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15th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment
15th (2nd Portsmouth) Battalion, Hampshire Regiment was raised at Portsmouth on the 5th of April 1915 by the Mayor and local Committee and was adopted by The War Office on the 30th of May 1915. After inital training close to home they joined 122nd Brigade, 41st Division at Aldershot in October. In February 1916 they moved to the Marlborough Lines, Albdershot for final training and proceeded to France in early May, the division concentrating between Hazebrouck and Bailleul. In 1916 they were in action at The Battle of Flers-Courcelette and The Battle of the Transloy Ridges on the Somme. In 1917 they fought during The Battle of Messines, The Battle of Pilkem Ridge, The Battle of the Menin Road and took part in the Operations on the Flanders coast. On the 27th of September 1917 they amalgamated with the dismounted 1/1st Hampshire Yeomanry and were renamed as the 15th (Hampshire Yeomanry) Battalion, at Caestre. In November the Division was ordered to Italy, moving by train to Mantua. The Division took the front line near the River Piave, north west of Treviso. In February they were summoned back to France and departed from Campo San Piero, travelling by train to concentrate near Doullens and Mondicourt. They were in action during The Battle of St Quentin, The Battle of Bapaume and The Battle of Arras before moving to Flanders for The Battles of the Lys. They were in action during the Final Advance in Flanders, at Courtrai and Ooteghem. At the Armistice the advanced units were at Nederbrakel, Tenbosch and the River Dender. 41st Division was chosen to join the Army of Occupation, and on the 12th of January 1919, the Division took over the left section of the Cologne bridgehead. Demobilisation began in March and the Division was renamed the London Division.
1st May 1916 On the Move
5th May 1916 On the Move
8th May 1916 Concentration
9th May 1916 Orders
10th May 1916 Orders
11th May 1916 Preparations
12th May 1916 School of Instruction
13th May 1916 Postponement
14th May 1916 Trench Raid
15th May 1916 Instruction
17th May 1916 Gas Alert
18th May 1916 Orders 
1st Jun 1916 Observation Balloon
11th Jun 1916 Reliefs
24th Jun 1916 Reliefs
30th Jun 1916 Trench Raid
15th Sep 1916 Heavy Losses The 15th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment attacked at Flers, aided by the first appearance of 4 tanks. The objective was reached, but heavy losses caused the battalion to retire. Almost half the battalion was lost in the attack.
15th Sep 1916 Sucess 15th (Portsmounth) Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, as part of the 41st Division, attacked and gained Flers on the first day with the assistance for the first time of tanks. The 41st Division Memorial is in Flers.
26th May 1917 Relieved 15th Bn. Hants. Regt. in Support
12th June 1917 Hostile Artillery very quiet.
24th July 1917 Hostile aircraft again patrolled our back area's
5th Aug 1917 15th Hampshires at Hollebeke. 15th Hampshires were at Hollebeke.
18th Sep 1917 9th York & Lancs relieved
27th Sep 1917 Reorganisation
23rd Mar 1918 Hard Fighting
30th June 1918 Instruction No.7. Para 2 to be read in conjunction with Operation Orders No. 7.
7th August 1918 Operational Order No.16.
8th August 1918 Reliefs
14th September 1918 Relief and relocation
26th October 1918 The advance on Avilghem was resumed at about 1000 hours
2nd Oct 1918 Intensive Action
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
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Those known to have served with15th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment during the Great War 1914-1918. - Angel MM. James William. L/Cpl. (d.27th May 1918)
- Barton George. Pte. (d.7th Jun 1917)
- Bennett George. Cpl.
- Bornet Jules. Pte. (d.7th June 1917)
- Bosonnet Henry Victor. Pte. (d.15th Sep 1916)
- Breslaw Geoffrey Reynell. 2nd Lt. (d.7th October 1916)
- Caws Ronald Ratsey. L/Cpl.
- Chainey Frederick. Pte. (d.14th Oct 1918)
- Chandler William Stephen. Pte (d.1st October 1918)
- Crews Francis George. Pte. (d.20th Sep 1917)
- Dabinett Richard Percival Allen. Pte. (d.7th June 1917)
- Denyer William Walter. Pte (d.24th September 1916)
- Dyer Frank. Cpl. (d.7th Oct 1916)
- Finden Frank. Cpl. (d.7th Oct 1916)
- Gisborne Frederick William. Pte. (d.21st Oct 1918)
- Goater George Henry. Pte
- Haddigan Thomas. Pte. (d.15th Sep 1916)
- Haines Charles Herbert. Pte.
- Haskell Henry John. Pte.
