Derbyshire Lads: The Sherwood Foresters: 1/7th Battalion

1/7th Battalion (Robin Hoods)

139th Brigade, 46th (North Midland) Division

Outline History

1914: As a Territorial Battalion, the 1/7th was assembled immediately upon the outbreak of war at NottinghamDrill Hall. With the 1/5th, 1/6th 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 In late December the Division was withdrawn from action and designated for transportation to Egypt.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 117 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. To find out precisely where the 1/7th battalion was at any given time between January and July, see the diary of Private Sidney Dore. On 1st July 1916 the 139th Brigade went over the top at Gommecourt and was cut to ribbons. The 1/7th Battalion suffered particularly badly. 186 men and 13 Officers were killed. Total casualties for the day, including wounded and missing, were 409 out of the 536 men involved in the attack (a casualty rate of 73%). The story of Private Herbert Burman, who died on 1st July, gives a detailed account of the attack. Following Gommecourt the whole Division was withdrawn to be rebuilt.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 1/7th lost 259 men killed. For more details of the 1/7th 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 109 men killed.
1918: On 31st January a radical change took place. The battalion was transferred to 178th Brigade, 59th Division and absorbed the 2/7th Bn. Effectively a new battalion had been created and it was renamed the 7th Battalion. However the wounds of 1st July 1916 had never really been healed and, as part of army wide reorganisation, the 7th was chosen to be one of the many battalions disbanded. This took place officially on 7th May 1918. A small number of men and officers were retained as a cadre (a nucleus from whivh the battalion could be resurrected if necessary) but the vast majority were reallocated to other battalions. The 7th Cadre became somewhat nomadic over the next few months, transferring to 21st (and then 90th) Brigade of the 30th Division on 29th May, 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division on 19th June, and finally to 116th Brigade of 39th Division on 15th August. During 1918 the battalion lost 41 men killed. During the war as a whole the 1/7th Robin Hoods lost 526 men killed.

Biographies of 1/7th Battalion Men

Burman, Herbert. Private, 1/7th (Robin Hood) Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby) Regiment, killed in action, 1st July 1916, aged 19 [Derbyshire Lads 1914-1918]
Daft, Arthur. G. Private, 1/7th (Robin Hood) Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby) Regiment, died of wounds, 1st September 1915 [www.jacksdale.org.uk]
Dore, Sidney. Private, 1/7th (Robin Hood) Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby) Regiment, killed in action, 1st July 1916 [Derbyshire Lads 1914-1918]


Navigation
1/7th Battalion (Robin Hoods) 139th Brigade, 46th (North Midland) Division Outline History 1914: As a Territorial Battalion, the 1/7th was assembled immediately upon the outbreak of war at NottinghamDrill Hall. With the 1/5th, 1/6th 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 117 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. To find out precisely where the 1/7th battalion was at any given time between January and July, see the diary of Private Sidney Dore. On 1st July 1916 the 139th Brigade went over the top at Gommecourt and was cut to ribbons. The 1/7th Battalion suffered particularly badly. 186 men and 13 Officers were killed. Total casualties for the day, including wounded and missing, were 409 out of the 536 men involved in the attack (a casualty rate of 73%). The story of Private Herbert Burman, who died on 1st July, gives a detailed account of the attack. 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 1/7th lost 259 men killed. For more details of the 1/7th 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 109 men killed. 1918: On 31st January a radical change took place. The battalion was transferred to 178th Brigade, 59th Division and absorbed the 2/7th Bn. Effectively a new battalion had been created and it was renamed the 7th Battalion. However the wounds of 1st July 1916 had never really been healed and, as part of army wide reorganisation, the 7th was chosen to be one of the many battalions disbanded. This took place officially on 7th May 1918. A small number of men and officers were retained as a cadre (a nucleus from whivh the battalion could be resurrected if necessary) but the vast majority were reallocated to other battalions. The 7th Cadre became somewhat nomadic over the next few months, transferring to 21st (and then 90th) Brigade of the 30th Division on 29th May, 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division on 19th June, and finally to 116th Brigade of 39th Division on 15th August. During 1918 the battalion lost 41 men killed. During the war as a whole the 1/7th Robin Hoods lost 526 men killed. Biographies of 1/7th Battalion Men Burman, Herbert. Private, 1/7th (Robin Hood) Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby) Regiment, killed in action, 1st July 1916, aged 19 [Derbyshire Lads 1914-1918] Daft, Arthur. G. Private, 1/7th (Robin Hood) Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby) Regiment, died of wounds, 1st September 1915 [www.jacksdale.org.uk] Dore, Sidney. Private, 1/7th (Robin Hood) Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby) Regiment, killed in action, 1st July 1916 [Derbyshire Lads 1914-1918]