Keith Iles Posted 9 May , 2015 Share Posted 9 May , 2015 Remembering today all those of both side that took part in the Battle of Aubers Ridge on the 9th May 1915 especially my Grandfather Rfn 11345 John Thomas Iles 2/ KRRC the men of his Bn and also those of the 2nd Infantry Brigade, 1st Division, LEST WE FORGET Excerpt from 2 KRRC WAR DIARY for 9th May 1915.docx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Iles Posted 9 May , 2015 Author Share Posted 9 May , 2015 Port Arthur Chocolate Monier Corner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rum Ration Posted 9 May , 2015 Share Posted 9 May , 2015 Lest We Forget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Hastings Posted 9 May , 2015 Share Posted 9 May , 2015 Remembered Keith, with as you say, the men from 2nd Brigade Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hone Posted 9 May , 2015 Share Posted 9 May , 2015 In memory of Bury Grammar School old boys Privates Harry Ratcliffe (21) and John Whittam (27) of 1/4th Seaforth Highlanders, Dehra Dun Brigade who died at Aubers Ridge, together with all the officers and men of the Indian Corps who fell that day. Ayo Gurkhali! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wandererpaul Posted 9 May , 2015 Share Posted 9 May , 2015 Sergeant George Littler Regiment: 1st & 2nd Battalion Kings Royal Rifles. No. 9173 Born: 21.06.1888 Died: 11.05.1915 Died of wounds received at the Battle of Aubers, Neuve Chapelle, France. Buried in Bethune Town Cemetery, plot no. III grave no. C.27 Born in Hulme, Manchester, in 1888, he joined the Kings Royal Rifles a few years before the First World War and was a talented footballer, even whilst serving in the Army. In the 1911-12 FA Cup George Littler played for the 1st Battalion Kings Royal Rifles against Brentford in the 4th Qualifying round at Griffin Park. The first match ended 1-1, Hendren scoring for the Bees, in front of 1475 spectators. Then 4 days later, in the replay once again at Griffin Park because the FA refused the Rifles to play at Aldershot the Bees triumphed by 4 goals to 1. During this period, George was also selected to play for England Amateurs in a friendly against the Netherlands in Den Haag. This alerted Brentford to the talent of George and he was to appear for the Bees in the reserve Southern Alliance League in 1913-14, where he made 5 appearances and scored 2 goals. When war was declared, the Kings Royal Rifles were sent to the front and they saw action in the Battle of Mons and the Battle of Ypres in 1914. In 1915, the KRR were sent to Aubers where they were to take part in a battle on the morning of 9th May 1915. During this battle, Sergeant George Littler was wounded; sadly he was to die from the wounds he sustained. In the Manchester Evening News, dated 11th May 1915, Georges mother, Ellen, and his brothers and sisters paid for an obituary to be included in the In Memoriam page with the following poem, in memory of George. ""Though nothing can the loss replace, Our dear brother taken from our side, Yet in sadness we rejoice, To think twas nobly that he died, Lifes highest mission he fulfilled, And bravely answered dutys call, Give unto him eternal rest, O Lord."" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Iles Posted 9 May , 2015 Author Share Posted 9 May , 2015 Remembering both brave souls Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 9 May , 2015 Admin Share Posted 9 May , 2015 Not forgotten Michelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IPUN Posted 9 May , 2015 Share Posted 9 May , 2015 Although not killed but wounded enough to never serve in action again, PTE Harry Clark, 1st Northamtonshire Regiment, the blackest day in the Regiments history. 541 Killed or Wounded. Bless all their souls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 9 May , 2015 Share Posted 9 May , 2015 Remembering the men of the Northamptonshire Regiment who fell 100 years today. Both the 2nd Battalion (Northern attack, 8th Division,160 dead) and 1st Battalion (Southern attack, 1st Division, 260 dead) were all but destroyed. The 2nd Battalion had only just been rebuilt after Neuve Chapelle and the 1st Battalion after 1st Ypres. We will be remembering the battle at an event at Northamptonshire Regimental Museum at Abington Park later today. