DAVID CRESSWELL

DAVID CRESSWELL

Private 22099

17th Battalion Sherwood Forester Regiment

Killed in action - 31st July 1917

David Cresswell was born in 1887 at Barrow Hill a small mining village just a few miles away from New Whittington.  He was the son of Elijah and Emma Cresswell, the eighth child born into the family, one of thirteen children.  Elijah and Emma nee Brough married at St John the Baptist Church in Staveley on 10th April 1871.  The family remained in Staveley, living at 14 Railway Terraces.  Elijah worked as a coal miner and the couple had five children; Ferdinand 7, Sarah 5, Ernest 3, Joseph 1 and baby Mary was just 3 weeks old in 1881.

By 1891 the Cresswell family had moved to live on "The Blocks" at Barrow Hill.  The Cresswell household had grown further; Martha, Stephen, DAVID, Charles and Arthur.  Three children were missing on the census return for 1891, Sarah aged 16 years old was employed as a domestic servant in the village of North Bierly in Yorkshire.  

Sadness and heartbreak....

Joseph sadly died aged just 5 years old.  He was buried at Staveley on 20th May 1884.  

Ernest died tragically on 19th December 1889 aged 13 years of age.  He was employed at Ireland Colliery and was crushed between two full trucks as he tried to cross the railway lines (Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths Index).  

The Derbyshire Times (14th December 1889 page 5) covered his admittance into Chesterfield Royal Hospital with a few lines on the events which led to this terrible accident;

"Ernest Cresswell 13, pony driver, with double fracture of the skull, and severe scalp wounds was returning home from the Ireland Colliery, Staveley and was knocked down by the buffers of a passing engine.  He lies in a very critical condition".

David would never have known his sibling Joseph, he would only be around two years old when Ernest died so unlikely to remember his older brothers who were taken at such young ages.

Family life continues....

Times were hard in the late 19th Century, grieve they would but not at the expense of work time.  Elijah would need to get up each morning and set off to work, if not his family may go without food.  Emma would also continue to care for her growing family, with seven children still living.  A year later in 1890 a new life would hopefully have brought happiness to the Cresswell household when baby Arthur was born in the summer of 1890.

Another daughter was born in 1892, named Cora (sometimes spelt Kora/Korah) she was baptised on 7th April that year but sadly died in the autumn/winter months of that same year.

Emma would have found herself pregnant around the same time as baby Cora passed away as on 13th July 1893 another little girl was born into the Cresswell family, named Hidagarde.

Further heartache for the family when in 1900 poor 9 year old Arthur also died.  

Bon Voyage....

David's eldest brother set sail on an adventure of a lifetime, when on 11th May 1897 Ferdinand boarded the ship Aurania in Liverpool for the bright lights of New York.  Ferdinand was 23 years of age at the time of departure and worked as a coal miner.

He married Maud Smith on 14th March 1899 at Potage, Ohio.  Maud was also a British born girl, she was the daughter of William and Sarah Smith.  Born in Leeds on 7th January 1880 she had emigrated around 1882.  

David would have been around 10 years old when Ferdinand left the family home, the little boy in New Whittington no doubt heard stories of a bright new world from his excited big brother in the lead up to his goodbye's.

1901....

David and his family had moved once more, just a small move this time to number 227 The Blocks, still in Barrow Hill.  David was 14 years of age and had finished his education, he was employed as a pony driver at the coal mine along with his elder brother Stephen.  Their father Elijah was still working down the mines as a coal mine labourer.  The girls Mary and Martha have no occupation listed and the young ones Charles and Hilda would be still attending school.

Sarah was settled living in Leeds now, she had married Alfred Moore at St Michael's church, Headingley on 22nd January 1898 and had a 4 month old daughter named Ida.  Alfred worked as a cloth dresser in the mills.

Romance....

David married his sweetheart Florence Gertrude Hutchinson around late 1907/early 1908.  They married at the United Methodist Free Chapel on Marsden Street in the centre of Chesterfield.  "Florrie" as she was affectionately known was born in New Whittington, the daughter of Elizabeth and Samuel Hutchinson.

Their first daughter Ivy was born on 26th August 1909.  

1911 the eve of WW1....

David and his young family were living at 82 Handley Road, New Whittington.  David worked as a coal miner fitter and Florence would look after one year old baby Ivy and run the household.   On 12th July 1913 a second daughter was born, named Doris, a little sister to four year old Ivy.

David's parents remained in Barrow Hill, but his father Elijah had left the coal mines.  Aged 60 years old he was now working as a newsagent.  Radio was not commonly found in household's until the early 1920's when the BBC began to broadcast, no televisions existed, Elijah would have been the centre of village life, all news would be heard and discussed from his newsagency. 

Younger siblings Charlie and Hilda still lived with their parents, Charlie worked down the mines as a loader.  

Sarah and Alfred had two more children now; Cora aged 6 and (Norman) Elijah aged 1 year.  They lived at 14 Harold Street, Burley, Leeds.  Eldest daughter Ida was staying with her grandparents Emma and Elijah at Barrow Hill.

Mary married John Mitchell at Staveley on 24th January 1903.  John was a labourer at the blast furnaces and they lived at 215 Brick Yard Terrace at Barrow Hill with their two children; Kenneth and Trixie.

