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2/5th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment
2/5th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment was formed in Grimsby on the 6th of February 1915 as a Second Line Territorial Battalion. In July they joined 177th Brigade, 59th (2nd North Midland) Division, at St Albans and were renamed 59th (2nd North Midland) Division. The Military Services Act of 1916, meant that all troops were now liable for overseas service and the Division began training for deployment to France. When the Irish rebellion broke out in April 1916, the Division was sent to Dublin, Ireland and was engaged in fierce fighting against the Irish nationalist forces, suffering their first casualties. They then moved to the Curragh, returning to England in January 1917 and moved to Fovant for final training. They proceeded to France in February and the Diviison concentrated at Mericourt and went into the front line south of the Somme, near Estrees. In April they were in action in The pursuit of the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line in the Somme area, but their lack of training became obvious and whilst they suceeded in capturing Jeancourt they were viciously replused at Le Verguier. Though they were engaged in attacks at Villeret and Hargicourt quarries. In May the Division was withdrawn for a few days rest then moved back into the front line at Havrincourt and Flesquieres. In June they moved to rest at Barastre then in late August travelled by train from Acheux to Winnezeele, arriving in Flanders on the 1st of September. They were in action during The Battle of the Menin Road Ridge, The Battle of Polygon Wood. In October they moved to Lens taking over the front line then moved to Bapaume on the 17th of November. They were in action during The capture of Bourlon Wood and The German counter attacks. On the 23rd of November they moved to Etricourt, until the 29th when they returned to Bourlon Wood. On the 1st of December 470 Field Company RE, which was marching to Gouzeaucourt, was caught up in the German advance and assisted in the defence of the area until the Guards Division was able to counter attack. On the 23rd of December they moved to Le Cauroy for rest and further training, going back into the line at Bullecourt on the 11th of February 1918. In March 177th Brigade and the divisional artillery were in action in The Battle of St Quentin. The whole Division then suffered heavily in the The Battle of Bapaume. The Division, without the artillery, moved to Poperinge in Flanders, receiving new drafts of men. On the 5th of April they took over the front line at Passchendaele. On the 13th of April they moved to reinforce the Lys area and were in action during The Battle of Bailleul, suffering heavy losses as the enmy broke through, they moved back to Mont Noir and fought in the The First Battle of Kemmel Ridge. In early May the Division was reduced to a training cadre establishment. On the 29th of May the 2/5th Linclons transferred to 21st Brigade, 30th Division, then on the 28th of June they joined 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division, being absorbed by 1/5th Battalion on the 31st of July.
27th Apr 1916 Under Fire
9th Apr 1917 A Long Fight
21st Mar 1918 Machine Gun Post lost
15th Apr 1918 Enemy Push
18th August 1918
If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.
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| Want to know more about 2/5th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment? There are:5235 items tagged 2/5th Battalion, Lincolnshire 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.
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Those known to have served with2/5th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment during the Great War 1914-1918. - Broadhead Sidney. CQMS.
- Carter Samuel. Pte. (d.26th Sept 1917)
- Catanach Charles Edward. Pte. (d.21st March 1918)
- Coates Thomas William. Pte. (d.11 April 1917)
- Foster Oswald Henry. Cpl.
- Hardy Harold. Pte. (d.11th April 1917)
- Harrison George. Pte. (d.26th Sep 1917)
- Moore Stanley Harding. L/Cpl. (d.11th Apr 1917)
- Nelson John Robert. Pte. (d.29th April 1918)
- Oyitch William Henry. Pte. (d.1st Jul 1917)
- Perfett Frank William. Private
- Smith Albert Edwin. Pte.
- Wells George. Pte (d.26th September 1917)
- Wright Edwin. Pte. (d.24th Apr 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 2/5th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment from other sources.
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Pte. Charles Edward Catanach 2nd/5th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment (d.21st March 1918) Charles Catanach was my great grandma's cousin. He was born in Mobberley, Cheshire in 1880. We do not know why he came to Lincolnshire, but in 1914 he married Florence Mary Swingler and enlisted in Louth that same year.
He was reported as presumed killed in action 21st of March 1918. He has memorials at Arras in France, Louth in Lincolnshire and Mobberley in Cheshire.
