droptank Posted 13 November , 2006 Share Posted 13 November , 2006 I know that my Great-Grandad, William Nicholson served in the Lincs. Regiment and that his service number was 14948......He was, apparently wounded on the first day of the Somme and he lost part of a leg. He was awarded the usual campaign medals but,try as I might, I can't find his medal card or any other details about him. I don't know his company or his battalion. He lived in Gainsborough Lincs which suggests that he may have been in the Grimsby Pals........... Other than that I'm stuck, can anyone point me in the right direction? BTW, my brother-in-law won a recent folk-music competition, his joint composition was of a Grimsby village that has only recently added the Great War casualties to it's memorial......the story is fascinating.....check out: www.angelfire.com/folk/johnblanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich-Sheffield Posted 13 November , 2006 Share Posted 13 November , 2006 I entered the service number and bottom 2 of page four are : Medal card of Nicholson, John W Corps: King's Own Scottish Borderers Regiment No: 14948 Rank: Private 1914-1920 WO 372/14 Medal card of Nicholson, John W Corps: Lincolnshire Regiment Regiment No: 14948 Rank: Serjeant 1914-1920 WO 372/14 Might be worth looking into....?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droptank Posted 13 November , 2006 Author Share Posted 13 November , 2006 Thank you sir, I believe you can order a copy of a medal card but you have to visit Kew to view a record ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droptank Posted 13 November , 2006 Author Share Posted 13 November , 2006 Have obtained a copy of the card and have learned that he was in the 7th (service) batt. What does "service " mean in a military context? Thanks again for any help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 13 November , 2006 Share Posted 13 November , 2006 Before the War (most) Regiments had two battalions (known as Regular battalions). The volunteers at the start of the war mainly went into new battalions raised for wartime only. These were called New Army, or Kitchener battalions. Those that went overseas were called Service Battalions, with those that stayed in the UK (and thus supplied drafts for the Service battalions) were Second Reserve battalions. This link should help you trace the 7th Lincolnshire Regiment's war: http://www.1914-1918.net/lincolns.htm Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_davies Posted 17 November , 2006 Share Posted 17 November , 2006 Your Great-grandad would have enlisted in early Jan 1915. The 7th Lincs were not directly involved during the 1st day of the Somme, but on July 2nd cleared the village of Fricourt and the adjacent Fricourt Wood, Casualties for the day were 1 officer killed and 19 other ranks wounded. Does his medal index card show a date on it. This will tell when he arrived in France (if he did so before the end of 1915). Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droptank Posted 18 November , 2006 Author Share Posted 18 November , 2006 Hi Jim, Thanks for the info. His card is a bit blurred but I can make out the dates 11 Aug 15 and 26 Aug 18....embarkation and disembarkation dates? I've tried to attach the card image but have been told the image is too big (?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_davies Posted 20 November , 2006 Share Posted 20 November , 2006 Arriving in France on 11 Aug 1915 your great-grandad would have first served with the 7th Lincs in the area of Voormezeele. The battalion "missed" the Battle of Loos, still being at Voormezelle where they fired "fifteen rounds rapid" as part of a deception plan on 25 Sep 1915. Remained in the Ypres sector until the end of year when relieved from the front line for training. During this time there were many killed and wounded from snipers and shellfire, and sick from trench foot. On 7th Feb 1916 the battalion was in the trenches at the "Bluff". On the 14th the Germans took the Bluff (7th Lincs were in reserve), that night and during the next day the battalion took part in a number of failed attempts to retake the position. Battalion was relieved early on the 17th. From 14-17th they lost suffered 26 killed, 78 wounded and 3 missing. On 2 Mar 1916 7th Lincs recapture the Bluff (with 10th SF), suffering 34 killed, 184 wounded and 16 missing. End of May the battalion was withdrawn from the front for training for the Somme. Hope this gives you a brief insight into your great-grandad's war. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droptank Posted 19 February , 2012 Author Share Posted 19 February , 2012 Arriving in France on 11 Aug 1915 your great-grandad would have first served with the 7th Lincs in the area of Voormezeele. The battalion "missed" the Battle of Loos, still being at Voormezelle where they fired "fifteen rounds rapid" as part of a deception plan on 25 Sep 1915. Remained in the Ypres sector until the end of year when relieved from the front line for training. During this time there were many killed and wounded from snipers and shellfire, and sick from trench foot. On 7th Feb 1916 the battalion was in the trenches at the "Bluff". On the 14th the Germans took the Bluff (7th Lincs were in reserve), that night and during the next day the battalion took part in a number of failed attempts to retake the position. Battalion was relieved early on the 17th. From 14-17th they lost suffered 26 killed, 78 wounded and 3 missing. On 2 Mar 1916 7th Lincs recapture the Bluff (with 10th SF), suffering 34 killed, 184 wounded and 16 missing. End of May the battalion was withdrawn from the front for training for the Somme. Hope this gives you a brief insight into your great-grandad's war. Jim Apologies for not replying earlier and thanking you guys. Fascinating stuff and a great insight, thanks again. Apologies for not replying sooner. Thanks you all of the above for your help, fascinating stuff and it's helped me look into the 7th Lincs history. Simon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Bramley Posted 27 February , 2012 Share Posted 27 February , 2012 And your Brother in Laws Grandad... Charles Arthur Blanks, Born: Cambridge, 1890 Resided: 9 Whitaker's Yard, Gainsborough Pre war employ: Labourer Marshall's Engineering 1541 [D Company] 1/5th Lincolns Enlisted: 01.04.13, at Gainsborough Embarked: 01.03.15 Wounded: 14.06.15 at Hill 60 Dicharged: 16.01.16, due to wounds. Regards, Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droptank Posted 27 February , 2012 Author Share Posted 27 February , 2012 Bloody hell Steve, this came out of the blue! Interesting to note that Carles enlisted before the outbreak of war, could he have been a Territorial? How did you figure out who my brother-in -law is? Thanks for the info! Regards, Simon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Underdown Posted 28 February , 2012 Share Posted 28 February , 2012 1/5th was a territorial battalion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Bramley Posted 29 February , 2012 Share Posted 29 February , 2012 Hi Simon, I spoke to him a couple of years ago about his G'dad after seeing the website. Good song and fascinating story surrounding the Fulstow memorial, Cheers, Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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