Private 55087.  Lancashire Fusiliers, 15th Battalion

William Brindley was born 1896 at Old Furnace (Farm), Greendale, Nr Oakamoor, Staffs.  It is possible, indeed likely, that his mother was Gertrude Blanche Brindley, who was aged 17yrs at the time of his birth; his father is unknown.  William assumed his mother’s family name, Brindley.  William (and Gertrude) lived with his Grandmother, Catherine Brindley.

In 1911 the family were living at Quarry Cottage, Stockton Brook, Stoke on Trent, at which stage Gertrude was employed locally as Domestic Servant but living with her employers. William was listed as his grandmother’s child and was working as a carter in the stone busines.  (1911 Census).  Prior to enlisting William lived with his Grandmother Catherine Brindley at 6 The Green, Kingsley. (CWGC Records).

In the 1918 Voters Register for the area William and his grandmother were shown as registered voters at 6 The Green. Interestingly Williams entry makes no mention of him being in the services which would have been the case had he been.  The voters register would have been compiled it is assumed in the autumn of 1917 indicating that William had yet to join.

Records show that he joined the Lincolnshire Regiment initially before moving to the Lancashire Fusiliers with the service number of 55087.

His enlistment place is given as Froghall which may indicate he was working at the copper works which might  have been a protected occupation?

Full Army records required.

On the day of his death William’s battalion were in the line at Happegarbe (also known as Happegarbes) in north-east France near to the Belgium border. They were according to the war diary holding the line prior to a planned attack. On that day the battalion attacked supported by three tanks and took ground and prisoners with many enemy killed.

However the Germans counter attacked with heavy machine gun fire and many casualties were sustained by the Fusiliers. This carried on until 4th November when the battalion was withdrawn from the line. In a cruel irony this was their last action of the war.

William Brindley died on 2nd November 1918, aged 22yrs, only nine days before the end of the war.  He is commemorated at the Landrecies British Cemetery, Nr Valenciennes, Northern France.

Quite how William met his death is unknown although it is likely to have been due to machine gun fire during the German counter attack. Casualties were high on the day he died with 45 men from his battalion recorded as having died on that day on the Commonwealth War Graves website.

A Sergeant James Clarke of the 15th Battalion was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery on the  2nd of November 1918 and following days. The nature of the action on those days is indicated in his citation for the award.

“For most conspicuous bravery and initiative during the attack at Happegarbe on 2nd November 1918, when in command of a platoon, he led his men forward with great determination, and, on being held up by heavy machine-gun fire, rushed forward through a thick, strongly held ridge, captured in succession four machine guns and single-handed bayoneted the crews.

Later, he led the remnants of his platoon to the capture of three machine guns and many prisoners. In the later stages of the attack on the same day, when his platoon was held up by enemy machine guns, he successfully led a Tank against them over very exposed ground. Continuing the attack on 3rd November, after capturing many prisoners and gaining his objective, he organised his line most skilfully and held up the enemy. On 4th November, in the attack on the Oise-Sambre Canal, under heavy fire from the Canal bank, he rushed forward with a Lewis gun team in the face of an intense barrage, brought the gun into action, effectively silenced the enemy’s fire, thus enabling his company to advance and gain their objectives.

Throughout the whole of these operations Sergeant Clarke acted with magnificent bravery and total disregard of personal safety, and by his gallantry and high sense of duty set an inspiring example to all ranks.”

Footnote 1.  The Lancashire Fusiliers, 15th Battalion, were known as ‘The Salford Pals’.  Following training the battalion was deployed to Boulogne on 22nd November 1915 as part of the 96th Brigade, 32nd Division.  The Battalion saw active service on the Western Front in North West France and were involved in a number of notable campaigns.

Footnote 2.  In November 1918 Allied Forces were making a final push to break through the long established German defences.  During the period 1st – 11th November the 15th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers were involved in the ‘Battle of Sambre’, named after the Sambre River / Canal which formed a natural line of defence and was the scene of heavy fighting, located in the Nord De Pas Calais area of Northern France.  

https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/581570/brindley,-william/

Private 28199.  Duke of Cornwalls Light Infantry, (6th Battalion)

Thomas Clowes was born during the period April – June 1893 (UK Birth Index) the son of Robert and Lavina Clowes, the youngest of their three children.  

