Lest We Forget

It is impossible for me to imagine the suffering and sacrifices that my ancestors made during the First World War and like millions of others many of my ancestors made the ultimate sacrifice

Roll of Honour – Great War

1915

Harry Wilson – Died 8th February 1915 – Rugeley, Staffordshire
Private, Army Service Corps
Buried Rugeley Cemetery

John Joseph Graffham – Killed 28th July 1915 – France
Corporal, The Queens 2nd Battalion Royal West Surrey Regiment.
Buried Rue Des Berceaux, France

Alfred Charles Morris Bush – Killed 25th August 1915 – Gallipoli, Turkey
Regimental Sergeant Major, Royal Army Medical Corps

Buried Helles Memorial, Turkey

James Fisher – Killed 13th October 1915 – France
Private, 1/6th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment 
Loos Memorial

Benjamin Hollins – Died of Wounds 12th November 1915 – Paignton, Devon
Lance Corporal, 1/6th battalion North Staffordshire Regiment
Armitage Churchyard









1916

Horace Hollins – Killed 30th April 1916 – France
Sergeant 10th Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers
Lindhoek Chalet Military Cemetry

Albert Hollins – Killed 1st July 1916 – France
Sergeant, 8th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry
Theipval Memorial










Horace Wilson – Killed 1st July 1916 – France
Private, 1/6th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment
Theipval Memorial

William Herbert Hollins – Killed 30th August 1916 – France
Lance Corporal, 7th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
Theipval memorial










Herbert Vernon – Killed 12th September 1916 – France
Private, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards
Theipval memorial

1917

William Henry Cunningham – Killed 14th January 1917 – France
Private, 1st Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment
Philosophe British Cemetery

Horace Vernon – Killed 8th May 1917 – France
Corporal, 2/6th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment
Theipval memorial

James Wilson – Killed 1st December 1917 – France
Lance Corporal 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards
Cabaret – Rouge British Cemetery

1918

William Lovegrove – Died 16th July 1918 – England
Sergeant 52nd Royal Warwicks
Sunninghill Churchyard

William Alfred Bush – Killed 12th August 1918 - France
Sergeant, Army Service Corps
Les Barques Military Cemetery, Calais, France

Alfred Sidney Searle – Killed 19th August 1918 – France
Private, 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers
Ploegsteert Memorial

Joseph Vernon – Killed 22nd August 1918
Private, RAMC / Kings Own Scottish Borderers.
Bois-Guillaume Cemetery, Rouen, France

We Will Remember Them

9am on 11th Nov - The Attack begins

My Great Uncle Solomon Charles Wraight was serving with the Machine Gun Company of the 315 Infantry Regiment of the United States Army. The last couple of months had seen him involved in some of America's heaviest fighting of the First World War at Meuse - Argonne and at Grand Montagne. General Pershing - in command of the American Army was determined to keep on the offensive.

Solomon Wraight

The Official War History of the 315th Regiment picks up the story from the 8th November  

At 3am November 8^th, we were relived by the 311^th Machine Gun Battalion as we were to go forward with the attack planned for that day. The first platoon and one section of the Third platoon were to go forward in support of companies “E” and “F”, the balance of the Company remaining under the command of Sergeant Borresen. At 11am the infantry started forward, covered by a barrage delivered by the 312^th machine Gun Battalion, and advanced about 3 kilos to the Bois de Reville, where the First Platoon and the section of the Third above mentioned immediately mounted their guns, awaiting an expected counter attack, which did not materialize.

The next morning we moved through the village of Etraye, which had been captured by the 315^th Infantry. Just beyond Etraye, we met strong opposition from the enemy artillery and machine guns on Cote d’Orne, and there we were held up all day. All that night our guns maintained a harassing fire into the German advance positions, for the benefit of their machine gunners. At 6am November 10^th, we laid down an overhead barrage to aid the infantry, which again advanced slowly but surely all day.

On the night of the 10^th, the remainder of the Company, which been under Sergeant Borresen, was brought forward, and at 5am November 11^th, orders were received to move forward to the hill east of Wavrille.

We moved on ahead of the infantry, took up positions, and prepared to put over a barrage on the enemy positions on Cote de Morimont. Our movements were concealed by a heavy fog, and we got close to the enemy without being seen. At 9am we let go with all 12 guns. The Boche laid down a terrible barrage, attempting to blow us off the earth, but his aim was poor and we suffered no casualties. At 10.45am the guns were dismounted and taken to dugouts and at 11am the Captain informed us that the Armistice had been signed, announcement which made everybody sore (?).

The company spent the next two days in those dugouts and on the afternoon of the 13^th moved back to Etraye

Photo of machine gun company

List of roster

So after four year and four months of fighting the Armistice was signed and the gunfire ceased. For my Great Uncle Solomon Wraight, the fighting continued right up to the 11^th hour of the 11^th Day of the 11^th Month and then just stopped. One can only wonder at his feelings and thoughts at that moment.

For Solomon's uncle - Albert Benjamin Uden serving with the 4^th Field Company, Canadian Engineers, the official war diary has the following entry for the 11^th November

An Armistice was declared at 11.00 hrs this morning.

A Coy were on road repair work, filling in crater at Viic46 (sheet 45) laying corduroy road. Repairing road at p28a97 P34a56. Widening road bridge at P34c27 (sheet 45) clearing debris from road at P34a79 to P35d91 (sheet 45) and making reconnaissance of roads.

B Coy were removing road mines.

C Coy were repairing road and filling craters

D Coy were standing by.

Both were thousands of miles away from their new homes in Philadelphia and Toronto, but both had made it through the War.

Back to the front - Death Valley

Solomon Wraight, my Great Uncle, was serving as a private with the Machine Gun Company of the 315th Infantry Regiment of the United States Army. After taking part in the Meuse-Argonne offensive he had been deployed in the defensive Troyon sector.

Solomon Wraight 315th Infantry USA

Solomon had emigrated to America in August 1915 and made a new home in Philadelphia, working as a carpenter and after joining the army in 1917 he had been in France since August 1918.

On the 28th October 1918 Solomon’s regiment received orders to move back up to the front in the Grand Montagne sector.

The Official History of the 315th Infantry United States Army describes the conditions for the troops.

The evening of the 28th we again started out and hiked to the Forges Woods. About 5pm October 29th we set out on a heart-breaking march, which lasted until after day break on the 30th, at which time we arrived in the Grande Montagne Sector, recently captured from the Boche.

In that sector, we relieved the 29th Division on the site known as Death Valley, and we were to see the name justified very shortly. The carts were unloaded and sent back to Brabant. The first Platoon was on the right of our sector, the Second Platoon in the center, and the Third on the left. 

