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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment

6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment



   The 6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment was a Territorial unit with HQ at The Armoury, Stockport. A and B Coy were based at The Drill Hall, Astley Street, Stalybridge, C Coy were from Hyde, D Coy from Glossop and Hatfield, E, F and H Coys were from Stockport. They were part of the Cheshire Brigade, Welsh Division when war broke out in August 1914. They proceeded to France on the 10th of November 1914 joining 15th Brigade, 5th Division on the 17 December 1914. On the 1st of March 1915 they transferred to GHQ and took over guard and other duties at Rouen, Abbeville and Dieppe. On the 9th of January 1916 they transferred to 20th Brigade, 7th Division then on the 29th of February 1916 to 118th Brigade, in the newly arrived 39th Division to replace units who had remained in England to complete their training. On the 30th June 1916 they were in action in an attack near Richebourg l'Avoue with the Sussex battalions suffered heavy casualties. They were in action during the Battles of the Somme, including, the fighting on the Ancre, The Battle of Thiepval Ridge, The Battle of the Ancre heights and the capture of Schwaben Reddoubt and Stuff Trench as well as The Battle of the Ancre. In 1917 they fought in The Battle of Pilkem Ridge, The Battle of Langemarck, The Battle of the Menin Road Ridge, The Battle of Polygon Wood and The Second Battle of Passchendaele. In 1918 they were in action at The Battle of St Quentin, The actions at the Somme crossings, The Battle of Bapaume and The Battle of Rosieres before moving to Flanders. They took part n The fighting on Wytschaete Ridge, The First and Second Battle of Kemmel and The Battle of the Scherpenberg. On the 28th of May 1918 they transferred to 75th Brigade, 25th Division and were in action at The Battle of the Aisne, on the 17th of June the battalion absorbed men of the 11th Cheshires, which was reduced to cadre. On the 8th of July 1918 they transferred to 21st Brigade, 30th Division. They were in action during the Advance in Flanders and by the Armistice had crossed the River Scheldt with advanced units reaching the line between Ghoy and la Livarde, north west of Lessines. In January 1919 30th Division took up duty at the Base Ports of Dunkirk, Calais, Boulogne and Etaples and demobilisation began.

21st of August 1913 Lecture

11th of December 1914  Battalions Strengthened  location map

14th of December 1914  French on the Offensive  location map

15th of December 1914  Operations Resumed  location map

16th of December 1914  Instruction  location map

17th Dec 1914 Wet  location map

17th December 1914 Reliefs

18th Dec 1914 Artillery Active  location map

26th of December 1914 Messines Square Targetted   location map

24th of January 1915 Machine Gun Silenced  location map

24th January 1915 Reliefs  location map

28th of January 1915 Active Snipers   location map

1st of February 1915  No 7 Trench Hit

9th of February 1915 German Post Located  location map

13th of February 1915 Trenches Maintained  location map

18th of February 1915 Grenades Cause Confusion  location map

19th of February 1915 Three Airships?  location map

21st of February 1915  

22nd of February 1915 Cheering and Rockets  location map

23rd of February 1915  B Sector Shelled

24th of February 1915 Snipers Checked  location map

25th of February 1915  Trench Mortar Explodes  location map

27th of February 1915 Brigade Relief  location map

28th of February 1915  Artillery Reorganised  location map

1st of March 1915  Quiet  location map

4th of March 1915 Enemy Nervous  location map

6th of March 1915  No Hostile Patrols   location map

16th March 1915  Information

18th of March 1915 Trench Mortars

21st of March 1915 Intelligence

22nd August 1915 Order of battle.

8th Feb 1916 Working Parties  location map

10th Feb 1916 Working Parties

14th Feb 1916 Poor Conditions

16th Feb 1916 Poor Conditions

19th Feb 1916 Wet Day

21st Feb 1916 Working Parties

23rd Feb 1916 Stand To

6th Mar 1916 Orders

2nd Apr 1916 Shelling

6th Apr 1916 Change of Billets

14th Apr 1916 Change of Billets

27th Apr 1916 Inspection

1st May 1916 Reliefs

13th May 1916 Reliefs

8th Jun 1916 Quiet

10th Jun 1916 Heavy Rain  location map

14th Jun 1916 Bad Weather

19th Jun 1916 Baths

9th Jul 1916 Trench Work

18th Jul 1916 Bombardment

10th Aug 1916 Reliefs  location map

13th Aug 1916 On the March

27th Aug 1916 Patrols

1st Sep 1916 Trench Raid

6th Sep 1916 Gas Shells  location map

7th Sep 1916 Working Parties  location map

11th Sep 1916 Working Parties  location map

15th Sep 1916 Trench Raid  location map

16th Sep 1916 Shelling  location map

20th Sep 1916 Shelling  location map

26th Sep 1916 Trench Raid

23rd Oct 1916 Fatigues

26th Oct 1916 Fatigues

28th Oct 1916 Artillery Active

19th Nov 1916 On the Move

25th Nov 1916 Training

29th Nov 1916 On the March

7th Dec 1916 Trench Work

9th Dec 1916 Shelling

11th Dec 1916 In Reserve  location map

24th Dec 1916 Reliefs

1st June 1918 withdrawn from outpost

1st June 1918 Wihdrawn from line.

