8 (S) battalion North Staffordshire Regiment on the Somme

[Ancre1917]

8 (Service) Battalion The Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire) Regiment

7 June-16 November 1916

Forum members might be interested in reading an account of this battalion's actions on the Somme prior to their attack on Grandcourt, which I included in a previous post.

The 8 North Staffordshire Regiment of 790 men arrived in the Somme area on 7 June 1916, moving up to between Dernancourt and Albert on 13 June 1916. The battalion spent the next 10 days digging trenches. During this period five men were killed, four on the 17 June and one on the 19 June 1916. All five are buried next to one another in Albert Communal Cemetery. The battalion also began to practise attacking defended villages and it was clear to them that this would be their rôle in the battle ahead.

The bombardment that preceded the battle of the Somme began on 24 June 1916 (U Day). The actual assault was to take place on 29 June 1916 (Z Day) but was postponed for two days and was finally launched on Saturday, 1 July 1916.

On that fateful Saturday the 57 Brigade, including 8 North Staffordshire Regiment, was in Divisional reserve to the 34 and 8 Divisions who were attacking around La Boiselle. This hamlet of 35 houses stood on a spur of high ground that fell away from Pozières, the highest point on the battlefield. If this small settlement could be captured Pozières would be accessible. The British would have commanding views over much of the battlefield and an opportunity to take Bapaume, the main German railway centre supplying the Somme sector.

The battalion was based at Tyler's Redoubt, an earthwork west of Albert, but moved up to the relatively safe reserve line trench that lay on the reverse slope opposite the village known as the Tara Usna Line. They were then ordered to move up to the front line to make an attack on the village at 10.30 p.m. following the disastrous failure of attempts to take the hamlet earlier in the day. The communication and front line trenches were very congested with the detritus of the earlier attack and the dead and wounded of the 34 Division who had undertaken it. To make matters worse, the guide only arrived at 9.30 p.m. They were only able to get into position fully at 4.30 a.m. on 2 July 1916, just as day was breaking. Fortunately the attack was postponed.

The order was repeated for the attack to take place on 3 July and early that morning the battalion made its way once more to the front line, arriving at about 2 a.m. The battalion war diary states that the process was too hurried, with one company only arriving at the correct place as the attack started. No time was allowed to explain the plan to the men and the noise of the bombardment made issuing orders doubly difficult.

The Divisional plan was for 57 Brigade to move forward simultaneously on the left flank of 58 Brigade to assault La Boiselle from north and south. The first group of 8 North Staffords to attack was from D company. They reached the Y Sap mine crater on the north of the village and the men began to hurl grenades into it thinking that it was occupied by the enemy. This caused a hold-up and the following companies became mixed up with one another, making it difficult for officers and NCOs to maintain control; some hesitation followed. Small parties of men became isolated from the main force, which weakened the whole. Major Carnegy, who commanded B company, was seen to walk ahead of the men waving his stick and encouraging them to move forward with the cry "Come on Staffords". Unsurprisingly perhaps, he was killed by a sniper.

With the 10 Worcestershire Regiment appearing out of the haze on the battalion's left, the advance continued and soon the two battalions had swept through 3/4s of the village. As the battalion had passed the outer edges of the village further progress was only possible by means of bombing parties of varying sizes dealing with the deep bunkers. These groups became separated from their supports and were side tracked into fighting small scale mini battles. The Regimental bombers of all four battalions were drawn into the battle very early and after an hour or twos' fighting were worn out and could not advance any further. They were relieved with any other bombers who could be found, and the Brigade was able to advance a small distance, but these men soon became worn out as well.

The village houses had long since been pulverised, with the debris from the houses lying on top of the cellars. This only made it more difficult for artillery fire during the preparatory barrage to penetrate them. And so, the German defenders were relatively safe in their deep shelters. In his book 'Bloody Victory, the Sacrifice on the Somme', William Philpott describes La Boiselle as "a rabbit warren, the result of two years' tunnelling by the people holding it who did not mean to be dislodged ... nearly every house of which was a strong point with dugouts thirty to forty feet deep. ". In his report at the end of the battle the 57 Brigade commander described how, in the centre of the village "was an inner strong point or keep, the whole being undermined with subterranean passages connecting to mine heads and deep dug outs with numerous lateral and longitudinal communication trenches".