We remained there until the 8th, simply holding on, while the enemy let us have everything he had in the way of shells and bullets. The great difficulty was in getting up rations, as everything had to be brought across Death Valley, and the Germans bombarded this place continuously and mercilessly. All this time it rained incessantly, and the mud was terrible.

The Spanish Flu on the home front

Mary Ann Elizabeth Hollins, my second cousin twice removed, was born in 1877 in Rugeley, Staffordshire. The second oldest child of William and Sarah Hollins (nee Wood). She had one older brother William (born 1875, Rugeley), one younger sister Harriet (born 1881, Rugeley) and three younger brothers Horace (born 1879, Rugeley), Charles (born 1884, Rugeley) and George (born 1886, Rugeley)

Her father William was the well-known local band master of the territorials for over 50 years and had worked at the Phoenix Tannery for the same length of time. The family home was on Queen Street, Rugeley and like most families in Rugeley had suffered losses during the War.

Her older brother William, had moved to Coventry and was working on munitions after being in the old volunteers. Horace had been killed in France in 1916 serving with the Royal Welch Fusiliers. Charles had been discharged before 1916 and George had just been awarded the Military Medal for bravery whilst serving in the Royal Engineers. Harriet’s husband, James Fisher had been killed during the attack on the Hohenzollern redoubt in Oct 1915, One the first men from Rugeley killed in action.

Mary married Frederick John Williscroft on the 11th April 1898 in Rugeley, their first child, also called Frederick John was born a year later in 1899. Mary and Frederick had six more children, Edith Mary (born 1901), Horace William (born 1902), Elsie Hannah (born 1906), Sarah Lillian (born 1909), Harriet (born 1912) and Leslie (born 1913)

Frederick worked as a labourer at the Stokes and Negus Phoenix Tannery along with Mary’s father. In 1911 Frederick and Mary were living next door to her parents
He had enlisted with the 6th North Staffordshire Regiment on the 30th July 1914. At 5ft 8 ½ inches and 35 years 10 months old.

Fred Williscroft

Frederick was discharged from the army on September 28th 1914 due to being medically unfit.

During the summer and autumn of 1918, the second wave of the Spanish flu pandemic swept across the world. It infected some 500 million people around the world and resulted in the deaths of 50 to 100 million (3-5% of the world’s population). Most influenza outbreaks disproportionately killed the young, elderly or people with existing underlying conditions. In contrast, the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic predominately killed previously healthy young adults.

Although under reported in Britain, Germany, France and the United States due to war time censorship and the need to maintain morale at the front, nowhere was safe. On the 11th October 1918 the Lichfield Mercury reported that

“An epidemic of influenza raging in Lichfield and all the schools, with the exception of the high school, have been closed”

Two weeks later on the 1st November 1918 the Lichfield Mercury reported

“The Lichfield mercury reported on the influenza epidemic that was causing acute anxiety in Lichfield. Worries about the epidemic caused many schools to be closed in the city and the outlying villages; so many cases had been reported that a lack of nursing staff soon became evident.

A number of reasons had been put forward to account for the rapid spread of the disease in Lichfield, which included overcrowding in homes, with medical staff soon realising that the disease spread more quickly in such circumstances and the rate of mortality was higher. The lack of milk “an essential food in all cases of illness”, was another problem faced by the medical authorities in the city and a number of people suggested the setting up of an invalid kitchen in Lichfield where nourishing foods could be obtained either free or at a nominal cost.”

It was during this period that Mary Williscroft, aged just 41, died from pneumonia after catching influenza during the Spanish flu epidemic. She left behind her husband Fred and their seven children.
Fred Williscroft re-married on 19th June 1919 to Florence Jane Gould (Nee Eccleshall) at St. Augustines Church, Rugeley. Florence’s husband Joseph Gould had passed away aged 29 in January / February 1919.

On Leave but 4,000 Miles from home

On the 12th October 1918, My Great Grand Uncle, Albert Benjamin Uden, who was serving as a Lance Corporal with the 4th Field Company, 2nd Canadian Engineers was granted 14 days leave.

Obviously unable to return the 4,250 odd miles to Toronto to see his wife Maud and two young sons, Albert and George, one wonders how he spent his leave, did he just stay in France or was he able to visit his parents in Dover.

Albert Benjamin Uden was born on the 17th October 1882 in Dover, Kent. He was the youngest child of Albert and Eliza Uden (nee Sowman). An older brother Charles Edward Uden had died in infancy in 1880, his older sister Alice Uden (My Great Grandmother) was born on the 21st February 1873 in Bridge, Canterbury

His father was a Potato merchant and the family grew up on Seven Star Street in Dover. Albert married Maude Torr, also from Dover, in 1905 in Paddington. Along with their newly born son Albert they emigrated to Toronto, Canada in 1907 sailing on the Empress of Britain.

A second son, George was born in 1910 in Ontario and in 1915 when Albert enlisted the family were living in Bellwoods Ave, Toronto.

Albert’s parents Albert (born 1846, Bridge, Canterbury, Kent) and Eliza Sowman (born 1845, Boxford, Suffolk) had met around 1870, whilst working as servants for the Rev. John Hamilton, Vicar of Lynsted, Kent where Albert was employed as a coachman and Eliza as a cook. 1911 Albert’s parents were living a 3 Star Street, Dover, Kent with Albert Snr working as a greengrocer.

Albert Uden (Snr)

Albert’s wife Maud was also from Dover, both her parents, David & Charlotte Torr had passed away (David in 1903 & Charlotte in 1896). It is unlikely that Maud's childhood memories of Dover would be recalled with much pleasure.

Her father was the Landlord at the Barley Mow Inn and in 1890 he was charged with being in possession of 14 pounds of smuggled tobacco, for which he was found guilty and fined £5 10s.

Barley Mow Inn, Dover (photo from John Gilham Collection)

On the 7th Sept 1889 the Thanet Advertiser reported that

Charlotte Torr, wife of David Torr, Landlord of the Barley Mow Public House, Commerical Quay, was summoned for beating and ill treating her daughter, Maud Torr – Mr V Knocker prosecuted – From the evidence it appeared that the child’s eyes were blackened through being struck by the mother. The mother in defence denied striking the child on one occasion, but acknowledged striking her some days after, for disobeying her. The bench fined the defendant £5 and 24s or in default one months imprisonment and ordered her to be bound over to keep the peace. 

And on the 29th August 1890 the Dover Express reported that

Police said that on 18th July this year, he was in Snargate Street, when his attention was called to a child named Maud Torr, about eight years of age, she was very wet and cold, it being a wet day. He took her to her fathers house, the Barley Mow Inn, and found the mother was in bed drunk and the father not sober. He told the father to give the child food but he said he had no food in the house and was going to give her port wine. The superintendent then took the child to a coffee shop, and got her proper food. He could not get any guarantee that the child would be properly treated, he sent her to a relation, who took charge of her for the night. Torr and his wife were summoned for neglecting the child and the case was adjorned for two or three months, for him to put the child where it would be properly treated. Police-constable Knott was called, and corroborated Superintendent Sander's evidence. Witness said he had been called to the house on two or three occasions when there was disturbances between Mr. Torr and his wife. Neither of them were sober when witness had gone to the house.

