by James | Mar 11, 2018 | Uncategorised
Today we remember the 101st anniversary of the death of Bourne man, Sergeant George Alfred Brooks, “C” Battery, 165th Brigade Royal Field Artillery.
Killed in Action 11th March 1917.
George was born in Headington Oxfordshire on 6th March 1881, to James Brooks, a coachman, and his wife Elizabeth Patman.
James and Elizabeth were married in Chelsea in 1874, James being from Oxfordshire and Elizabeth being born in Quadring Lincolnshire.
Thier first daughter Edith was born in Folkingham and the other 4 were all born in Oxfordshire.
James passed away in 1884 leaving Elizabeth and her young family living in Oxfordshire for some time before moving back to Lincolnshire in the late 1890s., living in Terrace Yard, North Street Bourne by 1901.
George was a career soldier originally Joined the 4th Lincs ‘Militia’ in 1896, at the age of 15, leaving them in 1897. When he joined his mother was living in North Street Bourne although George was born in Oxfordshire.
There is a George Alfred Brooks, born Oxfordshire, serving with the Derby Regiment, lisited in the Police Gazette as an absentee from the militia. There is a gap in the research between 1897 when George left the Lincolnshire Militia and 1900 when he attested to the regular army with the Lincolnshire regiment.
George attested to the 3rd Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment on 24th February 1900 this being a reserve battalion, George was then posted to the 2nd Battalion Lincolnshire regiment in May. George saw his first taste of overseas action being involved in the South Africa Campaign.
August 1901 saw George transferred to the 42nd Brigade Royal Field Artillery and the on to the 69th Brigade in October 1901.
On 1st April 1904 George extended his service to complete 8 years with the colours, still being with the 69th Brigade Royal Field Artillery and then attaining a promotion to acting Bombardier in July 1904.
In 1905 another promotion saw George attain the rank of Bombardier. Later that year saw him taking his equitation at Rawl Pindi on 26th April for promotion to Corporal on 29th January 1906, extending his service to complete 12 years with the colours.
Whilst serving in India George met Esther Jane Leeder, who was born in Bellary India in 1887.
They married in Campbelpore India on 1st January 1907.
In 1907 Esther gave birth to their twin boys, Frederick James and George Richard.
A reorganisation of the Army in may 1908 saw George become part of the 2nd Ammunition Column before another posting in February 1909 put him once again under the 69th Brigade.
Sadly for the young family the twins died in March 1908 whilst in India.
In 1909 the family was extended again with the birth of George and Esther’s son Cecil Alfred whilst on the posting in Rawl Pindi.
George was promoted to a sergeant in December 1909 and posted to the 67th brigade before his final posting to the 38th Brigade in October 1910.
George was discharged from the army on 11th March 1912, having completed his 1st Period of 12 years.
George’s postings were February 1900 to May 1900, Home Service.
May 1900 to October 1901 South Africa.
October 1901 to February 1912 India.
February 1912 to March 1912 India.
George’s original records ended in March 1912 after his discharge, his last posting being with the 38th Brigade Royal Field Artillery.
After leaving the Army the family moved to England where George’s Mother and Sister were still living in Bourne.
The family was now 5 children with the youngest two Harry and Esther, being born after 1913.
We can assume that when leaving the army George would have been put on the Army Reserve list and then recalled to the Army after the outbreak of war in 1914.
Currently there is little detail about George’s call-up after the outbreak of war and all we can say for certain is that at the time of his death in 1917 he was posted to the C Battery 165th Brigade Royal Field Artillery.
During the war the batteries were regularly moved between brigades making it difficult to follow a given person or battery throughout the war. The Royal Field Artillery was the largest of the artillery arms of the army and were responsible for horse drawn medium calibre guns and howitzers deployed close to the front line and reasonably mobile. The RFA was organised into brigades.
The 165th Brigade was originally part of the 31st division and received orders in November 1915 to move to France. This order was superseded in December and the Division was shipped to Egypt.
In March 1916 the divisional artillery was shipped to France and arrived via Marseille.
