Trench lincs May 24th 2026
- 2 hours ago
- 25 min read
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Good Morning,
Welcome to this week’s Trench Lincs which contains news from last Sunday’s Woodhall Spa show, as well as topical snippets from readers, plus my own take on items of Great War interest for late May.
I hope you enjoy the read?
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FORTHCOMING EVENTS.
Next event - Lincoln & North Lincolnshire Branch, WFA - Monday, 8th June 2026 - Doors open 7.00pm for 7.30pm start - Royal Naval Association Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln, LN6 7BG.
June 8th - Grant Cullen presents "Quintinshill, 22nd May 1915; Britain's worst railway disaster".
The disaster occurred at Quintinshill Junction, near Gretna Green in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, on the morning of 22nd May 1915. A Liverpool-bound troop train carrying soldiers of the 1/7th Battalion, Royal Scots, collided with a stationary northbound local passenger train that had been parked on the southbound main line due to both passing loops being occupied by goods trains. Minutes later, a northbound sleeping car express from London to Glasgow struck the wreckage, causing a massive fire when gas lighting in the wooden carriages ignited.
NB. There is no speaker meeting in May due to the Bank Holiday Mondays.
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Next Meeting - Spalding & South Lincolnshire Branch, WFA – Thursday 28th May, 2026 - Doors open 7.00pm for 7.30 pm start - Spalding Baptist Church, Swan Street, Spalding, PE11 1BT.
Brian Riley presents: "The Shimmering Blue; Lincolnshire Aviation in World War One."
‘During the First World War, Lincolnshire made three major contributions to the British air war effort: home defence, aircraft manufacturing and the training of British and Allied airmen.
This talk assesses the reasons for aviation coming to Lincolnshire, explores the effects on the county of the world's first strategic air offensive, and examines the measures taken to defend the nation from air attacks. It describes how a primarily agricultural county became one of world’s largest aircraft production centres and nurtured fledgling Allied airmen on their bumpy paths to operational competence.
Over a century later, we appreciate that Lincolnshire’s men and women provided vital support to early ‘multinational coalition operations. Theirs is a story worth telling to ensure that their pathfinding efforts are not forgotten.’
Brian Riley combines a lifelong passion for military history with a love of archaeology, foreign languages and travel. He graduated with a degree in Modern Languages from the University of Salford in 1978 and worked for several years in the Civil Service and local government before deciding to make his hobby pay. He was commissioned into the RAF Education Branch at the tender age of 35 but his inquisitive nature soon led him to transfer to the RAF Intelligence Branch. Retiring from the RAF in 2012, Brian has continued to pursue his passion for aviation and military history. He led school parties on history tours of Berlin and curated the RAF Heritage Collection at William Farr School, Welton, before working for Lincolnshire County Council on a major aviation heritage project during 2017-2020. This project - Lincolnshire, Bastion in the Air 1915-18 - was financed by the Heritage Lottery Fund and highlighted the county’s important but often overlooked First World War aviation accomplishments. In October 2024, Brian was appointed by South Kesteven District Council as the official Heritage Advisor for its ‘Soldiers from the Sky’ project, financed by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. It lasted until the end of 2025 and highlighted the activities of the British, American and Polish Airborne Forces who lived and trained in the area during 1944-45 while preparing for operations in Normandy (D-Day), the Netherlands (Operation MARKET GARDEN), Norway (Operation DOOMSDAY) and Denmark (Operation ECLIPSE).
Brian is continuing his support activities with the Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire Partnership, which is a consortium of aviation heritage sites dedicated to promoting the county’s rich aviation heritage, and commemorating the service and sacrifice of all those involved.
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The East Midlands (Nottingham) WFA branch will hold their next speaker event on Friday 12th June 2026 at 7.30pm. The branch meets at St. Peter’s Church Hall, Church Street, Ruddington, NG11 6HA.
The speaker on this night is Christopher Finn whose talk is entitled – “The All-Arms Battle and Manoeuvre Warfare - British Air Power 1917-18”
Everyone welcome.
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The Leadenham Military History Group’s next meeting will be on Tuesday 26th May at 7.30pm at Leadenham village hall.
