhibition dedicated to the memory of a special group of men who fought bravely and survived The Great War, 1914-1918. On this, the Centenary of the formation of "The Old Contemptibles' Association" we will remember them. The exhibition will run from Saturday, 25th October to Thursday, 27th November, 2025.
Almost 250 of these men were members of the Peterborough Branch of the Old Contemptibles' Association and met regularly at local venues. They came from both the city itself, and surrounding villages. The Exhibition, organised by the Cambridgeshire Branch of the Western Front Association, will reveal the fascinating story of the full lives of some of these men, including where they were born, their military service, working lives, families and homes. Discover how the group earned the curious nickname "Old Contemptibles", find out about the "Old Contemptibles Association" they belonged to,and the royal recognition the Association received.
The Exhibition is the result of the research into the Peterborough Old Contemptibles' Association by the Cambridgeshire Branch of the WFA's OCA Research Group. The Exhibition will also host two very special lectures, which will be held, at 11.00am, in the Howe Room at Peterborough Museum.
The first takes place on Saturday, 25th October, when Andrew Thornton will deliver a talk on "The Old Contemptibles' Association". The second will take place on Saturday, 1st November when Taff Gillingham will present a talk on the "British Expeditionary Force Battles in 1914". Tickets for the talks cost £5.00 and must be purchased online from the Museums website.
Matt Colley has also sent me this link for you to find out more about the event courtesy of The Moment magazine.
Here’s a direct link to The Old Contemptibles article:
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Andy Blow from Blow by Blow productions has been in touch and I am pleased to let you have his latest news below.
Andy writes; ‘
Guy Martin and the WW1 Tank.
More tank news this month in the wake of Guy Martin's successful visit to Lincoln to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the invention of the tank in the White Hart Hotel in 1915. Click on the link above to watch the film.
Tank Tour Two, talks with films and images, featuring Military Historian Richard Pullen and myself as a filmmaker with a long interest in the story, has three coming dates.
On Remembrance Weekend - Saturday and Sunday, November 8 and 9 - Richard and I will present our show in the Lecture Room at the Museum of Lincolnshire Life. There will be a preamble on the floor of the Museum as Richard introduces Daphne, the Museum's own WW1 tank.
Arrive at 1.30pm for an event lasting (with breaks) until 4pm. LIMITED SPACE so LIMITED TICKETS.... only 45 each day (price £12).
Tank Tour Two Tickets, Museum of Lincolnshire Life, Lincoln | TryBooking United Kingdom
There will be more room - but no tank! - when we present at Wragby Town Hall on Thursday November 13th at 7.30 pm. for Wragby Heritage Society. Ticket info to follow early next month - or get in touch.
Our YouTube Channel has gradually filled with 32 films, now viewed by 90,000 visitors. If you'd like to choose from a smorgasbord of largely local films, teasers and trailers, and footage samples, click on the link.
When you get to the Channel please sign into You Tube and Subscribe to the Channel.
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Mike Credland, with his design and artistic flair, has a keen eye for a memorial and with regard to Melvin Dobbs’ photos of the Royal Tank Regiment memorial writes; ‘I was interested to see Melvin Dobbs' photograph of the London Royal Tank Regiment Memorial in Sunday's edition of TL.
I have to admit that I much prefer stories relating to our beloved County. Therefore, to relate the London Tank Memorial to Lincolnshire, I thought readers may be interested to learn that the superb bronze figures were by Vivien Mallock who also executed the magnificent statue of Lord Trenchard at RAF College Cranwell (picture attached). Her commissioned projects in particular are outstanding and include the Hougomont Memorial at Waterloo, the Askari Soldier statue at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire and another of Winston Churchill. Vivien Mallock is a truly accomplished and well-respected sculptor and it is a real honour to have an example of her work in Lincolnshire.’
Statue of Lord Trenchard at Cranwell.
I will admit right away, that I am not au fait with the work of Vivien Mallock, so thanks to the better traits of the internet, I looked her up.
Vivien is now 80 years of age and this biography is from her website; ‘Vivien Mallock’s work, principally in bronze, covers a wide spectrum from portraiture and large monuments to small figurative pieces of both human and wildlife subjects.
She has been a member of the Royal Society of British Sculptors since 1998 and is much in demand for bronze portraits.
Her largest work to date, the nine-foot memorial to the Royal Tank Regiment, unveiled by HM The Queen in 2000, stands in Whitehall Court and depicts the five-man crew of a Comet tank. In 2013, her large bronze roundel bass relief portrait of Her Majesty the Queen was unveiled in the Great Hall in Winchester.
