1/6th Battalion
139th
Brigade, 46th (North Midland) Division
Outline
History
- 1914:
As a Territorial Battalion, the 1/6th was assembled immediately
upon the outbreak of war in Chesterfield. With the 1/5th, 1/7th
and 1/8th, it was part of the Notts & Derby Brigade, North Midland
Division.
- 1915:
Between 23rd - 28th February the Division arrived in France, the
first complete Territorial Divsion to link up with the British Expeditionary
Force. On 12th May the Notts & Derby Brigade was redesignated
139th Brigade and the North Midland Division was redesignated 46th
(North Midland) Division. The battalion fought near Hooge, Ypres,
but its first major action took place at the Hohenzollern Redoubt
near Loos. In late December the Division was withdrawn from action
and designated for transportation to Egypt. The Division
began making its way to Marseilles and some units even embarked.
During 1915 the battalion lost 120 men killed.
- 1916:
In late January movement to Egypt was stopped and the Division reassembled
in France. Some time was spent in the firing line near Arras, but
in June training began for the Battle of the Somme. On 1st
July 1916 the 139th Brigade went over the top at Gommecourt
and was cut to ribbons. The 1/6th Battalion suffered badly, but
not as badly as the 1/5th and 1/7th that had spearheaded the assault.
28 men and 2 Officers were killed. Following Gommecourt the whole
Division was withdrawn to be rebuilt. The 46th Division returned
to the Somme during the winter of 1916-1917. During 1916 as a whole
the 1/6th lost 74 men killed. For more details of the 1/6th
Sherwood Foresters and the Battle of the Somme, see Dr. Mike
Briggs' 'Chesterfield
Sherwoods on the Somme' website.
- 1917:
The Divison began the year on the Somme and during the year was
involved in Involved in the German retreat to the Hindenburg
Line and the Battle of Hill 70. During 1917 the battalion lost
112 men killed.
-
1918:
Involved in: the Advance in Flanders, the Battle of the St
Quentin Canal, the Battle of Beaurevoir, the Battle of Cambrai
1918, the Pursuit to the Selle and the Battle of the Selle.
During 1917 the battalion lost 117 men killed.
-
1919:
the Division began demobilisation and most of the 1/6th men were
home by June 1919. During
the war as a whole the 1/6th Battalion had lost 423 men killed.
Biographies
of 1/6th Battalion Men
-
- Tetlow,
Joshua. Company Quartermaster Sergeant, C Company,
1/6th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters [Derbyshire
Lads 1914-1918]
- Vanes,
James MM. Lance Sergeant, B Company, 1/6th Battalion,
Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby) Regiment [Derbyshire
Lads 1914-1918]
- Vanes,
Robert. Private, 1/6th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters
(Notts & Derby) Regiment [Derbyshire
Lads 1914-1918]
Photographs
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[1]
'C' Company, 1/6th Sherwood Foresters
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[2]
The 1/6th (probably marching through Chesterfield in 1914)
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[3]
The 1/6th on manoeuvres (location unknown)
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Photographs
courtesy of:
-
[1]
Dave Bennett
-
[2
& 3] Anthony Bagshaw
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