46th Division - Remembering

[Doug Lewis]

Remembering the men of the 46th (North Midland) Division who on this day 1915 were killed in action while attacking the Hohenzollern Redoubt,and also those that survived and carried the physical and mental scars of this action for the rest of their lives.

Men of Staffordshire,Lincolnshire,Nottinghamshire,Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

We will remember them.

Regards Doug

[ypres1418]

Doug,

Lest we forget.

Mandy

[SOMMESOLDIER]

Hi Doug,

Yes mate ! Very much in my thoughts today.

Cheers

Tim.

[AndrewThornton]

Doug

The men of 46th Division are also in my thoughts today, the 90th anniversary of their calvary at the Hohenzollern Redoubt. Here are some details of some of those who fell serving with the 1/6th South Staffords, your local battalion:

2390 Private Cyril Adey

2387 Private Harry Arkinstall

Cyril Adey and Harry Arkinstall had been friends since childhood. Both men lived in Tettenhall, Cyril at 48 Old Hill and Harry at 58 Limes Road. They had attended Tettenhall Church School together and on leaving both worked as cleaners at the Stafford Road Works in Wolverhampton. They had joined the 6th South Staffords together in June 1914 at the Drill Hall in Wolverhampton.

Privates Adey and Arkinstall volunteered for service overseas in August 1914 and proceeded to France with the 1/6th Battalion in March 1915. After serving together at Armentieres, Wulverghem and Hill 60, the two friends were killed on 13 October 1915 during the battalion’s attack at the Hohenzollern Redoubt.

They are both commemorated on the Loos Memorial at Dud Corner Cemetery.

1462 Lance-Sergeant Samuel Frederick Caddick

Born in Bilston in 1893, Samuel Caddick joined “E” Company the 6th Battalion at Tipton in 1910. He was employed at Buller’s Works in Tipton and attended the Providence Baptist Church at Coseley, where he also sang in the choir.

On the mobilisation of the 6th Battalion in August 1914, Caddick was appointed Lance-Corporal. He volunteered for service overseas and disembarked at Le Havre with the 1/6th South Staffords on 3rd March 1915. He had been appointed Lance-Sergeant in September 1915 and during that month had returned home for a short period of leave.

Sam Caddick died during his battalion’s attack on 13 October 1915. His New Testament was recovered from his body and returned to his parents at Parkes Lane, Woodsetton. His body was not identified after the war and his name is carved on the Loos Memorial.

2619 Private John Cartwright

John Cartwright was born at Sedgley in 1893 and attended Red Hall School. At the time of his enlistment at Wolverhampton in September 1914, he lived with his parents at 3 Straits Green in Lower Gornal. Prior to joining the 6th Battalion he had worked as a miner at Baggeridge Colliery. Private Cartwright landed in France with the 1/6th Battalion in March 1915.

John Cartwright was killed during the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.

2941 Lance-Corporal Henry Collier

Born in 1895 at Smethwick, Harry Collier was the only son of Police Constable Henry Collier, who was stationed at Codsall. He attended Codsall School. His father later transferred to Birmingham City Police, becoming a Sergeant, and his family moved to Handsworth.

Collier joined the 6th South Staffords at Wolverhampton in September 1914. At the time of his enlistment, he was employed by the Wolverhampton Gas Company. He landed at Le Havre with the 1/6th Battalion on 3 March 1915.

Lance-Corporal Collier was killed in action on 13 October 1915 and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.

Captain Edwin Read Collinson

Edwin Collinson was born in London in 1887. He moved to Wolverhampton in 1906, when he became an articled pupil at Underhill, Thorneycroft and Smith solicitors. Collinson then moved to work as managing clerk to the May and Court practice before becoming a partner at another firm of solictors, G.R. Thorne & Co. in the town. He was also a member of Wolverhampton Cricket Club.

He had been commissioned in the 6th Battalion before the war and at the time the unit mobilised was serving as Transport Officer. He remained in this post when he went to France with the 1/6th South Staffords in March 1915. In June 1915, Collinson replaced Captain Charles Gordon as Adjutant of the battalion.