1st June 1918 Reorganisation

2nd June 1918 Defensive Line

3rd June 1918 Night Relief

4th June 1918 Shelling

5th June 1918 Enemy Active

6th June 1918 Heavy Shelling

7th June 1918 Quiet

9th June 1918 Reliefs

10th June 1918 Reorganisation

11th June 1918 In Reserve

18th June 1918 Reliefs

19th June 1918 On the Move

20th June 1918 Reorganisation

21st June 1918 Training

22nd June 1918 Training

23rd June 1918 Church Parade

24th June 1918 Training

25th June 1918 Musketry

26th June 1918 Training

27th June 1918 Training

28th June 1918 Training

29th June 1918 Musketry

30th June 1918 Church Parade

1st July 1918 On the March

2nd July 1918 On the March

3rd July 1918 On the Move

4th July 1918 On the Move

5th of July 1918 

5th July 1918 Training

6th of July 1918 

6th July 1918 Training

7th July 1918 On the Move

8th July 1918 Bivouack

9th July 1918 On the March

10th July 1918 Wet Day

11th July 1918 Training

12th July 1918 Baths

13th July 1918 Recce

14th July 1918 Church Parade

15th July 1918 Working Parties

16th July 1918 Thunderstorms

17th July 1918 Practice

18th July 1918 Training

19th July 1918 Working Parties

20th July 1918 Practice

21st July 1918 Working Parties

22nd July 1918 Working Parties

23rd July 1918 Working Parties  location map

24th July 1918 Reliefs  location map

25th July 1918 Training

26th July 1918 Training

27th July 1918 Inspection

28th July 1918 Church Parade

29th July 1918 Training

30th July 1918 Training

31st July 1918 Training

1st August 1918 Training

2nd August 1918 On the March

3rd August 1918 Training

4th August 1918 Anniversary Service

5th August 1918 Training

6th August 1918 Inspection

7th August 1918 In Support  location map

8th August 1918 Reliefs

9th August 1918 Trench Work

10th August 1918 Working Parties

11th August 1918 Artillery Active

12th August 1918 Quiet

13th August 1918 Artillery Active

14th August 1918 Reliefs

15th August 1918 Bivouack  location map

15th August 1918 In Billets

16th August 1918 Training and Working Parties

17th August 1918 Training and Working Parties

18th August 1918 Baths

19th August 1918 Baths

20th August 1918 Into Position

21st August 1918 Attack Made  location map

22nd August 1918 Positions Held

23rd August 1918 Reliefs  location map

24th August 1918 In Support

25th August 1918 In Support

26th August 1918 Artillery Active

27th August 1918 Reliefs

28th August 1918 Quiet

29th August 1918 Poor Weather

30th August 1918 Withdrawal

31st August 1918 Advance  location map

1st September 1918 On the March  location map

2nd September 1918 On the March  location map

3rd September 1918 Construction

4th September 1918 Training

5th September 1918 Training

6th September 1918 New Billets

7th September 1918 Construction

8th September 1918 Church Parade

9th September 1918 New Camp

10th September 1918 Training

11th September 1918 Training

12th September 1918 Diary

13th September 1918 Diary

14th September 1918 Diary

15th September 1918 Diary

16th September 1918 Diary

17th September 1918 Diary

18th September 1918 

19th September 1918 Diary

20th September 1918 Diary

22th September 1918 Diary

23rd September 1918 Diary

24th September 1918 Diary

25th September 1918 Diary

26th September 1918 Diary

27th September 1918 Diary

28th September 1918 Diary

29th September 1918 Diary

30th September 1918 Diary

1st October 1918 Into support

2nd October 1918 In Support

3rd October 1918 In support

4th October 1918 Diary

5th October 1918 Diary

6th October 1918 Diary

7th October 1918 Diary

8th October 1918 Diary

9th October 1918 Diary

10th October 1918 Diary

11th October 1918 Diary

12th October 1918 Diary

13th October 1918 On the Move

14th October 1918 Artillery Active

15th October 1918 Reliefs

16th October 1918 Bivouack

17th October 1918 On the March

18th October 1918 On the March

19th October 1918 On the March

20th October 1918 Attack Made

23rd October 1918 Standing to

24th October 1918 Influenza

25th October 1918 Standing to

26th October 1918 On the Move

27th October 1918 Patrols

28th October 1918 Patrols

29th October 1918 Artillery Active

30th October 1918 Artillery Active

31st October 1918 Incorrect Reports

1st November 1918 Reliefs

2nd November 1918 In Billets