She has completed a number of public sculptures of military figures, eight of which constitute a unique series in Normandy, of every level of command from ‘Monty’ (a second casting of which is installed in Portsmouth) to Major John Howard near Pegasus Bridge. [I have seen this many times but never put two and two together – Ed] She recently completed a memorial bronze bass relief of the Polish Commander Major General Stanislaw Sosabowski near Arnhem and in early 2014 her bust of Winston Churchill was unveiled in the Pentagon’s Hall of Fame as a gift from the British Government to the US Department of Defence.
In 2015, the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo, her memorial to the British who fell in 1815 was unveiled in Hougoumont Farm at the scene of the battle. Her most recent subjects have varied from footballers Brian Clough and Arthur Wharton to Sir Walter Raleigh. She was the last artist for whom Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother sat for a portrait. In October 2013, her bronze memorial to the Army Air Corps, a golden eagle, was installed at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. This has been joined more recently by regimental memorials to the Devon and Dorset Regiment and the King’s African Rifles.
Her most recent public work was a 7-foot statue to Lord Trenchard at RAF College Cranwell in 2020, the centenary of the College.
Between her commitments to commissions, she also enjoys sculpting smaller works of animals, birds and human subjects, many of which rely for their effect on her ability to suggest activity and character.’
You can view her web site with a click here Home - Vivien Mallock
Thank you for the pointer Mike.
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We continue now with Ray Sellers’ tour around the south of England. Having been to the New Forest, as detailed last week, Ray notes; ‘PHOTOS ENDING 301, and 310 are in the Church at the village of East Wellow. This church too has much information, this time on Florence Nightingale.
Florence in old age.
PHOTO ENDING 330 is the family vault in the churchyard, where Florence is buried.
PHOTO ENDING 356, is Lord Mountbatten’s grave in Romsey Abbey. Since I last visited the Abbey, they have installed a memorial window to Florence Nightingale, to commemorate her recent 200th anniversary, which is shown in PHOTO ENDING 361.
Lord Mountbatten's final resting place.
The new Florence Nightingale window.
PHOTO ENDING 381, is in the Romsey War Memorial Park. This Japanese gun was donated by the late Lord Mountbatten. He was of course, Commander of SEAC, i.e. South East Asia Command during WWII. PHOTO ENDING 383, is the Warhorse statue, inspired by the story of Jack Seely, and his mount Warrior.’
Thank you Ray for a selection of interesting and different memorials, and there will be more from Ray next week.
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Matt Colley has been in Belgium and writes for us; ‘I have just completed a short cycling holiday around the Ypres Salient.
Famous sites visited include Essex Farm Cemetery, the German Cemetery at Langemark, Poelcapelle, the Brooding Soldier Canadian Memorial, Tyne Cot CWGC Cemetery, the Menin Gate, Sanctuary Wood, Hill 62, the Caterpillar, Hill 60, Messines Ridge and the Christmas Truce memorials.
The guide led the way through marvellous countryside and in perfect conditions. In two days it is not possible to stop and look at every site, we passed dozens of memorials and CWGC Cemeteries using cycle ways and paths. The importance of the terrain becomes so much clearer when you are not in a car and there are a surprising number of hills and slopes – all with their part in the history of the Great War.
Ypres was often visible, even after more than a century of tree growth, and it was always below us. [I totally agree with this point. You will never understand the fighting unless you view the ground – Ed]
Essex Farm clearing station is still there and that was the location for John McCrae to write “In Flanders Fields” after his friend was blown up by artillery. A headstone for a fifteen-year old killed in January 1916 is very poignant.
We have featured yound Strudwick before in TL, but it is always good to remember such young men who gave their all for the Great Cause.
St George’s Church in Ypres has plaques for so many – one had been installed to recognise 30 Battalions of the Sherwood Foresters who served, and of local interest, I spotted the Horncastle Grammar School memorial.
St. George's chapel, Ypres.
The autumn sunlight coming through the trees at Hill 60 picked out the still visible shell craters. It is difficult to comprehend the mining, counter mining and bloodshed that took place here.’
Thank you Matt, the Western Front by bicycle is becoming a very popular way to see the locations and view the battlefields.
Cycling the Battlefields – Cycle the battlefields of the First World War with Jeremy Banning Here is one such link to click.