Presentation: Hannibal and the Second Punic War, by Ian Prince.
Back to the 3rd century BC with a look at the achievements of the renowned Carthaginian general.
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The Friends of the Lincoln Tank Group continue their 2026 season in June. The venue, as usual, will be the Royal Naval Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln, LN6 7BG with a 7.30pm start. Entry is £5, and everyone is welcome.
NB. There is no speaker event in May.
On Thursday 11th June, in a change to the published programme, Grant Cullen will return to Lincoln with his talk – "1918, Defeat into Victory"
Grant states; ‘By starting with "What If?". Something happened in November 1913 just a few miles south of Worksop where I live which could have changed the course of history. Few people know about this but it certainly makes folks sit up and take notice.
Then to the main talk...which is basically an overview of 1918. The Allies really thought that if the war was to be won that would happen in 1919 when the Americans were up to strength in numbers on the Western Front. Then came the German Spring Offensives which brought them close to Amiens. This was followed by the "100 Days". The talk also looks at other theatres of war.... Palestine ...Mesopotamia .....Persia as well as the political situation in Russia...murder of the Tsar and his family .... plus southern Africa. The Germans reaching out to Woodrow Wilson and his 14 points.’
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Another group who meet at the Royal Naval Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln, LN6 7BG, is the Lincolnshire Aviation Society.
The next meeting of LAS will be held on Thursday 18th June 2026.
The speaker on this occasion is Dan Ellin from the IBCC whose talk is entitled – “Penguins and Chop Girls: RAF Bomber Command Ground Personnel 1939-45.”
Everyone welcome especially new faces.
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The Peterborough Military History Group meets at the Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery in Priestgate, Peterborough, PE1 1LF, on the second Wednesday of every month, 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
Everyone welcome, especially new faces.
June 10th Geoff Turtle
'The Rising Sun Air Force.'
From Inception to Capitulation.
An in depth look at the Japanese air force in WWII.
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For our June outing attendees will be travelling to Loughborough on Wednesday 24th June.
Our guide on the day is Neil Strange and he comments thus; ‘For our June outing attendees will be travelling to Loughborough on Wednesday 24th June.
First stop will be the Carillon Museum, at 11am. Loughborough Carillon & War Memorial Museum
I hope that Mel Goulding will meet us there as he is a main Leicestershire regiment historian and custodian of the museum.
Please park at the Granby Street car park, pay and display - postcode LE11 3DU around 10.45am and the museum opens at 11am.
After the Carillon we can go and see the memorial to the 10 dead from the January 1916 Zeppelin raid. We can also perhaps find evidence of the impact sites of the bombs that were dropped.
We will visit at least one grave of the dead from the Zeppelin raid as part of the cemetery tour that will follow the museum visit.’
So far, we only have 4 people booked in for this trip – please don’t be shy, everyone is very welcome to what I believe will be a very informative tour thanks to Neil.
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As mentioned before, Peter Garland is looking for able volunteers to help out the Lincoln WFA at various shows over the summer months. Peter states; ‘Call out for volunteers to man our stands and items of interest to exhibit at upcoming local events.
Over the next 3 months Peter Garland will be organising exhibition stands promoting the Lincoln & North Lincolnshire and Spalding and South Lincolnshire Branches of the WFA, plus the general story of World War One through the display of stories and items of interest from the period. This year's display - thanks to the loan of storyboards and medals created by Matt Colley and his colleagues for the Old Contemptibles Exhibition at Peterborough Museum - will concentrate on the story of the Old Contemptibles Association. The story of the O.C.A. is quite fascinating and the display, based on extensive research by Matt and his colleagues, is extremely good and thoroughly deserving of further public display, hence Peter's request to borrow it for local Lincolnshire exhibitions.
In addition to the above, further items of interest from the period of the Great War, plus volunteers to help "man" the stands would be greatly appreciated. We do have a lockable display case in which to place items of value and volunteers receive free entry to the shows, plus free parking in the exhibitor’s car park. You can volunteer for a couple of hours, a day or both days (at the two day events). Please contact Peter on 07933-287316 or pcg1418@gmail.com Any and all help will be appreciated.