In 1901 the family were living at Homefield, Kingsley, at which stage Robert Clowes (Father) was employed as a General Estate Labourer, the children being Annie (16yrs), Ada (10yrs) and Thomas (7yrs).  (1901 Census).

By 1911 the family had moved to The Dams, Kingsley, at which stage Robert Clowes (Father) was employed as a Wood Manager / Timber Feller.  Thomas, aged 17yrs, was recorded as being a ‘State Labourer’ possibly meaning an Estate Labourer.

Thomas Clowes married Ethel Annie Potts in the Cheadle area in the summer of 1914, (she later remarried and lived in Abbots Bromley).

On a date as yet to be clarified Thomas Clowes joined the Army initially joining the Royal Field Artillery at Cheadle with a service number of 140483. At some point  after that he was posted to the Duke  of Cornwalls Light Infantry, 6th Battalion.

His medal record indicates that he did not enter the theatre  of operations until 1916 although the exact date is unclear. This is confirmed by the Battalion war diary which records the nominal role as of  20th December 1915 and there is no T Clowes.

October 1916 had the battalion in the Arras area  of France taking part in the Battle of the Somme. The diary reveals periods of action in the trenches and then rest and refit in the rear. Unusually there is rarely any mention of any officers and there is seldom any mention of the numbers of casualties in the diary.

15th October saw the unit back in the trenches and the diary over the next few days records trench mortar and artillery fire from both sides with little actual fighting and no reference to any casualties although it seems inconceivable that soldiers were not being wounded or worse.

There is also reference to our aeroplanes flying behind enemy lines and barrage balloons being hastily pulled down by the Germans.

For the 19th October the entry is brief and records that the Germans were shelling and mortaring the Cornwall’s front line and communication trenches and also that Arras itself was shelled. It adds that machine gun fire was kept up during the night.

There is no mention of casualties on this date but according to official records Thomas Clowes was killed on this day. The likelihood is that he was killed by enemy shelling. He was one  of two men killed that day – the other being a Fred Cooper from Huddersfield. Over the month of October the 6th Battalion lost 8 men all of whom are buried in Commonwealth War graves. A ninth died in the United Kingdom.

Full army record required.  

Both Thomas Clowes and Fred Cooper are  buried in the Faubourg D’amiens Cemetery, Arras, Northern France.

Footnote 1.  The Duke of Cornwalls Light Infantry 6th (Service) Battalion was raised at Bodmin in August 1914 as part of Kitchener’s First New Army and joined 43rd Brigade, 14th (Light) Division. They trained at Aldershot and spent the winter at Witley, returning to Aldershot in February 1915. They proceeded to France, landing at Boulogne on the 22nd May 1915. They fought in the The Action of Hooge, being the first division to be attacked by flamethrowers. They were in action in The Second Attack on Bellewaarde. In 1916 they were on the Somme seeing action in The Battle of Delville Wood and The Battle of Flers-Courcelette.  (Wikipedia)

Footnote 2.  The Battle of the Somme took place between 1 July and 18 November 1916 on both sides of the River Somme in northern France. The battle was one of the largest of World War I, in which more than 1,000,000 men were wounded or killed. (Wikipedia).
Footnote 3.  The Thiepval Memorial commemorates 72,000 officers and men from Britain and South Africa who lost their lives during the Battle of the Somme and have no known grave.  Four men from Kingsley Parish are commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial; Charles Allen (died 12th August 1916), Isaac Hammond (died 31st August 1916), George Price Bevans (died 8th September 1916) and Arthur Keene (died 12th October 1916).

https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/283756/clowes,-thomas/

Private 37105.  Lancashire Fusiliers (2nd Battalion)

Arthur Keene was born in 1888 in Kingsley, the son of Samuel Keene (a Blacksmith) and Jemima Keene (nee Harris), the fifth of their five children.  Arthur had three older brothers and an older sister.   By 1891 the family were living in Whiston and remained in the village for some years. (1891 and 1901 Census).  

The above photograph is believed to be from circa 1896 and is believed to have been taken outside St Mildred’s Primary School, Whiston.  The subject Arthur Keene is seated front right, older brother Joseph is seated front left with older siblings standing at the rear.

In 1911 Arthur, aged 23 yrs, was described as being employed in Farming.  His brothers Walter Thomas and James were employed as Blacksmiths, brother Joseph was as a Wheelright and Joiner and sister Elizabeth was a Grocer.  (1911 Census).  Probate records indicate the family were living at The Dovecote, Whiston.  (Probate Register).

