12270 Sgt Fred Ede DC , 9th Sherwood Foresters

[dorrie]

Sergeant Fred Ede 12270, 9th Sherwood Foresters gained his DCM whilsts serving in Gallipoli. I have a copy of the record of the award announced in the Gazette as well as the announcement in the Retford Times. has anybody a copy of the 9thSF diary for around the time of the death of Fred Ede. he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

[Stebie9173]

That day was the first day of the Battle of Thiepval Ridge. The 33rd Brigade were in the front line of the attack, just west of Mouquet Farm. No more details I'm afraid, Tim.

My great-uncle was a mile west of Sgt Ede that day attacking Thiepval. He later went to live in.... Retford - it's a small world, indeed.

Steve.

[dorrie]

Thanks steve. Any relatives still in Retford as i have lived here 32 years originall from Chester

Tim

[Bob Coulson]

From British Battalions on the Somme.

9th Sherwood Foresters September 26th 1916.

"Attack on Schwaben Zollern and Joseph Trenches at 12-35pm, first objective taken by 12-48pm, second gained by B & C coys by 1-45pm, third by 2-30pm"

Bob.

[dorrie]

Thanks Bob for information very useful

Dorrie

[Stebie9173]

Any relatives still in Retford as i have lived here 32 years originall from Chester

Funny you should say that, Tim!

6 months ago I would have said no, but...

In trying to trace my (other) great-uncle who died at Arras in 1917, we found a reference to a younger brother in the RE whom no-one knew about. Some of our older relatives thought he might have died WW1.

I tried to trace whether or not he had died, and found his great-grandson and then son on GenesReunited. It turned out that he did indeed survive the war and went to work in Retford (he walked from Bedford where he moved to from Peterborough with his new wife in 1920). He had five children there but was killed in an accident in 1931. Our family then lost touch with them. We shall be visiting Retford to see his surviving daughter and two sons, all now in their 80s, two of which still live in Retford (near the Gainsborough-Worksop railway line) soon.

Steve.

[stiletto_33853]

Dorrie,

From 148 Days on The Somme by Barry Cuttell

Attacking from Nab Valley the task facing Grig.-Gen. Erskine's 33rd Brigade was a little less daunting, its front reduced from 1000 metres at the start to 500 metres at the final objective. The narrower front would allow the use of less troops with reinforcements readily on hand if needed. The 9th Sherwood Foresters and 6th Border led the attack, the Foresters almost too impetuously, being caught in the creeping barrage.

Joseph Trench, which runs east from south Thiepval, was taken with little loss once the two German machine guns had been silenced. The Borders stayed to mop up and consolidate the line while the Foresters continued north, crossing Schwaben Trench and dsiappearing out of sight over the crest. Stubborn enemy resistance in the dug outs in Midway Line was finally overcome by the Forester bombers who, within half an hour had secured their section of Zollern Trench taking almost 200 prisoners and three machine guns. Reinforced an hour later by the last company, the Foresters continued towards the final objective, Hessian Trench. The trench was assaulted by all four companies and finally captured except about a length of about 250 metres on the right flank north of Zollern Redoubt from where machine gun fire opposed its occupation. Some more prisoners were sent to the rear and the Foresters were now in touch with 18th Division's 53rd Brigade on the left. Moving up in support, the 7th South Staffords were engaged in tidying up the communication lines to the advanced front and was also engaged in mopping up isolated pockets in Midway Line. The Staffords reinforced the Foresters in the early evening and together, the battalions checked a counter attack. The 33rd Brigade had certainly enjoyed a good day, having achieved over ninety per cent of its objectives. Most of the 600 casualties were sustained by the Foresters, but these were fortunately mostly wounded cases. Only three battalions had been used although the fourth, the 6th Lincolns had supplied a good number of men for carrying parties.

Hope this helps a little.

Andy

[dorrie]

Dorrie,

From 148 Days on The Somme by Barry Cuttell

Attacking from Nab Valley the task facing Grig.-Gen. Erskine's 33rd Brigade was a little less daunting, its front reduced from 1000 metres at the start to 500 metres at the final objective. The narrower front would allow the use of less troops with reinforcements readily on hand if needed. The 9th Sherwood Foresters and 6th Border led the attack, the Foresters almost too impetuously, being caught in the creeping barrage.

Joseph Trench, which runs east from south Thiepval, was taken with little loss once the two German machine guns had been silenced. The Borders stayed to mop up and consolidate the line while the Foresters continued north, crossing Schwaben Trench and dsiappearing out of sight over the crest. Stubborn enemy resistance in the dug outs in Midway Line was finally overcome by the Forester bombers who, within half an hour had secured their section of Zollern Trench taking almost 200 prisoners and three machine guns. Reinforced an hour later by the last company, the Foresters continued towards the final objective, Hessian Trench. The trench was assaulted by all four companies and finally captured except about a length of about 250 metres on the right flank north of Zollern Redoubt from where machine gun fire opposed its occupation. Some more prisoners were sent to the rear and the Foresters were now in touch with 18th Division's 53rd Brigade on the left. Moving up in support, the 7th South Staffords were engaged in tidying up the communication lines to the advanced front and was also engaged in mopping up isolated pockets in Midway Line. The Staffords reinforced the Foresters in the early evening and together, the battalions checked a counter attack. The 33rd Brigade had certainly enjoyed a good day, having achieved over ninety per cent of its objectives. Most of the 600 casualties were sustained by the Foresters, but these were fortunately mostly wounded cases. Only three battalions had been used although the fourth, the 6th Lincolns had supplied a good number of men for carrying parties.

Hope this helps a little.

Andy

249256[/snapback]

Thanks Andy Most helpful !!

Dorrie