- Hatcher Charles George. Pte.
- Hearn Frederick Joseph. Pte. (d.5th Aug 1917)
- Herd William George. Pte. (d.25th March 1918)
- Hounsome George. L/Cpl (d.1st July 1916)
- Isaacs William George.
- Jervis Henry Allen. Pte. (d.5th Oct 1916)
- Knight Edward George James. Pte. (d.20th Sep 1917)
- Knight George. Pte. (d.15th Sept 1916)
- Langdon Arthur Charles. 2Lt. (d.27th Oct 1918)
- Lush MM. Allen William. L/Cpl. (d.4th Sept 1918)
- Miles Francis James. Pte. (d.2nd Oct 1918)
- Millbank David. Pte. (d.20th September 1917)
- Morgan Walter Henry. 2nd Lt. (d.12th July 1916)
- New Edgar. L/Cpl. (d.7th Jun 1917)
- Newton Arthur Thomas. Pte. (d.7th June 1917)
- Noyce Harry George. Pte (d.30th Jun 1918)
- Payne George Henry. Pte. (d.20th Sep 1917)
- Perry Reginald. Sgt. (d.15th Sep 1916)
- Peterson Joseph Alexander Wilmerdinge . L/Cpl.
- Piper Frederick Arthur. Pte. (d.7th October 1916)
- Rendall Lesley Hammon. Pte
- Rickard Edward Samuel. Pte.
- Smailes Harold Wilfred. Pte. (d.4th Sep 1918)
- Stapleton Hubert. Capt. (d.15th September 1916)
- White George Alfred. Pte. (d.8th August 1916)
- White James Alban Charles. L/Cpl.
- Young Ernest Walter. Pte. (d.21st October 1918)
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 15th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment from other sources.
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Pte. Frederick Arthur Piper 15th (Service) Battalion Hampshire Regiment (d.7th October 1916) Frederick Piper was born on the 1st March 1891 in Catherington a small village in Hampshire, the second son of William and Fanny (nee Downs) Piper. Prior to his enlistment in the Hampshire Regiment he was working as a farm labourer in Denmead, Hampshire. He was killed in action 6 weeks after his younger brother George was killed also in action. Frederick is buried in the Warlencourt British Cemetery.
Frederick and George were the sons of my great grandfather William Piper by his second marriage and step-brothers to my grandfather Herbert William Piper.
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Pte. Francis James Miles 15th Btn. Hampshire Regiment (d.2nd Oct 1918) Francis Miles served with the 15th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment in WW1. He died 2nd of October 1918 aged 19 years and is buried Hooge Crater Cemetery in Belgium. Son of Walter James and Elizabeth Georgina Miles of 2 Albert Rd., Cosham, Hants.
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L/Cpl. James William Angel MM. 15th Btn. Hampshire Regiment (d.27th May 1918) James Angel was killed in action, shelled or gassed. I can't find out. Nor can I discover how he won the MM. I can't get information as 60% of WW1 records were destroyed by bombing in WW2.
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L/Cpl. Edgar New 15th Btn. Hampshire Regiment (d.7th Jun 1917) Edgar New was killed in action on the 7th of June 1917 in the battle of Mesines Ridge. Losses were indeed heavy, 43 killed 135 injured.
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Pte. Henry John Haskell 15th Btn. Hampshire Regiment Harry Haskell lived all his life in Portsmouth, Hampshire. He was my Grandfather, although I never met him.
He lied about his age in order to enlist with the 15th Hampshire Regiment on 2nd June 1915, being only 17 at the time. He married on 11th September, and left for war almost immediately.
Apparently he was in action at Flers in October 1916 where huge losses of men from 15th Hants. saw Henry transferred to the 122nd Machine Gun Corps. and a diary entry says he was with them in France 2nd of September 1917, ( Battle of Ypres) and in Italy from 19th of January 1918.
In June 1918 he was wounded by gunshot in the left knee and right side at Givenchy, France. This was blighty wound and he arrived back in England on 7th of July 1918. He was discharged from the army as unfit, and from hospital in Ripon, on 13th December 1918. He arrived back home at midnight on that day.
He was granted a war disability pension of 11 shillings and sixpence a week.
His knee continued to trouble him. About 1929 his mental health deteriorated, and in 1931 was admitted permanently to St James's Psychiatric Hospital, where he spent the rest of his life.
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L/Cpl. Joseph Alexander Wilmerdinge Peterson 15th Btn. Hampshire Regiment Joseph Peterson served with the 15th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, he died as a result of wounds in 1920.