Florence left a lovely obituary which ends "What thou do O Lord, we knowest not now, but we shall know hereafter".
She must have missed him because she never remarried.
We, his descendants, thank him and all who fought for their sacrifice.
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Cpl. Oswald Henry "Ted" Foster 2/5th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment Oswald Foster served with the 2/5th, 6th, 3rd Battalions, Lincolnshire Regiment in WW1.
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Pte George Wells 2nd/5th Btn. Lincolnshire Regiment (d.26th September 1917) George Wells was my father's cousin and I think he joined up at Louth with my Grandad Henry Hodson. He was he was killed in action in France and Flanders. I beleive that he was at Ypres when he was killed.
I know very little about George, only that he is remembered at Tyne Cot Memorial. His body was never found. My grandad talked very little about the war and he said that he was killed with a shell exploding.
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Pte. Harold Hardy 2nd/5th Btn. Lincolnshire Regiment (d.11th April 1917) Harold Hardy, born in Bardney and living in Wragby, Lincolnshire, enlisted at Lincoln with the 2nd/5th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. He was killed in action on 11th April 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Information courtesy of http://www.roll-of-honour.com
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Pte. John Robert Nelson 2nd/5th Btn. Lincolnshire Regiment (d.29th April 1918) My father was named John Robert Nelson after his uncle who was killed in WW1. Born to a large family John Nelson was the youngest son and aged 18 when he died. I've tried for years to locate him and in the end an old friend of mine who happens to be an expert saved the day. John was killed in action on 29th of April 1918 and is buried at Klein-Vierstraat British Cemetery which is only 1.9km from Dickebusch and 10km from the Menin Gate. His brother James, who at 38, was the eldest son, served with the 20th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry and was killed in action on the 28th July 1917 at Fusilier Wood in the Ypres salient, leaving a wife and family at home. James has no known grave but is commemorated on the Menin Gate. He was killed at the same time as Second Lieutenant Arthur Rhys Willis and 4 others and the officer has a grave at Dickebusch New Military Cemetery Extension. According to regimental records these people were killed by artillery fire and its my guess that whatever remains there were, are probably all together in this grave.
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Pte. Samuel Carter 2nd/5th Btn. Lincolnshire Regiment (d.26th Sept 1917) Samuel Carter served with the 2nd/5th Btn. Lincolnshire Regiment.
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Pte. George Harrison 2/5th Btn. D.Coy Lincolnshire Regiment (d.26th Sep 1917) George Harrison was the husband of Laura (nee Youell) He was reported missing on the 26th of September 1917 near Ypres and officially reported killed on 22nd of June 1918, age 23 years.
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CQMS. Sidney Broadhead 2/5th Btn. Lincolnshire Regiment My great grandfather, Sidney Broadhead, was born in Grimsby in 1886. Despite my great grandmother being pregnant with my grandad, he joined up in 1915, and was posted to Ireland to put down the Easter Uprising. I have many old photographs of him and his division in Ireland. I believe that he was then sent to France.
Sidney's cousin, Frank Broadhead, joined the newly formed RAF but was killed three months before the end of the war in 1918 in a training accident in Sussex.
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Pte. Thomas William Coates 2nd/5th Btn. Lincolnshire (d.11 April 1917) Private Thomas William Coates was killed in action on 11 April 1917, aged 19. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France.
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Pte. Albert Edwin Smith 2/5th Btn. Lincolnshire Regiment  Extract taken from the diary my Grandfather, Albert Smith kept whilst in captivity:
"18th of April 1918: Captured on 15.4.1918 near Bailleul along with two other Signallers. Stayed in a farm over night and was stretcher carrying. Moved under armed escort from Armentiers to Citadel Barracks in Lille. I have met some very nice Germans and am sorry to confess that in many instances I have received better treatment and had more consideration shown at the hands of the Germans than I have had from my own countrymen....
.... There have been many fatigues to the hospitals and stations stretcher carrying. I have been on each and going on those broke the monotony and melancholy spirit I had felt coming over me since I first came here, but going along the streets seeing civilians who used to greet us with smiles and oft times with gifts and one thing one ought not to fail to notice, the little children, sweet innocents standing and throwing kisses (God bless them) Ah! They know not the horrors of war though they for nigh on four years have lived within the sounds of the guns. May they be spared the experiences through which I and others have passed."