Police-constable Fogg deposed: On July 10th, in consequence of something I was told, I went to Strond Street, and saw a large crowd of people outside the “Barley Mow” public-house. Mrs. Torr was the worse for drink, and was standing near the door with her face covered with blood. I went into the house, and saw the landlord, who was also drunk. I have seen Mr. Torr the worse for drink on more than one occasion, and also his wife.

Mr. Torr said he did not see why he should have to leave his house through his wife misbehaving herself. He had been nearly twelve years there.

Unsuprisingly David Torr had his licence refused and he eventually he was forced to vacant the premises.

Albert Uden, had been serving in France with the 4th Field Company, 2nd Canadian Engineers, Canadian Expeditionary Force since 1915 and On the 26th June 1918 he was admitted to hospital.

Perhaps he manged to visit his sister Alice, who was living in Battersea, with her husband Solomon Wraight and their family.

The Wraight Family Circa 1910

Alice's oldest son Solomon had emigrated to America in 1915 and was now serving in the American Army in France. Solomon's brother, William was a mechanic with RAF.

Perhaps this was his only opportunity to visit family relatives, whom he probably hadn't seen for over 10 years, would he ever get another? Albert returned to his unit after his leave on the 26th October 1918.

References
Canadian Library & Archives
Dover Kent Archives
British Newspaper Archives

Back home from France

Private Frederick Sydney Hammon, my first cousin 3 times removed, was serving in the Machine Gun Corps and on the 10th October 1918, 100 years ago today, was discharged under Kings regulations paragraph 392 section XVI – No longer physically fit for war service.

Frederick Sydney Hammon, was born in 1884 in Southwark, London. He was the youngest child of John Frederick Hammon and Elizabeth Ann Hammon (Nee Bush). Frederick had five older brothers, Ernest (born 1863), Frederick William (born 1866 but died the same year), Arthur (born 1871), all of whom were born in Wimbledon, Alfred (born 1873 in St.Pancras) and Maurice (born 1879 Chelsea)

Like his father John, Frederick was a bricklayer by trade.

Frederick’s older brother Maurice was serving as a sergeant with the Royal Engineers and had arrived in France in November 1915.

Frederick had married Alice Beatrice Sage on Christmas Day 1906 in Camberwell, Surrey and had four children, John (born 1909), Esther (born 1911), Ronald (born 1914), Hilda (born 1915) all before Frederick left for France. Frederick though was back at home after being discharged from the army for the birth of his fifth child, William Mons Hammon (born 1918) all born in Camberwell.

It is interesting to note his new child's middle name and one wonders what experiences he went through in that area to give his son "Mons" as a middle name. Or maybe it was just to honour those who sacrificed so much at Mons. 

A moments peace - in reserve at Troyon

On the 8th October 1918, Private Solomon Wraight (my Great Uncle), was serving in the Machine Gun Company of the 315th Infantry United States Army. After taking part in the Meuse – Argonne offensive the 315th Infantry were being held in reserve,

Solomon Wraight

The Official History of the 315th Infantry describes the aftermath of the battle for the 315th.

They hiked to Lahaymeix arriving around 3pm on the 5th Oct where they had 5 days much needed rest, as the entire company was exhausted and showed the effects of the strain under which it had been.

On the 10th, we set out again and marched to Woimbey, where we were held in reserve in the Troyon sector. There we were very well fixed, as the billets were good, and the rations were the best we had had in France.

One wonders if Solomon had the chance to reflect on the letter he sent to his father back in January, a couple of months after joining up.

315th Infantry
79th Division
Camp Meade, Maryland, USA
Jan 30th 1918

My Dear Father
I have received your most welcome letter. I was glad to hear that you are still going along fine though I guess it must go pretty hard with you all sometimes, I am mighty anxious when I read of an air raid on old “Lunnon” I can tell you I am still going along the same pottering around with hammer & saw around barracks etc. and have to do a little drill.

It’s very dull down here in camp at times, we are stuck out in the wilds, 22 miles from Baltimore & 20 miles from Washington. I get leave about once a month to go to old Philadelphia, as I look on “Philly” as my “American home”.

I don’t whether I am going to be sent over or not, as they are very particular where they put mechanics. They take shipworkers out of the army and put them in shipyards I re-registered as a ship joiner, you have to put down ship joiner as the word joiner is not used like it is in England I have made good in the Regiment 

I get all the little fancy jobs to do. The joiners over in the old country would be getting good money now if it was peace time. Sometimes I get mad to think of the money I am losing while I am in the army. 20s/- a day was my average now its $1.20 a day for 24 hours at 5cts an hour, I don’t have no trouble keeping count on it. You still ride the old bike, my motorbike is still up in “Philly” believe me I miss it “some” that’s some price you give for shoes eh, we can get a good pair from $2.50 to $6.00 on average just they don’t beat the old country shoes.

We have some who can only speak a few words of English. It is funny to watch them drill in the ranks, they watch the man in front of them follow the leader style. Have you got any of the old joiners working for you. I don’t have to pay any dues into the union now still part of the army.

I sent a little present to mother. I hope that it has arrived safe. I am sending you a few photos with the films of the base camp so that you can make a few copies off. 

I close now with best luck and wishes to you all. Hoping that this nightmare of a war will come to a decision soon. As we are feeling the effects over here pretty bad too.

From your loving son

Charlie Wraight
Company C 315 Infantry USA

(Some words / sentences are missing due to copy and or are ineligible)

Letter Home

Solomon Wraight

Solomon Charles Wraight was born on the 22nd May 1895 in Lambeth, Surrey. He was the eldest son of Solomon (Solly) and Alice Wraight (Nee Uden) and had three sisters Alice (born 1897), Elsie (born 1903) and Ivy (born 10 Oct 1904) and three brothers William (AKA Bill born 1899), Arthur (Born 1907) and Frederick (Fred Born 1911).

Solomon and William were at school together in 1908 at the Gideon Road School, Wandsworth and by 1911 the family were living at 14 Eland Road, Lavender Hill, Battersea. Solomon Charles aged 15 was an apprentice Joiner. His father Solly being a Builders Joiner (Shop Foreman). Alice, William, Elsie and Ivy were all attending school. His younger sister Alice died in 1911 aged 14.

Solomon Charles Wraight, never used his first name and was most often called Toby. Just to confuse matters he signs the letter Charlie (his middle name).