3rd November 1918 Sports

4th November 1918 Training

5th November 1918 Orders Cancelled

6th November 1918 Lectures

7th November 1918 Training

8th November 1918 Training

9th November 1918 On the March

10th November 1918 On the March

11th November 1918 On the March

12th November 1918 Training

13th November 1918 Training

14th November 1918 Training

15th November 1918 On the March

16th November 1918 On the March

17th November 1918 Church Parade

18th November 1918 Baths

19th November 1918 Training

20th November 1918 Education

21th November 1918 Classes

22nd November 1918 Inspection

23rd November 1918 Training

24th November 1918 Church Parade

25th November 1918 Inspection

26th November 1918 Training

27th November 1918 Lectures

28th November 1918 Baths

29th November 1918 On the March

30th November 1918 On the March

1st December 1918 On the March

2nd December 1918 On the March

3rd December 1918 On the March

4th December 1918 Interior Economy

5th December 1918 Education

6th December 1918 Sports

7th December 1918 Training

8th December 1918 Church Parade

9th December 1918 Training

10th December 1918 Training

11th December 1918 Working Parties

12th December 1918 Training

13th December 1918 Training

14th December 1918 Sports

15th December 1918 Colours

16th December 1918 Football Match

17th December 1918 Working Parties

18th December 1918 Training

19th December 1918 Workimg Parties

20th December 1918 Football

21st December 1918 Training

22nd December 1918 Church Parade

23rd December 1918 Football

24th December 1918 Working Parties

25th December 1918 Festivities

26th December 1918 At Rest

27th December 1918 Working Parties

28th December 1918 Route March

29th December 1918 Diary

30th December 1918 Diary

31st December 1918 Diary

1st January 1919 Diary

2nd January 1919 Diary

3rd January 1919 On the March

4th January 1919 On the March

5th January 1919 Church Parade

6th January 1919 Inspection

7th January 1919 Games

8th January 1919 Route March

9th January 1919 Interior Economy

10th January 1919 Baths

11th January 1919 Working Parties

12th January 1919 Working Parties

13th January 1919 Move

14th January 1919 On the Move

15th January 1919 In Camp

16th January 1919 In Camp

17th January 1919 In Camp

18th January 1919 In Camp

19th January 1919 Church Parade

20th January 1919 Drill

21st January 1919 Drill

22nd January 1919 Drill

23rd January 1919 Baths

24th January 1919 Inspection

25th January 1919 Working Parties

26th January 1919 Church Parade

27th January 1919 Working Parties

28th January 1919 Working Parties

29th January 1919 Working Parties

30th January 1919 Working Parties

31st January 1919 Guard Duty

1st February 1919 Church Parades

2nd February 1919 Guard Duty

3rd February 1919 Guard Duty

4th February 1919 Guard Duty

5th February 1919 Guard Duty

6th February 1919 Guard Duty

7th February 1919 Guard Duty

8th February 1919 Church Parade

9th February 1919 Inspection

10th February 1919 Docks

11th February 1919 Sports

12th February 1919 Guard Duty

13th February 1919 Working Parties

14th February 1919 Concert

15th February 1919 Church Parade

16th February 1919 Patrols

17th February 1919 Guard Duty

18th February 1919 Guard Duty

19th February 1919 Guard Duty

20th February 1919 Guard Duty

21st February 1919 Sports

22nd February 1919 Church Parade

23rd February 1919 Football

24th February 1919 Guard Duty

25th February 1919 Guard Duty

26th February 1919 Guard Duty

27th February 1919 Guard Duty

28th February 1919 Guard Duty

1st March 1919 Guard Duty

2nd March 1919 Sport

3rd March 1919 Docks

4th March 1919 Docks

5th March 1919 Sport

6th March 1919 Award

7th March 1919 Guard Duty

8th March 1919 Guard Duty

9th March 1919 Church Parade

10th March 1919 Training

11th March 1919 Training

12th March 1919 Lecture

13th March 1919 Drill

14th March 1919 Lecture

15th March 1919 Inspection

16th March 1919 Gymkhana

17th March 1919 Drill

18th March 1919 Preparation

19th March 1919 Appreciation

20th March 1919 On the March

21st March 1919 Cleaning up

22nd March 1919 Training

23rd March 1919 Church Parade

24th March 1919 Training

25th March 1919 Training

26th March 1919 Training

27th March 1919 Training

28th March 1919 Training

29th March 1919 Training

