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- 11th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment during the Great War -


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

11th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment



   11th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) was raised at Mill Hill in August 1914 as part of Kitchener's First New Army and joined 36th Brigade, 12th (Eastern) Division. They trained at Colchester moving to Shorncliffe in November and in February 1915 they moved into Ramillies Barracks at Aldershot for final training. The Division proceeded to France between the 29th of May and 1st of June 1915 landing at Boulogne, they concentrated near St Omer and by 6th of June were in the Meteren-Steenwerck area with Divisional HQ being established at Nieppe. They underwent instruction from the more experienced 48th (South Midland) Division and took over a section of the front line at Ploegsteert Wood on the 23rd of June 1915. They were in action in The Battle of Loos from the 30th of September, taking over the sector from Gun Trench to Hulluch Quarries consolidating the position, under heavy artillery fire. On the 8th they repelled a heavy German infantry attack and on the 13th took part in the Action of the Hohenzollern Redoubt, capturing Gun Trench and the south western face of the Hulluch Quarries. During this period at Loos, 117 officers and 3237 men of the Division were killed or wounded.By the 21st they moved to Fouquieres-les-Bethune for a short rest then returned to the front line at the Hohenzollern Redoubt until the 15th of November, when they went into reserve at Lillers. On the 9th of December, 9th Royal Fusiliers assisted in a round-up of spies and other suspicious characters in the streets of Bethune. On the 10th the Division took over the front line north of La Bassee canal at Givenchy. On the 19th of January they began a period of training in Open Warfare at Busnes, then moved back into the front line at Loos on the 12th of February 1916. In June they moved to Flesselles and carried out a training exercise. They moved to Baizieux on the 30th June and went into the reserve at Hencourt and Millencourt by mid morning on the 1st of July. They relieved the 8th Division at Ovillers-la-Boisselle that night and attacked at 3.15 the following morning with mixed success. On the 7th they attacked again and despite suffering heavy casualties in the area of Mash Valley, they succeeded in capturing and holding the first and second lines close to Ovillers. They were withdrawn to Contay on the 9th July. They were in action in The Battle of Pozieres on the 3rd of August with a successful attack capturing 4th Avenue Trench and were engaged in heavy fighting until they were withdrawn on the 9th. They moved north and in 1917 were in action at Arras in The First Battle of the Scarpe, The Battle of Arleux and The Third Battle of the Scarpe. They remained in the Arras sector until the 30th of October when they moved to Hesdin for the Cambrai offensive in which the Division suffered heavy losses. The 11th Middlesex were disbanded in France on the 7th of February 1918 when the army was reorganised.

10th Jun 1915 On the March

25th Jun 1915 On the March

11th Sep 1915 Artillery Active

26th Sep 1915 Reliefs Completed

27th September 1915 Orders

1st Oct 1915 Consolidation

15th Oct 1915 Artillery In Action

20th Oct 1915 Enemy Attack

21st Oct 1915 Reliefs

25th Oct 1915 On the March  location map

31st Oct 1915 Training

2nd Nov 1915 In the Trenches

5th Nov 1915 Reliefs

18th Nov 1915 On the March  location map

16th Jan 1916 On the Move

19th Jan 1916 Drill

20th Jan 1916 Inspection

25th Jan 1916 Route March

30th Jan 1916 On the March

1st Feb 1916 Orders Cancelled

3rd Feb 1916 Reorganisation

5th Feb 1916 Change of Billets

13th Feb 1916 Exchange of Fire

24th Mar 1916 Enemy Mine Fired

30th Mar 1916 Change of Billets  location map

2nd Apr 1916 Church Parade

17th Apr 1916 On the Move  location map

3rd May 1916 Route March

14th May 1916 Heavy Rain

15th May 1916 Still Raining

18th May 1916 Training

20th May 1916 Brigade Sports

27th Jun 1916 On the March

1st July 1916 In Reserve

31st Jul 1916 Attack Made

3rd July 1916 In the Trenches

7th July 1916 Attack Made  location map

8th July 1916 Reliefs Completed

10th Jul 1916 On the March

11th Jul 1916 On the March

27th Jul 1916 On the March

28th Jul 1916 11th Middlesex in action at Poziers  On this day, during the battle for Poziers, the 11th Middlesex were part of Maj-Gen Scott's 12th Division which relieved the 48th division. The 48th had been in the line for twelve days and its casualties amounted to almost 2,800 all ranks. The 11th Middlesex moved over open ground to secure the extension of Western Trench in order to keep in touch with the 23rd Victoria Battalion. The attack was repelled by grenades and rifle fire.