Stephen lived at 185 Barrow Hill, near to his parents.  He had married Phoebe Brough at Holy Trinity Church, Chesterfield on 6th May 1905.  Phoebe and Stephen had two children; Wilfred aged 6 and Edna aged 2.  The census return also records an 12 year old school girl named Ann Braybook living with them, she is recorded as a servant.  Stephen was a working class man, he worked as a coal miner.

David's war....

Unfortunately David's service records have not survived but we can piece together some of his story using other resources which are available; medal cards, medal roll, newspaper articles and the relevant war diaries.

David joined the Sherwood Forester Regiment in the January of 1915, at this time enlistment was done on an entirely voluntary basis, so long as the recruit was over 5ft 6 inches and had a chest size of 35 inches.  Letters were a frequent occurrence in the local newspapers, encouraging men to take up the challenge and fight for King & Country.  Maybe this was all the encouragement David needed to do "his bit" for his country.

The medal card for David tells us that he entered the "theatre of war" on the 18th August 1915.  The eight months prior to this would have been spent learning how to be a good soldier, how to charge and use a bayonet, look after his rifle, look after his uniform and his kit..... the list was endless.  The tutorials, no matter how in depth would not prepare David for what he would encounter when he joined the British Expeditionary Force (B.E.F) in France.

The medal roll lists David as having been attached to three battalions of the Sherwood Forester Regiment; 2nd, 1st and 17th (Welbeck Rangers).

It is most likely that when he enlisted he was placed with the 2nd battalion and would join the B.E.F. with this battalion also.  His obituary states that he "was wounded on two occasions" indicating it was likely that he was placed with a different battalion each time he returned to France.

The battalions....

The 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters had landed in France during the September of 1914.  Arthur Mitchell the first soldier to die who was named on St Barnabas Church WW1 War Memorial was with that battalion.  In October 1915 the battalion became part of the 71st Brigade in the 6th Division.

The war diary for November 1915 tells "After last nights rain the trenches are worse than any we have yet experienced in our 14 months of trench warfare.  They are falling in every few yards and are full of water."  

Included in the war diary of November 1915 is an interesting hand written list entitled "2nd Bn The Sherwood Foresters, programme of work"  this lists the daily activities the men would carry out when not in the trenches....

"7.30 - 8am      Physical training, running drill, rapid marching

9.30 - 10.15      Squad drill, under Section Commander

10.15 - 11am    Platoon and Coy drill

11 - 11.30         Musketry, under Sec Cmdr's, fire control, rapid loading &  firing

11.30 - 12.30    Route march

2 - 2.30             Physical training

2.30 - 3.30        Squad drill & musketry"

The 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters had been stationed in India prior to the onset of WW1.  They were thrust straight into the war in Europe. With it came a totally different set of strategies and obstacles from those that they were accustomed to.  They played a key part in the fighting at both Neuve Chappell and Loos.  After a heavy winter in 1915, a winter of trench warfare the battalion had suffered great losses.  

The 17th Battalion Sherwood Foresters were also known as the Welbeck Rangers.  This battalion saw themselves in the thick of many of the most well known battles of the war; Thiepval Ridge, Ancre Heights, Menin Road Ridge, Polygon Wood and the infamous Passchendaele.

David's is recorded as serving with the 17th battalion on his Commonwealth War Grave Commission certificate, this usually indicates the last battalion the soldier served with when he was reported as deceased.  How long David would have served with the 17th is not known at this time.

The month of July was a tough one for the 17th battalion Sherwood Foresters, throughout the month there were several occasions when the men were prepared for an advance, only to have the attack cancelled in the nearing hours.  

At dawn on 20th July 1917 the battalion took part on a Brigade attack on the village of Tiques.  The attack was over by 8am and the men were moved on by bus to the camp for rest.  The war diary for the coming days reads the same each day "Routine, Company training under Coy Officer".

On 29th July the men were "resting and drawing stores etc for the forthcoming operations.  At 8.30pm the battalion move to CANAL BANK (Hill Top Sector)".  David and his comrades were preparing for battle, again.  On 30th the dairy continues "Y day resting prior to Z day.  At 10.30pm the battalion move up to place of assembly in the Hill Top Sector".

31st July 1917....

"Assembly complete at 1.15am, Z day.  No casualties occurred whilst the battalion was assembling.  This is the 3rd Battle of YPRES.  Zero hour at 3.50am".  The men moved on at 3.50am into "no mans land", and had crossed the area before the enemy barrage started.  They soon reached their first target with "slight casualties".  

The advance continued under the protection of rifle guns and Lewis guns, the enemy retaliating with machine guns and snipers.  When they arrived at the eastern side of "Kitchener's Wood" "two enemy machine guns open fired on us from Alberta, these were engaged with our Lewis guns, rifle Grenadiers, and Stokes guns and with the assistance of two tanks which open fire at close range".  As a result of the return fire, the enemy moved back into concrete dug outs, the 17th were then able to capture the farm and the surrounding area.  There were 120 prisoners taken at this stage including four machine guns and one anti-tank gun.  All of this took place before 5.35am.

Over the next five hours more prisoners were taken and positions were won.  At 7.55am heavy machine gun and rifle fire bombarded the battalion which caused several casualties.  The war diary report on the battle concludes with "We succeeded in stopping the enemy's advance by Lewis gun and rifle fire and inflicting heavy losses on him, some of the enemy only being stopped when about 12 yards from our position".

The men were complemented on their work "the behaviour of the Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and men under the awful climatic conditions was exemplary throughout".