30th March 1919 Football

31st March 1919 Training

1st April 1919 Guard Duty

2nd April 1919 Guard Duty

3rd April 1919 Classes

4th April 1919 Departure

5th April 1919 Church Parade

6th April 1919 Training

7th April 1919 Training

8th April 1919 Training

9th April 1919 Appreciation

10th April 1919 Training

11th April 1919 Training

12th April 1919 Church Parade

13th April 1919 Training

14th April 1919 Guard Duty

15th April 1919 Guard Duty

16th April 1919 Training

17th April 1919 Arrival

18th April 1919 At Rest

19th April 1919 Rest

20th April 1919 Church Parade

21st April 1919 Rest

22nd April 1919 Guard Duty

23rd April 1919 Training

24th April 1919 Training

25th April 1919 Appreciation

26th April 1919 Guards

27th April 1919 Church Parade

28th April 1919 Sport

29th April 1919 Training

30th April 1919 Training

1st May 1919 Guard Duty

2nd May 1919 Guard Duty

3rd May 1919 Training

4th May 1919 Church Parade

5th May 1919 Training

6th May 1919 Guard Duty

7th May 1919 Guard Duty

8th May 1919 Guard Duty

9th May 1919 Guard Duty

10th May 1919 Guard Duty

11th May 1919 Church Parade

12th May 1919 Guard Duty

13th May 1919 On the March

14th May 1919 Guard Duty

15th May 1919 Guard Duty

16th May 1919 Guard Duty

17th May 1919 Guard Duty

18th May 1919 Church Parade

19th May 1919 Guard Duty

20th May 1919 Training

21st May 1919 Guard Duty

22nd May 1919 Guard Duty

23rd May 1919 Guard Duty

24th May 1919 Guard Duty

25th May 1919 Church Parade

26th May 1919 Guard Duty

27th May 1919 Guard Duty

28th May 1919 Guard Duty

29th May 1919 Guard Duty

30th May 1919 Guard Duty

31st May 1919 Guard Duty

1st June 1919 Guard Duty

2nd June 1919 Guard Duties

3rd June 1919 Guard Duties

4th June 1919 Guard Duties

5th June 1919 Guard Duties

6th June 1919 Guard Duties

7th June 1919 Guard Duties

8th June 1919 Church Parade

9th June 1919 Guard Duties

10th June 1919 Guard Duties

11th June 1919 Guard Duties

12th June 1919 Guard Duties

13th June 1919 Guard Duties

14th June 1919 Guard Duties

15th June 1919 Church Parade

16th June 1919 Guard Duties

17th June 1919 Guard Duties

18th June 1919 Church Parade

19th June 1919 Guard Duties

20th June 1919 Guard Duties

21st June 1919 Guard Duties

22nd June 1919 Guard Duties

23rd June 1919 Guard Duties

24th June 1919 Guard Duties

25th June 1919 Guard Duties

26th June 1919 Guard Duties

27th June 1919 Guard Duties

28th June 1919 Guard Duties

29th June 1919 Guard Duties

30th June 1919 Guard Duties

1st July 1919 Guard Duties

2nd July 1919 Guard Duties

3rd July 1919 Guard Duties

4th July 1919 Guard Duties

5th July 1919 Guard Duties

6th July 1919 Church Parade

7th July 1919 Guard Duties

8th July 1919 Guard Duties

9th July 1919 Guard Duties

10th July 1919 Guard Duties

11th July 1919 Guard Duty

12th July 1919 Guard Duty

13th July 1919 Guard Duty

14th July 1919 Guard Duty

15th July 1919 Guard Duty

16th July 1919 Guard Duty

17th July 1919 Guard Duty

18th July 1919 Guard Duty

19th July 1919 Guard Duty

20th July 1919 Church Parade

21st July 1919 Guard Duty

22nd July 1919 Guard Duty

23rd July 1919 Guard Duty

24th July 1919 Guard Duty

25th July 1919 Guard Duty

26th July 1919 Guard Duty

27th July 1919 Church Parade

28th July 1919 Guard Duty

29th July 1919 Guard Duty

30th July 1919 Guard Duty

31st July 1919 Guard Duty

1st August 1919 Guard Duty

2nd August 1919 Guard Duty

3rd August 1919 Church Parade

4th August 1919 Holiday

5th August 1919 Guard Duty

6th August 1919 Guard Duty

7th August 1919 Guard Duty

8th August 1919 Guard Duty

9th August 1919 Guard Duty

10th August 1919 Church Parade

11th August 1919 Guard Duty

12th August 1919 Guard Duty

13th August 1919 Reliefs

14th August 1919 Education

15th August 1919 Lecture

16th August 1919 Inspection

17th August 1919 Sports

18th August 1919 Church Parade

19th August 1919 Education

20th August 1919 Education

21st August 1919 Classes

22nd August 1919 Sports

23rd August 1919 Classes

24th August 1919 Church Parade

25th August 1919 Sports

26th August 1919 Sports

27th August 1919 Education

28th August 1919 Guard Duties

29th August 1919 Classes

30th August 1919 Education

31st August 1919 Departure

If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.