The next will be the two-day World War One Exhibition over the week-end of Saturday, June 6th and Sunday, June 7th at the Museum of Lincolnshire Life in Lincoln. This annual exhibition is extremely popular, attracting large numbers of visitors - including overseas tourists - some of whom turn up with family mementos, letters, photos and medals from the period which they proudly show and, at the same time, look for answers to questions they have about them and their relatives' experiences. As a bonus, museum staff keep us well supplied with free tea and coffee during the day! Tickets and car passes are not required to help out at this event.
The third will be Heckington Show over the week-end of Saturday, July 25th and Sunday, July 26th. We have 3 x free exhibitors ticket and car park passes per day (which will be posted to you nearer the time) for this excellent and well attended show - dubbed the largest village show in the country - at which we will be exhibiting in the Heritage Tent. There is a lot to see and do at Heckington Show, and we will give volunteers time-out to enjoy the attractions. As a bonus, if you volunteer for Saturday, you will be able to enjoy the evening music concert and fireworks display.
Don't be shy! Please help out by volunteering. You'll have a great day, guaranteed!’
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Last Sunday saw the annual one-day Woodhall Spa country show, and despite the weather forecast, the event passed off in dry but breezy conditions, and as far as I could tell, it was a most enjoyable day in the Heritage marquee with a steady stream of interested visitors.
For my own Trench Lincs stand, I am indebted to Robin Sayer for his help and good humour on the day, and I am pleased to say that this morning there are another six new subscribers to TL who will have received today’s edition. I hope you enjoy the read? Please do let me know.
I also have a number of new research projects to get my teeth into following the show. As I have written before, the Great War of 1914-18 was the first war that the United Kingdom fought where the nation had to pull together in a state of ‘Total War’.
Previous wars and fighting had taken place in Europe or in the Empire and only the soldiers of the Regular Army had been involved. There was little in the way of media communication, and unless your family suffered a direct bereavement, most families and communities carried on their daily lives blissfully unaware of the conflict.
This started to change in the Boer War when the first men of the Voluntary Militia served overseas, but the First World War saw the men of the Territorial Force, formed in 1908, serve overseas, followed by some two-million Kitchener New Army volunteers and eventually, from 1916, the first British men ever conscripted into the army took the field in France and Flanders.
As men flocked to the colours, women’s role in life and society fundamentally changed as new opportunities arose for women to find well-paid work in the factories supplying the war effort.
Therefore, virtually every family in the United Kingdom was directly affected, not only by death and grievous wounding of their menfolk, but for the opportunities it gave, especially for women, to find a new role in life away from domestic servitude and motherhood.
Therefore, some 110 years later, it is impossible to have a stand at a show like Woodhall Spa and not encounter many families who have stories to regale you with about their ancestor’s war service at home and abroad.
Virtually everyone I spoke to still keep photographs, medals, post cards and souvenirs (usually a German bayonet!) as a reminder of what their (great) grandfather, great uncle or aunt did in the war. This is why the spirit of the 1914-18 generation will not die out anytime soon.
Here is a selection of photographs from the show.
The Trench Lincs stand.
John Kirk and Mike Credland both focussed on the Machine Gun Corps and Belton Park, Grantham.
Alwyn Killingsworth on behalf of the Friends of the Lincoln Tank Group, carried off the award for the best stand on show. Well done Alwyn and FoLT.
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Last week, I noted that I had ‘found’ a Nottingham Artisans War Memorial in the Cosy Club on Victoria Street, Nottingham. This building was originally the Liberal Reform Club and I pondered whether Peter Gilling, of the Nottingham Roll of Honour was aware of this memorial – I certainly wasn’t.
Peter was quick off the mark with his response to me; ‘Hello Jonathan,
Well done you have come up trumps once again, having lived all my life in Nottingham I was not aware of the Artisans Club in Nottingham, or the Cosy Club, I have walked past it on several occasions but have never been inside, I have looked it up on the internet and it does look an extensive building, whereabouts is this Memorial situated? [On entering the building, turn left and left again into the front small bar/lounge – Ed]
Once again I have checked our Roll of Honour and it is NOT included, the 8 names at the bottom of the memorial are not all on our Roll of Honour. We appear to be missing E Hornblow, J Anscombe, M Hodgins and W Houlton MM. so some research will be required to discover who these men were.