The war diary gave the following numbers for the date 31st July 1917....

"Killed in action - 42 Other ranks

  Died of wounds - 3

  Wounded - 208

  Missing - 12

  Gassed - 8

  Shell shock - 1

  Wounded at duty - 3

  Hospital - 39"

Private David Cresswell, 22099 was reported missing on the 31st July 1917.

Private 22099 David Cresswell is remembered at The Menin Gate Memorial in the Belgian city of Ypres.  His name can be found inscribed on the panel 39 or 41.

David was awarded the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 15 Star for his service.

His death was reported in the Derbyshire Times 17th November 1917, page 8, his obituary included a photograph and read....

"After being reported missing on July 31st

news has just reached New Whittington that Pte.D Cresswell

whose wife resides in Handley Road, was killed on that date.

Upon being reported missing Mrs Cresswell got into 

communication with the British Red Cross Society,

with the result that they found one of his comrades who has 

forwarded particulars of his death.  In writing he says:-

"I am sorry to inform you that your husband was killed on July 31st.

I was not near him at the time, but word came down the trench

that he and Toplis, of the same section, 

had been blown to pieces.  It was a great shock to us all,

and his place will be hard to fill.  He was a good soldier

and always did his duty cheerfully.  I am sorry I can't

give you more information, but nearly all the old boys

have been killed or wounded.  We all sympathise with you 

in your loss"

Pte Cresswell was 30 years of age, and joined the Sherwood's

in January 1915.  He had been wounded on two occasions

and he returned to France for the third time.  

Before joining the Forces he worked at Markham No1

Colliery.  In addition to his widow there are two little children

left behind"

Life went on....

Florence Cresswell, David's wife found herself alone with two young daughters to care for; Ivy aged 7 and Doris who had just had her 4th birthday.  

Florrie did start a new life when she remarried on 26th October 1918 at Old Whittington Parish Church.  Her husband was 36 year old bachelor William Warwick.  William was from Staveley and worked as a fireman, most likely in the iron foundry.  Florrie and William may have two children; a son Leslie born in 1922 who died aged 1 year old and a daughter Iris in 1925 (not verified).

William died in 1938 aged just 56 years old.  Florrie would find herself widowed once more.  The 1939 Register records her living at 84 Handley Road, now named Florence Wilson..... I believe she married a William Wilson that same year.  But, she is again stated as widowed, whether this was an error or had William Wilson also died?  

A death was registered for a Florence Wilson in Chesterfield in 1960, if this was Florence then she died aged 71 years of age.

Ivy Cresswell the eldest daughter of David and Florrie married George Williamson at St Barnabas Church on 6th August 1928.  The couple may have two sons Geoffrey and Dennis (this would need confirmation).   In 1939 Ivy and her family were living in Calow, on Chesterfield Road. George worked as an iron moulder.  

It appears that Ivy remarried in 1950, her husband was named Clifford Thickett and they wed on the Isle of White.  If this is correct then Ivy died in Macclesfield in 1990, aged 81 years of age.

Doris Cresswell the youngest daughter of David and Florrie married Harold Handforth in 1934.  In 1939 they were living at 5 Brearley Street, New Whittington and had one son named Eric.  Harold's mother had died in the May of 1936 and so his father also named Harold was living with them.  Both Mr and Mrs Handforth senior were enthusiastic members of St Barnabas Church, Harold senior being a sidesman (usher) for the Church.

Doris lost her husband in 1963  but she lived on until she died in 1997 aged 83 years old.

Derbyshire Times 22nd December 1939 p10

Davids parents; Elijah and Emma continued to live in Barrow Hill.  Elijah died the year after David's death on 19th June 1918.  He was 68 years of age.

Emma was remembered in the Derbyshire Times newspaper after she had passed away on 26th December 1937.  She was a patient in Chesterfield Royal Hospital where she died aged 85 years old.  The newspaper article referred to her as "Believed to be the oldest native of the village".  She was buried at Staveley Cemetery following a service at St Andrew's Church, Barrow Hill.

Ferdinand Cresswell lived out his life in the USA.  He became a naturalised United States citizen on 18th September 1909.  Maud and Ferdinand had four children Sarah, Arthur, Hilda and Mamie.  The family lived in Saline, Illinois and Ferdinand continued to work as a coal miner.

Ferdinand died on 14th April 1932 aged 58 years, his wife Maud died on 10th July 1941.

Sarah was widowed in 1916 when her husband Alfred died aged just 41 years old.  What became of her after this date is unknown at this time.  Her children all married and lived in the county of Yorkshire.

Mary and her husband John were living at 12 Lilac Street, Staveley in 1939.  John was still working as a labourer at the iron foundry.  The children had both married but still lived close; Kenneth in Barrow Hill and Trixie in Stonegravels.  John may have died in 1953 but I have not been able to pinpoint a death for Mary.

Martha has been difficult to locate after the 1901 census when she lived with her parents aged 17 years of age.  

Stephen died in 1926 aged 42 years.  His wife Phoebe remained in the family home of 185 Barrow Hill, she married John Limb in 1930.  Their daughter Edna married Leslie Bates and son Wilfred married Vera Withnall and moved to live in Repton.

Charles married later in life aged 39.  His wife was "Lily" Webb and they married in 1928.  A son named Colin was born a few years later and the family lived at 227 Barrow Hill in 1939.  Charles was employed as a rope splicer in the coal mines.  Charles died in 1971 aged 82, his wife Lily died in 1989.

