"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. 

Back to Blightly with a case of the Spanish Flu?

Private John Vernon serving with the 7th Reserve West Yorkshire Battalion had been out in France since the 31st March 1918, however on the 1st July 1918 John return to England.

John Vernon was born in Brereton, Rugeley, Staffordshire in 1899, his Uncle Joseph Vernon was married to my Great Aunt Elizabeth Ann Renshaw.

Since the 8th June 1918 He had been suffering with a high fever and this was officially recorded as PUO which is the abbreviation for Pyrexia of unknown (or uncertain) origin, a term applied
to febrile illness before diagnosis has been established; also referred to as FUO (Fever of unknown origin). and was generally associated with fever and raised body temperature.

Although the fever eased to a mild fever throughout June, his condition was still poor enough that it meant he was transported back to England on the 30th June arriving on the 1st July.

During 1918 all nations were greatly effected by the Spanish Flu pandemic, which resulted in the deaths of millions worldwide. Sporadic record-keeping in wartime, and the failure to make influenza officially notifiable, meant that actual incidence was undoubtedly far higher than was officially reported. The disease was often confused with other conditions, and in the initial pandemic phase, when its nature was a complete mystery, cases were often recorded as 'PUO' (Pyrexia of unknown origin), 'three-day fever', or given some other generic label. It is suggested that mortality figures for the Spanish Flu should also be upwardly revised, as virulent flu often paved the way for fatal complications but was not certified as a cause of death.

It infected 500 million people around the world and resulted in the deaths of 50 to 100 million (3 - 5% of the world's population),

It is uncertain whether John was suffering from Spanish Flu and the terrible pandemic which was infecting and killing millions worldwide, but clearly he was unwell enough to be transferred back to England.

This first wave had resembled typical flu epidemics; those most at risk were the sick and elderly, while younger, healthier people recovered easily. The second wave of the 1918 pandemic which developed in August 1918 was much deadlier than the first. Academics have concluded that the fact that most of those who recovered from first-wave infections were now immune showed that it must have been the same strain of flu. 

For the rest of the population it was far more deadly now; the most vulnerable people were those like the soldiers in the trenches – young previously healthy adults.

From Brereton to the front

On the 31st March 1918 John Vernon was deployed to France serving as a Private with the 2/7th West Yorkshire Regiment.

John was born in 1899 in Brereton, Rugeley. One of eight children of John and Louisa Vernon (nee Harvey). John had two older brothers Horace (born 1895) and Harry (born 1897) and one older sister Ada (born 1892). He also had two younger brothers George (born 1904) and Percy (born 1907) and two younger sisters Clara (born 1901) and Mary (born 1903) all born in Brereton.

John’s Uncle Joseph Vernon was married to my Great Aunt Elizabeth Ann Renshaw.

In 1911 the family were living in Armitage Lane, Brereton. His father and two older brothers all working at the local colliery.

John had enlisted on the 27th April 1917 with the 5th training reserve battalion depot North Staffordshire Regiment. He was just 18 years of age, with his occupation listed as a farm labourer. He had been training in England since enlistment.

On the 31st March John was transferred 7th Reserve West Yorkshire Regiment and left for France on the 1st April 1918. Germany had launched Operation Michael ten days earlier, which had inflicted heavy losses on the British army in an attempt to win the war before the American troops could be deployed fully in Europe and the temporary numerical advantage enjoyed by Germany being able to release it's army from the Eastern front due to the collapse on the Russian army was gone.

One wonders how much John would have known about the "Kaisers Battle" currently waging as he sailed to France. Other members of his family had already lost their lives in the War, so he must surely have been under no illusions as to the dangers awaiting him.

John’s eldest brother Horace had been killed on the 8th May 1917, just a week after John had been called up. Horace was serving as a corporal with the 2/6th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment. The 2/6th Battalion had been in Ireland in 1916 during the Easter rising and fought in France from 1917.

On the night of the 8th May 1917 Horace’s battalion were ordered to attack the German positions, their objectives being

Trench running from L.6.a.5.5 to F.30.c.2.7.
(62.c.N.E).
The UNNAMED FARM and trench from it to L.5.b.8.4
The attack was carried out in one wave.