Edwin Collinson was mortally wounded during the assault on 13 October 1915, when he received a bullet wound that severed his spinal cord. He died within an hour of being shot. It is likely that Collinson was buried near the First Aid Post at Bart’s Alley, but after the war his body was not identified and he is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.

2874 Private Walter Raymond Cope

Walter Cope was born in Wolverhampton in 1894. He was educated at Palace School in Bewdley. On completing his schooling he joined his father’s firm at Lichfield Street in Wolverhampton.

Private Cope joined the “Non-Manual” section of the 6th Battalion at Wolverhampton on 2 September 1914. After training at Penn Hall and Saffron Walden, he went to France with the 1/6th Battalion in March 1915.

Walter Cope was seriously wounded on 13 October 1915. He was evacuated to a hospital in Etaples, where the severity of his injuries resulted in him having a leg amputated. His condition worsened and he died of his wounds on 17 October 1915. He is buried at Etaples Military Cemetery.

Captain Edward Arthur Cresswell

Edward Cresswell was born on 20 April 1883, the eldest son of Edward and Julia Cresswell at Tettenhall. He was educated at preparatory school in Winchester and at Wolverhampton Grammar School. On leaving school he trained as a solicitor and eventually was employed with a firm in Wolverhampton. He was commissioned as a Second-Lieutenant in the 2nd Volunteer Battalion of The South Staffordshire Regiment, transferring to the 6th Battalion on the formation of the Territorial Force in April 1908. Cresswell resigned his commission in 1910, transferring to the Territorial Force Reserve of Officers. In his leisure time he was a keen golfer, being the Match Secretary of South Staffordshire Golf Club and contributing notes to the Express and Star under the pen-name of “Divots”.

He rejoined the 6th Battalion on the outbreak of the war and on 10 August 1914 was promoted to Lieutenant. He disembarked at Le Havre with the 1/6th Battalion on 3 March 1915. He received a further promotion to Captain in early July 1915 and became the Officer Commanding “B” Company.

Edward Cresswell was killed leading his company in their advance on 13 October 1915, but was initially reported as being wounded and missing. He is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.

2652 Private Samuel Evans

Samuel Evans was born in 1894. Prior to joining the 6th Battalion in September 1914, he lived with his widowed mother at 9 Church Street in the Heath Town district of Wolverhampton. He had been employed as a fireman at the Cleveland Ironworks.

After training at Penn Court and Saffron Walden, Sam Evans went to France with the 1/6th Battalion in March 1915. Private Evans was wounded during his unit’s attempt to advance on 13 October 1915. He was evacuated to a Casualty Clearing Station at Lillers, where he died of his wounds on 20 October 1915. He was later buried in the town’s Communal Cemetery.

2483 Private William Green

William Green was born in Sedgley in 1887. He worked at the Manor Ironworks in Lakefield and had joined the 6th Battalion at Wolverhampton shortly before the outbreak of war. Green was also a member of Parkfield Working Men’s Club.

Shortly before his death on 13 October 1915, William had written to his brother Thomas, who was serving at Gallipoli:

I wish we had been fighting side by side, so that one could have helped the other out a bit. I hope you will live through, though I will promise you this, if the worse should happen, that your two kiddies shall be well looked after until such times as they are old enough to look after themselves, if I am spared to go back again with my health and strength. I hope, however, we shall both land safe home.

William Green has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.

1709 Lance-Corporal William Hart

William Hart was born in 1895 in Wolverhampton, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Hart of 14 Thornley Street. He had joined the 6th South Staffords, whose Drill Hall was a short distance from his home, in 1911. Before the outbreak of the war he had been employed as a plumber at Ward and Sons in Wolverhampton.

Lance-Corporal Hart was wounded during the attack on 13 October 1915. He was taken to a Casualty Clearing Station where he succumbed to his injuries on 21 October 1915. He is buried at Lapugnoy Military Cemetery.

2949 Private Sidney Bate Hewitson

Sidney Hewitson was born in Bilston in 1896. He joined the “Non-Manual” section of the 6th Battalion at Wolverhampton in September 1914. At the time of his enlistment he was employed as a trainee engineer in Birmingham.