In the excitement of the moment the inexperienced men of these Kitchener battalions used too many bombs and the supply diminished rapidly. Unfortunately, the re-supplying of bombs and ammunition for the Lewis guns failed to keep up and, just at that moment, the Germans launched a counter attack. As many Germans could speak English, they had shouted out commands for the battalion to retire. It was at this moment that Major Wedgwood DSO (the first mayor of the federated six towns of Stoke-on-Trent and Member of the illustrious pottery family) exposed himself to shout "Forward North Staffords" and was shot through the neck by a sniper, dying a few moments later.

A veritable rain of mortars and howitzer shells fell on the village as the Germans sent up their rockets to warn their artillery. The follow-up counter attack forced the British to give up much of the ground previously gained. Two Victoria Crosses were won during this period (Private Turrall 10 Worcestershire Regiment and Lt. Col Adrian Carton de Wiart commanding 8 Gloucestershire Regiment.)

By 12 noon, however, with the help of two companies from 10 Royal Warwickshire Regiment, and an improvement in supplying bombs and ammunition, the line was consolidated about half way through the village. The fighting was severe with the Germans using hidden machine guns. The attacking battalions were determined to use the bayonet at every opportunity. The North Staffords were relieved at 6 a.m. on 4 July 1916, moving back to the old British front line in the rain. The trenches they were to shelter in were a quagmire. The following day they moved back to the Tara Usna line where officer reinforcements joined.

The battalion history states " Many unrecorded acts of bravery and devotion to duty were performed. The entire action, in fact, resolved itself into a series of individual efforts of Junior Officers and men, rather than a concentrated action. The Battalion had been split up into small parties from the start of the attack, and remained so until it was relieved. In spite of this enormous handicap it had succeeded in penetrating the enemy's stronghold, which had resisted all earlier efforts on the part of units of the 34th Division."

William Philpott explains that the hand to hand fighting raged for three days with "big bearded men belonging to a pioneer battalion, who no doubt resented being turned out of their comfortable home......It was a real dog fight and the Germans never fought like it again. The determined enemy was being mastered, and the traumas of 1 July were starting to fade". The 8 North Staffordshire Regiment had played a full part in achieving this success. But at some cost.

As a result of the attack 12 officers and 272 other ranks became casualties. Major Cecil Wedgwood DSO, Major J. Carnegy (from Edge, Gloucestershire) , 2nd Lieut. W.G Fletcher (bombing officer) (from London), 2nd. Lieut. W. Lawton (from Newcastle-U-Lyme) were killed. Captain E.J. Colls, commanding D company, Lieut. W.A. Meir, Lieut. J.B. Gidley, 2nd. Lieut. D.O. Norman, 2nd. Lieut. C.A. Woodward, 2nd. Lieut C.J Hunter, 2nd. Lieut S.B. Dodman, 2nd. L.Y. North were wounded.

According to the war diary and battalion history 28 other ranks were killed, 210 were wounded and 34 were missing between 2 and 5 July. However, the details from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and Soldiers Died in the Great War show: the number of men killed between 3 and 6 July 1916 along with the four officers was 65, seven of whom died of wounds. The high number of officer casualties was due to the way they had had to expose themselves to keep control of the men in La Boiselle's labyrinth of trenches and dugouts as the soldiers became separated.

Among the men killed was 16878 Corporal John William Breeze of 66 Victoria Road, Longton. He was a collier aged 27 when he enlisted in the North Staffordshire Regiment on 13 August 1914, a few days after war had been declared. He and his wife Georgina, whom he married in 1905, lived with her parents. They had two surviving children (John William aged 4 and Beatrice aged 1) in 1911. In January 1915 he was transferred into 8 Welsh Regiment (Pioneers). He clearly did not enjoy this experience because in the following month he went absent without leave. Three days later he re-enlisted in his previous regiment. When this was discovered, a North Staffordshire officer wrote to his counter part in the Welsh Regiment asking if Private Breeze could remain with the North Staffords. He explained that Private Breeze was a Staffordshire man and wanted to serve with his friends and that he was on leave at the time because a child was dangerously ill. It was agreed that he should remain with his mates. He was promoted to corporal in March 1916 but was killed in action with many of his friends on 6 July 1916. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing of the Somme.