On a date (as yet) unknown Arthur Keene joined the Army, Service No. 37105, and was posted to the Lancashire Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion, and was involved in active service in Northern France. His entry into the theatre of operations was in 1916 as he was not awarded the 1914-15 Star which awarded to those who saw active service in either 1914 or 1915

The Lancashire Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion, were involved in the Battle of the Somme on the Western Front between July – November 1916. It is entirely possible that Arthur Keene saw action on the first day of the Somme offensive on 1st July 1916.

On 12th October 1916 the Battalion were involved in a major offensive near to the road between Lesboeufs and Le Transloy, (Somme region).  An attack involving several battalions was planned to commence at 2.05pm, (Zero Hour).  Shortly beforehand a enemy aircraft flew overhead and will have seen the allied troops assembling in the trenches.  The following are extracts from the Regimental Diary compiled by an unnamed Staff Officer; “12.30pm. 12 Huns came into our line and surrendered.” – “1.30pm. Zero Hour 2.05pm.  The Dukes (abbreviation for unknown Regiment) to attack the length of trench occupied by the Hun….and then at 2.25pm the rest of the Division to attack.” – “2.00pm. Bombardment heavy.  Bayonets fixed.” – “2.03pm. Hun plane flew straight down our line about 300 feet up, must have seen the trenches crowded with men.  None of our planes in sight” – “Fiendish row. Zero hour. Heavy enemy barrage. The Dukes attacking on our right but can’t see much” – “Enemy machine gun barrage pretty unhealthy” – “2.50pm. 50% Company down”. – Later entries; “Only about 12 men left out of 100” – “Attack an absolute failure”.  (War Diary – Lt Hawkins – 2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers).

The actual dairy / report can be viewed HERE it makes sombre reading.

Arthur Keene was killed on 12th October 1916, the circumstances of his death other than he was likely involved in the above mentioned attack are unknown.. The adjacent sketch from the time indicates the scale of the loss. Research on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site show that 144 men from the second Battalion died on that day. A full strength battalion in World War one numbered just over 1000 officers and men giving the scale of the loss on this one day. 

The war diary breaks the casualties down somewhat stating that 4 officers and 62 other ranks were killed, 6 officers and 162 other ranks were wounded and 1 officer and 100 other ranks were missing. It makes little reference to the events however.

Arthur Keene is commemorated at the Thiepval Memorial, Northern France as having no known grave a fate that befell many on that day and throughout the offensive.

Footnote 1.     The Battle of the Somme took place between 1 July and 18 November 1916 on both sides of the River Somme in northern France. The battle was one of the largest of World War I, in which more than 1,000,000 men were wounded or killed. (Wikipedia).

Footnote 2.  The Thiepval Memorial commemorates the 72,000 British soldiers who lost their life on the Somme and have no known grave.  (CWGC Website).

Footnote 3.  As yet we have been unable to locate the Army Records of Arthur Keene.  His records may not have survived and like many others were probably destroyed in German bombing during the ‘Blitz’ in 1940 during WW2  when the War Ministry was hit and many thousands of military records were destroyed.

Footnote 4.  Family descendants of Arthur Keene still live locally.  His brother Joseph was a successful in business and owned many farms and houses around the village.  His nephew Samuel Keene owned the Filling Station / Garage in Whiston for many years up to circa 1975.  He is the Great Uncle of Malcolm Keene, (who lived at Cottage Farm, Whiston, until recently) and Joyce Worthy (nee Keene) who lives in Leek.

https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/797529/keene,-arthur/

Private 16717.  North Staffordshire Regiment.  (7th Battalion)

Thomas Salt was born around 1884 in the Cheadle area and was the son of John and Agnes Salt (Nee Willett)

In 1891 the family are living at Sweet Hill Farm, Boundary, near Cheadle, with John Salt senior, and  sisters Mary Ann 9 and Ellen 11. John Salt’s occupation is given as farmer.(1891 Census)

By the 1901 census the family are living at Hatchley, which is believed to be modern day Hatchley Farm, Bate Lane, near Dilhorne. Thomas’s father is still farming, Mary Ann is married and called Walters and Ellen has moved out . Thomas does not have an occupation recorded against his name.