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Whilst away, my wife and I took a boat excursion to the island of Capri. The isle of Capri is probably best known to a certain age group of Britons as having been the home of the music hall queen, Gracie Fields.
If you don’t know about Gracie, then click here - The Official Gracie Fields | The website for 'The Dame Gracie Fields Appreciation Society'
Today, her home, as we discovered, is no longer a visitor attraction, it has been bought by the Swarovski jewellery family and is once again a private home.
We read a lot these days about protest groups who are opposed to over tourism and in my opinion, Capri needs to control the numbers of visitors. It is a very small land mass with 1000’s of daily visitors, but of course, if visitor numbers reduced, so would the income of the shop owners, restaurant owners and hoteliers – it is a delicate balance.
The two main towns on the island are Capri and Anacapri and we visited both, enjoying a good lunch in Capri and having a good walk around the shops, bars, churches and tourist attractions.
Surprisingly, both towns had erected war memorials after the Italian 1915-18 Great War fighting. In addition, both war memorials contained further plaques for the country’s war dead of 1940-43. I did not expect such a small island community to have provided so many men to both conflicts and discovering their existence made my day! [I am not sure that Jill agreed! – Ed]
Capri war memorial. the additional tablets added on each flank are for the dead of 1940-43.
Detail from the memorial.
Memorial at Anacapri.
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I promised Maureen Connelly last week that I would find a Colour by CJS life story and colourised photo of a soldier who survived the Great War, rather than one who died, usually so young with all of their life ahead of them.
Here it is:
Company Sergeant Major Thomas Kenny VC.
Thomas Kenny was born near Hartlepool, County Durham in 1882. When he left school he worked in a local quarry and then at Wingate colliery.
In 1903 he married Isabella Applegarth and by 1914 the couple had seven children. Thomas enlisted on 16th September 1914 and joined 13th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry.
Thomas’ battalion deployed to France in August 1915, and on the evening of 4th November 1915 near La Houssoie, Thomas accompanied Lieutenant Philip Brown out into No Man’s Land to oversee a working party. The conditions were dark and foggy and in the poor visibility they could not find the men.
As they abandoned their quest and set off back to the British lines a single shot rang out and hit Lt. Brown in both legs. Coming under concentrated fire, Thomas crawled for an hour with his wounded officer on his back under the heavy rifle and machine gun fire.
Thomas left Lt. Brown in a place of relative safety and continued back to British lines to get help. He then led an officer and seven volunteers back out into No Man’s Land and they managed to retrieve Lt. Brown, although one of the party was killed during the rescue and another mortally wounded.
Despite reaching a dressing station, Lt. Brown died of his wounds two hours after being rescued.
For his heroic efforts to save the officer, Thomas was awarded the Victoria Cross. His citation reads:
“For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on the night of 4th November, 1915, near La Houssoie. When on patrol in a thick fog with Lieutenant Brown, 13th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, some Germans, who were lying out in a ditch in front of their parapet, opened fire and shot Lieutenant Brown through both thighs. Private Kenny, although heavily and repeatedly fired upon, crawled about for more than an hour with his wounded officer on his back, trying to find his way through the fog to our trenches. He refused more than once to go on alone, although told by Lieutenant Brown to do so. At last, when utterly exhausted, he came to a ditch which he recognised, placed Lieutenant Brown in it, and went to look for help. He found an officer and a few men of his battalion at a listening post, and after guiding them back, with their assistance Lieutenant Brown was brought in, although the Germans again opened heavy fire with rifles and machine-guns, and threw bombs at 30 yards distance. Private Kenny’s pluck, endurance and devotion to duty were beyond praise.”
He was presented with his VC by the King in London in March 1916.
Thomas Kenny fought on the Somme where he was wounded in October 1916, but not before he had saved the life of Sergeant Moody of his battalion who had lost a leg during the fighting.
In 1917, Thomas Kenny and his battalion transferred to the Italian front where he saw further action in support of the Italians before he was promoted to Company Sergeant Major and arrived back in France in the spring of 1918.
After the war he returned to Wingate Colliery and later worked in a stone quarry.
During the Second World War he served in the Local Defence Volunteers - Home Guard.
Thomas sadly died in November 1948 aged 66. [Sorry Maureen, but as I reached the end of my research, I discovered that he died as a result of a pit accident - Ed]
Thomas Kenny VC.
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The colourised photos of the last two weeks have featured George Smedley and John Baxter.
John Baxter was the last man of the London Irish Rifles to be killed in action in the Great War on 7th November 1918, and this prompted Shirlee Cottam to contact me.