8618 Acting Corporal Samuel James Edgerton was nearly 27 when he enlisted in the North Staffordshire Regiment on 1 September 1914. He was a collier living with his wife Hilda at 264 Duke Street, Fenton. They had married at Christ Church Fenton in 1909. His parents, Samuel and Hannah, lived at 15 Seaford Street, Shelton. During the battle for La Boiselle he suffered gun shot wounds to his thighs and was described as "dangerously ill" by the hospital staff. His wife was given a pass to visit him. Unfortunately, he died of his wounds at No. 7 Canadian General Hospital on 7 July 1916 and is buried in Le Tréport Cemetery. His personal property including his razor, whistle, wrist watch, spectacles, some photos and cards were returned to his wife. Later she wrote that his red bible was missing (he was a Wesleyan) and asked for it to be returned to her at 47 Duke Street. Happily, within a year Hilda remarried and was living in Chesterton with her new husband, George Hall.

In the following days the 19 Division was involved in an advance towards Contalmaison. It had been decided to exploit the gains made south of La Boiselle to attack the German 2nd line on the ridge between Longueval and Bazentin-le-Petit. Before this could be undertaken the flanks of the proposed attack had to be secured. Contalmaison had to be taken to protect the northern side of the attack, which was to take place on the night of 14 July. This attack breached the German 2nd line at Bazentin. 56 Brigade from 19 Division was involved in this action. The 8 North Staffordshire Regiment was sent up to the firing line briefly for three days from 8 July. They were heavily shelled and had to repulse two determined German bombing attacks. The 56 Brigade commander wrote to his opposite number commanding 57 brigade to say how well the battalion had performed. He wrote "the battalion displayed great coolness & steadiness throughout".

During the action 2 Lt. CT Eaddy and 8 men were killed. Three officers and 45 men were wounded and three were missing. Amongst the dead were 17481 Private William George Green of Tattenhall Common near Burton-on-Trent. He had enlisted in 1915. Killed in action, his body was eventually found in 1919. 14165 Private Robert Jeffries was an orphan living with his adoptive parent MJ Buckley at Copemere, Eccleshall. He had enlisted on 1 September 1914 and was 31 when he was killed. His family form makes sad reading: all the entries for parents, siblings, uncles, aunts and nephews are blank. The statement was countersigned by an RC priest from Aston by Stone. 12977 Private Arthur Parsons was living in Fenton when he enlisted. His body was lost in the battle and was only recovered in 1919 and was identified from his disc. He had been buried with another North Staffordshire soldier, whose identity remains unknown.

The capture of Contalmaison also opened up the possibility of an attack on the high ground at Pozières. If this area could be taken access would be open to the whole of the 2nd line position and to Thiepval. Eventually, the task of attacking the last place on the 2nd line at Grandcourt fell to the four battalions of 57 Brigade. Here, on 18 and 19 November 1916, the 8 North Staffordshire Regiment was virtually destroyed as fighting force.

The battalion's next rôle was at Bazentin-le-Petit. This village had been taken by 7 and 21 Divisions during a night attack on 14 July. This had been supported by a very heavy artillery barrage that destroyed the barbed wire and trenches and, for the first time, a creeping barrage of high explosive shells that allowed the men to advance rapidly into German positions.

The 57 Division was scheduled to participate in another night attack in the direction of Martinpuich alongside units attacking High Wood. This was due to take place on the night of 22/23 July. Shelling was almost continuous during this tour but was particularly intensive when the 56 Brigade and two battalions of the 57 Brigade (10 Royal Warwickshire Regiment and 8 Gloucestershire Regiment) made an attack on the German line. The plan was for 19 Brigade to creep up within 75 yards of the trench but enemy forward machine positions wrecked it. The attack failed as the German machine guns in a newly dug intermediate line had not been suppressed.

The North Staffordshire had failed to take part in the attack, which added to the chaos. They were supposed to send a platoon to support the 10 Worcestershire Regiment. Apparently, a runner had not delivered the message in time. They did send two companies to occupy the trench vacated by the Gloucestershire and Worcestershire regiments until ordered to withdraw.

It would appear that their only successful activity during this period was to evacuate a small portion of British trench either side of the Windmill. This spot was well known to German artillery men and was shelled remorselessly. To defend the position a strong point was set up about 100 yards north east of the mill with bombers and a Lewis gun team. Buried alive initially, they were able to re-establish it later.