It was probably unbelievable to him that eight months after writing the letter to his parents he would have participated in America’s largest battle of the First World War. Meanwhile back in his new home of Philadelphia the situation was equally as dire with the Spanish Flu epidemic sweeping the city

The mortality report for the first week of October showed 706 people died from the Spanish Influenza. The total of all deaths in Philadelphia for the corresponding week in 1918 was 1,191, which broke all previous records. Whilst Solomon was hiking to reserve positions in Troyon, 254 deaths from the grip and pneumonia have been reported in the last 24 hours. Physicians have reported 1,480 new cases of the flu in that same 24 hour period. It is estimated that there are currently 50,000 people in the city sick with the disease. For the 315th - "Philadelphia's Own" the news from back home would make grim reading.

References
The Official History of the 315th Regiment USA
Philadelphia WW1 years

Meuse-Argonne : America's great offensive

The Meuse-Argonne Offensive was a major part of the final Allied offensive of the First World War. It was fought from September 26, 1918 until the Armistice on November 11th, a total of 47 days.

On the 26th August 1918, 100 years ago, Private Solomon Wraight (my Great Uncle) was serving overseas in the machine gun company of the 315th infantry regiment of the United States Army.

Private Solomon Wraight 315th Battalion

Solomon had been born in Lambeth, Surrey on the 22nd May 1895, the eldest child of Solomon and Alice Wraight (nee Uden). The family, originally from Kent moved to Wandsworth, Surrey in 1894/95 and by 1911 the Wraight family were living in Battersea, Middlesex with both Solomon and his father working as carpenters / joiners.

In August 1915, Solomon emigrated to the USA, and found employment as a carpenter in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, eventually becoming a naturalised American citizen in May 1917 and enlisting in the United States Army in October 1917.

The Official History of the 315th Battalion tells the story

On the 23rd, orders were received that the attack would be made on September 26th and that 79th Division would form part of the attacking line as a shock division. The 313 & 314th Infantries, were to initiate the attack. The 315th and 316th were to act as a support. The 315th following the 314th at a distance of 1,000 meters, advancing with two battalions in line and one in support.

The bombardment

At eleven o’ clock on the night of September 25th a deep boom far behind heralded the beginning of the six Hour allied barrage. It was the most terrific bombardment ever delivered upon a front of similar extent. None, whose privilege it was to witness it, will ever forget the indescribable grandeur of the artillery barrage which preceded the great Meuse-Argonne offensive.

Over the top

At 5.30am on the morning of September 26th, the first waves of infantry swept forward, and the American Army, with nine divisions on a 25 Mile front, began the mighty offensive which ended only with the Armistice.

On the right of the camp Meade division was the 4th regular army division and on the left the 37th national guard division

The 315th infantry started its advance across no mans land when the last elements of the 314th had passed a thousand meters beyond the jumping off point. The 315th machine gun company supported the first battalion. Scarcely had the leading units of the regiment cleared their own wire. When they plunged into a dense smoke barrage which had been laid prior to the advance of the front line.

About 8 o’ clock, the put-put-put of the German machine guns could be heard in the mist ahead.
The objective of Malancourt was quickly mopped up despite the continuous fire of snipers and from the German trenches. By six o’clock that evening the first wave of the 315th Infantry had crawled up the hill slopes into the Hindenberg trench. During the day, the regiment had lost 3 officers and 9 men killed and 31 men wounded. A total of 61 German prisoners had been captured.

The advance was practically uninterrupted for the first day, the machine gun company stopped for the night just west of Malancourt having advanced about 5 kilos.

The advance continued on the 27th. In the afternoon word came that the Germans were counter attacking and the guns were mounted and everything put in readiness, but the Boche never came. It was here that we suffered our first casualties. Lt. Wallace was seriously wounded in both legs, being hit by shell fragments. The advance was continued until darkness and heavy shellfire rendered further progress impossible. We then dug in about a kilometre beyond Mountfaucon, where we spent a terrible night, under punishing fire of gas, shrapnel and high explosives.

The next day we again advanced, this time with the first battalion acting as an assaulting unit and assisted in the capture of Nantillois. We continued on to the Madeline Farm, where we were met by a terrific concentration of artillery fire, which no living thing could go through and were forced to retire a short distance to hill 274, where the infantry reorganised and pushed forward again under the support of our overhead fire, a fire as intense as we could make it. We dug in and spent the night of the 28th on hill 274 and on the 29th, with intense artillery fire still coming over, we reorganised and took up outpost positions along the road beyond Nantillois. It was here that Capt. Duncan was killed and Lt, Delany mortally wounded by a high explosive shell.

The morning of the 30th brought the news that we were to be relived by the 3rd Division. That afternoon we withdrew. We hiked until dark, spending the night in the open. On the morning of October 1st, we marched back to sector 304, where we occupied the old trenches for two days, during which time we got a few hot meals and removed our week-old beards.

315th Battalion Machine Gunners in action during Meuse - Argonne

The Meuse-Argonne Offensive was the largest in United States military history, involving 1.2 million American soldiers. The battle cost 28,000 German lives, 26,277 American lives and an unknown number of French lives.

It was the largest and bloodiest operation of World War I for the American Expeditionary Force (AEF), which was commanded by General John Pershing.

U.S. losses were exacerbated by the inexperience of many of the troops and the tactics used during the early phases of the operation. Meuse-Argonne was the principal engagement of the AEF during World War I. For Solomon Wraight, who only swore the Oath of Allegiance just over a year before, it would have been a baptism of fire.

References

The Official History of the 315th Infantry USA.

Still joining up

On the 16th September 1918 Arthur William Bush, just four days after his eighteenth birthday enlisted in the 27th Transport Battalion of the Royal Army Service Corps.

Arthur William Bush, my first cousin three times removed, was born on the 12th September 1900 in Wimbledon, Surrey. He was the fourth child of Edwin Ernest and Ada Bush (Nee Searle). He had 3 older brothers Edwin Maurice (born 1893, Wimbledon), Alfred Ernest (born 1895, Wimbledon) and Frederick Charles (Born 1896, Wimbledon). He also had two younger brothers Albert James (Born 1903, Wimbledon) and George C (born 1908, Mitcham). He also had two younger brothers who died in infancy Horace Sydney (born & died 1904, Croydon) and John Joseph (born and died 1906, Wimbledon)

Arthur grew up in the family home at 8 Leyton Road, South Wimbledon. Ada, his mother passed away in 1910 aged just 38 years old, with Arthur only 10 years old and by 1911 the family (Arthur, his father Edwin and 3 brothers, Alfred, Albert and George were living in a one room dwelling at 41a Cowper Road, Wimbledon. However, his brother, Frederick was away from the family at the Holme Court Industrial School for Boys, Twickenham Rd, Isleworth, which was a certified truant industrial school.

Arthur’s brother Alfred Ernest Bush was serving as a Driver with the Royal Field Artillery and had recently married Ellen Scott. And Frederick was serving in the navy.