Hildagarde married William Bird in 1913, they lived at 17 Devonshire Cottages, Barrow Hill in 1939 with their two children; Ferdinand and Dorothy.  William worked in engineering as a machinist.  Hildagarde died in 1970 aged 77 and her husband William died in 1967.

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If you may be connected to this family or have any further information on David Cresswell or his family please do either leave comments via the pen icon below or drop me an email.

I hope that I have not given details of living persons, if so please advise and I will remove immediately.

Please note all information has been taken from online indexes and sources.  Due to the sheer numbers of people to be researched I am unable to purchase vital event certificates to confirm my research.

*****

Ref and further reading  -

Census

Parish registers
Medal rolls
Soldiers who died in the Great war

Register of soldiers effects
Immigration records - www.fmp.co.uk & www.ancestry.co.uk

Newspaper articles - 
                               - Derbyshire Times 14th December 1889 page 5
                               - Derbyshire Times 17th November 1917 page 8
                               - Derbyshire Times 31st December 1937 page 10
                               - Derbyshire Times 22nd December 1939 page 10  

CWGC  http://www.cwgc.org

War diaries - 2nd Btn Piece WO 1624/1-5
                      17th Btn Piece WO 2587/2

Sherwood Forester Battalions http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/sherwood-foresters-nottinghamshire-derbyshire-regiment/

Sherwood Forester 1st / 2nd Battalion service numbers http://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/sherwood-foresters-1st-2nd-battalions.html

Sherwood Forester histories in brief http://www.nottsandderby.co.uk/Notts___Derby/notts___derby.html

Welbeck Rangers http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/alliedarmy-view.php?pid=7076

Passchendaele https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Passchendaele

Recruitment into the British Army http://spartacus-educational.com/FWWrecruit.htm

THOMAS O'BRIEN

THOMAS O'BRIEN

Rifleman S/9128

The Prince Consorts Own Rifle Brigade

Killed in action - 27th February 1916

Thomas and his two sisters Mary and Catherine O'Brien were the children of Thomas and Mary O'Brien.  Thomas was born circa 1895 at New Whittington.  His two sisters were older than him; Mary was born in 1891 and Catherine in 1892. 

Mr & Mrs O'Brien....

Thomas snr was born to Irish parents John and Mary O'Brien in Chesterfield on 20th June 1865.  The O'Brien family lived in the Whittington area and Thomas found himself employment with the railways.  He worked his way up the ranks from railway stoker in 1891 to railway engine driver by 1901 a prestigious role, he had progressed well in his career.

Mary was born in Ireland sometime around 1865.  She died aged only 34 years old in 1899 and was buried at St Bartholomew's Church graveyard on 16th March 1899.  Thomas jnr would have been around 4 years old at the time.  Leaving Thomas snr with three children under the age of 8 years old this would be a terrible blow to the family.

A new start....

Thomas snr remarried in 1900, his new wife was 14 years his junior, born in 1880 her name was Alice Gertrude Needham.  Alice was 20 years old when she married Thomas snr; she became stepmother to three young children.  That same year Alice gave birth to a son named William. 

On the 1901 census Thomas jnr aged 6 years old, lived with his father and new step mother Alice.  Mary and Catherine his sister were 10 and 8 years old respectively and little baby William was 9 months old.  The O'Brien family were living at 16 Bamford Street, New Whittington.  Baby William sadly may have died that same year or the year later (death certificate would be needed to confirm which entry is correct).

Thomas' childhood.... 

It appears that Thomas may have had a rather unsettled childhood.  His father and his step mother were the topic of gossip in 1903 when they appeared for three consecutive weeks in the newspaper; the Derbyshire Times. 

The first article on 18th March 1903 tells how Thomas snr complained to the police after Alice had been "very violent and threatened to murder all in the home.  She ill-used his daughter Mary who was a child by his first wife.  She threatened also to cut the girls throat with a razor".  Poor little Mary would be around 12 years old at this time; she was called as a witness and told how "her stepmother had frequently 
ill -used her and struck her with a stick, leaving black and blue marks on her body".   In her defence Alice told of the cruelty to her by Thomas snr, her mother Mrs Needham was called and told that Alice would not have married Thomas if he had "not got her into trouble".

The two further articles tell a story of an unhappy marriage, Thomas and Alice both took out a complaint against each other.  Thomas snr told how he arrived home one evening to find two men leaving via the back door.  He was asked "Can you bring evidence to prove how your wife has been carrying on?" to which he replied "Yes my child first told me.  I can bring witnesses.  It's the regular talk of New Whittington". 

The week later Alice asked for a separation order, stating "her husband had turned her out of the house in all sorts of weather and repeatedly struck her".  Thomas snr's reply was "I've been a good husband to you.  There's not been a better husband in New Whittington than me". The judge agreed to allow a separation order, so long as Thomas snr paid Alice 5 shillings weekly maintenance.

1911....

How long the O'Brien family were at odds is not known however there appears to be a truce; Thomas snr and Alice were still living together at the time of the 1911 census.  They were residing at 116 Crown Yard, New Whittington.  Their were three children from this marriage; Annie born 1902, Margaret born 1909 and baby John aged only 5 months old.