Thomas Salt married Florence May Carr on 10th October 1909 at Fenton. Their home address was given as 30 Alfred Street Fenton. Thomas’s occupation was given as a Butcher, as was his Father. (Marriage Certificate)

In 1911 at the census of that year the family were living at Dilhorne Lane, Forsbrook and had two children, Florence May, aged 2 yrs and Agnes aged 6 months. Thomas’s occupation was recorded as a General Farm Labourer.

The same census indicates his parents were living at Cash Heath between Blythe Bridge and Dilhorne, where his father was recorded as being a Farmer.

It is assumed that some time after the start of the war and perhaps very early on Thomas Salt joined the army and was posted to the 7th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment. He may have been a Territorial soldier before the war.

This battalion was formed in 1914 and based initially in Tidworth on Salisbury plain. By January of the following year the unit was at Basingstoke and then Aldershot before sailing from Avonmouth in June 1915 bound for Gallipoli.

Thomas Salt died on 9th October 1915. He is commemorated at the Helles Memorial in Western Turkey in memory of the 21,000 servicemen lost during the Gallipoli Campaign many who have no known grave. On the date of his death Thomas Salt was the only man from the North Staffords to lose his life.

The war diary of the battalion has been obtained and shows that at the time of Thomas Salts death they were on the front line in Gallipoli occupying fire trenches known as B65, B66 and B67. They relieved battalions of  the Gloucestershire Regiment and the Warwickshire Regiment on 3rd October 1915.

The following night saw a covering party escorting a digging party to a point called Gloster Post some 50 yards in front of their trenches. This post had to that point being used as an listening post for 6 men each night. Work carried out allowed for better communications and occupation day and night.

On each of the nights of 7th,8th and 9th October a small party of men went out into no man’s land right up to the Turkish trenches gaining intelligence and sketching their layouts.

On the 8th October the Stafford’s were subjected to what was described as asphyxiating bombing by the enemy in the area of C Companies trenches. This is assumed to be a reference to the use of chemical weapons.

There are no entries for 9th October 1915 other than a reference to the forays into no man’s land.

On the 10th October 120 men joined as  reinforcements from Madras in India.

There is no direct mention of any action that could be attributed to Thomas Salt’s death. On the day he died there was only one other casualty who was wounded and to that point there had been few casualties. Indeed over the whole month of October casualties were  5 killed and 13 wounded.

Whilst conjecture Thomas could have been killed on the reconnaissance party that went to the enemy trenches on the night of either 8th or 9th or he could have been killed as a result of the bombing of 8th October. Sadley we will probably never know how he died.

The battalion was evacuated from  Gallipoli in January 1916 going to Port Said in Egypt  and camping there. They remained in the middle east for the duration of the war ending it in Baku the capital of modern day Azerbaijan.

Further tragedy was to befall the family weeks after Thomas Salt died. The Cheadle and Tean Times newspaper reported on 3rd November 1915 that Mary Ellen Carr the 14 year old sister of Florence Carr died having had her clothes caught alight whilst cooking at her sister’s home. She was taken to Cheadle Hospital but later died.

Footnote 1: The 8 month campaign in Gallipoli was fought by Commonwealth and French forces in an attempt to force Turkey out of the war, to relieve the deadlock of the Western Front in France and Belgium, and to open a supply route to Russia through the Dardanelles and the Black Sea.  The Allies landed on the peninsula on 25 – 26 April 1915; the 29th Division at Cape Helles in the south and the Australian and New Zealand Corps north of Gaba Tepe on the west coast, an area soon known as Anzac. On 6 August, further landings were made at Suvla, just north of Anzac, and the climax of the campaign came in early August when simultaneous assaults were launched on all three fronts. However, the difficult terrain and stiff Turkish resistance soon led to the stalemate of trench warfare. From the end of August, no further serious action was fought and the lines remained unchanged. The peninsula was successfully evacuated in December and early January 1916.

Footnote 2:  The Helles Memorial serves the dual function of Commonwealth Battle Memorial for the whole Gallipoli campaign and place of commemoration for many of those Commonwealth servicemen who died there and have no known grave. The United Kingdom and Indian forces named on the memorial died in operations throughout the peninsula, the Australians at Helles. There are also panels for those who died or were buried at sea in Gallipoli waters. The memorial bears monames.

https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/688085/salt,-thomas/

Private 44545 – Lincolnshire Regiment (6th Battalion)

Moses Holland was born in the period January – March 1899 in Wolverhampton, the son of Henry (a General Hawker / Licensed Pedlar) and Mary Holland, being the fourth of their five children.  By 1901 the family were living in Kingsley Holt, Staffs, and that remained the situation for some years  (1901 & 1911 Census),  later moving to Thornby House, Consall, Staffs.  (CWGC records).