When Arthur enlisted, he was living at 26 Abbey Terrace, Abbey Road, Merton, Wimbledon, with his Aunt Harriet Searle. Previous to enlisting he was employed as a van guard / porter on the Railways. He was 4 ft 11 ¾ inches, weighing 102 lbs with brown hair and a fresh complexion, with a scar over his right eyebrow and his next of kin was listed as his Aunt Harriet Searle.

One can only assume that his father Edwin had also passed away before his enlistment and that Arthur had moved in with his closest relatives – his mothers brother Alfred and wife Harriet.

Arthur was posted to Brocton Camp, Cannock Chase, Staffordshire on the 20th September 1918
His Aunt – Harriet Searle had just received notification that her husband Alfred Sidney Searle, serving with the 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers had been killed on the 19th August in Flanders, leaving her with three young daughters. One can only wonder at her emotions that day -still grieving for husband, her nephew who had been living with them since the death of Arthur’s father Edwin was now called up to fight.

For gallantry and devotion to duty under fire

On the 6th September 1918 my second cousin twice removed George Hollins, who was serving as a Sapper with the Royal Engineers was awarded the Military Medal.

George Hollins

The Military medal was awarded to other ranks for "acts of gallantry and devotion to duty under fire".
The local newspaper - The Lichfield Mercury reported the news

Friday 6th September 1918 Lichfield Mercury

The Military Medal has been awarded to Sapper Hollins, Royal Engineers, Queen St. Rugeley. The medal was awarded to Sapper Hollins for fetching a dead man under heavy fire. He has received the congratulations of his commanding officer upon his gallant action. Sapper Hollins went out with the local territorials in March 1915, coming home a sergeant and home expired man in March 1916. In June of …, he voluntary re-enlisted with the Royal Engineers and went out to the front in the following December, and has been out there ever since. He is the son of Bandmaster Hollins and before joining the army was a bricklayer. His brother Sergeant Horace Hollins, Royal Fusilliers has been killed in action.

George Hollins was the youngest child of William and Sarah Hollins (nee Wood) and was born in 1886 in Rugeley, Staffordshire. He had 3 brothers; William (born 1875), Horace (born 1879) and Charles (born 1884) and two sisters Mary Ann (born 1877) and Harriet
(born 1881).

Horace had served with the Royal Welch Fusiliers and had been out in France since September 1915 and had been killed in April 1916, William had been a member of the old Territorials and now worked on munitions and Charles had been discharged from the army. Mary Ann’s husband Fred Williscroft had been discharged from the army in September 1914 and Harriet husband James Fisher had been killed on 13th October 1915 during the assault on the Hohenzollern redoubt.

George had married Emily Mary Hiley in 1907 at St. John the Baptist, Armitage and in 1911 they were living at 24 Queen Street, Rugeley with their had two children George (Born 1908) and Sarah (Born 1911), with George working as a bricklayer.

At that time (1911) most of George’s family were living close by. His parents William and Sarah lived at 64 Queen St, with his sister Harriet, his brother Charles lived at 45 Queen Street and his sister Mary Ann was living at 66 Queen St with her family.

George's father, William, was a well known local bandmaster and all the family were members of the local territorial band.

George’s wife Emily had lost two brothers in the War

Fred Hiley was serving as a Private with the 2nd Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, he had been born in Rugeley and had enlisted in Lichfield. He died of his wounds on the 22nd July 1916 and his buried in the Languenesse (St.Omer) Saivener Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.

The Lichfield Mercury reported the loss on Friday 4th August 1916

Mr & Mrs Wm. Hiley, of Queen Street, Rugeley, have been notified that their son Pte. Fred Hiley of the Lincolnshire Regiment, died on the 23rd July from wounds received in action on the previous day. Pte Hiley was the 3rd North Staffordshire Regiment (Militia) when the war was declared, and in mobilisation was transferred to the Lincolns, with whom he went to the front in June 1915. Was a single man 20 years of age. He was previous to being called up working the town as bricklayers labourer. 

Her other brother, William Hiley was serving as a Private with the 1/6th North Staffordshire Regiment, he was born in Rugeley and his parents lived at 90 Queen Street just a few doors from George & Emily. He was killed on the 9th September 1917 and is buried at Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe, Pas de Calais, France

The Lichfield Mercury reported the death on Friday 2nd November 1917 

Mr & Mrs Hiley, Queen Street, Rugeley, have received official notification that their elder son, private William Hiley, Staffs Regiment has been killed in action. Private Hiley who was 22 years of age, joined the forces with his territorial battalion at the commencement of the war and proceeded to France in February 1910 (typo 1916?) in a letter of sympathy to his parents, the officer commanding his company writes “His death was instantaneous, so therefore painless. Your son served under for the last 17 months. During this period, I have always found him a hardworking, conscientious and courageous solider, always willing, cheerful under all circumstances and making his comrades cheerful too. He is be proud and you by your great sacrifice, have also helped the great cause as your son has done in paying the supreme sacrifice by giving him for his country’s sake. Private Hiley’s youngest brother Private Alfred Hiley was killed in France in August.

The 1/6th Battalion war diary for the 9th Sept 1917 mentions very little and does not record and casualties for the day

In the line – General routine – Enemy very active on reserve line and tunnel exits otherwise nothing to report

Both Hiley brothers are remembered on the Rugeley War memorial – alongside George's brother, Horace Hollins and Brother in Law, James Fisher.

Rugeley War Memorial

"All along the line things began to go wrong"

On the 22nd August 1918 Joseph Vernon (the husband of my Great Aunt) died of wounds he had received in late July.

Joseph Vernon was born in 1882 in Brereton, Rugeley, Staffordshire, he was the fourth child of Joseph and Jane Vernon (nee Heaton). He had 3 older brothers, John (born 1875), George (born 1880) and Thomas (born 1881) and 2 younger brothers, Samuel (born 1885) and Herbert (born 1890) and one older sister Selina (born 1877) all were born in Brereton.

Joseph married my Great Aunt Elizabeth Ann Renshaw in 1902 at St. Michael’s Church Brereton, Rugeley.

Elizabeth Renshaw was born in 1885 in Brereton the daughter of George and Matilda Renshaw (nee Thompson). She had two sisters Dorothy (my Nan born 1902) and Alice (born 1883).

Joseph and Elizabeth had seven children Joseph (born & died 1903), Samuel (born 1905), Issac (born & died 1906), Mary (born 1908), Beatrice (born 1909) and Ethel (born 1912) and another child was born and died before 1911.

In 1911 the family were living at 6 Talbot Road, Brereton just 4 houses away from his parents, who lived at number 16. Joseph aged 29 was working in the local colliery as a coal miner / timberer below ground. Elizabeth parents lived at number 8 Talbot Road, her father George was also a miner in the local colliery.