Thomas jnr was still living with his father and stepmother.  He was aged 16 years old by now and worked as a colliery pit bank labourer.  Thomas' siblings Mary and Catherine were not recorded as living with the O'Brien family.

I am unable to locate Mary on the 1911 census but Catherine was working as a domestic servant at Creswell.  She was employed by Alfred Haywood who was a sweet confectioner. 

Thomas' war....

Entry from war diary, showing T O'Brien D Coy

Thomas enlisted on 18th March 1915 at Southend on Sea, he was aged 20 years and 1 month old.  He joined the 15th service battalion of the Rifle Brigade - the Prince Own Consorts Rifle Brigade.  He was attached to the 11th Battalion Rifle Brigade, Rifleman S/9128, D Coy.

His address at the time was 85 South Street, New Whittington.  His next of kin was noted as Mr Thomas O'Brien (father) of 50 High Street, New Whittington.

Thomas was a young man of 5ft 5 inches height, he had blue eyes and light brown hair and his religion was Roman Catholic. 

Thomas would undertake his basic training before joining the British Expeditionary Force (B.E.F) on 17th September 1915.  The 11th Battalion had already joined the theatre of war, landing in Boulogne on 22nd July 1915.  In those early days there were not enough rifles for the men to train with, the war dairy tells how the men would share the rifles, taking their turn at a practise shot.  On 19th September at 4pm the war diary states "Draft of 30 other ranks arrived from 15th Btn Rifle Brigade". 

The timing of Thomas' entry was at a very crucial time; the Battle of Loos commenced on 25th September 1915.  At the time the 11th Battalion were in reserve at Laventie, they remained there until December when they moved back to the village of Sailly for Christmas.  Little would the men know but on that Christmas Day of 1915 in the front line trenches near to Laventie the B.E.F were living the true meaning of Christmas; the men were shouting over to each other from the trenches and eventually the two sides united in no man's land and showed peace to each other.  The accounts of two men present state that they played a game of football, but a British Sergeant Major became aware of the events and ordered the B.E.F to return to the trenches "We are here to kill the Hun, not make friends with him".

Exceptional duty....

On 31st October 1915 the following men belonging to the 11th Battalion Rifle Brigade were awarded medals for their exceptional conduct -

Captain G H Gilbey - Military Cross

Sergeant M Toole & Rifleman A Holmes -

Distinguished Conduct Medal

"For gallantry rescuing comrades of a mine full of gas"

2nd Lieut A L Cope - Military Cross

Rifleman G Judkins - Distinguished Conduct Medal

"For gallant offensive action when on patrol"

1916 dawned....

At the beginning of 1916 the 11th Battalion Rifle Brigade were moved on to the Ypres Salient.   In the early days of February 1916 they were camped at Poperinghe until the night of 13th February when they marched to the train station.  The men had not been marching long when they were bombed by a German aeroplane; luckily the bombs fell short about 200 yards away from the men.  Whilst they began to board the train the station was also being attacked by the German pilots.  The journey commenced, at a slow pace they eventually arrived at Asylum from where they marched to Ypres.  Despite the days bombardment only one soldier belonging to the 11th Battalion was injured.

On 22nd February 1916 Thomas and his comrades relived the 2nd York's and Lancashire Regiment in the trenches.  For the next few days work was carried out on the front trenches "joining up posts and reclaiming trench wiring", however snow fell and the artillery action on both sides was strong. 

On the day of 27th February the battalion was successful to cut the wire, however the Germans soon retaliated and responded using heavy artillery fire at the garrison; the result was "heavy casualties".  Later that day the battalion were relieved by the 10th Battalion Rifle Brigade. 

Daily casualty record 11th Battalion Rifle Brigade

Rifleman T O'Brien S/9128 was killed in action on 27th February 1916.  His fellow comrades also fell on that day; Corporal S Lillywhite and Rifleman J Willows.

Thomas was buried at Essex Farm Cemetery in Belgium.  He has a simple headstone with a cross and his name and rank.  His grave reference is I.T.1.

Thomas was awarded the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 15 Star for his service.

Thomas' fiancée....

Register of soldiers effects - entry for Thomas O'Brien



The "register of soldiers effect's" is a record of whom the deceased soldiers money owing was awarded.  It was most often given to the widow of the soldier, or in the case that the soldier was single then the parents or the siblings.  In Thomas' case however, he has nominated his fiancé to be the beneficiary.

He also wrote his soldiers will before he went off to join the B.E.F.  In this will he leaves his possessions to Miss M Foster of 85 South Street, New Whittington (the same address Thomas had given for his home address when he enlisted in 1915). 

Miss Mary Agnes Foster was a local girl, born in New Whittington in December 1892.  She was the daughter of Ralph Foster who was also employed as an engine driver on the railways.  The family moved to the neighbouring village and lived on Traffic Terrace in Barrow Hill.

Poor Mary would only be around 23 years old when she found herself with the heart breaking news that her beloved fiancé Thomas had been killed whilst serving his King and Country.  Thankfully, Mary did find happiness again and married Fred Whitehead in 1918.  They went on to have a son and a daughter; Fred and Phyllis.  On the 1939 register Mary and her family are living at 142 South Street, New Whittington.  She died a year later in 1940 aged 47 years old.


Mary would be remembered by locals as the lady who ran the sweet shop in New Whittington.  Her obituary also states that she had two sons and one daughter; a second son may have been born in 1938.

Life went on....

