Bit of a long one..............Lieut C Devereux 6th South Staffs.

[uxbull]

Pals,

bear with me, this is going somewhere...............honest!! Everyyear at work I organise 4 trips to various battlefields. I always include a week at Ypres and the Somme. Next year, a friend of mine is coming with me on that particular trip. She mentioned the fact that she was going on this trip to her mum. Her mum said something along the lines of 'oh that will be interesting, coz your great grandad fought on the Somme' and proceeded to give her an envelope with some fantastic photos in ( this was all news to my friend).

Anyway in this envelope with these photos (more of which later) was a typed page which had been done by a patient of my friends mum. This extract was from something called 'the Role of the Great War'. I'll reproduce what is written on this page and then I'll get round to my questions:

Devereux C Lieut

6th South Staffs

Joined 5th September 1914. Discharged 11th March 1920

Holds 1914-15 Star, General Service and Victory Medals

Two Wound Stripes

Went to France 1st March 1915, saw service at Armentieres, Neuve Chapelle, Messines, Hill 60, Hulloch, went to Egypt, Came back to France, Neuville St Vasst. Invalided home. Gazetted to 5th Staffs and joined them in the Loos area. Wounded at latter place. Went out to France again and was attached to 2nd Worcesters at Zillebeke Lake. From there he went to the Somme front where he had the misfourtune to be wounded again 5 days before the signing of the Armistice. Had a lengthy stay in hospital and was discharged.

Private address 'Sherford' Cheslyn Hay

Mr A Devereux

108 Sutherland Rd

Cheslyn Hay

Walsall

Anyway, a couple of questions:

What is the 'Roll of the great War?

Where is Hulloch and Neuville St Vasst?

Dis the Staffs really go from Feance to Egypt and back again?

and Finally, the photos she has shows him on a 'Lewis Gunners Course - Lincoln, March 1918' Any ideas where this might have been? Also if I have interpreted the text correctly he was in France in 1914 with the Worcesters, would he have been bought back to Lincoln for the Lewis gunners course?

All answers greatly received.

Cheers

[jay dubaya]

I can broadly answer 2 of your questions...

Yes the 1/6th South Staffs did go to France, the Egypt and back to France.

Hulloch is near Loos and Neuville St. Vasst is south of Arras,

cheers, Jon

[stubriscoe]

"Uxbull",

I am slowly transcribing the war diaries of the 6th South Staffs on my website.

I have got at far as February 1916, so this covers the battalion's early time in France, plus their short deployment to Eygpt.

The diary pages are here.

Regards,

Stuart

[ian turner]

Check out the Long Long Trail, linked at the top of the page. I think it will answer many of your questions.

Look under 1/6th S Staffs (46th Div)

Ian

[uxbull]

Troops,

many thanks for the answers so far. I continue to be amazed at the wealth of information that can be found here.

[uxbull]

Gents,

thanks for the replys and PMs, most of my questions have been answered...........and more.

However, one still remains. Anyone know what the 'Role of the great war' was/is?

I presume its a book, but I just cant find reference too it.

Cheers

[stubriscoe]

national Roll of Honour

<description from a book site>

A pen picture of the war service of well over 100,000 men and women.

One of the most sought-after sets of reference books of the First World War is the National Roll of the Great War. The National Publishing Company attempted, shortly after hostilities ceased, to compile a brief biography of as many participants in the War as possible. The vast majority of entries refer to combatants who survived the Great War and the National Roll is often the only source of information available. Fourteen volumes were completed on a regional basis.

<>

People suscribed to be included, and the project was never completed.

Stuart

[uxbull]

Stuart,

once again, thank you very much

Steve

[Michelle Young]

The Lewis Gun course Lincoln could maybe be at Belton House, Grantham, a depot and training centre for the MCG was established there in WW1.

Michelle

[uxbull]

Michelle,

thanks

Steve

[Jon6640]

Clifford Devereux joined as Private 2899 in 1914. His medal index card can be ordered from the National Archives here:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...p;resultcount=6

He was the son of Dr William J Devereux (1884 - 1942) and Clara HAWKINS (died 17.2.1949) The Hawkins were the 'big' family in Cheslyn Hay and were mine owners in the village. His parents married at St Marks in Great Wyrley (where I got hitched). Dr DEVEUX was born at Bromyard on the Isle of Wight and he came to work with Dr Alexander COOK of Hall Court Vilas, Cannock. While in the Isle of Wight he was the assistant to the doctor who attended Queen Victoria when she was residence there. They had in addition to CLIFFORD the following children:

Dorothy Mary DEVEREUX (1888 -27.11.82) who never married and John Godfrey DEVEREUX.

Clifford married Fanny Deakin of Stafford (born 22.2.1890) and had two children:

Arthur Godfrey Devereux (born 1921) and Ronald Devereux (born 13.09.1925). I'm guessing that the A DEVEREUX of Sutherland Road was Arthur.

[uxbull]

Jon,

thanks very much

Steve