Joseph Vernon was serving as a private with Royal Army Medical Corps having joined up in 1915 and at some point later was transferred to the 1/5th Kings Own Scottish Borderers. It’s not clear if he was still in the RAMC attached to the KOSB or had joined them out right. He had served in Egypt and taken part in the Battles around Jerusalem. He had been serving in France since May 1917.

His brother Herbert was serving with the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards and had enlisted in March 1915.

The battle of the Somme, which had began on the 1st July with such heavy losses continued to rumble on, inflicting heavy casualties on both sides for little territorial gain. During this continued fighting Herbert Vernon, aged 26, was killed in action on the 12th September.

The local newspaper - The Lichfield Mercury published the news a couple of weeks later.

29th Sept 1916 – Lichfield Mercury

Rugeley Casualties

Killed in Action. Official information has this week been received by Mrs E Vernon, Brereton Road, Rugeley, that her husband Private H. Vernon Grenadier Guards, was killed in action on Sept 12th, He joined the Grenadier Guards March 1915 and has been out at the front since last April. Previous joining the Army was employed as a miner the Brereton leaves a wife and one child.

Herbert is commemorated on Pier and Face 8D Thiepval Memorial and on the Brereton War Memorial.

Joseph’s Cousin Horace Vernon serving with the 2/6th North Staffordshire Battalion had been killed 17th May 1917 and another Cousin John Vernon had recently returned home July 1918 with what was probably the Spanish flu.

The official history of the 1/5th Kings Own Scottish Borderers details the events of late July

On the 27th July the 1/5th KOSB were Just south of Beugneux, where there is a small hill (158) which was covered by wood.

At 10.45pm the battalion marched from Bois de Bouef by Billy sur Oureq and Oulchy la Ville. They were heavily shelled by the German 5.9 guns, and suffered severe casualties. The pace was increased in order to get as quickly as possible through the shelled area but although all the companies had French guides, touch seems to have been lost. At any rate the leading company became divided in the wood.  On clearing the wood only Battalion Headquarters and half the leading company were present – three and a half companies were not there!

It was now three am in the morning and the advance was timed for 4.10am. By some mistake the company commanders had thought that orders had been given for the men to lie down. They continued to do so for over an hour, though they were under severe shell-fire during the whole time.

However Lieut. Dunn, a good officer was in charge of transport in the rear, During his advance many men and mules had been killed. He quickly realised the situation and rode to the headquarters. The remaining companies were hurried to the front and were in position only ten minutes before zero hour.

The Battalion went forward at 4.10am and began fighting its way to the front through fields of wheat standing breast high and through the woods to the south west of Beugneux. They got on well.

Then we were confronted with the village of Beugneux. There were woods both on the right and left of the village. The heavy machine gun fire from both the woods and the village stopped our advance.

At 6am, the prospects were decidedly promising, although there had already been heavy losses. It was very misty, and in parts of the battlefield when the day dawned “tear gas” was still drifting about the woods. The leading companies were also within range of German machine Guns. But then all along the line things began to go wrong.

D company was driven out of its position by our own magnificent barrage at 8am and the French put down a heavy barrage but unfortunately behind our front line. Regiments either side were forced to retire. Thus for the third time Beugneux had resisted the Allies attack.

Our casualties had been very heavy. Two officers had been killed and 17 other ranks. Five officers and 241 men were wounded and missing. All the missing were either killed or wounded.

It is likely that Joseph received his fatal wounds at this time and 100 years ago on the 22nd August 1918 Joseph passed away.

The Local newspaper – The Lichfield Mercury reported his death on the 6th September.

Fri 6th Sept 1918 – Lichfield Mercury

Joseph Vernon, 6 Talbot Road, died on the 22nd August at General Rouen, from wounds received July 29th. Private Vernon joined the RAMC in February 1915, served in Egypt. He then went to Salomes and later returned to Egypt, where he took part in the battles around Jerusalem. He was later transferred to the Scottish Borderers and went to France in May last. He was 36 years of age and leaves a widow and four children. He had not been home for three and a half years. The eldest child is 13 years of age and the youngest six. Previous to joining the army he was employed at the Earl of Shrewsbury’s Brereton Collieries. His brother Herbert was killed in Action in Sept 1916.

Joseph is buried in the Bois-Guillaume Communal Cemetery Extension, which can be found in a north eastern suburb of Rouen. The majority of burials in the original communal cemetery were from soldiers who had died at No 8 General Hospital, Rouen which was based at 147 Avenue de Marechal. Bois Guillaume. It is likely that Joseph was also in hospital in Rouen after being wounded.

Bois-Guillaume Cemetery, Rouen

The inscription on his grave reads “GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.”

He is also remembered on the Brereton War memorial along with his brother Herbert.

Brereton War Memorial

Also listed on the Brereton War Memorial is my three times removed half cousin Albert Hollins who was killed on the first day of the Somme. 

A successful attack but a heavy cost

On the 19th August 1918, Private Alfred Sidney Searle, serving with the 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers was killed in action

Alfred Sidney Searle was the brother in law of my Great Great Grand Uncle Edwin Ernest Bush who had married Alfred’s sister Ada Searle on the 10th September 1893 at Holy Trinity Church, Wimbledon.

Alfred was born in 1880 in Wimbledon, Surrey, one of eight children of John Joseph and Emma Jane Searle (nee Miles). Both his parents had passed away by the time Alfred was 17 and in 1901 he and two brothers Edward Horace and Thomas Ernest were living with his sisters (Ada) family in Leyton Road, Wimbledon.

Alfred married Harriet Rachel Harman in 1907 in Wandsworth, Surrey and had 3 daughters Minnie (born 1908), Queenie (born 1912) and Constance (born 1916). Before the War Alfred had worked as a house painter along with many of his cousins and was living with Harriet and his young family at 6 Abbey Terrace, Abbey Road, Merton

Following the success of the Battle of Amiens (8th – 12th August 1918), the allies launched a number of new offences to keep the pressure on the German forces whose moral was weakening after four long years of conflict.

The attacks by the British Army extended all the way along the line from the Somme up to Ypres in Belgium and on 18th August, they attacked and captured the Outtersteene Ridge near the town of Bailleul in northern France, close to the Belgian border. Although only 120 feet above sea level the Outtersteene Ridge afforded the enemy a good observation of the low lying country around it and its capture was deemed important. 27 Brigade of 9th Division  attacked behind a powerful artillery barrage and within an hour the ridge was in British hands. At 5pm on the following day, 19th August, the 12th Norfolk battalion of 94th Brigade, 31st Division, and the 2nd Royal Fusiliers of 86 Brigade, 29th Division continued the attack and in less than an hour and a half gained the further objectives of Lyndé Farm and The Trucks. They then went on to reach the Vieux Berquin-Outtersteene road
Alfred was serving as a Private with the 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers and on the 19th August 1918, Alfred went over the top.