Thank you for bringing it to my attention.
Once again could we use your photograph in order to upload this memorial to our Roll of Honour. [Of course you can – Ed]
It just goes to show when you think you have everything, another one pops up, the job is never complete.’
Peter has promised to let me have details of the missing men in due course.
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Last week, new contributor, Judith Good told the tale of discovering the headstone of Wilfred Hart Harris and how she has been able, after many months, to get the CWGC to agree to add Harris to the official ward dead database.
This prompted a TL reader to enquire; ‘I read Judith's story of the case for a CWGC stone with interest, and it left me thinking for the rest of the day - always the sign of a great read.
Wilfred has a headstone, put up by his family, which will presumably be replaced by the CWGC headstone. Do we know if the CWGC headstone was 'refused' when Wilfred died, or perhaps the family did not want a CWGC headstone and preferred a personal memorial? If so, is it right that the current stone is replaced? (I appreciate that my query stems from both personal and sentimental reasons, but am still interested in the factual answer.)
I am genuinely interested in finding out (I make no secret of being a war history novice, but keen student). With either result, what wonderful work Judith has done in gaining recognition for this gentleman.
As ever Jonathan, thank you, and I wonder if you can answer the query.’
My reader, who requests anonymity, makes a very valid point, and I gave the reader the benefit of my thoughts and experience, but I thought it would be only right to let Judith have her say.
Judith writes for us; ‘It’s an interesting question and something I come across a lot as there is a lot of misunderstanding about headstones on war graves!
Whilst many war graves have the standard issue (very recognisable) headstone - many do not - it was always a choice for families/grave owners. When an eligible service person died, the family were offered a standard headstone but didn’t have to accept it - many families didn’t want one for all sorts of reasons and so there are many official war graves with family-provided ‘private’ headstones. These headstones are not maintained by the CWGC. However, if over the years the privately installed headstone becomes illegible or breaks/crumbles then the CWGC will offer to replace it with the standard issue one - but again that is the choice of the family/grave owner.
The CWGC has a team that periodically inspects every war grave headstone - standard issue or private - to see if repairs need to be made to a standard issue one or a replacement standard issue one needs to be offered in place of a damaged private one. That offer would be made to the family/grave owner - again they don’t have to accept it. Hence part of the work of the Graves Found Team will be to inspect Private Harris’ existing headstone and assess if an offer to replace it with a standard issue headstone needs to be made. However, Private Harris’ headstone is still legible and is in good order i.e. not broken or crumbling so I shouldn’t think the CWGC will offer to replace it at present.
Some families have succeeded in getting a standard issue headstone added to a grave site in addition to the existing private headstone - so a grave has two headstones - there are examples of this locally - but that is something only the family/grave owner could pursue. In any case in my experience it seems to take several years for a standard issue headstone to be put in place even once that has been agreed with the CWGC!
I certainly have no intention of asking the CWGC to replace his headstone - but of course I can’t do that anyway as I am neither family nor the grave owner. I do intend to try to trace his family and/or the grave owner just to let them know that his grave has been recognised as a war grave but I would expect the Grave Found Team will do that too.
Interestingly, the other war grave in this churchyard (Pte Batterham died Jan 15) also has a private headstone - so maybe that influenced the Harris family in their choice - I don’t know.
I hope that makes sense? It’s an interesting topic which I can bore for England on!’
Thank you Judith for that very comprehensive answer.
This topic of ‘finding’ new war deaths also sparked a reply from Steve Baldwin, who comments; ‘I've yet to read all of this week's TL, but as I was contacting you I thought I'd comment on Judith's words.
I am also glad that she is making the effort to ensure recognition of the fallen, and has got the CWGC to update their records, but I think when it comes to installing a headstone they will not remove the existing one.