The 8 North Staffordshire Regiment was in reserve and back in the same position on 28 July in order to make another attack on the intermediate line between Bazentin-le-Petit and Martinpuich. This trench was over a slight reverse slope and could not be directly observed. (Its presence had only recently been confirmed by air reconnaissance.) Although the attack was successful on the right, it failed on the left where German Maxim guns did much damage to the 10 Worcesters and 8 Gloucesters by enfilading their attack from the left. As they crested the small ridge in front of the trench they were hit from the front as well. The attack withered and the impetus died away. On the right at High Wood the German machine gunners had been pulverised by the Corps artillery which focussed a linear barrage on the wood's edge. Also, a smoke screen from four trench mortar teams had obscured the advance. The men were able to get into the intermediate trench so quickly that the Germans had no time to get their Maxim guns working. Perhaps luckily, the 8 North Stafford did not take any part in the attack.

During these brief tours 2 Lt Reginald F. Potter died of wounds on 24 July and 2 Lt. A. Saunders was killed in action along with 30 other ranks who were killed or died of wounds. This total included 17301 Private John Chapman, the husband of Hannah Chapman of 153 High Street, Talke Pits. His body was lost and only recovered in 1934. He was identified from his uniform, boots and regimental titles. There was also a letter from his wife which included a partial address and a knife marked John W. Chapman together with a watch. He was in the same grave as an unknown North Staffordshire soldier. The recently promoted 12468 Lance Corporal George Hillman, husband of Sarah Elson (formerly Hillman) of 55 Hanover Street Hanley was killed in action on 23 July. His body was lost and was found in 1935. He was identified from his disc, regimental titles and whistle. A collier, he had enlisted on 2/9/1914. A family tragedy occurred in June 1915 when his 5 year old son was knocked down by a bus and killed. He had two surviving girls. His widow married Alfred Elson at St. Luke's Hanley in 1917.

Amongst the wounded officers were Major G.S. Crawford, Lieutenant C.H. Masters and

2 Lieutenants P.G.Gough, W. Shaw, W.H. Barklam, F.H. Phillips, M.G. Barker, J.M. Campion-Coles, G. Morton, W.T. Leeway, E.C. Hale and G.B. Bolton. 18592 Private Percy Stone of 38 Attwood Street, Kidsgrove was a collier when he enlisted on 31/8/1915 he was married to Hannah Gleans at Kidsgrove Church in 1905. They had three children: Annie May born 1907, Wilfred born 1910 and Raymond born 1915. Percy died of his wounds at No. 34 Casualty Clearing Station on 26 July. Hannah remarried in 1920. 14456 Private William Hancock, son of William and Helen Hancock died of his wounds at a Casualty Clearing Station in Albert on 1 August. His personal effects included some religious books, letters and creating cards were sent to Miss Sarah Ann Smith at 1 Lord Street Smallthorne in 1919.

After the action at Bazentin le Petit the 19 Division as a whole moved north and did not return to the Somme until 6 October 1916 when they arrived at Doullens from Bailleul. The battalion stayed in huts in Bois de Warimont and spent a fortnight practising attacking in Artillery formation. This tactic allowed for dispersal of the men under artillery fire but allowed company officers and NCOs to maintain control. There was a plan to launch an attack from Hébuterne, near where 1/5 and 1/6 North Staffordshire Regiments had attacked Gommecourt from on 1 July 1916. During the reconnoitring of the position Private William Plimmer MM was killed by shell fire. His military medal was included in the London Gazette for 23 August 1916. Born in Caverswall, he lived at 13 Bright Street, Meir in 1911. His brother, Moses Plimmer, was killed in 1917 whilst serving in the King's Royal Rifle Corps. Both brothers are commemorated on the memorial in St. Gregory's RC church, Longton.

The planned attack did not materialise. Instead the Division moved to Albert and from there to Stuff and Regina trenches overlooking Grandcourt. This area had just been captured. The battalion was at full strength and was in very good spirits, but this feeling did not last long. At this point in the battle of the Somme, the weather broke, a sharp frost being followed by heavy rain. The whole area which was scared by shell holes and loose earth churned up into a sea of mud. To quote the battalion history: "of all the periods hitherto spent in the line, in all the many sectors we had occupied, and of all the various experiences we had undergone since landing in France, it was unanimously agree that this time we were faced with something that was far worse than anything we had imagined" . Men who fell into shell holes were swallowed up unless a passing mule could be found to drag them out. Some were put out of their misery by their friends. Others succumbed to hypothermia and slipped away quietly. One private was buried up to his arm pits for 26 hours before he could be dragged out. During one relief out of the line it took some of the men 25 hours to travel three miles. To add to their discomfort, the battalion was sheltering in the old German front line close to two batteries of 60 and 18 pounders. In all 21 men were killed in action during this very trying period between 22 October and 16 November 1916. Consequently battalion strength fell to 18 officers and only 420 men. And it now had to face its most difficult task of attacking Grandcourt.