My Grandfather was being moved along with hundreds of other prisoners of war on 10.11.1918 from Brussels to Louvain. Whilst marching though a town he was approached by some youngsters asking if he wanted to escape. Having said he did, due to the low number of German soldiers escorting them, he was told to wait until the column was going round a bend so the view of the soldiers was reduced. The youngsters crowded round him and rushed him down a side street.
The story goes he was taken to a grand house, which turned out to be owned by one of the ladies in waiting to the Queen of the Belgians. The following day the armistice was signed!
I would certainly welcome confirmation of the details relating to the last section, the address listed in the diary is 60 Rue Billiard, although it is unclear whether this was the address he originally went to.
As with a lot of other men, my Grandfather never spoke in detail of his experiences.
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L/Cpl. Stanley Harding Moore 2/5th Btn. Lincolnshire Regiment (d.11th Apr 1917) Stanley Moore joined up underage and died aged 19 in 1917, he has no known grave but is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
We have a copy of a poem written by Capt R Ancell (1st Seaforth Highlander - Capt) to Stanley parent's on hearing of his death.
I am struggling to find any trace of Capt R Ancell - I would love to know something about the man that wrote the poem.
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Pte. Edwin Wright 2nd/5th Btn. Lincolnshire Regiment (d.24th Apr 1918) My great uncle Edwin Wright was born in Castleford, West Yorkshire in 1899. He was the son of William Wright, a miner born near Preston Lancashire, and Phoebe nee Vice, originally from Dudley in Worcestershire. I know little about his life but that would be because he died so young. Here is his obituary as printed in the Castleford local press on March 24th 1919: "Died as a prisoner of war, Private Edwin Wright of the 2nd/5th Lincolns of whom no news has been received since April 15th last year, is now reported to have died from shrapnel wounds in the abdomen at the war hospital St. George on 24th April 1918 while a prisoner of war. Private Wright who was the third son of Mr. and Mrs. William Wright of 8 William Street, Wheldon Lane, Castleford, was buried in the South cemetery, Lille. Before the war he assisted his father in the latter's greengrocery business. He enlisted in the West Yorks on April 2nd 1917, and went to France in March 1918."
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Pte. William Henry Oyitch 2/5th Btn. Lincolnshire Regiment (d.1st Jul 1917) Pte W.H.Oyitch was killed on the 1st July 1917 at the Battle of Arras. His officer, Lt. James B O'Reilly wrote that he was very cool and very useful right up to the time of his death and all his comrades all mourn his death,
He certainly would have received a decoration and also have been promoted.
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Private Frank William Perfett 2/5th Btn Lincolnshire Regiment The above named was my grandfather who died after the Second World War. At the outbreak of WW1 it is not known whether he tried to enlist or not. But due to his job, a signalman on the Great Northern Railway, he was considered to be in a trade/profession that was of national importance. It is recorded that he enlisted as a 'Lord Darby's' man and wore an armband with a red crown affixed. Sometime in 1917 he enlisted in the 1st Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment and after training, he he was posted to the 2/5th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment part of the 59th (North Midland Division)and he joined them near Arras, northern France. The Battalion Diary entry dated 1st & 2nd March 1918 indicates that the Battalion was at a place named Ecoust St Mein. At 4.00am, 21st March 1918, the Battalion was now part of the 9th Division and encamped at Mory. There had been intermittent gunfire through the night but at 4.00am this became more intense and there was no doubt that the front line was now taking in heavyfire from the German artillery. This was to be the start of the German offensive on the Hindenbrg Line and known as the 'Kaiserschlact'. At 5.00am the Battallion was ordered immediately with other units to their allotted positions in the support line third system which ran east of the Vraucourt-St.Leger road. At 12.00noon the 2/5th Lincolnshire with the 4th Leicesters were ordered to occupy the second system trenches. It is known that he was in the front line near to the village of Epehy. At some time during the next few days, my grandfather was severley 'Gassed' and was returned to Battalion HQ and subsequently returned to England. He was demobilised in 1919. During my time with grandfather, he always seemed to suffer with his chest. He also had pox marks on his face but dismissed them.
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