The usual process for the initial burial would be for the family to be given the option of having a IWGC headstone or going with their own arrangements.
I realise that, in this case, this option didn't happen or the Commission would have been aware of the grave.
However, the Commission has no claim to the Private grave or headstone as far as maintenance, etc., as it is the property of the family.
What would normally be done in the case of a private headstone becoming unreadable, the addition of a CWGC stone would be conducted without removal of the original.
I feel that will be the case here.’
So hopefully, now we know how the system works.
Thank you to all of the contributors about this very important topic.
LEST WE FORGET.
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Staying with Judith Good and her original contact with me last week, Judith also let me have scans of two original Great War maps that are in her possession.
Judith notes; ‘I thought you might be interested in a couple of trench maps found in my grandpa’s effects - he was Captain Frederick Charles Good, and he served with the North Staffs Regt for the whole war - he was invalided out in 1919 following an injury to his leg on 8th November 1918. The first is a general trench map and the second is a rolling barrage map.’
What Judith refers to as a rolling barrage, you may be more familiar with the term, creeping barrage.
This was a tactical innovation that the British introduced in the later stages of the war. Up until and including the Somme offensive in 1916, it was usual to bombard the German lines for a week or more prior to an infantry attack.
All this did was churn up the ground and warn the Germans exactly where to expect the attack. It also gave them plenty of time to station their counter attack divisions in the rear of the expected attack zone.
The creeping barrage was a method of massed artillery fire that moved forward in stages just ahead of advancing infantry. Unlike traditional preliminary bombardments, which often ended before troops attacked, the creeping barrage maintained a moving curtain of shells to suppress enemy defenders, forcing them to stay in cover and reducing the risk of machine-gun fire on advancing soldiers.
Such artillery fire plans needed to be carried out with a huge degree of accuracy and timing and it was imperative that the attacking first wave of British troops stayed as close to the barrage line as was safe to do so.
Captain Good’s map is dated September 1917 and is an artillery fire plan for four divisions, the 23rd, 41st, 39th and 19th in their attack east of Sanctuary Wood and just south of the Menin Road in one of the phases of the 3rd Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele).
Using the blue key in the bottom right corner and transferring the minutes from the key onto the blue lines, the artillery officers in command of each battery, would know exactly when to lift the range onto the next target. The British infantry would then follow the lifts until each objective was taken, namely the Red Line, the Blue Line and the Green Line.
I hope that makes sense? If you have any questions, please drop me a line.
Judith’s grandpa’s second map, is a British 2nd Army trench map dated at April 1917 and has Hollebeke at the top of the map as a reference point. Looking at the villages on the map, I can deduce that this map, produced by the Ordnance Survey, was part of the preparation for the Battle of Messines which started in June 1917.
Captain Good has very kindly annotated by hand in blue ink, many of the colloquial names given to various farm steadings and trenches. This makes this document very fascinating and of great interest.
For me personally, it also makes me remember my ancestor, Sapper Maurice D’Hooghe [Long term readers of TL will be aware of him – Ed]. Maurice worked for Ordnance Survey before the war and was sent to the front as part of a mapping company of the Royal Engineers, where he surveyed and produced maps like this one. Unfortunately, during the course of his duties, Maurice was badly gassed and died of the effects of the gas poisoning in 1919. He is buried in Malton, Yorkshire.
Sapper Maurice D'Hooghe - Royal Engineers Mapping Company.
I visited Maurice's last resting place in Malton last year.
Maurice's name can be found on the Ordnance Survey War Memorial at their HQ in Southampton.
Thank you Judith for sharing these two wonderful maps with us. They are gold dust to researchers and historians.
Here is Captain Frederick Good’s Medal Index Card.
And click on this link at the National Archives to purchase a copy of his WW1 Service Records, if you haven’t already done so Judith?
Captain Frederick Charles GOOD. The Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire Regiment). | The National Archives
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John Pritchard and his wife Shirley are still in South Australia, visiting their daughter and celebrating John’s 74th birthday. Many Happy Returns John.