I have an Excel spread sheets which records those members of this battalion who were killed or died of wounds on the Somme together with those who were captured at Grandcourt. The former includes details from their service records, where these can be traced on line. The latter comes from the records of the ICRC and includes information on those who were wounded. If anyone is interested and sends me a p.m., I would be happy to share these.

Richard

[Martin Feledziak]

An impressive study with excellent attention to the finer details.

Including the personal details of the actual soldiers gives true realism.

Thanks Martin.

[FROGSMILE]

Very interesting Martin, I read not long ago that the war histories of the regular battalions of Staffordshire were poorly recorded after WW1 through an accident of circumstances. It is good to see that you are avoiding that with some of the war-raised units of that counties regiments.

[Sally B]

Thank you Martin for giving so much detail. My Gt. Uncle was in the 8th North Staffs and died on 31st July 1916.

[Ancre1917]

Afternoon

If anyone would like the spread sheets for those 8 NSR men kia or dows on the Somme and those captured at Grandcourt (18/11/1916), just drop me a pm with your email address.

Richard

[Martin Feledziak]

Greetings Richard.

I now have both of your spreadsheets. Thanks Very much.

[david west]

Richard i have sent you a PM,

Best regards.

David

[forgotten few]

Afternoon

If anyone would like the spread sheets for those 8 NSR men kia or dows on the Somme and those captured at Grandcourt (18/11/1916), just drop me a pm with your email address.

Richard

yes please would help greatly with a project i am trying to start to find the "forgotten Few" the names listed on a wooden memorial panel

at Stoke Minster Church, unfortunately the 4th panel is missing and so Major Cecil Wedgwood is currently not commemorated and other soldiers names after "V"

thanks

[Ancre1917]

It's too big a file to put on the forum. You will have to send me a pm with your email address when you have accumulated enough posts. I think that's five.

Richard

[Guest clayman1302]

would it be possible to have a copy of the spreadsheet

[Ancre1917]

Clayman

I've only just picked up your post. If you still want the spreadsheet, drop me a pm with your email address and I'll send it to you.  it's too big to put on the GWF site. 

Richard

[Marple]

Hi Longton 1971. A very interesting piece. I'm looking for a Harry Goodwin who was killed on 18/19th Nov 1916 with the 8th Btn North Staffordshire Reg. Is he listed in your file? Any information you can give me would be wonderful. 

[Ancre1917]

Marple

The only information I have is what's on the CWGC site and

Soldiers died in he Great War 

4053 Private Goodwin Harry kia 18-19 November 1916

HUSBAND OF MRS. E. A. GOODWIN, OF 113, SLATER ST., MIDDLEPORT, STOKE-ON-TRENT,. Enlisted Tunstall Lived Burslem Buried at Grandcourt Road Cemetery Grave D.10   Baptised St Paul's Burslem 26 Aug 1891. Parents William and Annie Colliery waggoner in 1911 living at the address above.   Single at time of the census. Looks as if he married Eliza A Hall in 3Q 1911   Hope this helps   Richard

[Marple]

Aw, I had that information. Was hoping you might've been able to tell me something more.  I've been looking everywhere for his service record, but can't seem to see it. Thanks so much for looking. Much appreciated. Ann

Edited 14 December , 2017 by Marple

[Interested]

Hi Richard,

Congratulations on an excellent write-up, only about 2 years overdue!

My grandfather was recruited into the 8th North Staffords at Burslem on 7th September 1914 and served with them until he died of wounds 11th April 1918.  We visited the Somme on 3rd April 2016 along with a colleague whose great uncle died on that day; he was with 9th Royal Welch Fusiliers, 58 Brigade, 19th Div.,  and now lies in Serre Road No. 1 Cemetery.

We plan to re-visit, on the centenary of my grandfather's death next April.

Many years ago Major Green (Retd.) provided me with a copy of the "History" because there was a specific mention of Sergeant Needham by Major Dakeyne, unusual for an OR in the PBI.

Again, thanks for posting this.

