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2/5th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment
The 2/5th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment was a 2nd line Territorial Force unit and had its HQ in Loughborough as part of the Lincoln and Leicester Brigade, North Midland Division and was mobilised in September 1914. In January 1915 the battalion moved to Luton being billeted in private homes, in February and march they had a spell at Epping digging practice trenches. In July moved to the St Albans area, under canvas at Briton Camp for training and route marches. In Aug 1915, the Brigade was retitled 177th Brigade, 59th Division (2nd North Midland) and in October they were moved back to billets in Harpenden. Throughout 1915 some members of the 2/5 Leicesters also provided guards for the prisoner of war camp at Donnington Hall.
In January 1916 parties of Officers were sent to France on tours of instruction in the trenches and in March, the long awaited orders to proceed overseas were received. But on Easter Monday, the rebellion in Ireland, forced a rapid change of plans. The 177th Brigade were recalled from leave and ordered move to Liverpool at midnight, the following day the sailed from Liverpool on the SS Ulster, a fast mailboat, escorted by a Royal Navy destroyer. Their first taste of action was not to be in the trenches of the Western Front, but in the streets of Dublin. By the end of the month the main uprising was over and the 2/5th Battalion were employed as search parties in Ballsbridge and guarded railways, bridges and other key infrastructure. On the 10th of May they moved out of the city to tackle pockets of resistance in Co. Kerry, moving from village to village, searching homes and making arrests. In June word was received that the Battalion would be moving to France and training resumed with long route marches through Ireland. Over 7 days in August they marched 80 miles from Tralee to Fermoy Barracks, where they would remain until January 1917, engaged in live fire training in trench warfare. The return trip from Ireland was made aboard the SS Ulster and they arrived at Fovant Camp in Wiltshire by train at 7pm on the 6th of January 1917.
After embarkation leave they proceeded to France via Southampton, arriving at Le Harve on the 24th February 1917. They were sent to the Somme area where the enemy were retreating to the Hindenburgh line. The made their first attack on the villages of Hesbecourt and Hervilly on the 31st of March 1917, capturing both villages and suffering a number of casualties.
In September the 2/5th Battalion moved north to Ypres to prepare for the Third Balle of Ypres. They saw action at Polygon Wood in the area of Hill 37. They moved to Lens on the 13th of October 1917 and were involved in the Cambrai Operations and spent Christmas resting at Le Cauroy. In February 1918 the 2/5th Battalion was disbanded, with the men being split between the 1st Battalion, 1/4th and 2/4th Battalions.
7th Jan 1915 Training
29th Jan 9115 On the Move
5th Feb 1915 Reorganisation
24th Feb 1915 Exercise
10th Mar 1915 On the Move
11th Mar 1915 Equipment
11th Apr 1915 Inspection
16th Apr 1915 In Camp
7th Aug 1915 On the Move
13th Oct 1915 Enemy Aircraft
20th Oct 1915 On the Move
23rd Nov 1915 Equipment
13th Jan 1916 Training
Jan 1916 Instruction
13th Mar 1916 Rifles
3rd Apr 1916 Preparations
20th Apr 1916 Advance Party
25th Apr 1916 Orders
26th Apr 1916 On the Move
27th Apr 1916 Under Fire
28th Apr 1916 2/5th Leics Disembark
29th Apr 1916 2/5th Leics on the March
29th Apr 1916 Search
30th Apr 1916 Line Held
1st May 1916 Houses Searched
2nd May 1916 Arests Made
3rd May 1916 Searches Continue
4th May 1916 Searches Continue
5th May 1916 Searches Continue
6th May 1916 Searches Continue
7th May 1916 Devine Services
8th May 1916 Houses Searched
9th May 1916 Light Work
10th May 1916 New Orders
11th May 1916 On the Move
12th May 1916 Tents Pitched
13th May 1916 Assisting Police
14th May 1916 Quiet Sunday
15th May 1916 On the March
16th May 1916 On the March
21st May 1916 In Camp
22nd May 1916 On the March
23rd May 1916 On the March
24th May 1916 On the March
26th May 1916 In Barracks
27th May 1916 On the Move
28th May 1916 Operations Cease
6th Aug 1916 On the March
7th Aug 1916 On the March
8th Aug 1916 On the March
9th Aug 1916 On the March
10th Aug 1916 On the March
11th Aug 1916 On the March
12th Aug 1916 On the March
13th Aug 1916 On the March
19th Oct 1916 Funeral
5th Jan 1917 On the Move
6th Jan 1917 On the Move
7th Jan 1917 Embarkation Leave
13th Feb 1917 Inspection
24th Feb 1917 On the March
25th Feb 1917 On the Move
26th Feb 1917 On the Move
27th Feb 1917 In Billets
1st Mar 1917 On the March