War Diary - 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers 19th August 1918

At 5.00 pm the battalion attacked (W Coy on the right, X Coy on the left, 2 platoons of Z Coy in support on the right) under a barrage and captured the line of trucks, LYNDE, ASSET and LESAGE FARMS, also assisting in the capture of LABIS FARM, which formed part of the objective of the 12th Norfolks, who attacked in conjunction with us on our right. The operation was completely successful and the line was established in front of the road running from F 13 A7,2 – F.6.C.6.G. 
We captured 111 prisoners, including 1 officer, 10 machine guns, and 2 trench mortars. In addition several casualties were inflicted on the enemy as he fled in confusion. No counter attack was delivered. Narrative attached Appendix No.

Our Casualties were :-

Killed 2/LT Whyte & 2/LT Brown and 16 other ranks
Wounded 2/LT Adams & 2/Lt Walton and 63 other ranks.

After dusk the remaining 2 platoons of Z Coy went into the line and CAPT. CLARKE took over command of the right sub-sector, the inter-company boundary being the cross-roads at F.13b.8.8.

It is during the main attack on the 19th August that Private Alfred Searle, aged 38, lost his life.

Private Alfred Sidney Searle has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ploesteert Memorial (Panel 3) along with 11 of his comrades who also died that day

Pte. Ernest Phillip Ray aged 18
Pte. William Sidney Rix aged 20
Pte. Charles Dawson aged 26
Pte. Alfred Wilcox
Pte. Samuel Charles Wing
Lance Corporal Albert Wood aged 19
Pte. Frank Herbert Rogers aged 18
Pte. Leonard Shelley
Lance Corporal William Ratcliff Mason aged 23
Corporal Reginald Hickox
Lance Corporal Charles Herbert Holliday

Ploegsteert Memorial is located in Hainaut, Belgium 12.5 Km south of Leper (Ypres)

Ploegsteert Memorial

Alfred left behind his widow Harriet whom he had married in 1907 and his three daughters, Minnie (aged 10), Queenie (aged 6) and Constance (aged 2).

August 1914 - August 1918 Four Years and Five Days in France

On the 12th August 1918 my Great Grand Uncle William Alfred Bush was killed in action.
Sergeant William Bush was serving with the 363 Motorised Transport Company of the Army Service Corps

William had been in France with the British Expeditionary Force since war broke out in August 1914 and had previously served in the Army Service Corps from 1905-08. Before joining the army in 1905 he had been employed as a boiler maker and in 1911 was a house painter as were a number of his cousins

William was born in Wimbledon in 1879, the second youngest child of the late William and Jane Bush (nee Napp). He had two older sisters Elizabeth Clara (born 1863, Wimbledon) and Jane (born 1871, Wimbledon), One older brother Albert Henry (born 1873, Wimbledon) and one younger brother James Charles (Born 1881, Wimbledon). He had 3 other siblings who all died in childhood (William John aged 2, Alice Cave aged 2 and Susan Mary aged 5).

William and the family, his wife Elizabeth and their four children, Lillie, William, Ivy and Dorothy were living at 6 Leyton Road, Wimbledon, having previously lived in Goodenough Street, Wimbledon. He had married Elizabeth Jane Pope at Wandsworth Register Office on the 24th July 1905. William and Elizabeth had four children Lillie (born 28th June 1908), William (born 17th March 1911), Ivy (born 24th September 1912) and Dorothy (born 6th April 1914). Their first child also called William died in infancy, Dorothy was only four months old when William was mobilised on the 6th August 1914.


William was 35 when he set of for World War One, 5 feet 4 1/4 inches tall, fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He had a small tattoo mark on the back of his right forearm and a 1/2 inch long linear scar above his right eyebrow.


The ASC MT Companies performed a number of functions and some like the 363 company were attached to the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA) as Ammunition Columns / Parks. 363 Company, which was formed May 1915 was the Ammunition Column for 18th Brigade RGA. The 18th Brigade later came under V Corps Heavy Artillery.

The heavy guns and howitzers of the RGA, with attendant equipment and ammunition, needed motorised transport to haul them. The MT Companies called Ammunition Parks operated dumps, or stores, of ammunition, with the larger calibres of artillery shells required special mechanical handling equipment.

There is no doubt these ammunition parks would have been a prized target during any attack.

The Battle of Amiens was the opening phase of the Allied offensive which began on 8 August 1918, later known as the Hundred Days Offensive, that ultimately led to the end of the First World War. Allied forces advanced over 11 kilometres (7 mi) on the first day, one of the greatest advances of the war, with Henry Rawlinson's British Fourth Army playing the decisive role. The battle is also notable for its effects on both sides' morale and the large number of surrendering German forces. This led Erich Ludendorff to describe the first day of the battle as "the black day of the German Army". Amiens was one of the first major battles involving armoured warfare and marked the end of trench warfare on the Western Front; fighting becoming mobile once again until the armistice was signed on 11 November 1918.

On 21 March 1918, the German Army had launched Operation Michael, the first in a series of attacks planned to drive the Allies back along the length of the Western Front. With the collapse of  revolutionary-controlled Russia, the Germans were able to transfer hundreds of thousands of men to the Western Front, giving them a significant, if temporary, advantage in manpower and materiel.


By the end of the Marne-Rheims offensive (15-17 July), the German manpower advantage had been spent and their supplies and troops were exhausted. The Allied general, General Ferdinand Foch, ordered a counteroffensive which led to the Second Battle of the Marne, after which victory he was promoted to Marshal of France. The Germans, recognising their untenable position, withdrew from the Marne to the north. Foch now tried to move the Allies back onto the offensive.

The battle began in dense fog at 4:20 am on 8 August 1918

Total German losses were estimated to be 30,000 on 8 August. The Fourth Army's casualties, British, Australian and Canadian infantry, were approximately 8,800, exclusive of tank and air losses and those of their French allies.

The German General Erich Ludendorff described the first day of Amiens as the "Schwarzer Tag des deutschen Heeres" ("the black day of the German Army"), not because of the ground lost to the advancing Allies, but because the morale of the German troops had sunk to the point where large numbers of troops began to capitulate.

Whilst the Battle of Amiens was drawing to a successful close for the Allies, fighting continued along the Western Front and during the night of the 11th August and the early morning of the 12th the Base depot of the 353rd Company Army Service Corps was subjected to an enemy air raid. Sergeant William Alfred Bush who had served for 4 years and 5 days since the war began died of wounds to his skull from the bombing raid.

In his official war records it states - Died of bomb wounds skull received in action (enemy air raid) In the field, France

He is buried at the Les Baraques Military Cemetery, Sangatte in the Pas de Calais region of Northern France.