Philip

BTW, Marple, the "History" (paraphrased by me) says that ..two days of frost had hardened the ground, but a thaw set in on 18th November (1916) and there was a blizzard of fine snow limiting visibility to a few yards.  They were scheduled to attack GRANDECOURT and at "zero hour" and 57 Brigade attacked in line with four Battalions.  This Battalion advanced a long way but in the darkness and blizzard passed over the enemy's trench system, and the Germans, moving up from their dugouts cut off practically the whole of the Battalion.

At the commencement there were 18 officers and about 420 other ranks.  Only one officer and about 100 other ranks returned.  the remnants of the Battalion were relieved on the night of the 19th and were accommodated in Marlborough Huts (at Crucifix Corner near AVELOY), where Major Dakeyne took over command.

Hope this helps.

Philip

[Ancre1917]

It was originally posted on 11 August 2015.  I'm just putting together similar accounts of the 1st, 4th, 5th, 2nd/6th and 8th battalions' part in resisting Operation Michael 21 March-5 April 1918, which I'll put up before the 100 anniversary next year.  

 

Ann

His service record was probably lost with so many others during the Blitz.  I found all the service papers from one side of my family (5 sets from various regiments ) and none from the other (4 sets from North Staffs Reg and 1 from Northumberland Fusiliers who were all local to Stoke on Trent).  So, it really is pot luck.

 

Richard

[Ancre1917]

Ann

If you ever get the chance to visit Grandcourt, drop me a pm as I have other maps of the area which will help you orientate yourself in the landscape.  The cemetery is in a very lonely and somewhat inaccessible place, but is well worth a visit if you haven't been before.

 

Richard

[Marple]

Thank you Phillip.  The family knew nothing, and we fear his service record may have been one of the ones lost in WWII, so yes, every little bit is a bonus. Ann

[Marple]

Sorry Richard, wrote that last response before I saw yours. Yes, I'm beginning to believe it is one of the unfortunate ones Hitler managed to get. So now we're trying to piece together his service history prior to his death - not an easy feat as there's so little to go on. Ann

[Interested]

Hi Marple,

Here's most of the text of Chapter IV,  taken from the "History", it provides much more detail than my summary above and helps build a picture of what conditions were like in November 1916.

CHAPTER IV.pdf

[Marple]

Thank you Phillip, off to take a look at that. Ann

[Ancre1917]

Ann

Have a look at my early post on the 8 North Staffordshire Regiment's Grandcourt action.  

 

 

[Interested]

Richard,

Do you know whether the Army numbers were issued consecutively to soldiers enlisting in the 8th North Staffords?  There seems to be a big gap between 4053 Pte H Goodwin and 13698 Sergt. J Needham, who enlisted as a private on 7th September 1914.

Also, if they are usually consecutive, does this mean that the gaps in consecutive numbers of the fallen listed in the "History" were survivors?

Philip

[Ancre1917]

Regimental numbering is a nightmare, especially when new numbers started to be given out in 1917, I think. My grandfather has North Staffs 6371 1901-1907 in 2nd battalion, the same 1914-1917 in 1st battalion,  242401 in 1st/6th from 1917-1918 and he then kept the same number on his return to 1st battalion in 1919 when he was discharged.  Whole books have been written on the topic.  

 

Soldiers joined a regiment, not a battalion and could be moved around keeping their number or not. And it's even worse if they changed regiments.  Good luck with finding an answer to this one.  I know with TF battalions men who were missing in 1916, and were subsequently found to have died, were still given a new TF in 1917 when they weren't alive.  

 

You can buy a copy of "Soldiers died in the Great War" for our regiment which will help sort it out.

Richard

[ss002d6252]

Usually the men in the 1st line battalion were re-numbered consecutively from longest serving onwards, so those with the lowest number got the lowest 6 digit number etc,  #1 renumbered to be #250000 etc.

 

This tends to break down with 2nd and 3rd line battalions as they re-numbered in the same way but they tended to get a later 6 digit range so. perhaps, 251XXX . This means that if #2 was in the 2nd line at the time of renumbering he may be #251000 (and not #250001).

 

 

Quote

Also, if they are usually consecutive, does this mean that the gaps in consecutive numbers of the fallen listed in the "History" were survivors?

Not always, assuming you mean in the 6 digit numbers. The men could have remained on home service or been transferred (the numbers often aren't recorded in that case) etc.
 

Craig