Thomas O'Brien snr remained in the area, he can be found on the 1939 register living in the Markham Municipal Hostel on Hipper Street South, in the centre of Chesterfield.  He was recorded as a general labourer now, not a locomotive engine driver. 

Alice Gertrude the second wife of Thomas died in 1915 aged just 36 years old. 

Siblings of Rifleman T O'Brien

Mary O'Brien married Henry C Herbert in 1915.  The couple had at least one son and one daughter; Joan in 1916 and Arthur in 1920.  What became of Mary and her family after this date is unknown. 

Catherine O'Brien married Arthur Lawson in 1923 whilst living in Doncaster.  She had three daughters; Winfred, Mary and Margaret.  
In 1939 she was living at 40 Devonshire Road with her husband and two youngest daughters.  Winfred was married now to Alan Taylor and lived close by at 50 High Street.  
Catherine 

Annie O'Brien married George Weston in 1925.  George was a railway engine driver just like her father.  In 1939 the family were living at 38 St Johns Road, Staveley.  Annie died in 1989 aged 86 years old. 

Margaret O'Brien  may have married Harry Lawson in 1928 at Easington, Durham however this would need further clarification.  

Sarah O'Brien married Charles Watson at St Patricks Roman Catholic Church in New Whittington.  She was given away by her brother in law Mr George Weston and she wore a white satin beaute dress, with veil and shoes to match.  She carried a bouquet of pink carnations.  The younger bridesmaids were nieces of Sarah; Miss D Weston and Miss M Lawson wore pink ankle length crepe dresses and carried posies of pink carnations.  The marriage was announced in the Derbyshire Times 1st October 1937, page 27. 

Winifred Fowkes O'Brien  was born on 2nd April 1917.  I have not purchased a birth certificate for Winifred to clarify who her mother was.  Winifred would have never known her half brother Thomas, who had been killed in the Great War, but it is likely that she would have been raised knowing his heroic story and possibly seeing his photograph on the mantelpiece each day. 

Winifred married Kenneth Taylor in 1938.  On the 1939 Register Winifred and Kenneth were living in the O'Brien family home at 50 High Street, New Whittington.  Kenneth was employed as an iron foundry worker. 

Winifred died in 1989 aged 72 years old.

*****

If you may be connected to this family or have any further information on Thomas O'Brien or his family please do either leave comments via the pen icon below or drop me an email.

I hope that I have not given details of living persons, if so please advise and I will remove immediately.

Please note all information has been taken from online indexes and sources.  Due to the sheer numbers of people to be researched I am unable to purchase vital event certificates to confirm my research.



*****

Ref and further reading  -

Census

Parish registers

Medal rolls

Soldiers who died in the Great war

Register of soldiers effects

Newspaper articles - Derbyshire Times, Derby Courier

Derbyshire Times -  18th March 1903 page 5, 25th March 1903 page 5 and 28th March 1903 page 7.

Obituary for Thomas O'Brien - Derbyshire Courier 11th March 1916 page and 14th March 1903 page 1.

CWGC  http://www.cwgc.org

Picture of Rifle Brigade insignia badge via Wikipadia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rifle_Brigade_(Prince_Consort%27s_Own)

11th Battalion Rifle Brigade War Diary - piece 2116, 59th Brigade, 20th light Division July 1915 - May 1919.

The Christmas Truce of 1915

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-one/12058701/The-forgotten-Christmas-truce-the-British-tried-to-suppress.html

http://stmgrts.org.uk/archives/2014/12/the_other_christmas_truce_1915.html



JOHN WILLIAM LONGMATE

JOHN WILLIAM LONGMATE

Private 18951

10th Battalion Sherwood Foresters

Missing presumed dead - 14th February 1916

John William Longmate was the first born child of James and Emily Longmate.  He was born in Brimington close to New Whittington in 1896.

James William, John's father was a local man, born in Staveley he worked as a moulder at the local iron foundry.  James married Emily Augusta Evans on 1st January 1896 at St John The Baptist Church in the centre of Staveley Town. 

Not long after in 1897 John's little sister arrived, named Elizabeth she was born on 11th December 1897.  In 1901 the family were living at 9 Canal Row, Staveley.  Another son was born on 18th June 1901 named Robert Edward and then on 26th March 1904 James Harold was born.

 

1911 census
www.findmypast.co.uk

The 1911 census finds the family have moved home and were now living in New Whittington.  They lived at 105 High Street, James was still employed as an iron moulder and John now aged 14 was following in his fathers footsteps as an apprentice iron moulder.  Elizabeth, Robert and James Harold would all still have been attending school.  The census form also states that there was another child born to James and Emily which had sadly died. 

John William Longmates war....

Unfortunately the service records for John have not survived but a newspaper article states that John joined up in the November of 1914.  If this was correct then John would only have been around 18 years old when he enlisted.  He joined the 10th Battalion Sherwood Forester Regiment, a local regiment he probably went along with a friend or two to enlist.

The 10th Battalion was a service battalion, formed in September of 1914 at Derby it was part of Kitcheners New Army.  Known as K2 this call for men was the second recruitment drive in just over one month.  The men would be signing a contract for "General Service" to serve for up to three years or the remainder of the war, whichever was the longest. 

On arrival in France on 15th July 1915 the battalion rested before taking the train the next day to St Omer.  The next days were spent marching to various billets.  On 18th July the men marched into Ebblingham, the war diary tells "the French watched two companies march in - much impressed!".