Want to know more about 6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment?


There are:5754 items tagged 6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment available in our Library

  These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.


Those known to have served with

6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment

during the Great War 1914-1918.

  • Andrew Charles Herbert. Pte. (d.1st Mar 1917)
  • Callison F. H.. Lt.
  • Clarke MM,DCM. James. WO.
  • Coyle Ian. L/Cpl
  • Davies W.. Pte. (d.3rd Sep 1917)
  • Gosset Claude Butler. Maj. (d.15th Feb 1916)
  • Hammonds Albert Edward. Pte. (d.2nd September 1918)
  • Howard James Stanley. A/Cpl.
  • Lee MC. Jack. Capt. (d.31st July 1917)
  • Matley Thomas. Pte.
  • Mullins Harry. Pte. (d.13th Nov 1916)
  • Murphy MM. Harry. Pte. (d.31st Aug 1918)
  • Nield Allen. Pte.
  • Peters Nicholas Owen. Pte.
  • Price J.. Pte. (d.4th Oct 1918)
  • Procter Harold. Pte. (d.20th Sep 1917)
  • Whittaker George. Cpl.
  • Wood William Arthur. Pte.

All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

Records of 6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment from other sources.


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  Pte. Albert Edward Hammonds 16th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers (d.2nd September 1918)

Albert Hammonds enlisted in the 6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment in October 1914. He was killed in action on the Somme in 1918.

Elaine Glover






  Lt. F. H. Callison 6th Btn. Cheshire Regiment

Lt. F. H. Callison served with the 6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment and the Machine Gun Corps.

Keith Bradley






  Pte. Nicholas Owen Peters 11th Btn. Cheshire Regiment

Nicholas Peters was born on 14 Dec 1888, the son of Nicholas and Catherine Peters of Seacombe, Cheshire. Before joining up, he was a ship’s cook with the Allen Line steamship Co. of Liverpool.

He enlisted on 10th of September 1914 at Wallasey and joined the 11th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment on 18th of September 1914. After training, he transferred to 75th Brigade Headquarters in Aug 1915. He arrived in France in Sept 1915 with the 11th Battalion. In June 1918, he was absorbed into the 1/6th Battalion. On 25th of August 1918 he received a gunshot wound to the jaw and was transferred back to hospitals in the UK. He was discharged on 11 Feb 1919. He was awarded a military pension later that year of 19 shillings and 3 pence.

He married Florence Hazelhurst in 1925. They were both living in Wallasey, Cheshire in 1939. His occupation was canteen cook. He died in July 1971, aged 82.

Tom McMahon






  Pte. Thomas Matley 6th Btn. Cheshire Regiment

Thomas Matley (also Matkey) was my grandfather. According to his medal record, he was with 6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment but it appears he also served with 8th Battalion.

Stephen Bridgehouse






  Pte. Harry Mullins 1st/6th Btn. Cheshire Regiment (d.13th Nov 1916)

Harry Mullins enlisted underage when he was 15 years old and still a schoolboy. He'd had a minor skirmish with the Law and was told they would forget it as long as he joined a club such as the Boys Brigade or the Scout Movement and kept out of further trouble. Harry decided that he'd enlist instead. His mother tried to get him sent home as he was underage but because he'd been on the front line for a while and was deemed an excellent soldier they decided that he'd be staying put. Harry died on Monday 13th of November 1916 in France, aged 18. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

Nancy Morris






  WO. James Clarke MM,DCM. 1/6th Btn. Cheshire Regiment

My Grandfather James Clarke served with the 1/6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment. He enlisted in 1912/13 and was a Territorial pre war. Both his brothers in law were killed in action, Charles Chandler with the KRRC and John Walker with the Cheshire Regiment, both were from Hyde. His brother George Clarke also served.

<p>James is 3rd from left in front row. 1918

Richard Clarke






  Capt. Jack Lee MC. 6th Btn. Cheshire Regiment (d.31st July 1917)

My grandfather, Jack Lee, was the eightth child of William Lee, who from poor beginnings had founded a successful Manchester Clothing Company, Kay & Lee Ltd., and his wife Isabella.

At the outbreak of war Jack had joined the Manchester Regiment with his older brother Bert (who was killed at Gallipoli on Christmas Day 1915), but he then trained to be an officer and was commissioned into the Cheshire Regiment in January 1915. He was posted to Aberystwyth for training where that summer he met and fell in love with a university student, Nancy Erskine. Shortly after they met, her brother Tommy was killed in action on the Western front at Hooge in Belgium. In an act of incredible courage, he had tried to break into a German pill-box with an axe. He had previously been awarded the Military Cross for bravery, and his family believe that his final act was recommended (without success) for a Victoria Cross.