29th Jul 1916 Working Party

30th Jul 1916 Attack Made  location map

10th Aug 1916 Royal Inspection

11th Aug 1916 On the March

16th Aug 1916 On the March

17th Aug 1916 On the March

1st Oct 1916 Reliefs

2nd Oct 1916 Heavy Shelling

3rd Oct 1916 Shelling

4th Oct 1916 Shelling

5th Oct 1916 Heavy Shelling

6th Oct 1916 Shelling

7th Oct 1916 Attack Made

8th Oct 1916 Heavy Shelling

12th Oct 1916 Attack Made

26th Feb 1917 Trench Raid

27th Feb 1917 Relief Complete

6th Mar 1917 Inspection

12th May 1917 Attack Made

1st Jan 1918 Training

2nd Jan 1918 Training

3rd Jan 1918 Training

4th Jan 1918 Training

5th Jan 1918 Moves  location map

6th Jan 1918 Moves  location map

7th Jan 1918 Training

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





Want to know more about 11th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment?


There are:5298 items tagged 11th Battalion, Middlesex 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

11th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment

during the Great War 1914-1918.

  • Barlow George Edward. Pte. (d.4th Nov 1915)
  • Beverstein Abraham. Pte. (d.20th March 1916)
  • Beynon William Hayden. L/Cpl. (d.5th Oct 1918)
  • Carter Henry. Pte. (d.26th Apr 1916)
  • Eades Cyril Edgar. Sgt.
  • Fish John Brown. Pte. (d.20th Feb 1917)
  • Fitzjohn Bertram George. Pte.
  • Gill James Henry. Pte. (d.8th Jul 1916 )
  • Glynn George Thomas. Pte. (d.8th Au 1916)
  • Lane William James. Pte.
  • Mitchell Albert. Pte. (d.19th Apr 1918)
  • Nobbs Harry Alexander. Pte. (d.9th Apr 1917)
  • Norton John Henry. Pte. (d.15th Nov 1916)
  • Pezaro Jack. A/Cpl. (d.8th Oct 1916)
  • Shingleton Albert. Sgt.
  • Skinner John. Pte. (d.15th Feb 1916)
  • Tedder William Charles. L/Cpl. (d.23rd Apr 1917)
  • Walters James Robert. Pte.
  • West Albert William. Pte. (d.26th Feb 1917)
  • Winter Christopher James. Pte. (d.12th April 1917)

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 11th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment from other sources.


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  Pte. Albert Mitchell 1st Btn. Middlesex Regiment (d.19th Apr 1918)

My Gt.Uncle Albert Mitchell was a golf professional before WW1. He came from a family of professional golfers and was first cousin to Abe Mitchell whose effigy adorns the Ryder Cup. He honed his craft on the Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club, Forest Row, Sussex. Albert was the youngest son of Arthur and Susan Mitchell.

Initially he joined the West Kent Yeomanry but transferred to the Middlesex Regiment. In 1916 he was wounded at the Somme. After a period of convalescence at home, he returned to France. He died in action on 19th Apr 1918. His body is buried at the Meteren Cemetery, France. Albert did not marry and was 32 when he died.

Val Roberts






  Sgt. Albert Shingleton 11th Battalion Middlesex Regiment

Prior to the Great War, Albert Shingleton was employed in London as a baker. According to Serjeant Albert Shingleton's WW1 Pension Record, he enlisted into the 11th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment on 7th of August 1914, with service number G/215.

While overseas, the 11th Battalion served with 12th (Eastern) Division, which was engaged in heavy combat in the Battles at Loos, the Somme and Arras. As indicated on his Medal Roll Index Card, Serjeant Shingleton entered the French theatre on 31st of May 1915, thereby qualifying for the 1914-15 Star. Per his Pension Record, he was evacuated to England on 23rd of October 1917 due to bronchitis, this diagnosis was later changed to tuberculosis. On 12th of December 1917, he was discharged from the British Army as "no longer physically for for War Service".

In addition to the 1914-15 Star, he was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. According to British and Canadian Passenger Lists, it is highly likely that Albert Shingleton (by himself) moved to Canada in late 1919 and remained there until he transited back to Britain with his wife Alice in early 1934. Later, in late 1947, he and Alice returned to Canada.