By early 1917 the 165th Brigade was in the field in The Somme around Bayencourt. The HQ was at Bayencourt and the batteries were in positions on the Herertune Plain. On the 6th March the batteries advanced to occupy positions behind Rossignol Wood, the HQ moving to Herbuterne.
During the 11th the HQ and batteries were shelled, the Casualties on this day were listed as 2nd Lt Lovett-Thomas of C Battery was killed and 1 other rank wounded.
Sergeant George Brooks was killed as a result of the enemy shelling on the 11th March 1917. He is buried in the Heberturne Military Cemetery.
The Grantham Journal on 31st March 1917 carried the following story,
THE LATE SERGT. BROOKS.-
During the past week, Mrs Brooks of Hereward Street, Bourne has received the following letter from Battery Sergt Major A Payne with reference to Sergt Brooks whose death in action we recorded last week. The letter was written on March 15th and says:- “It is with very deep regret and sympathy from myself and sergeants of the Battalion I inform you of your husband’s death which occurred on 11th March 1917. He was killed in action and I can assure you that he will be sadly missed by both officers and men of the Battalion. If there is anything I can do for you in the way of fixing up his affairs, I shall only be to pleased to have a line from you. Trusting you will try and bear up and be brave like a soldier’s wife should be.”
After George’s Death Esther left Bourne and returned to India, with three children Cecil, Esther and Harry.
George was awarded the following campaign medals;
The British Medal
The Victory Medal
The 15 Star
South Africa Medal 1899 with Clasps
“Cape Colony”
“Orange Free State”
“Transvaal”,
“S Africa 1901”
In memory of Lieutenant George Alfred Brooks, 68459, “C” Bty, Royal Field Artillery who died on 11 March 1917.
Remembered with honour, Hebuterne Military Cemetery.
by James | Mar 4, 2018 | Uncategorised
Our second remembrance today is for Billingborough man, Walter Carrington of the 2nd battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, who was officially reported killed on this day 101 years ago.
Walter is remembered on the Thiepval memorial and also on the Roll of Honour in St Andrew’s Church Billingborough.
Walter Carrington was born in 1883 and his baptism record in 1884 shows he is the son of William Carrington of Billingborough and his wife Jane Gibson. William had actually died in 1880 and Jane had remarried to John Johnson just before Walter’s baptism.
In 1891 Walter Carrington was listed on the census as the stepson of John Johnson but by 1901 he was using the name Walter Johnson for the census.
Walter Married in 1915 to Flora Stead, born in Wittering by then a resident in Castle Bytham.
They had a son John Frederick Carrington born April 30th 1916 in Billingborough.
In January 1916 conscription was introduced for every unmarried man between the age of 18 and 41. Within a few months this was rolled out to include married men although certain occupations were exempt and could appeal.
Walter joined the 2nd battalion Lincolnshire regiment on 14th July 1916 in Grantham.
Listed on the attestation paper fro Walter is Wife Flora, Son John plus Walter’s 2 step sisters and 3 step brothers, along with his mother Jane Johnson.
Walter was trained with the 9th Service Battalion at Brocton before being shipped to Calais on the 14th November with a posting to the 8th Service Battalion. Walter was eventually posted to the 2nd Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment on 28th November 1916 went on active duty for his new Battalion.
By March 1917 the Battalion were in action on the Somme section of the Western Front in the area between Bapaume and Peronne.
Taken from the 2nd Battalion Diary;
On the 1st March 1917 the battalion moved back to dugouts in Junction Wood and into Brigade Reserve. The 2nd saw them move up to dugouts and cellars in Lockbarracks and Bouchavesne again in brigade reserve where they remained on the 3rd March.
At 5:15am on the 4th the 8th Division carried out an attack east of Bouchavesnes to gain the high ground from which the enemy had observation of our positions.
The battalion was detailed for the following duties in support of the 2nd Royal Berkshire Regiment who were the assaulting battalion of the 25th infantry Brigade. “C” company and half of “D” company as moppers up “B” company and the other half of “D” company as carriers. “A” Company and the battalion lewis gunners hold the front line from which the attack was launched.