At Christmas Jack bought Nancy an engagement ring. They were married the following year, and on 15th February 1917 she gave birth to William Jack Barrie Lee, my father. Jack was able to take leave for the week of the birth before leaving Carlisle when the baby was two days old. He spent a couple of days at the family home in Wilmslow before travelling south to rejoin his regiment. However, his sailing was cancelled due to enemy submarines in the channel and he was able to make the lengthy journey back to Carlisle for another brief visit, finally sailing for France on 24th February 1917.

Jack Lee never saw his son again. Five months later the Cheshire Regiment took part in the Third Ypres offensive which began on 31st July with an action known as the Battle of Pilckem Ridge. In a letter written to Isabella Lee after he was released from captivity at the end of the war, Corporal F Burch of the 1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment described the events of that morning:

Streatham SW

17/1/19

Dear Mrs Lee,

I hope you will not think badly of me for not answering your lovely letters before, but really my time seems so full that I have had to neglect my correspondence. Miss Rendell certainly did wonder why you had not answered her letter, but was sure you had a good reason for it. We are both deeply sorry that it was the death of your sister-in-law, and pray that God in all his goodness has given you strength to bear this additional sorrow. (A reference to Aunt Bessie who had passed away in December 1918.) I am so pleased that you liked the photo group so much, the dear old Dad has gone nearly white-haired since it was taken but Miss Rendell and myself have not altered in the least.

Now to the best of my ability I will tell you about that fateful July 31st. Some of the things that happened I have forgotten, but the majority are of course impressed on my memory. You know of course that the 6th Cheshires and 1st Herts were brigaded together, so that by reading what my regiment did you will know what Captain Lee's did.

Our Brigade had to go over last of all in the Division as our objective, called the Langemark Line, so that we had to pass through the first two Brigades on our way. At about 4.15 am we received our order to go over the top, and away we went. The sight which met our eyes I shall never forget, but it was also one which I cannot describe. All went well with us until we reached the half-way line, where we had to rest two hours just behind a ridge, after which we had a rather warm time, but with only two casualties. We had to take Kitcheners Wood which the Germans were shelling heavily but we got through all right. A little further on we came to the River Steenbech which we crossed with only two more casualties although we were swept with heavy machine gun fire from the right flank. From that point we had to advance in open order, the Black Watch on the left, Herts in the centre, Cheshires on the right, and as I was in charge of the extreme right section in our regiment, I was in touch with the Cheshires all the way afterwards. Our next job was to capture the village of St Julien, the Herts and the Cheshires taking a half each, and it is needless to say that we got it. But now our real task was in front of us, the taking of the Langemark Line, and we saw that it was a stiff task for we had to advance over 500 yards of completely flat open country and the trench was in the form of a semi-circle, simply packed with Germans. We were immediately subjected to severe machine gun and rifle fire, and to make matters worse our own barrage was falling all amongst us and not touching the Germans. But even then all might have been well if one single British aeroplane had been above us to see what was happening. We all looked in vain though and kept on pegging away.

Hundreds had fallen or were falling, but we managed to get within 50 yards with every officer shot and almost every NCO. It was just before that that I saw your son lying in a shell hole, a shallow one, but strict orders had been issued that we were not to stay and assist wounded men as it would hinder our advance, so I had to go on. When we found we hadn't enough men to continue, we thought that the best thing to do was to get into shell holes and wait for the supports to come up, but on looking behind us to see where they were we could see only Germans - they had got in behind us and cut us off. Just at that point the order every man for himself was passed down the line so we started trying to get back, at first in a group but men were falling so fast that it soon became ones and twos. At one place there were three of us in a small shell hole and we decided to try for one farther back. The other two were killed and I reached the hole alone, almost falling on top of your son who said hello corporal straight away.