Private Hewitson landed in France in March 1915. He was recommended to receive a commission in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, but all leave was suspended prior to the 1/6th Battalion going into action at the Hohenzollern Redoubt. During the attack, Hewitson was serving with one of the battalion’s bombing parties but was reported as missing, believed killed.

Sidney Hewitson has no known grave and his name is carved on the Loos Memorial.

2895 Lance-Corporal John Edward Hopton

John Hopton was born in Wolverhampton in 1894. He had joined the “Non-Manual” section of the 6th South Staffords in September 1914. At the time of his enlistment, he lived with his parents at 111 Vicarage Road and was employed at Chillington Edge Tools Works, where he was a member of the work’s fire brigade.

Hopton arrived in France with the 1/6th Battalion on 3rd March 1915. He was killed in action during his battalion’s attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt. His brother, Richard, also served with the 1/6th South Staffords and survived the action.

Lance-Corporal Hopton’s body was not identified after the end of the Great War and he is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.

1751 Private William Jones

William Jones was born in 1892 at Bilston and was educated at St Chad’s Day and Sunday School in West Coseley. On leaving school, William obtained employment as a miner. He had joined the 6th Battalion in 1911, serving with “E” Company at Tipton.

He volunteered for service overseas in August 1914 and proceeded to France with the 1/6th Battalion in March 1915. In September 1915, he had managed to return for a brief period of leave to his parent’s home at 26 Regents Street in Woodsetton.

Private Jones was killed at the Hohenzollern Redoubt. His parents later received a letter from one of his friends, Private Jack Attwell:

Dear Mr and Mrs Jones,

Will you accept my deepest sympathy in the loss you have sustained. Poor Bill was my friend and chum – the best in the world, and one that cannot be replaced. During the eight months we have been out here we have spent some happy hours together. The day before the charge he was talking of by-gone happy days, and the happiness in store for us in the future. But God willed it otherwise. Your son knew not the meaning of fear. My God in His mercy strengthen and help you all in this, your great trouble, is the wish of his friend and chum,

Jack Attwell

Like so many of his comrades, William Jones’ body was not identified after the war and his name is carved on the Loos Memorial.

2628 Lance-Sergeant George Lycett

George Lycett was born on 18 February 1883 in Albrighton. He was employed on Lord Dartmouth’s estate at Pattingham as a painter and decorator. On 22 April 1911, he married Alice Britten in Abrighton and his son, George Henry Lycett, was born on 19 April 1913.

George Lycett enlisted at Wolverhampton in August 1914. He went to France with the 1/6th South Staffords on 3 March 1915. Lance-Sergeant Lycett was killed in action on 13 October 1915. His body was not identified after the war and his name is carved on the Loos Memorial. His wife later remarried and gave birth to another son in 1919.

3461 Lance-Corporal Charles Stewart Northall

Charles Northall was born in Dudley in 1893. As a child he had been a member of the soloist in the choir of St Thomas’s Church in Dudley. When his family moved to Blakenhall in Wolverhampton, he continued to sing at St Peter’s Church in the town. Northall also enjoyed performing in his spare time and had been a member of the Wolverhampton Amateur Comedy Society before the war.

He enlisted at Wolverhampton in October 1914, and at the time he joined the 6th Battalion he was employed as a clerk at the Borough Accountant’s Office of Wolverhampton Corporation. His brother William, who worked for the Tramways Department, joined the 6th South Staffords at the same time as Charles.

Lance-Corporal Northall was killed in action on 13 October 1915. His family received condolences on his death from the Mayor of Wolverhampton, Alderman A.B. Bantock:

Your son is the first Corporation official to be killed while on active service and I am sure, in due course, it will be a consolation to you to know that he fell whilst doing his duty for his King and country.

His brother, 3463 Corporal William Northall, was wounded during the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt, having been hit in the right foot and left thigh by machine-gun fire. He was evacuated from France and was sent to hospital in Manchester for treatment for his injuries.

Charles Northall has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.

