Derbyshire Lads: The Sherwood Foresters: 1/8th Battalion

1/8th Battalion

139th Brigade, 46th (North Midland) Division

Outline History

1914: As a Territorial Battalion, the 1/8th was assembled immediately upon the outbreak of war in Newark. With the 1/5th, 1/6th and 1/7th, 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 In late December the Division was withdrawn from action and designated for transportation to Egypt.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 173 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 1/8th Battalion was the reserve battalion of the brigade and escaped the worse, but still suffered the deaths of 7men. Following Gommecourt the whole Division was withdrawn to be rebuilt.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 1/8th lost 61men killed. For more details of the 1/8th 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 135 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 1918 the battalion lost 125 men killed.
1919: the Division began demobilisation and most of the 1/8th men were home by June 1919. During the war as a whole the 1/8th Battalion had lost 494 men killed.

Biographies of 1/8th Battalion Men

None at present.


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1/8th Battalion 139th Brigade, 46th (North Midland) Division Outline History 1914: As a Territorial Battalion, the 1/8th was assembled immediately upon the outbreak of war in Newark. With the 1/5th, 1/6th and 1/7th, 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 173 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 1/8th Battalion was the reserve battalion of the brigade and escaped the worse, but still suffered the deaths of 7men. 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 1/8th lost 61men killed. For more details of the 1/8th 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 135 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 1918 the battalion lost 125 men killed. 1919: the Division began demobilisation and most of the 1/8th men were home by June 1919. During the war as a whole the 1/8th Battalion had lost 494 men killed. Biographies of 1/8th Battalion Men None at present.