I set to work to see what was wrong with him and found he had been hit in the small of the back in the region of the right kidney. The wound had stopped bleeding but I could see he was badly hit internally and by the shape of the wound it was shrapnel. He told me he felt no pain whatsoever but on looking into his face I saw he was too far gone to feel anything so I cut his equipment off and removed a khaki covered steel plate which the shrapnel had penetrated, and then made a pillow for his head out of his respirator so that he could lie as comfortable as possible. Then I saw that he had begun to write a letter to his mother, it was on the back of a torn photograph of German trenches taken by one of our aeroplane observers. He finished the letter but the latter half was unintelligible and I only glanced at it as I put it in my pocket. I cannot remember any actual sentences but I know it was to the effect that he was thinking you at the time, that he had done his bit and you were to have the M.C. he had won at Ypres a month before. About his wife and child I saw nothing. I did not know he was married until I received your letter in Germany, but he may well have put a message for them in the part I could not read through. If I had had the time I might have been able to decipher it. He told me to take the little gold ring off his little finger (I remember it was so tiny I would not go on me, so I put it in my purse and if I remember rightly it had the date 1915 on the inside). Next he asked me for a drink and when he had had that he told me to take his revolver, field glasses and an electric torch, and also a couple of correspondence books which were in his pack, and send them all with the ring and his letter to you. He then asked me if we had taken the final objective as it seemed to be so much quieter, which it was - I told him we were waiting for reinforcements to come up first. More than once he asked me for a drink, and repeatedly said he felt no pain. I don't think he did but he was so brave I could have cried over him. While I was with him the Germans singled us out, and one big shell burst within a foot of my head, but by a miracle we both escaped. Bullets flew all round us but we were unhurt by them, and my belief to his day is that your son was hit by one of our own shells. So many were the Germans couldn,t hit us.

After I had been about a quarter of an hour with him I looked down to see that he had gone and so peacefully that I had not noticed it. After that I tried the almost impossible task of getting back and, getting into one hole after another, I at last found a comrade in the shape of a lance corporal of the Cheshires. We stayed together shooting Germans all around us until four of them got quite close without our noticing them. We immediately jumped out after them to make a fight for it and actually reached them before we saw there were scores of Germans lying in shell holes all around us. The Cheshire with me took the rifle out of my hands almost before I knew it and I remember I laughed and he and I shook hands. The Germans (they were Saxons) were jolly decent and only took your son's revolver from me, but everything else I had to leave behind except the ring and letter in my pocket. I saw a few more men captured round about but you will be pleased to know that none of us put our hands up.

We were escorted through no man's land and along a trench to some headquarters. Here an officer who spoke excellent English was joking with us so, being afraid everything would be taken off me, I asked his advice with regard to the letter and the ring. He was full of sympathy and said he would see that you got them within three weeks if I left them with him. I could see that he was speaking the truth so I gave them to him, writing a letter to you myself to go with them. Your address I memorised and I was not likely to forget it. We had to be moved quickly after that as our gunners began knocking the whole place to pieces with high explosives and my belief is that he must have been killed because I know he meant to keep his word, that is probably the reason why the ring and letter did not reach you.

These are all the facts I can at present think of Mrs Lee of what happened on 31st July 1917, and I tender you my deepest sympathy on losing such a brave tender son and to Mrs Jack Lee on losing a husband who was loved so much by his men. All that I have written is true, not just to show you what I did, but to tell you everything that happened as it happened, for your son's men went through I as well as myself. A man of the 6th Cheshire whose name I have forgotten but who lives near you was captured on the same day as myself, and he told me all about Captain Lee, saying how he was well loved by his men and considered the best officer in the battalion.

Any questions you like to ask I shall be only too pleased to answer to the best of my ability, and please do not think you are causing me any trouble. I am sorry I cannot give you a definite date just now for my visit to Wilmslow as I am awaiting orders for my discharge but be assured I shall manage to see you during February. With sincere regards from Miss Rendell and myself,

I remain, Yours sincerely,

F.G.Burch 1st Herts Regiment

PS I may mention that only one sergeant, 2 corporals and 56 men out of my regiment and only one corporal and myself with the men were captured. Everyone else (including officers) were killed.

<p>Jack on motorbike 1916

<p>Jack Lee with his mother 1916

Robert Lee






  Pte. Allen Nield 6th Btn. E Coy. Cheshire Regiment

Taken from postcards to his brother and sister.

E.Company, 6th battalion, Cheshire Regt. Territorial bat.

Allen Nield. (WR/203603)

12th August 1914 We are all packed up for a 12 mile march to Church Stretton tomorrow, starting possibly in the dark (eg 3.30 am) Saturday. We might find tents (up or down or none at all). We have to be ready to kip under hedges with nothing but what each man carries in shape of food and shelter. Food is good and plentiful but rough. Yrs Allen.

1915 photo of Fountainblue

Tuesday 16th.

We are up near the scene of the advance near La Bassee and have just been engaged in clearing the wounded from where they lay in the open. Some since Wednesday Our forces captured 3 lines of trenches in 12 minutes but paid a hellish price. The shell fire here is horrible. I am going back to barracks today. Allen.

S Rayner






  Pte. Harry Murphy MM. 6th Battalion Cheshire Regiment (d.31st Aug 1918)

Harry Murphy's original service number, 2337, suggests that he was a pretty war territorial or enlisted in the first few days of war breaking out. At some point in his service, Harry won the Military Medal although it is not know when he undertook his act of bravery but he did receive a letter from the general to express his "appreciation and gratitude of his gallantry and devotion to duty when you preformed admirable work as Battalion runner under the most difficult and dangerous conditions". Harry's brother, James Murphy, was also awarded the Military Medal in June 1918 but, unfortunately, there is no account for when he undertook his act of bravery.

