Chesterfield Sherwoods on the Somme

1^st July - 18^th November 1916

15^th (Service) Battalion (Nottingham Bantams)

Nottingham and Derbyshire Regiment (Sherwood Foresters)

105th Brigade, 35th Division, XIII Corps

Time Line for the 15/SF

16th July - Relived 6/Northants in trenches south east of Trones Wood

20th July - Attack on German positions between Maltz Horn Farm and Arrow Head Copse at 5 a.m. Withdrew to Talus Boise

24th July - Reserve line

Attack on Maltz Horn Farm and Arrow Head Copse

20th July

On the night of the 16th/17th July the 15/SF moved up to the front line trenches in preparation for an attack on the following day. Pte James Taylor vividly describes this operation:-

"When going into the trenches I saw one of the dead British soldiers leaning over the parapet, and on his soldiers were the badges of his regiment, the 'Buffs'. It was a rough journey. The smell was awful, and every now and then we trod on a dead 'Buff."

[Pte Taylor in "The Blast of War" by Maurice Bacon and David Langley]

Whilst preparing for the attack the Battalion were under constant shell fire form the German artillery, which ultimately reduced the attacking strength of the Battalion. Colonel Gordon (OC 15/SF) decided that only "W" and "Z" Companies were fit to attack and following a short and largely ineffective barrage the attack went ahead at 5 a.m.

Advancing in full view of the German positions the attacking companies suffered heavy casualties from shell and machine gun fire. Although limited success was achieved, those men that reached the German trenches were eventually shelled out of them.

Total casualties for the attack amounted to 10 Officers killed and nine wounded; 39 Other Ranks killed, 146 wounded and 36 missing.

Casualties

24008 Pte W Fretwell, Factory Street, Brampton. On the day of William’s 20^th birthday his parents received a package of photographs, which had been shot through the centre with a covering letter: -

William Fretwell, aged 20, of the Sherwood Bantams, enlisted in March 1915. Prior to enlisting he worked at Pearson’s Pit and had played football for St Mary’s. Brampton Memorial.

[Derbyshire Times, Saturday, July 29, 1916]

2Lt Frank Leslie Reynolds a resident of Tibshelf killed in action on the 20th July. Frank Reynolds was Commissioned into the 11th Bn Sherwood Foresters but was serving with the 15th Bn when he was killed.

"The Company made an attack and the last Officer to see Mr Reynolds says that he was leading the men and shouting "Come on boys". From the later reports of the men I am afraid there is little hope that he is alive"

Frank Reynolds was an Old Boy of Chesterfield School, Commissioned in September 1914. His twin brother George served with the 10th Battalion Prince of Wales's Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment) and was killed in action on the 9th April 1916,aged 22. He is commemorated on the Basra Memorial in Iraq. Both are Commemorated on the Tibshelf Memorial.

[Derbyshire Times, Saturday, August 5, 1916]

25434 Pte E.J. Richards, Hill Top Crescent, Highlands, North Wingfield, killed in action on July 20^th. North Wingfield Memorial.

24505 Sergt. Harry Crofts, Bowp’s Green, Milford, killed in action on the 23^rd August. The Battn were filing along at about 11.30 am when a German shell burst right in the trench killing and wounding a large number of men. Sergt Crofts was buried with his comrades near the place were he fell. Harry Crofts was 20 years old and enlisted in March 1915. Prior to enlisting he was employed by Mr Greave’s Bakery in Belper.

[Derbyshire Times, Saturday, September 16, 1916]

23867 Pte Albert Wilson, died on the 15th October. A resident of Whittington Moor.

[Derbyshire Times, Saturday, October 28, 1916]