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longboat Posted 9 May , 2015 Share Posted 9 May , 2015 Remembering all those who fought and fell on this day 100 years ago including my Great Uncle Percy Griffiths of the 1/1st Lonodn Regiment who was serverely wounded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIFFO Posted 9 May , 2015 Share Posted 9 May , 2015 Remembering the men of the Northamptonshire Regiment who fell 100 years today. Both the 2nd Battalion (Northern attack, 8th Division,160 dead) and 1st Battalion (Southern attack, 1st Division, 260 dead) were all but destroyed. The 2nd Battalion had only just been rebuilt after Neuve Chapelle and the 1st Battalion after 1st Ypres. We will be remembering the battle at an event at Northamptonshire Regimental Museum at Abington Park later today. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moriaty Posted 9 May , 2015 Share Posted 9 May , 2015 Remembering the men of the 2nd Battalion, The Rifle Brigade including: Captain Alan Hargreaves Captain Paul Kennedy Lieutenant Talbot Stanhope Second Lieutenant Henry Hardinge Second Lieutenant Edward Leigh Not forgotten Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moriaty Posted 9 May , 2015 Share Posted 9 May , 2015 Remembering Lieutenant Brian Simpson 2nd Battalion The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Killed in action at Fromelles on 9 May 1915 aged 21 Commemorated at Le Touret, panel 15 and 16 Younger son of Mr. Edward Percy and Mrs. Nina Emily Simpson, of 28, Lancaster Gate, London W Remembered with a plaque in St Matthews Baywater "When the call of duty came he laid down his life for his country, faithful, even unto death" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moriaty Posted 9 May , 2015 Share Posted 9 May , 2015 Second Lieutenant Charles Alan Ramsay (Bunny) Tennant 3rd Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment Attached to the 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment Enlisted in the London Scottish, army number 2742 Died 9 May 1915 aged 26 Buried C 5, Le Trou Aid Post, Fleurbaix, France Son of William Augustus and Agnes Tennant, Orford House, Ugley, Bishops Stortford, Essex The Devons were in trenches south of Rue Petillon heading for the assembly trenches, there was heavy fire, with bursts of Machine Gun fire from the enemy front lines in the salient, the men had to change direction as the trenches were at right angles to the lines of advance, there were many casualties from this enfilade on the right. The Devons' battalion diary says that amongst those killed were “two Lieutenants, Walker and Tennant. The Devons reached the front lines to find them full and very few of their officers left.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verrico2009 Posted 9 May , 2015 Share Posted 9 May , 2015 Remembering them all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fattyowls Posted 9 May , 2015 Share Posted 9 May , 2015 Remembering the men of the 2nd Battalion, The Rifle Brigade including: Captain Alan Hargreaves Captain Paul Kennedy Lieutenant Talbot Stanhope Second Lieutenant Henry Hardinge Second Lieutenant Edward Leigh Not forgotten The memorial to the last named four and all of their comrades with the ground over which they attacked 100 years ago in the background. Brave men all. Pete. A close up of the ground behind the memorial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fattyowls Posted 9 May , 2015 Share Posted 9 May , 2015 The southern part of the battlefield as seen from the Portuguese Memorial, April 2015. Not forgotten. Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 4 August , 2017 Share Posted 4 August , 2017 (edited) A letter from George to his Mother This letter was written by Pte George William Short from the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment. He had just participated in one of the bloodiest battles that the Royal Sussex had ever fought in. The battle took place on the 9th May 1915 and became known as “The Battle of Aubers Ridge” George wrote the letter to his mother “Martha” on the 13th May 1915 whilst resting in billets at Bethune three days after the battle. This rather poignant piece was printed by “The Daily Sussex News” on the 20th May in their letters from the front column, which was dedicated to the Royal Sussex Regiment. George wrote: I am sorry to have to tell you that poor F Bowles and P Smith are wounded. We had a big fight on Sunday, (your birthday if you remember). I wrote a letter to you on Friday to wish you many Happy returns of the day, but could not get it posted, so I carried it with me into the scrap. I am sending it within this letter, so it is worthwhile keeping and you would think so if you knew what it went through while in my possession. Well, on Saturday night we moved up to the place we had to charge. On Sunday morning, at 04:30, our first gun spoke and fired a few “coal boxes” til 05:00 and then all the guns started. The earth seemed to shake and tremble, shells flew over our heads and you couldn’t hear what