[I have to admit that when readers are tempted to dip into research, it gladdens my heart and makes me feel that TL is having the desired effect – Ed]
Shirlee writes; ‘I was taken by the tale of Second Lieutenant John Denham Baxter.
I just thought I would have a look on Ancestry. I think he was born in Ireland as I found the below pictures if they are of interest? There is another man of the same name who was born in England, but he was a private in the Royal Army Medical Corps, and died of Typhus in March 1920.’ [Being born in Ireland and serving with the London Irish Rifles hits the spot Shirlee. I am delighted that you felt the urge to find out more – Ed]
As I alluded last week, I knew this tale would be of great interest to Tony Nutkins. Sure enough, Tony comments; ‘Thanks for another excellent edition of Trench Lincs especially as you are on holiday.
There are the usual quality contributions from readers also.
2nd Lt. John Baxter 1/18th battalion the London Regiment (London Irish Rifles) was the last k.i.a. of the battalion in WWI and was noted by me some years ago. As you say, there is very little about him to be found, even in the LIR Museum collection. I visited his grave at Willems communal cemetery some years ago, photograph attached - the local community look after the British graves in the cemetery.’
Tony continues; ‘The photograph last week in Big Willie Trench was also of great interest to me.
Previously, TL has featured my ancestor, Guardsman Frederick Nutkins, wounded with the Grenadier Guards in one of the October 1915 bombing actions at Big Willie Trench and died of his wounds, 23rd October 1915. You have visited his grave at Lapugnoy as I have a number of times, original picture postcard photograph of the cemetery is attached.’
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Two weeks ago in the colourised photograph section, we featured a young man from a prominent Derbyshire family, George Smedley. This prompted last Sunday’s lovely note from Maureen Connelley and my comments about the Smedley family having built Riber castle overlooking Matlock.
I mentioned that I had been taken to Riber Castle back in the 1960’s when it was a zoo and I wondered if any TL readers had any up to date news about the castle. I knew the readership would not let me down, and riding to the rescue was Dave Moore.
Dave, thanks to his son, has all the news and writes; ‘Great to see you enjoying retirement to the full and taking plenty of holidays, I hope you’re having a fab time in Italy? [We certainly are, thank you – Ed]
I’ve just got back from a week in France (helping out with the Heritage weekend in tunnels beneath Graincourt les Havrincourt and under Bapaume, and cycling the 1918 Canal du Nord areas).
Looking at last week’s TL I noticed your request for some news on the state of Riber Castle; My son does the owners accounts. He tells me it was purchased by a local business family and renovated to a very high standard, it consists of eight apartments fetching about £1 million each! (although some are rentable at about £2k per month.) They are finished to a fabulously high standard and probably have some of the best views in the UK with gated private access, concierge and gym facilities etc.
I attach a few pictures for you.’
Thank you Dave. That really is a comprehensive answer! I replied to Dave to say that it must be over 55 years ago that I was taken to Riber castle when it was a zoo, and Dave swiftly replied; ‘Ha ha,
That’s a place I used to take my nephews when they were little. I told them not to be afraid of feeding the ostriches, then one bit my arm. So we walked over to see the tortoises and they were busy making babies! It was difficult to explain to the little ones what was happening! They still laugh about it at family get togethers, even though they’re in their 40’s now.’
Brilliant! We certainly cover some topics in Trench Lincs each week, and there will be more sex in next week’s TL when I tell you about the sex lives of the Romans in the Pompeii brothels next week!
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Now the bit you have all been eagerly awaiting! Arthur Wood’s (mild) rebuke of Ray Sellers. [They are all good mates actually! – Ed]
Arthur writes; ‘Hi Boss,
Please tell Ray he missed this Victoria Cross winner in St. Nicholas’ Church Yard, Brockenhurst on his recent visit.
I paid a visit there on one of my diversions from Royal Marines, Poole to Manchester 25th May 2011.’
Again, like Vivien Mallock, I was not aware of Conwyn Mansel - Jones VC. This is a new one for me.
Captain Mansel - Jones won his VC in the Boer war in 1900, his citation reads; “On the 27th February, 1900, during the assault on Terrace Hill, north of the Tugela, in Natal, the companies of the West Yorkshire Regiment on the northern slope of the hill met with a severe shell, Vickers-Maxim, and rifle fire, and their advance was for a few moments checked. Captain C. Mansel-Jones, however, by his strong initiative, restored confidence, and, in spite of his falling very seriously wounded, the men took the whole ridge without further check, this Officer's self-sacrificing devotion to duty at a critical moment having averted what might have proved a serious check to the whole assault.”