On 28th of August 1918, Harry and James were with the Battalion in front line trenches at Locre, 10 kilometres south west of the town centre of Ypres. The Battalion's War Diary only records "Situation very quiet. Weather very inclement". What probably happened during the day is that an enemy shell landed in the trench killing a lieutenant and wounding 7 other including Harry and James. Although from personal records they say that "as they were marching to the front line a shell exploded and cut through the line of men killing the lieutenant and then wounding the men behind. Although it is unknown how accurate this is. However we do know that the shrapnel landed in James' side and wounded him but miraculously managed to survive. However, Harry received shrapnel in his foot and was excavated 30 kilometres to a casualty clearing station in the town of Arneke where military surgeons amputated his foot. A letter for a sister at the clearing station said that there was little hope of him surviving. And on the 31st of August 1918 Harry died from gangrene. He is buried at Arneke British Cemetery.







  Cpl. George Whittaker 6th Btn. Cheshire Regiment

My grandfather, George Whittaker, previously served in the Indian Army and during WW1 signed up with the 6th Cheshire Regiment at St Margaret's Camp, Heaton Park, Manchester. My mother told me that he was poison gassed in France in 1918 and came to convalesce at Dalmeney, Ramsey, Isle of Man. He went on to live in Hightown, near Southport, and, because of his health, had to work outside as a gardener.

Sheila Macaulay






  L/Cpl Ian Coyle 6th Cheshire Regiment

I have an official copy of Musketry Regulations Part 1. 1909, reprinted in 1914. There is a stamp: '6th Reserve Bn. The Cheshire Regiment Orderly Room'. Hand written inside is 'l/c Coyle 3145 6th Chesire Regt.

Ian McEwan






  Pte. Harold Procter 1/6 Btn. Cheshire Regiment (d.20th Sep 1917)

Pte. Harold Procter served with the 1/6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment and died on 20th September 1917.

adrian booth






  A/Cpl. James Stanley Howard 1/6th Btn Cheshire Regiment

My grandfather James Howard enlisted in the Cheshire Regiment Army Reserve on 13 Dec 1909. Between that date and the outbreak of the First World War he attended various annual training camps, during one of which he was promoted to lance corporal on 20 May 1914. He was mobilized into 1st Battalion on 5 Aug 1914 and promoted to acting corporal on 3 October 1914. Shortly after arriving in France he was captured at a place called Violaines, near La Basse and was confirmed as a POW on 22nd Oct 1914. Details of his units capture can be found in "The History of the Great War" by Arthur Crookenden (Col. of Rgt.) pages 28 & 29. He spent the remainder of the war in various Prison of War camps as listed below. The dates and places were supplied by the International Red Cross Committee: 16 Jan 1915 Wahn, 19 Jul 1916 Merseberg, 4 Sep 1916 Wittenberg, 25 Jan 1917 AltenGrabow, still there on 10 Feb 1917, 21 Mar 1917 Magdeburg/Sud (IRCC quote 'Hilfskrkanst' as part of the camp name) Detailed as arriving in England on 18 Nov 1918 on the SS "Willochra" on an undated list.

Having returned to England he was transferred to Army Reserve on 18 Feb 1919 and then discharged from the Army on 31 Mar 1920. Having experienced the conditions of the Prisoner of War camps one would expect him to have settled for a civilian existence but he re-enlisted into Section D, Army Reserve at Chester on 28 Mar 1922 with Army number 4118343, rank - Private. He was finally discharged on 27 Mar 1926.

He re-enlisted yet again into the Territorial Army (Royal Artillery) with No. 4118343) on 27 Oct 1938. Embodied 25 Jun 1939, Disembodied 20 Jul 1939, Embodied 24 Aug 1939. Transferred to Cheshire Regiment and posted to 8th Home Counties Defence Battalion 24 Jul 1940 (late redesignated 30th Battalion). Posted to No. 2 Company 27 Jun 1942. Attached to G setion, 165 Provost Company as Cook 17 Nov 1942. Attachment ceased 28 Sep 1943 Posted to 2nd Battalion 2 Feb 1944 Posted to 38 Reinforcement Holding Unit 5 Apr 1944 Posted to 35 Reinforcement Holding Unit 12 Apr 1944 Posted to 24 Machine Gun Training Centre 30 Apr 1944 Posted to No. 4 Army Selection Centre 14 Aug 1944 Discharged again on 27 Aug 1944 as his services were no longer required.

Having survived through two wars he passed away on 5 Feb 1966 as a result of being hit by a car whilst crossing the road.

Harold Keith Howard






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