the next man said to you, if you tried. It was like one continued roll of thunder, We all thought there could not be one possible man alive in front of us. Smoke and dust and all manner of things were flying about over the German lines. Then after half an hour of this we had the order to charge. We all streamed out over the parapets and lined out beautifully. We advanced till we got just over a hundred yards from the Germans, and then there machine guns started on us. They absolutely mowed our chaps down and we flopped down and remained as still as mice. Poor old P Smith was next to me and he got hit in the arm. Tell Mrs Smith not to worry; he’s all right. The next two on my left were wounded and the next poor fellow was dead. Our officer got up to advance and was shot in the leg. It was murder. How they managed to keep all right under that terrific bombardment, I don’t know. Well we laid there for a little while and then we started to make a hole to dig ourselves in. Our entrenching tool was our real pal. We remained there all day, with shells and bullets flying over us. Our company, which went out with 260 men or more and 5 officers had as many as 200 casualties. I don’t know what happened to the trenches after we left, whether they were taken or not, but the aeroplanes that went up said we had fewer casualties than the Germans. If that is so they must have lost a great number of men. You should have seen our poor chaps try to crawl back. Istarted to at about 5.30 and it was one of the most risky things I have ever attempted. When we got in, I and another chap went back to find the regiment, or what was left of it, and found it behind the firing line. Then we marched to a barn and had two nice blankets each and hot tea and rum and plenty of it. Of course we have felt the effect of the strain these past few days, otherwise there is nothing much wrong with me. Pete has joined us, but he’s in another platoon. My pal has been shifted to another platoon, so I’m rather on my own. Still I keep on smiling and I am not downhearted. Our Colonel told us the French has surrounded a large body of Germans down by Arras and had made great captures including 40 officers, 12 guns and 50 maxims; so that’s good work. I hope I shall see you all soon, although this business doesn’t seem like stopping yet. Could you send me a small parcel out please, as I could do with a bit of cake and a sucker or two? Don’t send condensed milk: I’ve got a tin of that. If you could send some dripping in a tin I should be very pleased with it, for that’s nice tack and in these times a luxury. Well I shall have to close now so good-bye and God bless and keep you all and what ever you do don’t worry. On the 25th September, George (who by now would be considered an experienced soldier) faced the German trenches once more, this time it was at “The Battle of Loos” George made it again to the middle of no mans land and for another time he had to take cover from machine gun fire. The position that he made it to is well known as “The Lone Tree” and it was marked on all the maps at the time. Alas this was as far as he got. George died there and was buried just south of the Lone Tree. His body was exhumed in the 1920’s and re-buried at Dud Corner Military cemetery. I wonder if his mum sent that small parcel and if so I do hope that he received it. Edited 4 August , 2017 by Guest misprint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghazala Posted 4 August , 2017 Share Posted 4 August , 2017 Thank you for posting that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fattyowls Posted 4 August , 2017 Share Posted 4 August , 2017 Welcome to the forum OVFR, an excellent first post. The Royal Sussex and Aubers are interests of several members of the forum and such a vivid testimony will make fascinating reading. Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Atkins Posted 4 August , 2017 Share Posted 4 August , 2017 Welcome, and I'd echo Pete: what an excellent first post! The medal roll for his 1914-15 Star gives Pte Short as died of wounds on the 25th. There was a George William Short who was born in Steyning, West Sussex in 1897, though I can't immediately see any of the possible 1901 Census candidates with a mother called Martha. Thanks for the interesting and poignant post. Pat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazunitec Posted 27 November , 2017 Share Posted 27 November , 2017 Great post and just about sums up the conditions in which my Great Uncle George Henry Woodey (2nd Btn Rifle Brigade) died on the 9th May 1915 Baz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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