Les Baraques Military Cemetary Sangatte

Buried alongside him are six of his comrades from the 364 Mechanical Transport Company, Base Depot (N) who also died on the same day

Private          A Heath                   M39672         Age 35 Chepstow
Lance Corporal William Haddock Robinson   M2/082708         Age 39 Bristol
Corporal                  E Hamshar           M2/050271
Lance Corporal William George Edwin Woodward M2/079669 Age 55 Brixton
Private         George Fairbrother           DM2/224389 Age 27 Blackburn
Private         William Purves Miller   M2/266650         Age 25 Newcastle

Sergeant                William Alfred Bush   M/22781         Age 39 Wimbledon

He is also remembered on the War memorial in the All Saints Church in South Wimbledon

All Saints Church Wimbledon

The inscription reads “Remember before God the men of this parish who gave their lives in the Great wars”

One can only imagine the catastrophic tradegy and sense of loss for his wife Elizabeth, too have their 13 year marriage cut short and for William’s children Lillie aged 10, William aged 7, Ivy aged 5 and Dorothy aged 4


Sources
Commonwealth War Graves

All Saints Church, Wimbledon

A Doughboy overseas

On the 9th August 1918, 100 years ago today, Private Solomon Wraight (my Great Uncle) was serving overseas in the machine gun company of the 315th infantry regiment of the United States Army.

Solomon had been born in Lambeth, Surrey on the 22nd May 1895, the eldest child of Solomon and Alice Wraight (nee Uden). The family, originally from Kent moved to Wandsworth, Surrey in 1894/95 and by 1911 the Wraight family were living in Battersea, Middlesex with both Solomon and his father working as carpenters / joiners.

In August 1915, Solomon emigrated to the USA, and found employment as a carpenter in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, eventually becoming a naturalised American citizen in May 1917 and enlisting in the United States Army in October 1917.

His younger brother William, also a carpenter by trade, had joined the Royal Navy Air Service in March 1917.

Solomon Wraight 

American troops, under the command of General Pershing, started to arrive in ever increasing numbers in France during the summer of 1918 offsetting the temporary numerical advantage the Germans held on the Western front since the collapse of Russia.

The official history of the 315th Infantry describes the arrival in Brest, France of the Regiment on the 18th July. It is likely that Solomon arrived in later waves, as not all the regiment arrived in France at the same time, however Solomon is likely to have had similar experiences.

“We marched through the back streets of Brest and out into the country about six kilometres, where we were ushered into a nice wet field and ordered to pitch tents. This was called a rest camp but all we did was carry water and rations for about a mile or so, and hustle field ranges, baggage etc.”

After 4 days they left the rest camp for the 10th training area.

“After three wonderful days and nights on the train, we were put off at a place called Vivey-Chalmessin. Nobody knew where we were, or what we were going, so we pitched tents in a neighbouring field, and it was here that we were introduced to Vin Rouge while waiting for somebody to give an order. The next morning we started for Chatoillenot, arriving after a hike of 18 kilometers, and there we were billeted. 

The next six weeks formed the most strenuous period in the history of the machine gun company, and the drill was long and tough.”

Sources
The Official History of the 315th Infantry USA.

Wimbledon Wartime Marriage

On the 4th August 1918 Alfred Ernest Bush (My first cousin three times removed) aged 23 married Ellen Elizabeth Rose Scott in Wimbledon, Surrey.

Alfred was the second oldest son of Edwin Ernest and Ada Bush (nee Searle). He was born in 1895 in Wimbledon, Surrey and in 1911 the family were living at 41a Cowper Road, Wimbledon. Alfred was working as an Errand boy, his mother Ada had passed away in 1910. His three younger brothers, Arthur (born 1900, Wimbledon), Albert (born 1903, Wimbledon) and George (born 1908, Mitcham) were all at school. Another younger brother Frederick (born 1896, Wimbledon) was attending Holme Court Industrial School for Boys, Twickenham Rd, Isleworth, which was a certified truant industrial school. His older brother Edwin Maurice Bush (born 1893, Wimbledon) also an errand boy in 1911 was lodging with the Turner family at 49 Cowper Road, Wimbledon.

In 1918, Alfred was serving as a Driver with the Royal Field Artillery whilst his brother Frederick, who had joined the Royal Navy in April 1915 and had been mainly serving on the vessels patrolling the Humber estuary, but had now transferred to HMS Latona on duty in the Mediterranean.

Alfred’s father Edwin Ernest Bush (passed away between 1911 and 1918) had served in the Royal Navy between 1884 and 1892 serving onboard many ships the last one being HMS Helca.

Alfred’s older brother Edwin had married Rosetta Turner in 1915

Ellen Elizabeth Rose Scott was born in 1893 at St. Saviours, Croyden, Surrey. The daughter of William Scott.

One can only assume the marriage took place during Alfred's leave from the front.

Discharged from the army and back home to Rugeley

On the 19th July 1918, my Great Uncle James Hollins who was serving as a Private with the 1/6th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment was discharged from active service.

James Hollins

James, also known as Jim or Jimmy, was born on the 15th September 1890 in Rugeley, Staffordshire. He was the third child of Benjamin James and Ann Hollins (nee Hodson). He had an older sister Mary Ann Hollins (Born 1884, Woodseaves, Staffs) and an older brother Benjamin (Born 1887, Rugeley, Staffs) who had died of his wounds in November 1915, after being gassed most likely in the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt. He also had two younger brothers Edward, also known as Ted, (Born 16th March 1895, Rugeley, Staffs) and Arthur (My Grandfather – Born 18th February 1897, Rugeley Staffs).

In 1911, the family were living at 27 Bow Street, Rugeley. James was a horse Driver in the local mine, his father, Benjamin, was a labourer above the ground at the colliery, Edward (aged 16 in 1911) also worked in the mines. Arthur (aged 14) was still at school. His sister Mary-Ann was employed doing domestic duties and her daughter Ada Scott Hollins (aged 7) was also living with the family.

Hollins family circa 1908 - 1910 at Bow Street
Standing L-R Mary, Edward, James, Arthur, Ben
Seated L-R Benjamin, Ann

James' mother Ann Hollins had passed away in 1913.

James had enlisted with the Army on the 23rd Jan 1912 (Source SWB record) and had arrived in France along with the rest of the battalion including his brother Benjamin on the 5th March 1915.

James Hollins around 1908

He took part in the attack on Hohenzollern Redoubt on the 13th October 1915 and was wounded in the assault which cost so many Staffordshire lives.

James married Frances Mary Moore between January and March 1918 in Rugeley. Their first child Doris M Hollins would be born in Rugeley on the 15th October 1918, so no doubt it was a relief for the pregnant Frances that on the 19th July James Hollins was discharged from the army under Kings regulations 392 (xvi) – being no longer physically fit for war service.

After their marriage James and Frances lived in Sandy Lane, Rugeley.