Clayton B. Austin






  Pte. John Brown Fish 11th Battalion Middlesex Regiment (d.20th Feb 1917)

John Fish, sadly killed in action on the 20th February 1917.

Tim






  Pte. George Thomas Glynn 11th Btn. Middlesex Regiment (d.8th Au 1916)

George Glynn was born on 19th June 1882 in Islington. He married Sophia Hannah Martin on 2nd August 1903 at Chingford Hatch and had nine children, of which seven were still alive when he joined the 11th Battalion Middlesex Regiment. It is believed he was wounded during the battle for Pozieres Wood and subsequently died of his injuries on 8th August 1916. He is buried at Abbeville Cemetery, France.

<p>George Thomas Glynn Gravestone

Gail Whiting






  Pte. Harry Alexander Nobbs 11th Btn. Middlesex Regiment (d.9th Apr 1917)

Harry Nobbs was my grandfather, born in 1877, he died at Arras on the 9th April 1917, leaving a widow and 5 children. Harry has no grave, he is commemorated on the wall at Arras and at St Mary's church, Hampton Middlesex. I have never seen a picture of Harry and would love to see what he looked like.

Howard Nobbs






  A/Cpl. Jack Pezaro 11th Btn. Middlesex Regiment (d.8th Oct 1916)

Jack Pezaro signed up with his brother Harry in about 1914, when he was 19. He served as Acting Corporal. He fought at the Somme and was killed in action there alongside his brother.

They are remembered on the Thiepval Monument.

P A Morris






  Pte. George Edward Barlow 11th Battalion Middlesex Regiment (d.4th Nov 1915)

George Barlow was my great uncle. He was my grandfather's, Joseph Frederick Barlow's, elder brother. George served with 11th Bn Middlesex Regiment and was the son of Thomas Cornish Barlow and Kate Barlow of 11 Tower Street, Wolverhampton. He died on the 4th November 1915. Aged 24. He is remembered on the Loos Memorial.

Terry Barlow






  Pte. Bertram George Fitzjohn 11th Btn. Middlesex Regiment

Bertram George Fitzjohn was my step father, he served with 11th Btn. Middlesex Regiment.

Chris Ede






  Pte. William James Lane 2nd Btn. Middlesex Regiment

Private 8167 William James Lane also served in the 7th and 11th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment. His medal card shows that he embarked for France on 8th June 1915 meaning that he was probably, at that time, serving with the 11th Battalion as that is when they were moved to France.

Craig Lane






  Pte. James Henry Gill 11th Btn. Middlesex Regiment (d.8th Jul 1916 )

James Henry Gill, died in action in France on 8th July 1916, aged 29. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. He was the son of Henry Gill and had married Kathleen Gray on 7th June 1909 Kingston Surrey Middlesex England. Their daughter,Lillian Kathleen Gill, was born 8th September 1910, followed by a son, James Henry Gill Jnr., on 24th May 1913. Kathleen and the children immigrated to Perth, Western Australia in 1919. Life was a struggle and the children were place in care in 1925. James Henry Gill Jnr. is buried in Pinjarra, Western Australia. Still trying to find the stories behind James Snr.,Kathleen and Lillian.

Jan Gill






  Pte. John Henry Norton 11th Battalion Middlesex Regiment (d.15th Nov 1916)

John Norton was my late grandfather Frank's older brother). He was killed on the battlefield east of Arras and is buried in Agny Cemetery, Pas De Calais.

I have his service medals and the 'Death Penny' and letter sent to his mother (Martha). My grandad never talked about what happened to his older brother, he was only 9 when John was killed.

Julie Jenkins






  L/Cpl. William Charles Tedder 11th Battalion Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) (d.23rd Apr 1917)

My Great Uncle, William Charles Tedder died of wounds in the Military Hospital, Etaples, France. He is buried in the Etaples Military Cemetery, France. William Tedder was Formerly 5063, Lancers. I have a photo of his grave.

Margaret






  Sgt. Cyril Edgar Eades 11th Btn. Middlesex Regiment

Cyril Eades served with the 11th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment during WW1.