By 27th July they had reached Hooge, where they remained until 3rd August.  In this time they "witnessed the loss of some trenches and the failure of a counter attack.... total casualties during their stay; 14 other ranks wounded".   Interestingly, the diary also recalls "each company except D Company was able to send its men into the trenches for 24 hrs instruction while in the Ouderdom Road and at Reninghelst, fortunately without any casualties". 

August 1915 saw the battalion remaining in the Ouderdom and Reninghelst area.  They were to witness a German mine explode at 6.50pm on 21st August.  The enemy then carried out a short bombardment on the trenches occupied by the 10th Battalion, but luckily there was no damage or any casualties. 

The men remained in the trenches at Chateau Lankhof for five days of heavy bombardment.  On 25th August "2/Lieut Wilmot + 4 O.R wounded by a whizzbang". 

On 31st to 1st September the men marched to trenches in Sanctuary Wood, they were detached from the 51st Brigade and now attached to the 9th Brigade "for a special purpose".  The battalion joined the 7th Border Regiment.  The war diary describes the trenches in detail stating "the trenches were in good condition but were not riveted at all nor were the approach trenches boarded in most of their length.  36 hours rain on 2nd & 3rd caused many of the trenches to fall in and made much of the approach trenches impassable.  During our stay of 14 days much of this was remedied; the approach and reserve trenches were widened and riveted and duck boarding put down practically throughout; parapets were rebuilt and riveted ".  The battalion worked both in daylight and under the stars, which enabled them to build a new communication trench which was aptly named "Sherwood Road". 

During the days when the battalion were busy carrying out the above duties, mending the trenches, the enemy were carrying out heavy bombardment of Sanctuary Wood and Zouave Wood.  The battalion suffered casualties;

1st September 2 other ranks wounded

2nd September 1 other rank killed, 4 wounded

3rd September 8 other ranks wounded

5th September 2/lt Howard wounded, 1 other rank wounded

6th September 2 other ranks wounded

7th September 1 other rank wounded

8th September 2/Lieut Hutcheson killed by a sniper

9th September 1 other rank wounded

11th September 4 other ranks wounded

12th September 2 other ranks wounded

13th September Major Young killed, 4 other ranks wounded.

After such a tiring two weeks the men were rewarded with a whole five days rest in which they spent their time resting, playing football and boxing.  The relaxation time was over all too soon and they were soon back in the thick of it.  On 25th and 26th September the battalion took part in the battle at Hooge.  Their objective being to protect the right flank from attack, however over the two days they came under heavy enemy shell fire; total casualties - 2/Lieut Chandler and Chapman slightly wounded, 7 other ranks killed, 50 other ranks wounded and 1 other rank missing.

John may well have been present at the end of October 1915 when the men were relieving in the trenches near Sanctuary Wood, when "bands were heard playing in the enemy's line, on two or three occasions".  The war diary goes on to tell "on two fine mornings the enemy aeroplanes were extremely active and dropped smoke bombs on some material lying in the open, which was promptly shelled".

Christmas 1915 was spent in the trenches near Ypres.  On Christmas eve Lieutenant A G Shaw was shot dead by an enemy sniper.  "Christmas day was a quiet day in the trenches, troops were warned against relaxing their vigilance and there was a little artillery action".

The war diary finishes 1915 with the following entry, describing the 30th and 31st and the month of December 1915 -

"These two days were spent in rest camp.

Casualties for month of December

Lieut A. G. Shaw killed

22 O.R killed

38 O.R wounded

9 O.R wounded slightly at duty.

A very tiring and trying month for all ranks"

1916 dawns....

John and his comrades remained in the rest camp, they ate a New Years dinner "to the satisfaction of all ranks" and a second draft of 57 ordinary ranks arrived to make up the falling numbers.  Maybe, 1916 was going to be a good year? Were the men feeling positive optimism?

On 3rd January 1916 the battalion were marched to the Ypres ramparts to relieve the 9th Northumberland Fusiliers.  On 7th January the men took the train back to St Omer.  They billeted in Houlle and Malterie Houlle and rested whilst attempting to re-equip the battalion "as much as possible". 

During their time in Houlle a programme of training was undertaken, some of the men were sent to Brigade Schools for machine gun and signalling instruction.  The other men remained in camp and carried out Company Training.  Much football was played and on 19th January the 10th Battalion took on the 79th Brigade Royal Field Artillery in the divisional league.  Unfortunately they were beaten by 2 goals to 1.

After enjoying one month of rest, training and football the men must have been in better spirits and so from 5th to 8th of February the battalion moved off via train journey back to the front.  They relived the 7th Lincolnshires south east of Ypres on 13th February 1916.  The night of 13th February "past quietly with the exception of occasional H.E shrapnel"

14th February 1916....

By 12 noon the war diary reported "1 O.R killed, 7 O.R wounded including 3 slightly at duty"  What happened next was written as a report after the events had occurred.  The four company's of the 10th Battalion Sherwood Foresters were occupied in the front line and support trenches, there were no men in reserve.

The night of the 13th was described as "relatively quiet" however, this would prove to be the lull before the storm that was to come in the future hours.  At 8.30am on 14th February the enemy commenced intermittent bombardment using "trench mortars, rifle grenades and some guns".  This continued until 3.30pm when "the enemy commenced a terrific bombardment in the front line".  Communication with the front line was soon cut off but the heavy shelling could be seen from the Brigade Headquarters and "as much retaliation was called for as could be obtained".

