4th Battalion North Staffs

[Guest martin37]

My Dad (a Geordie from South Shields)was with the the N.Staffs from enlisting in 1914.I've searched the L.L.Trail website and found all of the info about the deployment of the Battallion which I think is there.However I can't seem to find any info about their whereabouts between 7 Oct 1917 when theywere briefly attached to the56th Division , & 15 N0v '17 when they became part of the35th Div.. Also nothing on them from then to 28 Sept 1918.

I'd be grateful for being pointed towards something I've missed on the site. Or does it mean another trip to Kew for my niece to look up the War diaries?

Cheers MartinT.

[Cliff. Hobson]

Martin,

I have the diary of a man, Arnold Sibbring D.C.M. 4th bn. N Staffs.the following may be of help.

7th October 1917. landed at La Havre. 8.9.10 Oct. stayed at la Havre.

10 Oct. left La Havre to go to Bapam ? ( Bapaume)

11 Oct went into action on the Somme. 12 Oct went digging all night

13 Oct Sunday very cold. 14 Oct rained all day got wet through

15 Oct. had rum at morning worked at daytime

16 Oct Fritz shelling, one killed

17 Oct took him to bury at Frimscourt?(Fricourt)

18 Oct came out of trenches

19 Oct resting at Fricourt, 20 Oct resting had a route march.

21 O ct raining. 22Oct went back to trenches, 23. 24 Oct working.

25 Oct had rum ration worked at night. 26 Oct fine day.

27 Oct carring ammunition, 3 got killed

28 Oct came out of trenches, 29.30.31\Oct, 1 Nov resting.

2 Nov went into action - wet through

3 Nov went on wiring party Fritz shelling

4 Nov lost our Officer and N.C.O. 5 Nov working fine day

6 Nov saw aeroplane downed in no man's land

7 Nov ill got light duty. grand.

8 Nov came out of trenches, 6 killed.

9 Nov left Fricourt in motors went to Arras.

10 Nov Sunday. left Arras, went to Bruig? 11 Nov resting

12 Nov left Bruig? marched to Thison ?

14 Nov Marched from Thiens? to Steenvordes, marched from Steenvordes?

to 8...Camp.

15 Nov resting outside Poperinge, orderley room tomorrow. 9.am.

16 Nov going into trenches today , reserve trenches Fritz shelling 3 killed.

17 Nov came out of trenches to go on T.M.B.course. having bath at 4. 0 clock

The diary was difficult to read perhaps some of our Belgium friends can put the correct names in.

Regards Cliff.

[Guest martin37]

That is an amazing amount of detail.I had the impression they were just being kept in reserve.Is there any more? Was this fellow a relative of yours or are you a collector?

[Guest martin37]

Cliff, Sorry about the brevity of my first response but I was dashing out.Thank you so much for the detailed info from the diary.It made me feel I'm getting somewhere at last.

I've been on the trail of my father's whereabouts in the War since even before last May when my nephew informed me that dad's cap badge wasn't DLI !!! I'd always assumed that would be his regiment.

Since registering with the L.L.Trail website last July I've gleaned a lot more info, and a visit by my niece to Kew 3 weeks ago pinned down his battalion from the medal Rolls.His war record was not there.

I'd be most grateful for any other diary details.If you can't oblige I know my niece would be able to to get me a summary of the war diaries for the period from another Kew visit .Thank's again,

Regards Martin

[Cliff. Hobson]

Martin.

If you E.Mail me your adress, this can be done through the Forum, I will send you a copy of A Sibbring's diary which goes up to the 7th Oct 1918 when he was sent home after being wounded on the 1st Oct 1918.

Regards Cliff

[Guest martin37]

Cliff,that's a great offer.I feel like I've struck gold.email follows.

Martin