3728 Lance-Corporal Alexander Ponder

Alex Ponder was born in North Woolwich in Essex in 1879. His parents lived at Great Wigborough, near Colchester but he had lodged with his uncle at 11 Charles Street in Willenhall for some time prior to the war. Ponder was working at Willenhall Gasworks at the time he joined the 6th Battalion at Wolverhampton in October 1914.

Lance-Corporal Ponder was mortally wounded during the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt on 13 October 1915. He was evacuated from the front line but died of his wounds later the same day at the Advanced Dressing Station at Vermelles Chateau. He is buried at Vermelles British Cemetery.

1883 Corporal Reginald Alfred Rimmington

Reginald Rimmington was born at Great Gornaby in Lincolnshire in 1895 His family later moved to Wednesbury and on the death of his father his mother married Constable Sneath, a policeman based in the town. Rimmington had joined the 6th Battalion in 1912, serving with “F” Company at Darlaston. He was employed at the Brockhouse Works at Hill Top.

The circumstances of his death were recorded in a letter sent by a comrade to his mother:

He was the life of his platoon, always happy and smiling. We were getting ready to attack, and he was so eager to get at them that he was on top of our trench five minutes before the time of starting. He was picked off by a sniper just as we left the trench and died instantly.

Reginald Rimmington has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.

3250 Private Robert Thomas Seager

Robert Seager was born in 1890 at Bilston. He lived with his parents at 8 Bristol Street in the town and before enlisting worked as a vulcanite roofer for a building contractor. Seager joined the 6th South Staffords on 12 October 1914 at Wolverhampton.

Just over a year to the day of the date of his enlistment, “Bob” Seager was killed in action at the Hohenzollern Redoubt. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.

2795 Private Bernard Tandy

Bernard Tandy came from West Bromwich, where he had lived with his parents at High Street, Hill Top. He had been employed as a clerk at Messrs. Gough, Allen and Co. solicitors in Wolverhampton. Tandy joined the “Non-Manual” section of the 6th South Staffords in September 1914. Three of his brothers also volunteered to serve in the Army at the same time.

Private Tandy arrived in France with the 1/6th Battalion in March 1915. He was severely wounded during his battalion’s attack on 13 October 1915. He was evacuated to No.1 Casualty Clearing Station at Choques, where he died on 16 October. Bernard Tandy is buried in Choques Military Cemetery.

2800 Company-Sergeant-Major Christopher George Taylor

Christopher Taylor was born in 1888 in Wolverhampton. He lived with his mother at 80 Chester Street in Wolverhampton and worked for a local builder in the town, at one time being engaged on a contract in Egypt. Taylor was also regularly attended St Andrew’s Church in Whitmore Reans and was involved with the Church Lads Brigade detachment.

Taylor joined the “Non-Manual” section of the 6th Battalion at Wolverhampton in September 1914. His aptitude was soon rewarded by rapid promotion, and by the time he embarked for France with the 1/6th Battalion in March 1915 he had attained the rank of Sergeant. In August 1915, while serving in the Hill 60 sector, he became Company-Sergeant-Major of “A” Company.

Christopher Taylor was killed in action on 13 October 1915. On receiving news of his death, he was one of the former members of the congregation remembered in memorial service held at St Andrew’s Church. His body was not identified after the war and his name is carved on the Loos Memorial at Dud Corner Cemetery.

3447 Private Albert Thomason

Albert Thomas was born in Pattingham. At the time of his enlistment in October 1914, he was employed as a labourer at Oxbars Farm in Bradmore.

Private Thomason proceeded to France with the 1/6th Battalion in March 1915. He had qualified as a bomber and it was in this capacity that he took part in the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt on 13 October 1915. For four hours he was reported to have engaged the Germans with grenades until he was shot and killed.

He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.

3391 Private William Titley

William Titley came from Bilston. He enlisted at Wolverhampton in October 1914. At the time he joined the 6th South Staffords, Titley worked at Cannon’s Iron Foundry at Deepfields. He attended Roseville Wesleyan Church and was a keen athlete in his spare time.

Private Titley was wounded during the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt on 13 October 1915. He was taken to a Casualty Clearing Station at Sailly-Labourse but succumbed to his injuries two days later. William Titley is buried in the Communal Cemetery in Sailly-Labourse.

