1/8^th (Territorial) Battalion, Nottingham and Derbyshire Regiment 

(Sherwood Foresters)

139^th Brigade, 46^th Division, VII Corps, 3^rd Army

The 8th Battalion drew recruits primarily from Nottinghamshire and Companies were based in the towns of Retford, Newark, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Mansfield, Carlton, Arnold, Worksop and Southwell. Following the order to mobilise the Battalion concentrated in Newark on August 7th. 

The attack on Gommecourt by the 46th Division was carried out by two brigades, the 138th (North and South Staffords) and the 139th (Sherwood Foresters), with the 138th (Lincolns and Leicesters) in reserve.

On the left the 139th Brigade attacked between the northern edge of Gommecourt Wood and the 'Little Z'. The 1/5th SF attacked on the left whilst the 1/7th SF attacked on the right. The 1/6th SF were in support of the main assault and the 1/8th SF remained in Brigade reserve. 

Plan of Brigade attack on Gommecourt

"At about 8.0 a.m. as the forward trenches were cleared of troops, we began to move forward, but everywhere found the trenches which were still in many parts deep in mud and water, blown in, or blocked by dead bodies, or wounded men trying to make their back."

[Extract from The Sherwood Foresters in the Great War 1914-1919; 1/8th Battalion by Capt W.C.C. Sweetman]

During late afternoon the 1/8th Battalion were ordered to send out a patrol to ascertain the extent of the advance. In addition the Battalion stretcher bearers worked throughout the day and following night bringing in the wounded.

At 6.10 p.m. the Battalion were ordered to take over the original front line and advanced trenches from the 5th, 6th and 7th Battalions. Later however the line was taken over by the 5th Lincolns who had been ordered to make a night attack on the German positions to assist the remnants of the attacking battalions to return to the British lines. This attack was cancelled and patrols from the 8th Battalion were instructed to bring in as many dead and wounded as possible. In the morning the Battalion was relieved by the 5th Lincolns and they returned to billets.

"Otherwise our casualties during the actual battle had not been heavy, amounting to three killed, two missing (attached to Trench Mortar Battery) and 37 wounded."

[Captain W.C.C. Sweetman]

One of the many wounded, Pte. Tom Gilbert from Brampton, was caught out in No Man's Land and spent twelve and a half hours sheltering in a shell hole (he was later killed in action on 29th September 1917, while serving with the 11th Battn, which were holding trenches around Hill 70. He is commemorated on the Brampton Memorial).

ALLEN, ERNEST.

Corporal, 2522, 1/8th Btn., k. in a. 01/07/1916, aged 24.

"Son of Mr. J. F. and Mrs. M. A. Allen, of 2, Hill St., Pleasley, Mansfield; husband of Alice May Allen, of 11, George St., Ladybrook Lane, Mansfield, Notts."

b. Sutton-in-Ashfield; e. Mansfield; r. Mansfield (Pleasley).

THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France - Pier and Face 10 C 10 D and 11 A

Ernest Allen enlisted on September 1914. Prior to enlisting he worked at the Crown Farm Colliery and was well known as a local athlete. At the time of his death Ernest was attached to the 139th Bde, Machine Gun Corps (Inf).

ALVEY, James J.

Corporal, 305672, 1/8th Btn., k. in a. 01/07/1916.

b. Mansfield; e. Mansfield; r. Mansfield (Pleasley).

THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France - Pier and Face 10 C 10 D and 11 A.

St Barnbabas' Church War Memorial, Pleasley Hill

Corporal Alvey was attached to the trench mortar battery of the Sherwood Foresters and was reported as wounded and missing following the attack on 1st July. Prior to enlisting he worked at Pleasley Colliery and was an active member of the Pleasley Wesleyn Church.

BARLOW, T. F.

Private, 305025, 1/8th Btn., k. in a. 01/07/1916.

b. Southwell; e. Southwell; r. Southwell.

CLARK, FRANK, Private, 1255, 1/8th Btn., k. in a. 01/07/1916.

b. Worksop; e. Worksop; r. Worksop.

EDWARDS, J.W.

Private, 3035, 1/8th Btn., k. in a. 01/07/1916.

b. Grassmoor; e. Newark; r. Sutton-in-Ashfield.

FONCQUEVILLERS MILITARY CEMETERY, Pas de Calais - I. L. 27.

MATTHEWS, STANLEY, M.M.

Corporal, 1734, 1/8th Btn., k. in a. 01/07/1916.

b. Southport; e. Worksop; r. Worksop.

SEAGRAVE, G.

Private, 4255, 1/8th Btn., k. in a. 01/07/1916.

b. Newark; r. Newark; r. Newark.

On July 3rd the battalion moved to camp at Bavincourt for a period of rest, which was cut short by a move to Pommier on the 4th July followed by a move to Bienvillers on the 7th July. While here they provided carrying parties to the front line trenches at Monchy, north of Foncquevillers.

BONSFIELD, ARTHUR.

Private, 5595, 1/8th Btn., d. of w. 03/07/1916.

b. Highgate, Warks; e. Derby; r. Derby.

TALBOT, G.

Private, 2857, 1/8th Btn., d. of w. 06/07/1916.

b. North Muskham; e. Newark; r. Newark.

JEFFERY, GEORGE.

Private, 3277, 1/8th Btn., d. of w. 10/07/1916.

b. Worksop; e. Retford; r. Worksop.

On July 10th the Battalion moved to Bellacourt, a village five miles south-west of Arras. During this period a number of Officers and men from the 3rd line Battalion joined in drafts. On the 11th July the Battalion relieved the Liverpool Scottish in the front-line trenches near Bretencourt. Although this relief was undertaken in daylight there were apparently no casualties. 

On the morning of the 13th July the Germans used trench mortars to bombard the front-line trenches held by "B" Company. Lieut Lomer's platoon had four men killed and nine wounded. 

YOUNG, WILLIAM.

Lance Corporal, 2084, 1/8th Btn., d. of w. 12/07/1916.

b. Radcliffe; e. Carlton; r. Netherfield.

BEARDSLEY, WILLIAM ERNEST.

Private, 2302, 1/8th Btn., d. of w. 13/07/1916.

b. India; e. Sutton-in-Ashfield; r. Sutton-in-Ashfield.

PRIDE, ERNEST.

Lance Corporal, 2942, 1/8th Btn., k. in a. 13/07/1916.

b. Huthwaite; e. Newark; r. Newark.

PALING, ALBERT ERNEST.

Corporal, 2872, 1/8th Btn., d. of w. 14/07/1916.

b. Southwell; e. Newark; r. Southwell.

WOOD, JOHN FREDERICK.

Private, 3856, 1/8th Btn., d. of w. 17/07/1916.

e. Radford; r. Mansfield.

SEYMOUR, THOMAS RICHARD.

Private, 3044, 1/8th Btn., k. in a. 24/07/1916.

b. Grimsby; e. Worksop; e. Worksop.

BURKE, JOHN.

Private, 4190, 1/8th Btn., 08/08/1916.

b. Nottingham; e. Newark; r. Nottingham.

STOCKS, ARTHUR.

Private, 3513, 1/8th Btn., 21/09/1916.

e. Newark; r. Worksop.

HAMMOND, WILLIAM.

Private, 2964, 1/8th Btn., 07/10/1916.

b. b. Muskham; e. Newark; r. Newark.