2nd Mar 1917 On the March
8th Mar 1917 Into the Trenches
9th Mar 1917 In Reserve
13th Mar 1917 Leicesters relieve Lincolns
16th Mar 1917 New Orders
18th Mar 1917 Pushing Forwards
19th Mar 1917 Consolidation
20th Mar 1917 Sherwoods relieve Leicesters
26th Mar 1917 On the March
27th Mar 1917 Crowded Village
28th Mar 1917 Working Party
30th Mar 1917 On the March
31st Mar 1917 Attack made
1st Apr 1917 Consolidation
2nd Apr 1917 Attack made
3rd Apr 1917 Failled Attack
4th Apr 1917 Posts Established
5th Apr 1917 Posts Established
6th Apr 1917 Posts Advanced
7th Apr 1917 New Posts
8th Apr 1917 New Posts
9th Apr 1917 A Long Fight
10th Apr 1917 Relief Completed
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Pte. Jack Middleton 2/5th Btn. Leicestershire Regiment Jack Middleton volunteered to join the Army in World War 1.
He served in the Leicestershire Regiment (known as The Tigers). Jack served in France and Flanders with the 2/5th, 1/4th and 6th Battalions.
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Pte. John Thomas Broughton 2/4th Btn. Leicestershire Regiment (d.24th October 1918) Jack Broughton served with the 2/5th and 2/4th Battalions, Leicestershire Regiment.
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L/Cpl. Benjamin Newham 2/5th Btn. Leicestershire Regiment (d.9th April 1917) Ben Newham was the son of Robert and Rebecca Newham and was born in 1895. He enlisted at Loughborough. He was a sniper and was very proud to serve his King and country.
The battalion had been in Ireland preparing to joining their comrades in France. After embarkation leave they proceeded to France via Southampton, arriving at Le Havre on 24th February 1917. They were sent to the Somme area where the enemy were retreating to the Hindenburg line. They made their first attack on the villages of Hesbecourt and Hevilliers on 31st March 1917, capturing both villages and suffering a number of casualties. Ben was one of the casualties. He died on 9th April 1917 and is buried at Roisel Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France. He left two brothers and two sisters, all younger than him.
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Pt.e William John Scott 2/5th Battalion Leicester Regiment (d.30th Sep 1917) My Grandfather William Scott volunteered in April 1917 when he was 40 years & 8 months old. His only daughter was born in June 1917. He spent the early part of his service in England and was sent to Belgium immediately after leave to see his daughter after her birth.
He was apparently killed by a blast from a mine while in a rest area 3 months later. There is no grave. His name is recorded on the memorials at Zonnebeke, Belgium
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Sgt. Claude Bradshaw MM 2/5th Btn. Leicestershire Regiment My grandfather never talked of his war-time experiences. We know that he had been subjected to mustard gas attacks. He never told us of the events leading to his being awarded the Military Medal (but citations are not hard to find. He was finally discharged on 9th January 1918 as unfit for further Army duties.
We are every proud of him - his service, courage, bravery and the ongoing battles he may have fought personally afterwards.
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L/Cpl. Bertie Miller 2nd/5th Btn. Leicestershire Regiment (d.2nd Oct 1917) Lance Corporal Miller was the eldest son of John and Emma Miller of Debdale Farm. Whilst engaged in fighting at Hill 37 near Ypres he was severely wounded and taken to No. 3 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings, Poperinghe. This was where Bertie Miller died aged 19 from gunshot wounds to the head. He is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium.
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L/Cpl John Richard Read 2nd/5th Btn Leicestershire Regiment (d.26th Sep 1917) My Great Grandfather John Richard Read served with the 2/5th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment. I have a hand written letter from his CO and a old picture of himself and his wife. He died on 26th September 1917 and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. I am searching for any information and would like to hear from any family members in the UK.
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L/Sgt. Frederick A. Smith 2/5th Btn. Leicester Regiment (d.31st Mar 1917) Frederick Smith was born in Leyton, the son of a Police Officer. He joined the 2/5th Leicestershire Regiment and served in Ireland from the summer of 1916 until the battalion was sent to France in March 1917. Fred was killed in the battalion's first action on the 31st of March 1917.
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