Sally-Marie Bartlam-Hawes
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Pte Harry George Noyce 15th Btn. Hampshire Regiment (d.30th Jun 1918) Grandfather, Harry Noyce was never talked about by my mother. I only found out about him through my niece who is trying to build a family tree.
I visited his grave site in Belgium where he is buried in a joint grave with another. I would appreciate it if anyone can give me any information.
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2Lt. Arthur Charles Langdon 15th Btn. Hampshire Regiment (d.27th Oct 1918)  Arthur Langdon joined the Hampshire Carabiniers in 1912. When this unit was absorbed into the 15th Btn. Hampshire Regiment in 1917 he became an infantryman. He served as a sergeant through 1917 on the Western Front and went with the battalion and the 41st Division to Italy. Returning to France just before the German Spring offensive. He fought with the rest of the 4th Army to secure the northern edge of the German salient around Arras.
In July he was sent for officer training and he returned as a battle casualty replacement in late September 1918. The Hampshires next fought at the crossing of the Schedlt Wall at Knokke, assaulting and taking the bridge at Knocke on the 21st October. On the 25th Oct 1918 the Hampshires continued the attack eastward probing for the retreating German army near Waffelstraat.
Leading the recces platoon at the point of the Hampshires advance which commenced at 4pm Arthur was shot through both legs by machine gun fire around some farm buildings on Waffelstraat. Fearing enemy mortar fire meant a counter attack his men hid him with Belgian civilians in a cupboard in the farm. On returning after the attack had been continued he was recovered unconscious and taken to No.64 CCS at Moorseele. He died at 8am on Sunday 27th 1918 and is buried in the CWG Cemetery there. His gallantry on the 21st October was to be recognised by an MC had he lived.
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Pte. Richard Percival Allen "Reggie" Dabinett 15th Battalion Hampshire Regiment (d.7th June 1917) Richard Dabinett is my 1st cousin 3x removed. My knowledge of him is through the genealogy work of my cousin, Dorothy Nagy, who also provided the scan of his death notice. Richardʻs father, Frederick John Dabinett, was my 3rd great uncle, and brother of my 2X great grandfather, William Henry Dabinett. Richard was only 19 years old when he died and so I enter his name here so he is remembered for his sacrifice.
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Pte. Edward Samuel Rickard 15th (Service) Btn. Hampshire Regiment Edward Rickard was wounded twice whilst serving on the frontlines. In August 1918 he received a gunshot wound to the face and was sent to recover in Runcorn. Only 2 months later he suffered a severe gunshot wound to the leg and was sent to recover in West Bridgeford. He was said to have been an excellent shot, and something that his wife could never reconcile she called him a wicked man!Edward re-enlisted after the war and spent time in Turkey as part of the occupation army.
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Pte. George Alfred White 15th (Service) Battalion Hampshire Regiment (d.8th August 1916) George White was killed in action with the Hampshire Regiment. He is buried in Kemmel Chateau Cemetery in Belgium.
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Pte. Frederick Joseph Hearn 15th Btn. Hampshire Regiment (d.5th Aug 1917) Fred Hearn enlisted in December 1915, his battalion was a part of 41st Division 122 Brigade and took part in the Battle of Flers on the 15th of September 1916) as a part of the Somme Offensive that had commenced on 1st July 1916. The village was taken with the help of four tanks. The Battalion suffered nearly 300 casualties.
The 15th Battalion were further engaged in the Somme area before being transferred to the Ypres sector on 20th October 1916.
Frederick Hearn was killed with the Battalion whilst engaged at the 3rd Battle of Ypres, Passchendaele, on 5th August 1917. The Battalion's objective was the village of Hollebeke, Fred would have 'gone over the top' at 3.50 am on the 31st of July 1918, advancing behind the artillery creeping barrage the objective was the village of Hollebeke. The village was taken; the battalion were able to occupy trenches in the immediate vicinity of the village. The Battalion War Diary gives an account of attempts by the Germans to re-take Hollebeke on 5th August under cover of a thick mist, successfully taking nearby Forret Farm.
A counter attack was put in by the 15th Hampshire and 12th East Surrey regiment, the counter attack was a success and some 17 prisoners taken.
What is clear from the war diaries is how depleted the above Battalions were after 6 days of fighting.
Fred is commemorated on the Menin Gate, his body was never recovered.
I was able to visit the Menin Gate in 2015 and pay my respects. Fred was 23 years old at the time of death. He was my great uncle on my mother's side.
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Cpl. Frank Finden 15th Btn. Hampshire Regiment (d.7th Oct 1916) Frank Finden served with the 15th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment.