Conwyn Mansell – Jones also had a distinguished career in the 14-18 war. After retiring from the army in 1910 due to his wounds, he was called to the bar and became a distinguished barrister before serving as a Staff Officer in the Great War where he received a DSO, the French Legion of Honour, the Order of St. Michael and St. George and was Mentioned in Despatches six times.
You can read more here Conwyn Mansel-Jones VC CMG DSO – victoriacrossonline.co.uk
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Just before leaving Italy last Friday, I checked my emails and realised that I had missed one from Alan Keeler. Regular readers may well recall that I met Alan, Rector of Winthorpe and surrounding villages near Newark, last June when I attended a wedding at Winthorpe church.
At the post service drinks, Alan and I struck up a conversation and found that we both had a fascination with war memorials in all of their shapes, sizes and denominations. I mentioned that I was aware that a new memorial plaque was being manufactured for Winthorpe church to include men of the neighbouring hamlets of Langford and Holme who have not been memorialised over the last 100+ years, and therefore, it was lovely to receive this update from Alan.
‘I recently asked about the progress of installing the memorial plaque at Winthorpe. The plaque has been made, but there is now an ecclesiastical permission called a Faculty that is being sought, and it may take some months to be obtained. I'll keep in touch.’
Thank you Alan. When I have a date for the unveiling of the new plaque, probably in 2026, I will let you all know and hopefully we will have a good turnout of local Trench Lincs readers at the service.
Alan kindly continued with news from Loos and comments; ‘I hope you are keeping well? [I am indeed Alan, thank you – Ed]
I saw this on the BBC and thought you might be interested.
It is amazing how the lives of fallen soldiers are being discovered.’
I do hope you will click on the BBC link above as it explains how the remains of two Scottish soldiers have been identified. The story in itself is fascinating but I am very aware of how over the last few years, two major infrastructure projects in Lens, namely a new hospital and a canal basin, have led to major excavations and it is projected that around 1,000 bodies will be discovered.
To this end, the CWGC have constructed a major extension to the Loos British Cemetery so as to be able to give a proper burial to all of these bodies whether they are identified or remain unidentified. How time flies! It is now exactly a year since I guided the Lincoln WFA branch tour around the 1915 battlefields last October and we paid a visit to the ‘new’ cemetery extension. I have attached a couple of my 2024 photos below.
The new gateway to the Loos British Cemetery Extension, with the first headstones visible above the gate.
Loos British Cemetery.
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October is a prime month for visiting the Western Front as it is possible to walk the ground without any crops to hide the terrain. I am nipping over later this month and know not to touch the 'Iron Harvest' but still accidents happen as people decide to handle WWI ordnance that is still lying around.
This next salutary tale is not just a tourist finding a shell or a grenade on the ground, but appears to be someone who has been building up a collection at his home in Belgium.
The Belgian Bomb Disposal (DOVO) reports; 'A 47-year-old man from Diksmuide suffered serious injuries Monday morning when a shell exploded. More explosives were found in the man's home.
The man in his forties from Diksmuide allegedly manipulated a shell in his garden shed, causing it to explode. The man sustained serious injuries. Emergency services received the first report of the explosion at 11:22 a.m., according to the West Flanders public prosecutor's office and the Westhoek fire district.
According to the bomb disposal service DOVO, it may have been a German mortar, 63 centimeters high and 17 centimeters in diameter. "The shell probably contained 15 kilograms of explosives," they said. Shrapnel has already been found in ten locations near the house where the incident occurred and even located in a street 500 metres away.
Several more shells were found in the victim's home and have been confiscated. The Veurne branch of the West Flanders public prosecutor's office is investigating the precise circumstances of the incident.
The public prosecutor's office emphasizes that collecting shells is not only very dangerous but also prohibited by firearms law. "After all, one can never be certain whether the shell still contains explosives,"
It sounds to me that confined in his shed, the chap is lucky to be alive. Therefore, I say again to all TL readers, if you are walking the fields, take a pocket knife with you, and if you come across an unexploded shell [It will have the pointy end intact! - Ed] or a grenade, cut a substantial pole from the nearest hedge and stick it into the ground near to the shell (but not too close) the farmer will then be alerted and contact DOVO.
DOVO attending at the chap's house in Diksmuide.