  Pte. Henry Carter 11th Btn. Middlesex Regiment (d.26th Apr 1916)

Henry Carter served with the Middlesex Regiment 11th Battalion. He was executed for desertion 26th April 1916 aged 18 and is buried in Sailly-Labourse Communal Cemetery in Sailly-Labourse, France.

s flynn






  Pte. Abraham Beverstein 11th Btn. Middlesex Regiment (d.20th March 1916)

Abraham was executed for desertion 20/03/1916 and buried in Labourse Military Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France.

In September 1914 Abraham Beverstein, of Whitechapel in the east of London, joined the army under the name Abraham Harris. He did not tell his parents he had enlisted until afterwards: he was afraid they would have stopped him. He was 18 years old, and their only son. From the training camp at Aldershot, the boy wrote home: ‘I was very sorry to leave you, and very sorry to see you cry, but never mind, I will come back one day, so be happy at home. From your loving son Aby.’

In the spring of 1915 his battalion went to fight in France. (‘Dear mother, I do not like the trenches...’) At the end of the year Abraham was in the army hospital; an official telegram to his parents reported that he was ‘suffering from wounds and shock (mine explosion)’. In January 1916, however, he was able to write reassuringly, ‘I am feeling a little better, so don’t get upset’. Three weeks later he was sent back to his unit.

But soon afterwards another letter reached Whitechapel: ‘Dear mother, we were in the trenches and I was ill, so I went out and they took me to the prison, and I am in a bit of trouble now....I will have to go in front of a Court.’ This was the last his parents heard from Abraham.

In April they received the following letter, in every way insensitively expressed. It came from the senior officer in charge of Infantry records. ‘Sir, I am directed to inform you that a report has been received from the War Office to the effect that [Abraham’s army number and regiment – not his name] was sentenced after trial by court martial to suffer death by being shot for desertion, and the sentence was duly executed on 20th March 1916. I am, Sir, your obedient servant....’

In his statement to the court martial (he had no legal representation) Abraham explained, ‘I left the trenches because three rifle grenades exploded near me. I was deafened and my nerves had gone a bit.’ He saw a medical officer, who told the court he had ‘found him suffering from no appreciable disease... I told him he was fit for duty.’ Another soldier had come across Abraham by chance at the farm where the boy was billeted – the nearest thing to home. ‘Harris told me he had just come out of hospital,’ the soldier said. ‘He had no greatcoat or hat and was covered in mud. He stayed in the farm all afternoon sitting by the fire warming himself.’ In the evening Abraham was arrested.

His landlady at the farm told the court, ’He said the trenches were being bombed and he had left them and was going to England.’ Abraham himself said, ‘I felt nervous and lost my head. I thought I’d stay at the farm for a few days and go back to the company when they came out of the trenches.’ Those were the words that condemned him: the court was convinced that he had intended to desert.

Sylvia Pankhurst, a tireless campaigner for human rights and social reform, knew Mr and Mrs Beverstein and took up their son’s case. She published his letters in her magazine ‘Dreadnought’ and protested vehemently against the injustice of executing a 19-year-old volunteer who had endured 8 months in the trenches and had only just come out of hospital with injuries and shell-shock. As a result there was a question about Abraham in the House of Commons, but the only real outcome was that hence forward executed soldiers were simply said to have ‘died of wounds’.

S Flynn






  Pte. John Skinner 11th Battalion Middlesex Regiment (d.15th Feb 1916)

Jack Skinner served with the Middlesex Regiment. Originally from Chittlehamholt in North Devon , he died in February 1916.

Doris Bater






  Pte. Albert William West 11th Btn. Middlesex Regiment (d.26th Feb 1917)

Bill West is buried in Faubourg d'Amiens, he was aged 21 years and 9 days old.

John Orford






Recomended Reading.

Available at discounted prices.



Die Hard, Aby!: Abraham Bevistein - The Boy Soldier Shot to Encourage the Others

David Lister


'Die Hard, Aby!' tells Aby's story, rather than that of the historic times through which he lived. If a well known battle rages while Aby sits in a trench several miles away, writing to his mum - we are with Aby. We follow him from the Russian occupied land of his birth, across Europe to his East End home, and then through school days and the events that led to the Great War. One of the first to join, we see him through training and on to duty at the Front. We are with him in the mud of the trenches and share his deprivations through the cold of the winter of 1915. After 10 months in France, we see what led him to leave the Front without authority. We are with Aby again when as a 17-year-old boy he walks to his fate on a cold, March dawn in 1916. Finally we examine the impact his short life had on his times and on ours.






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