This retaliation commenced at 4pm but there seems to have been a misjudgement of exactly how bad the enemy's attach was, the 10th Battalion wrote  "we had great difficulty in impressing the Artillery with the seriousness of the situation.  At the height of the bombardment a message was received "is that sufficient".  The Artillery attack was not sufficient , described as "inadequate and poor in comparison with that coming over".  The Company Commander decided that it would be of no use to send any more men as the "front trenches were battered to the ground".

At 5.30pm it was reported that a mine had exploded in one of the trenches. The chilling events that followed are taken from the war diary....

"The Germans, preceded by a large number of bombers, who from some accounts were dressed in khaki, with white bands on their right arms, jumped into our front line trenches as the guns lifted and must have been well across "no mans land" before the bombardment lifted"

Once in our trenches the Germans found little resistance, what troops were left would have been worn out, most likely wounded and most definitely in shock  of the tragic situation which had just unfolded.  The enemy moved through the communication trenches but were stopped in their tracks by the B.E.F in the support trenches.

It was decided that a counter attack would take place and the 7th Lincolnshire Regiment and the 7th Border Regiment were brought in to back up the 10th Battalion Sherwood Foresters.  The outcome of this attack was summed up in one small sentence "The counter attack was not successful".

Private John William Longmate lost his life at an unknown time during the tragic events of 14th February 1916.  The surviving men of the Battalion were relieved in the trenches on 15th February.  A counter attack with bombs was also ordered, but sadly this to was unsuccessful.

Missing in action....

 

Derbyshire Times 4th March 1916 p5

The news that there was worry over John's whereabouts soon arrived in New Whittington.  His "missing" status was reported in the Derbyshire Times at the end of February.  Just two weeks after John's given date of death.  The report also gave John's place of work before the war as Staveley Company's Ireland Colliery.

A more detailed article with a photograph of John was placed in the Derbyshire Times on 4th March 1916.  It reported that John had been present at Ypres, where there had been heavy fighting and that John had not been heard of since that time.

Local connections....

A local man named Charlie Millband had written to James and Emily Longmate to inform them that John was missing in action.  Charlie was the brother of Henry Millband who was fighting alongside John with the 10th Battalion Sherwood Foresters.  Henry was also reported missing in action on the same day.  At the time of the deaths of John and Henry, Charlie Millband was serving with the 7th Battalion Leicester Regiment but in a cruel twist of fate he was transferred to the 10th Battalion Sherwood Foresters on 28th February 1916, just two weeks after his own brother had been killed whilst serving with them. 

As the 10th Battalion Sherwood Foresters suffered high loses over the early weeks of February 1916, Charlie would have been one of the men transferred to make up the numbers, but sadly it would be his own brothers and friends he was replacing.  Charlie no doubt spoke to members of the 10th who had been present with John and Henry at Ypres and would be fully aware of the state of fighting on the days leading up to the men's deaths.

Finally the sad news arrives....

Derbyshire Times 22nd April 1916 p4

At last the agonising wait for John's family and friends was finally over when in April a soldier wrote to James and Emily to inform them that he had found John's body.  The unnamed soldier had removed any personal possessions he could find on John which included his regimental pay book, photos, postcards and his jack knife.  These were all returned to James and Emily along with his letter.

John Longmate, Private 18951 is remembered at The Menin Gate Memorial in the Belgian city of Ypres.  His name can be found inscribed on the panel 39 or 41.

John was awarded the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 15 Star for his service.


Life went on....

James & Emily Longmate lived at 105 Chesterfield Avenue, New Whittington at the time of John's death.  The family appear to have remained in the surrounding area. 

Probate entry for James William Longmate
www.findmypast.co.uk

Emily died in 1943, James four years later on 10th June 1947.  His address was 48 Laburnum Street, Hollingwood.  His probate entry tells that the executor of the will was Robert Edward Longmate, blacksmith (his son).  The amount was £417 7s 5d.

Elizabeth Longmate may have married Oliver Barson in 1924.  Oliver was around the same age as her brother John, they had both worked in the iron moulding trade before the Great War.  Elizabeth and Oliver may have had a daughter named Joan in 1928.  In 1939 the family were living in the Staveley area.  Oliver died in 1956 and Elizabeth died in 1981.

Robert Edward Longmate died in 1975. 

James Harold Longmate may have married Muriel Mapes in 1942.  He died in 1980 aged 76 years old.

*****

If you may be connected to this family or have any further information on John William Longmate or his family please do either leave comments via the pen icon below or drop me an email.

I hope that I have not given details of living persons, if so please advise and I will remove immediately.

Please note all information has been taken from online indexes and sources.  Due to the sheer numbers of people to be researched I am unable to purchase vital event certificates to confirm my research.

*****

Ref and further reading  -Census
Parish registers
Medal rolls
Soldiers who died in the Great war
Register of soldiers effects
Probate register
Newspaper articles - Derbyshire Times
CWGC  http://www.cwgc.org

Illustrations via the Internet Archive  free book images.

War diary 10th Battalion Sherwood Foresters - Ref WO 95 2002/2-1

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/first-world-war/centenary-unit-war-diaries/

www.ancestry.co.uk
www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
www.findmypast.co.uk
http://www.1914-1918.net/notts.htm