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L/Cpl. James Alban Charles "Jimmy" White 15th (2nd Portsmouth Pals) Btn. Hampshire Regiment  James White enlisted in the 15th (2nd Portsmouth Pals) Btn, Hampshire Regiment at Winchester on 9th Feb 1915. After training the Bn moved to France on 2nd May 1916 as part of 122nd Brigade in 41st Division and moved to the La Creche area where they started instruction in the trenches in parties of about 100 with other units on the 10th May. The Bn continued to operate in the area between Hazebrouck and Bailleul until Sep 1916 when it moved to the Somme area.
On 15th Sep 1916 the Battalion took part in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, which was the first attack using tanks. A major advance (in WW1 terms) was achieved and the village of Flers was captured by 122nd Brigade with the support of the tanks. However casualties were high, mainly due to the German artillery barrage, but also to three machine guns on the Battalions left. 8 officers and 31 men were killed, 5 officers and 188 men wounded and 60 men were missing.
James White was one of those wounded, and left some notes and a map of the action. It shows he reached the 3rd German line at the edge of the village, where he says the line was consolidated, and he may have gone further on with a party under Lt Smith. His map shows he was wounded in the second German line, but does not indicate if this was on the way forward or later. However the Battalion War Diary records that the German barrage was very heavy and many messengers were killed or wounded trying to get messages to or from Battalion HQ to the men in Flers. It may be that James White was one of these. He suffered severe wounds to his legs from a shell.
He records that he manged to get to a Field Ambulance in a sunken road running from Longueval to Flers and was then evacuated back. He spent a long time in Whitchurch Military Hospital (Cardiff), Netley Hospital and the Royal South Hants Hospital and was discharged as unfit for military service on 22nd Nov 1917.
James Alban Charles White died in 1926, ten years after he was wounded, from septicemia caused by his wounds.
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Pte. George Henry Payne 15th Btn. Hampshire Regiment (d.20th Sep 1917) The above information is all I have been able to find out about my grandfather, who was killed in action on 20th September 1917, when my father was 13 months old. Dad went on to have 6 sons and one daughter. My oldest brother was named after my grandfather but we were never told this. It is only now that I have reached retirement age that I am able to do more research but as I live in Australia the only information I can garner is online.
Update: Private Payne was the son of Henry Payne, of 2 Park Place, Abertillery, Monmouthshire, South Wales, and husband of Dorothy C. Payne (née Messer), of 8 Salisbury Road, Boscombe, Bournemouth. He was aged 31 when he was killed in action, most likely fighting the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge. He is commemorated on Panel 88 to 90 and 162 of Tyne Cot Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, and on both the Abertillery Central Memorial and St. Michael's Church Memorial, Abertillery.
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William George Isaacs 15th Btn. Hampshire Regiment I have just discovered from the Red Cross that my grandfather, William George Isaacs of 15th Hampshires, was captured on 5th Aug 1917 at Hollebeke and taken to Giessen POW camp. Thankfully he returned home.
I believe at that time the 15th were engaged at the 3rd Battle of Ypres? Any information anyone can give me would be hugely appreciated. We always knew he'd been at Giessen and had been wounded when captured, but didn't have any dates. Granddad was a wonderful, cheerful, true countryman but never talked about the war.
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Pte. Edward George James Knight 15th Battalion Hampshire Regiment (d.20th Sep 1917) My great uncle on my father’s side Ted Knight was a member of the 15th Hampshires. He was killed on 20th of September 1917 at the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge (Ypres). His remains were never recovered, and his father David always questioned his death. I was able to find his name on the Memorial at Tyne Cot.
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Pte. Harold Wilfred Smailes 15th (Service) Btn. Hampshire Regiment (d.4th Sep 1918) Sadly, whilst researching my ancestry I have only today discovered that I had a relative (my late father’s cousin) Harold Wilfred Smailes who fought and was killed in action aged 19 years in Belgium during WW1.
Although I have missed the Centenary Remembrance on his behalf I will however endeavour to establish the Battle in which he died and trace the whereabouts of his grave before the centenary of his death.
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Pte. Frederick Chainey 15th Btn. Hampshire Regiment (d.14th Oct 1918) My Grandads younger brother, Frederick Chainey died aged just 21 and less than a month before the war ended. Fred joined up in 1916 and took part in The Somme and The Aisne and after being severely wounded on two occasions was killed in action at Menin on 14th of October 1918.
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2nd Lt. Geoffrey Reynell Breslaw 15th Btn. Hampshire Regiment (d.7th October 1916) Geoffrey Breslaw was killed in action on the 7th October 1916 and is buried in the Warlencourt British Cemetery in France.
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