2990 Lance-Corporal Herbert Towler

Herbert Towler was born in Blackpool. He joined the “Non-Manual” section of the 6th South Staffords in September 1914 at Wolverhampton, in response to the appeal for recruits initiated by the Express and Star. At the time of his enlistment he was employed as an electrician at the Sunbeam Motor Company.

Lance-Corporal Towler was wounded on 13 October 1915 and was evacuated to No. 1 Casualty Clearing Station at Choques, where he died four days later. He is buried at Choques Military Cemetery.

1609 Sergeant Frederick Wallace Watson

Frederick Watson was born in Wolverhampton in 1895, the son of Wallace and Hannah Watson. He lived with his parents at 299 Hordern Road and joined the 6th South Staffords in 1912.

Watson landed at Le Havre on 3 March 1915 with “C” Company of the 1/6th South Staffords. He trained as a bomber and took part in the assault on the Hohenzollern Redoubt on 13 October 1913 as a member of one of the bombing parties found by 1/6th South Staffords. Lance-Corporal Walter Shotton recounted his bravery in an interview with the Express and Star:

Watson won the Victoria Cross that day if any man did. Without any cover he stood for five hours bombing the enemy, and the officers say that his efforts alone prevented a counter-attack. He kept calling for bombs and his men kept running with them until they were hit., and when he had no bombs to throw he sniped the Germans with his rifle fire. He was the bravest and most daring fellow I ever know. He stuck it for five hours and then he was killed.

Frederick Watson’s body was not found after the war and he is commemorated on the Loos Memorial at Dud Corner Cemetery.

"THE KNOT UNITES"

[Steve Bramley]

I shall be pausing for a minute or two at 2 p.m. this afternoon.

I wish I could have been over at Loos today.

[SOMMESOLDIER]

Hi Andrew,

That is brilliant information you have posted. May I ask where you got it from ?

Also would you have any such information on 3443 Pte Cyril Eric Rogers and 3123 Pte Albert Hollis both Kia on this day ?

Cheers

Tim.

[AndrewThornton]

Hello Tim

The information has been collated from a number of sources, but mostly draws from published obituaries and news reports printed in the local newspapers of the time. I have been researching the men of 137th Brigade who fought at the Hohenzollern Redoubt for over ten years now, so this day is particularly significant to me as I remember so many names and stories I have come across during my research.

As for the men you mention, Albert Hollis was reported as missing following the attack on 13th October and was 22 when he died. I have no other information on him at the moment. Cyril Rogers was only 17 years old when he was killed, one of many young soldiers who died serving with the Staffordshire Brigade 90 years ago this afternoon. Sadly, I have no other details.

[SOMMESOLDIER]

Hi Andrew,

Many thanks for looking.

Keep up the good work !

Cheers

Tim.

[davidfegga]

Hi all

Also remembering Pte Job Fellows 2936 1st/6th South Staffs killed 90 years ago today. No Known grave, remembered on the Loos Memorial. A coal miner from Sedgley, married to Martha for a few short months.

A Black Country Boy, far from home.

Dave

[Doug Lewis]

Dave

Pte Job Fellows is remembered here in his home town

http://www.sedgleymanor.com/churches/c_of_...hurst_hill.html

Regards Doug.

[davidfegga]

Doug

Yes thanks Doug, am in the process of researching the Fellows' war dead and have info on the three on the Hurst hill memorial,(who were all related), am off to see the renovated Moxley mem tomorrow, as a Great Uncle is on there.

Dave

[Graham Smith]

Yes a most important day.

I was lucky enough to be a relative of Private 588 William Thomas Smith who would have fought at the redoubt with 6 S/Staffs and was so so lucky to have made it through it all and return home.

He told few stories of his time abroad however when he did his eyes would fill with tears. Yes it had a great effect on him, more than I (thankfully) will ever know.

Remembering all our boys today. Heroes one and all

[Andrew Hesketh]

A day worth remembering and a thread that does it justice. Well done pals.

Remembering the Derbyshire Lads, as always.....