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IN MEMORIAM - The Lincolnshire Regiment 5th October.
1915
13272 Private W Cocking, 2nd Battalion. Buried in Rue Petillon Military cemetery, France.
9906 Corporal E P Clifton, 6th Battalion, aged 25. Buried in Azmak Cemetery, Gallipoli.
13444 Private T Grocock, 7th Battalion. Buried in Chester Farm Cemetery, Belgium.
11855 Lance Corporal A Etterley, 8th Battalion. Buried in St. Sever Cemetery, France.
1916
9516 Private George Henry Nicholson, 6th Battalion, aged 43. Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
1917
38089 Private Harry Browton, 1st Battalion. Remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.
Second Lieutenant Arthur Brown, 1st Battalion, aged 21. Buried in Godewaersvelde British Cemetery, France.
203815 Private Herbert Hatfield, 2nd/5th Battalion. Buried in Edmondthorpe Churchyard, UK.
30592 Private J A Stephenson, 8th Battalion, aged 19. Buried in Voormezeele Enclosure No.1, Belgium
202825 Private John William Todd, 2nd/4th Battalion, aged 20. Buried in Mont Huon Military Cemetery, France.
1918
Seven men of the Lincolnshire Regiment died on this day. Nearly all very young conscripts of the 6th Battalion.
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
Jo Stacey contacted me to say; ‘May I please request a mention in your weekly email, on the Sunday nearest to 4th October. My husband's great grandfather, Frank Thompson, number 6899, of the 1st Battalion Lincolnshire regiment, died 4/10/1917, and is commemorated at Tyne Cot. We both enjoy your email, and it would be lovely to see Frank 'in print'.
We hope to see you again at one of the Spalding WFA meetings in the future.’ [Thank you Jo. Hopefully I will be asked to speak once again in 2026! – Ed]
Therefore, yesterday was the 108th anniversary of Frank Thompson’s death in battle as the 1st Battalion attacked east of Polygon Wood towards the Reutel Beke as part of the Battle we know today as Passchendaele. Frank’s death came on the day that the commanding officer of 1/Lincolns won the Victoria Cross.
The concrete bunker is still visible today and it was here that Lieutenant Colonel Lewis Pugh Evans, Black Watch, but attached to 1/Lincolns as CO won his Victoria Cross. His citation reads:
‘For most conspicuous bravery and leadership. Lt.-Col. Evans took his battalion in perfect order through a terrific enemy barrage, personally formed up all units, and led them to the assault. While a strong machine gun emplacement was causing casualties, and the troops were working round the flank, Lt.-Col. Evans rushed at it himself and by firing his revolver through the loophole, forced the garrison to capitulate. After capturing the first objective he was severely wounded in the shoulder, but refused to be bandaged, and re-formed the troops, pointed out all future objectives, and again led his battalion forward. Again badly wounded, he nevertheless continued to command until the second objective was won, and, after consolidation, collapsed from loss of blood. As there were numerous casualties, he refused assistance, and by his own efforts ultimately reached the Dressing Station. His example of cool bravery stimulated in all ranks the highest valour and determination to win.’
Evans’ citation states that the 1/Lincolns suffered ‘numerous casualties’ and I assume that Frank Thompson was probably one of those casualties. As Jo mentions above, Frank’s body was never identified and today he is remembered on the memorial wall at Tyne Cot Cemetery.
The VC action of Evans is probably the reason why this day resonates in the annals of the Lincolnshire Regiment in the Great War, but I would ask you all today, to spare a special thought for the other men who were there ‘doing their bit for the Great Cause’, and especially for 6899 Private Frank Thompson who made the ultimate sacrifice on this day.
I have attached below, Frank Thompson’s Medal Index Card which shows that Frank was a pre-war regular soldier who landed in France on 13th August 1914, thereby becoming an Old Contemptible.
I also attach Frank’s record of Soldier’s Effects, which shows that his back pay of £18 19s 4d and his War Gratuity of £14 were paid to his widow, Emma, who by November 1919, is noted as being Mrs Emma Smith, like so many war widows, she was by necessity, forced to swiftly remarry.
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
POSTSCRIPT.
Whilst doing some basic research about Frank Thompson, I discovered that ten men with the surname Thompson died on this day, 4th October 1917, and two of them were named Frank. The second Frank Thompson served with 9/Sherwood Foresters, and both Franks are remembered at Tyne Cot.
Until next week,
All best wishes
Jonathan
© Jonathan D’Hooghe
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