John writes home; ‘Hello Jonathan, good afternoon to you as I celebrate my 74th birthday. Yesterday I was treated to an afternoon tea with Kerry and family. We were in the "Blackwood district" of Adelaide, which is in the lower part of the Adelaide Hills. In the nearby car park was a mural painting with a plaque. I thought it was worth taking a picture. Anyhow, so enjoyed the latest newsletter.’
Thank you for your kind words John. I am pleased you enjoyed the latest TL whilst Down Under.
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Last week we featured a short biography of Brigadier General Maxwell VC. As TL readers will know, we have a walking encyclopaedia of VC winners in our very own Arthur Wood. Arthur has made it a lifetimes mission to visit and record the headstones of Victoria Cross winners and yet again, he has come up trumps with this photograph from his past visit.
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A TL regular contributor is Melvin Dobbs and this week he notes; ‘Again, I have been on my travels to middle England, down to Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire.
Attached is a picture of the Village War Memorial with a nice dedication of Sacrifice and a reminder to all inhabitants and visitors to come.
There is also a separate VC citation and Memorial plaque for Lieutenant Colonel Dudley Johnson VC. [Further details below - Ed]
Within the Church of St. Lawrence, there is a brass plaque dedicated to Captain James Gerald Willoughby of the 33rd Queen Victoria's Own Light Cavalry, killed in action in Mesopotamia March 1915.
The plaque was erected by his father, Major General James F Willoughby, and it not only remembers his son, but his wife who died in November 1915 – a broken heart at the loss of her son perhaps?
A memorial marble plaque positioned high up on a wall 1914-1918 which I take to be a Roll of Honour, as there is no other wording other than the heading of Officers (12) followed by Other Ranks (many).
A further wooden plaque is dedicated to the fallen of both World Wars.
Finally, whilst returning to Leamington Spa, I stopped to take a picture of the War Memorial in Moreton-in-Marsh, which is a colourful design with St. George atop of a cross slaying the dragon.’
Thank you Melvin for sharing these memorials with us.
In the best traditions of Trench Lincs, we cannot mention a new VC winner that we haven’t covered before without a short look at his life and actions.
Dudley Johnson was born in 1884 and died in 1975, having served bravely and honourably in both world wars. Remarkably, Johnson saw action in many of the major conflicts and although wounded on at least two occasions, he lived to a ripe old age.
His first overseas service was guarding Boer POW’s on St. Helena, and he was involved in one of the earliest actions of WWI, the Tsingtao incident in China in November 1914, where he was awarded his first Distinguished Service Order (DSO). He landed at Cape Helles, Gallipoli on 25th April 1915 where he was wounded and evacuated to hospital in Egypt.
Following his recovery, Johnson served in the UK until January 1917 when he returned to France as Deputy Adjutant and Quartermaster General (DAAQMG) to 1st Division and despite being a Divisional Staff Officer, he still found time at the front to win a Military Cross in December 1917.
In January 1918, as an Acting Lieutenant Colonel, he took command of the 2nd Battalion the Royal Sussex Regiment, was wounded in May 1918, recovered and won a Bar to his DSO in September 1918 and the Victoria Cross in November 1918.
Johnson remained in the army between the wars in a succession of Staff roles before becoming Aide de Camp to King George VI from 1936-7. On the outbreak of the second war, Johnson took command of 4th Division and returned to France with the BEF, where he was evacuated from Dunkirk and Mentioned in Dispatches. He then became Commander at Aldershot until retiring from the army as a Major General in January 1944 aged 60.
His Victoria Cross citation is below.
‘For most conspicuous bravery and leadership during the forcing of the Sambre Canal, on the 4th November, 1918. The 2nd Infantry Brigade, of which the 2nd Bn., R. Suss. R., formed part, was ordered to cross by the lock South of Catillon. The position was strong, and before the bridge could be thrown a steep bank leading up to the lock and a waterway about 100 yards short of the canal had to be crossed. The assaulting platoons and bridging parties, R.E., on their arrival at the water-way were thrown into confusion by a heavy barrage and machine-gun fire, and heavy casualties were caused. At this moment, Lt.-Col. Johnson arrived, and, realising the situation, at once collected men to man the bridges and assist the R.E., and personally led the assault. In spite of his efforts heavy fire again broke up the assaulting and bridging parties. Without any hesitation, he again reorganised the platoons and bridging parties and led them at the lock, this time succeeding in effecting a crossing, after which all went well. During all this time Lt.-Col. Johnson was under a very heavy fire, which, though it nearly decimated the assaulting columns, left him untouched. His conduct was a fine example of great valour, coolness and intrepidity, which, added to his splendid leadership and the offensive spirit that he had inspired in his battalion, were entirely responsible for the successful crossing.’
Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette of 3 January 1919. 6 January 1919, Numb. 31108, p. 305
Major General Dudley Johnson VC, DSO*, MC, MiD.
POSTSCRIPT.
The 4th November 1918 is remembered for the crossing of the Oise-Sambre canal, the last natural line of German defence before the Armistice, one week later.
Six other men, William Amey, Adam Archibald, George Findlay, James Kirk, James Marshall and Arnold Waters all won the Victoria Cross on this day, five of them (excluding Amey) all won the VC for their part in the crossing of the canal. It was during this action on this day, that the poet, Wilfred Owen, was killed.
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Bill Pinfold has unearthed an unusual angle on the Great War this week. Neither Bill nor myself are ‘computer gamers’, but if you want to re-live the life of a soldier from Newfoundland in the trenches of Gallipoli and the Western Front, you may want to download this game?
Bill writes; ‘Just noticed this article. I'm not a gamer myself, but maybe some folks in your circulation list are. The link to the trailer looks interesting.
Please click on the link to read about the game, and if you give it a go, please do write a review for TL.
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IN THIS WEEK 25th MAY 1915.
The formation of the coalition cabinet in the United Kingdom in May 1915 was one of the most significant political developments of the First World War. It marked the end of purely Liberal government and the beginning of a new political arrangement in which the major parties united to face the national crisis. The coalition was formed against a background of military failure, political tension, and growing public dissatisfaction with the conduct of the war.
When the First World War began in August 1914, Britain was governed by a Liberal administration led by Prime Minister Herbert Henry Asquith. At first, there was broad political unity as the country entered the conflict. The Conservative opposition, led by Andrew Bonar Law, agreed to support the government’s war effort, and partisan politics were largely suspended. However, as the war dragged on into 1915, criticism of Asquith’s government began to increase. The war was proving far more difficult and costly than had been expected, and Britain’s military leadership was coming under intense scrutiny.
One of the key causes of the crisis was the shortage of artillery shells on the Western Front, often referred to as the “shell crisis.” In the spring of 1915, reports from British commanders in France revealed that insufficient supplies of high-explosive shells had contributed to failures in battle, particularly at Neuve Chapelle. The issue became public when The Times published a highly critical article on 14th May 1915 accusing the government of failing to supply the army adequately. This caused outrage and damaged confidence in Asquith’s administration. The press, especially newspapers owned by Lord Northcliffe, intensified criticism and portrayed the government as inefficient and unprepared for modern warfare.
At the same time, the Gallipoli campaign was proving disastrous. This military operation, designed to force the Dardanelles and knock the Ottoman Empire out of the war, had been strongly supported by Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty. However, poor planning and heavy casualties turned the campaign into a costly failure. Churchill’s reputation suffered greatly, and questions were raised about the competence of the entire government. The combination of the shell crisis and Gallipoli undermined public confidence and gave political opponents an opportunity to challenge Liberal leadership.
The Conservatives, while officially supportive of the war effort, recognised the government’s weakness. Bonar Law was approached by senior Conservatives who believed that national unity could only be maintained if their party entered government directly. They argued that a coalition would strengthen public confidence and improve administration. Bonar Law informed Asquith that Conservative support could not continue on the same basis and that a coalition government was now necessary.
Asquith faced a difficult decision. He had been reluctant to share power with the Conservatives, partly because many Liberals feared that coalition would dilute Liberal principles and undermine party identity. Nevertheless, the military and political situation was too serious to ignore. On 17th May 1915, Asquith announced his intention to reconstruct the government as a coalition. Negotiations began immediately between Liberal, Conservative, and Labour leaders.
