Pte. GH Sadler

[Superbladesman]

I have recently found the army records of my late father in law, George Henry Sadler(Army Nos. 47982/26260) which sadly being part of the burnt documents are incomplete and in parts not readable. However I have been able to determine the following timeline from the available documentation

He attested on 9th December 1815 under the Derby scheme(no 479820), mobilised on 27th May 1816 and posted to the 4th South Staffordshire Regiment on the 1st June 1816.

He was then posted B to G(meaning unknown) 29th November 1916, embarked 29th November 1916, joined 9130(meaning unknown) 30th November 1916, joined 2nd South Staffordshire 12th December 1916.

Casualty list 17th February 1817, missing 22nd February 1917.

Registered at Limburg No. 19351 4th June 1917, captured 17th February 1917 at Courcelette.

Rejoined from POW(Repat.) 5th December 1918 England, Posted Depot S. Stafford Regt. 5th December 1918.

Transferred to reserve on demobilization 12th November 1919

Like others he would not talk or discuss anything other than the delicousness of saurkraut about his life in the army whilst he was alive.

I am particularly interested in filling the gaps, in particular on the front line and would more than welcome any contributions/explanations etc. that would assist in this quest.

The POW records held in Switzerland are currently unavailable as I understand, undergoing digitization and should be complete circ. 2014, I will pick up this side of the trail then hopefully.

Kind Regards

[Superbladesman]

Further research has shown that on the 17th Feb 1917 2nd Bn, the South Staffordshire Regt were involved in an attack on Baillescourt Farm which from other sources on this site was "given away" which resulted in heavy casualties.

From research on Ancestry there were 68 men KIA on this day, the second highest loss in one day on the western front for the 2nd Bn. South Staffordshire Regt.

51 missing/presumed dead are recorded on Pier and Face 7 B at THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, amongst them 4 officers and the RSM

Hope this helps

[sotonmate]

GHS26260

The 2 Battalion War Diary for the period of your subject's service is at the National Archives under reference WO95/1362. It is not yet digital so would need to be read at Kew.

However,here is an account of the day of 17 Feb 1917,via someone else's memorial website. 2 SSR were with 6 Brigade of 2 Division,you will need to know this before reading the account,which starts about a third of the way down the page:

http://www.ewhurstfallen.co.uk/Men-research/walker/walker.htm

It wil give you a general overview of the action,if not mentioning the 2 SSR specifically.You will have to get the accounbt of their day from said War Diary.

Sotonmate

[TParker96]

Hi,

I found his medal index card online and he was entitled to the British War Medal & the Victory Medal. It only mentions him serving in the South Staffordshire Regiment as a Private under the regiment number 26260.

Hope this helps,

Thomas

[IPT]

I think he joined in the place Derby.

I think B to G is B.E.F (British Expeditionary Force).

For those looking, the papers are here on Ancestry; http://search.ancestry.co.uk/Browse/view.aspx?dbid=1219&path=S.Sa.Sad.8228

You're about as lucky as it gets to have all these documents.

[Superbladesman]

GHS26260

The 2 Battalion War Diary for the period of your subject's service is at the National Archives under reference WO95/1362. It is not yet digital so would need to be read at Kew.

However,here is an account of the day of 17 Feb 1917,via someone else's memorial website. 2 SSR were with 6 Brigade of 2 Division,you will need to know this before reading the account,which starts about a third of the way down the page:

http://www.ewhurstfa...lker/walker.htm

It wil give you a general overview of the action,if not mentioning the 2 SSR specifically.You will have to get the accounbt of their day from said War Diary.

Sotonmate

Hi Sotonmate,

Many thanks will follow this through

Please forgive me if I am not doing things correctly as I am novice on this site

Regards Alan

Hi,

I found his medal index card online and he was entitled to the British War Medal & the Victory Medal. It only mentions him serving in the South Staffordshire Regiment as a Private under the regiment number 26260.

Hope this helps,

Thomas

Hi Thomas,

Many thanks cheers for the info

Regards Alan

[Superbladesman]

I think he joined in the place Derby.

I think B to G is B.E.F (British Expeditionary Force).

For those looking, the papers are here on Ancestry; http://search.ancest...h=S.Sa.Sad.8228

You're about as lucky as it gets to have all these documents.

Many thanks for the info, cheers

Lucky with this one, but of my grandfather A Pursglove 40340 North Staffordshire Regiment there is no trace, guess you win some and lose some

Regards Alan