The attack was most successful and all objectives gained. 1 officer killed, 2 wounded and 1 missing. Other ranks, 18 Killed, 33 wounded and 13 missing. The Division listed 1137 casualties from the operation most from artillery fire in the initial attack.
Retaliatory artillery fire and counter attack continued for several days afterwards and the operation was seen as a complete success allowing the new position to menace the enemy defences to the south towards Peronne. It has been said that this operation played a small part in the German decision to retire to the Hindenburg line two weeks earlier than planned.
Walter was listed as missing on the 4th March 1917, less than 4 months after arriving in France. Official records on the 22nd December 1917 showed acceptance that he was killed either on or after the 4th March during the operation described.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
In memory of Private Walter Carrington, 26870, 2nd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment who died on 4 March 1917, Age 33.
Son of Mrs Johnson of Horbling, Billingborough, Lincs; husband of Flora Carrington of Castle Bytham, Grantham, Lincs
Remembered with honour, Thiepval Memorial.
by James | Mar 4, 2018 | Uncategorised
Today we remember Eric George Palmer who was killed in the Great War 101 years ago this day.
Eric is remembered on the Bourne War Memorial and also at Fins New British Cemetery.
Eric was born in Higham Ferras, Northamptonshire. He was the 2nd son of Charles Simpson Reginald Palmer, a Grocery and Produce Merchant and his wife Mary Matilda Joll.
Eric was originally intended to work at the office of Morgan and George, Solicitors of Wellingborough when he received his call up to the 3rd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment.
He was posted to the 2nd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment and saw action in France.
Eric was killed in action on the 4th March 1917 and is buried in Fins New British Cemetery.
From the 1st March the Battalion had moved to Asquith Flats. On the 4th they attacked the enemy on the Moislains Ridge. thjey had met their objectives and came under repeated counter attacks. During this day 7 officers and 235 other ranks were listed as casualties of this action.
The Northampton Mercury for Friday 16th March reported the sad news of the death of Lieut. Palmer with much regret in Wellingborough where is was very well known and popular. His father was the Vice-Chairman of the Wellingborough Board of Guardians and prominently associated with the Wesleyan Church.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission adds the following memorial;
In memory of Lieutenant E G Palmer, 3rd Battalion. attd. 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment who died on 4 March 1917 Age 21. Son of Reginald and M A Palmer, of The Haven, Bourne, Lincs. Remembered with honour, Fins New British Cemetery, Sorel-Le-Grand
by James | Feb 17, 2018 | Uncategorised
Today we remember Langtoft man, Abraham Warn who lost his life 101 years ago today.
Abraham was born in Langtoft in 1877, 6th child born to William Warn, a cottager with his 2nd wife Martha Coddington.
Abraham’s father passed away before 1901, where Abraham can be found living with his mother in Langtoft. He worked as a farm labourer in Langtoft before enlisting in the army with the Prince of Wales’ own West Yorkshire Regiment.
Abraham was serving with the 2nd/5th Battalion Yorkshire when the battalion was mobilised for war in January 1917.
Private Abraham Warn, 202055, 2nd/5th Bn, Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own, who died on 17 February 1917.Age 37
Son of Martha Warn, of Gray’s Cottage, Langtoft, Peterborough, and the late William Warn. Remembered with honour, Thiepval Memorial.
Abraham is one of the 8 men commemorated on the Langtoft village memorial.
by James | Feb 8, 2018 | Uncategorised
Today we remember the 100th anniversary of the death of John Tom Haines, commemorated on the Bourne Memorial and also on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing of the Somme.
John Thomas Haines was born in Spalding in 1883.
The son of John William Haines and possibly the step son of Suzannah Jane Blood.
By 1901 he was living in Bourne and in 1911 can be found in Dyke.
John enlisted in on the 8th February 1917 in Bourne and served in the 7th Battalion (Alexandra Prince of Wales Own) Yorkshire Regiment, and also the 13th Battalion, although “Soldiers died in the Great War” lists him as Yorkshire Hussars.
He was killed on 8th February 1917, aged 34. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
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