Moses Holland initially served in the Leicestershire Regiment, Service No. 30572.  He later transferred to the Lincolnshire Regiment, 6th Battalion.  Service No. 44545.  and was posted on active service to France / Flanders. Research elsewhere indicates that he initially joined the Staffordshire Regiment. However this was not unusual as many joined their county regiment but were later moved to other regiments to make up shortfalls.

Moses Holland died on 5th October 1918.  He is commemorated at the Vis En Artois Memorial Cemetery, Northern France.

On the day of his death the battalion were north east of the village of Epinoy some 8 km north west of Cambrai. The battalion war diary records that the battalion moved to relieve the 11th Manchester’s but does not record any engagements. The diary requires further research but appears not to record any casualties during this period albeit they were in action as on  the following night a platoon was involved in fighting that claimed ten enemy dead – once again there is no mention of any casualties on the Lincolnshire side.

The family were notified of Moses death later that month – it states that the location was unknown but he was killed in action. (See image alongside)

On 15th February 1919 details of Moses Holland’s death were reported in the Staffordshire Weekly Sentinel, “Pte Moses Holland 6th Lincolnshire Regiment, son of Mr and Mrs H Holland, Rock Cottage, Consall Forge, was killed in action at Cambrai on October 5th 1918.  He was called up in 1917 prior to which he was in the employ of Messrs. Bolton & Sons, Froghall, where he was very much liked.  His Sergeant has written saying he was popular in his platoon and would be greatly missed, for he has always cheering up the others.”

The project team have not located any relatives of Moses Holland. However a photograph and some other documents are currently in the safekeeping of Elizabeth Winterton of Brookhouse Farm Cheddleton. They rented a cottage out to Moses younger sister Lydia who died aged 94 in around 1994. As a result of her death the items passed into Elizabeth’s care.

Among the documents are a card sent from Moses whilst servicing in the Leicestershire Regiment addressed from Bury St Edmonds which would suggest he was undergoing training in that area. Another possession is a spent .303 round – these were fired from the standard Lee Enfield rifle and also from the machine guns used at the time. The round has had a piece of wood inserted into it which has been shaped to look like an actual bullet. Perhaps Moses fired this either in action or whilst training?

Prior to his death Moses was featured in the Staffordshire Weekly Sentinel under a section  showing those who had joined up. The picture used in the paper was taken from the picture that appears here. Although not conclusive the cap badge is of the Leicestershire Regiment based on the shape and outline suggesting it was taken just after he joined up. If anyone knows what the sleeve badges are on the picture please get in touch with the project team.

Footnote 1.  6th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment was raised at Lincoln in August 1914 as part of Kitchener’s First New Army and joined 33rd Brigade in 11th (Northern) Division. After initial training close to home, they moved to Belton Park, Grantham. On 4th April 1915 the Division assembled at Witley and Frensham for final training. They sailed for Gallipoli from Liverpool via Mudros at the end of June 1915. They landed near Lala Baba at Suvla Bay on 7th August. On 19th and 20th December 1915 the Division was withdrawn from Gallipoli, moving to Imbros then to Egypt at the end of January. They concentrated at Sidi Bishr and took over a section of the Suez canal defences on the 19th February. On 17th June 1916 the Division was ordered to France to reinforce Third Army on The Somme. They departed from Alexandria on with the last units leaving on 3rd July. By 27th July, they were in the front line on the Somme and took part in The capture of the Wundt-Werk, The Battle of Flers-Courcelette and The Battle of Thiepval. In 1917 they were in action in Operations on the Ancre then moved north to Flanders for The Battle of Messines, The Battle of the Langemarck, The Battle of Polygon Wood, The Battle of Broodseinde and The Battle of Poelcapelle. In 1918 they were at Arras for The 1918 Battle of the Scarpe and The Battle of the Drocourt-Quant Line and fought in the Battles of the Hindenburg Line and The Battle of the Sambre including the passage of the Grand Honelle. At the Armistice the Division was on high ground east of Havay.