The coalition cabinet was formally announced on 25th May 1915. It included members of the Liberal Party, the Conservative Party, and the Labour Party, making it the first true multi-party coalition government in modern British history. Asquith remained Prime Minister, preserving Liberal leadership, but key Conservative figures were brought into major positions. Bonar Law became Colonial Secretary and effectively leader of the House of Commons. Arthur Balfour replaced Churchill as First Lord of the Admiralty. Labour was represented by Arthur Henderson, who became President of the Board of Education and the first Labour politician to sit in the British Cabinet.
One of the most important innovations was the creation of the Ministry of Munitions, headed by David Lloyd George. This was a direct response to the shell crisis and represented a major reorganisation of wartime production. Lloyd George proved highly effective in mobilising industrial resources, increasing munitions output, and introducing stronger state control over the economy. His success enhanced his political standing and would later help him replace Asquith as Prime Minister in 1916.
The coalition was intended to create national unity and improve efficiency in wartime administration. It brought together talented politicians from different parties and reassured the public that the government was taking decisive action. It also reduced partisan criticism by making the opposition partly responsible for government policy. However, the coalition also exposed tensions within parties. Many Liberals felt betrayed by the inclusion of Conservatives, while some Labour supporters worried that participation compromised their independence.
Although the coalition strengthened the government in the short term, it marked the beginning of the decline of the Liberal Party as a dominant force in British politics. The internal divisions created by coalition, particularly between supporters of Asquith and Lloyd George, weakened Liberal unity. Meanwhile, Labour gained legitimacy as a national governing party, while the Conservatives increased their influence over wartime decision-making.
The formation of the coalition cabinet in May 1915 therefore represented both a response to immediate wartime crisis and a turning point in British political history. It was born out of necessity, driven by military setbacks and public criticism, but its long-term consequences were profound. It changed the structure of British government, accelerated state intervention in the economy, and reshaped the balance of political power for decades to come. In many ways, it marked the beginning of coalition politics in Britain and reflected the immense pressures that total war placed upon traditional political institutions.
David Lloyd George.
Prime Minister H H Asquith. [Asquith's son Raymond was killed on the Somme 1916 - Ed]
Photo from my collection.
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As ever, we shall finish with a new colourised photograph courtesy of Chris at Colour by CJS.
Gunner William Herbert Elliot.
William was born in Wandsworth, London in 1899, one of five siblings.
The family home was in Epsom and being a gifted lad, he attended Sutton Grammar school.
Like many young men with a sense of patriotism, duty and adventure, he enlisted when he was under age in 1915 and was deployed to France on 27th November that same year.
William served in "D" Battery, 173rd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery throughout the Battle of the Somme in 1916.
The next year, William was severely wounded in the right thigh near Kemmel, Belgium on 2nd March 1917. Despite being operated on in hospital he died later that day, and was buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord.
William Elliot was 18 years old.
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In Memoriam the Lincolnshire Regiment 24th May.
1915
491 Private John Fleming, 10th Battalion, aged 22. Buried in Grimsby Scartho Cemetery, UK.
1916
11697 Private H E Atkinson, Depot, aged 23. Buried in Stamford Cemetery, UK.
1917
40675 Private J Smith, 10th Battalion, aged 20. Buried in Berlin South West Cemetery, Germany.
29327 Private John Frederick Most, 12th Labour Company, aged 38. Buried in Janval Cemetery, France.
27368 Private A Burton, Depot. Buried in Nottingham Northern Cemetery, UK.
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
I am always very happy to note family In Memoriam mentions, and this week, thanks to Keith Burrel we remember Percy Lilley.
Keith writes; 'Please see attached CWGC record and BWM awarded to Serjeant Percy Lilley. A Gainsborough soldier who was killed on 20th May 2915. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate and served with the 1/5 Battalion so would almost certainly have been known to Mike Credland's great uncle Frank, particularly as when he enlisted as a Territorial his home was only about 200 yards distant from Frank's home.'
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Until next week,
All best wishes
Jonathan
© Jonathan D’Hooghe
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