The Battalion War diary for 8th May reads as follows

21.50 In attack German trenches … attacking troops were met by very heavy M.G. fire, one platoon “B” Coy under Lieut P.G Coleman with 15 other ranks reached their objective and consolidated it, meeting several bombing attacks from both flanks.
24.00 A & B Coys less 1 platoon did not reach their objective. UN-named Farm reoccupied by C coy after very heavy shelling

Casualties :-
Missing believed killed Officers – 3, Other Ranks – 28
Killed Officers – Nil, Other Ranks 2
Died of wounds Officers – NIL, Other Ranks 1
Wounded Officers – 5 Capt. Charlton, Lieut P. G. Coleman, 2nd Lieut Burt, 2nd Lieut Fryer, 2nd Lieut Johnson, Other Ranks 42

9th May 
10.00 UN-Named Farm heavily shelled
21.00 The platoon of B coy under Lieut. Coleman which had reached its objective was attacked several times during the day and previous night by German bombing of the trench, and after using up all their supply of ammunition and bombs, Lieut. Coleman used German bombs which he found, and repeatedly picked up German stick bombs which had been thrown at his party and threw them back at the Germans.
22.30 The platoon of B Coy under Lieut. Coleman withdrew from the German trench which they had held during the day after having expended all ammunition and bombs. They were charged by the Germans previous to withdrawing but used their bayonets with great effect. Lieut. Coleman was again wounded (in the mouth) with a fragment of a bomb just before he withdrew from the German trench.

Lieut. Coleman was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on the 29th May for his actions on the 8th & 9th

Corporal Horace Vernon has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial on Pier & Face 14B and 14C and also on the Armitage war memorial.

Horace Vernon - Armitage War Memorial

His uncle Herbert Vernon, serving as a Private with the Grenadier Guards, had been killed on the 12th September 1916 during the battle of the Somme. Like his nephew Herbert Vernon has no known grave and is also commemorated on the Thiepval memorial and on the Brereton War Memorial.

Herbert Vernon - Brereton War memorial

His other Uncle Joseph Vernon was serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps. Attached to 1/5th Battalion Kings Own Scottish Borderers (or had perhaps transferred to infantry KOSB) and was currently in Egypt.

Rugeley losses at the Somme

Herbert Vernon was born in 1890 in Brereton, Rugeley, Staffordshire, he was the youngest son of Joseph and Jane Vernon (nee Heaton). He had 4 older brothers, John (born 1875), Joseph (born 1882), George (born 1880) and Samuel (born 1885) and one older sister Selina (born 1877) all were born in Brereton.

In 1911, Herbert, aged 21, was living with his parents and older brother Samuel at 16 Talbot Road, Brereton and was working as a miner, as was his brother and father.

Herbert had married Eliza Fisher at St. Michael’s Church, Brereton in 1912 and had their first son Herbert W Vernon in 1913.

In 1911 Eliza was living at 40, Brereton Road working as a Jappener (Box Maker), her older brothers James and Albert and father James were working at the local colliery.

Eliza’s brother, James Fisher was married to my second cousin (twice removed) Harriet Hollins, and had been killed on the 13^th Oct 1915 during the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt

Herbert’s brother Joseph, was married to my Grandaunt Elizabeth Ann Renshaw and was serving with Royal Army Medical Corps.

Herbert Vernon was serving with the 1^st 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.

29^th 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 12^th, 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.

Herbert Vernon - Brereton War Memorial

The First Day of the Somme

The 1^st July 1916 is a date infamous in British military history – The first day of the Somme.

The British in an effort to relieve the pressure on their French allies in Verdun mounted a huge offensive in the Somme area along a 15 mile front involving some 750,000 men. The attack was due to begin at 7.30am after an eight-day bombardment.

Albert Hollins (my half cousin 3 times removed) was a sergeant serving with the 8^th Battalion, Prince Alberts, Somerset Light Infantry. Albert from Sandy Lane, Rugeley worked before the War in the grocery trade and had arrived in France in September 1915. On the 1^st July he was just 22 years old.

Albert Hollins 8th Bat. SLI

The War Diary for the Battalion describes the events of the day.

8th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry War Diary 1^st July 1916

At 6.30am Trench ladders & bridges were put in place and an intense artillery barrage was opened.

7.30-am – Was ZERO time for assault.

7.25 am Front waves of B & C Coys crawled out.

T

he battalion was ordered to attack in the following formation B and C Coys in front B on right and C on left. To advance in 4 lines of platoons at 2 paces interval about 100 ft between lines – supported by A Coy in 2 lines of ½ coys. D Coy coming on in seal in artillery formation. E.g. in lines of platoons in file as a carrying party for SAA – bombs, picks and shovels.

The artillery barrage lifted our men advanced in quick time. They were met by very heavy machine gun fire and although officers and men were being hit and falling everywhere the advance went steadily on, and was reported by a Brigade Major who witnessed it to have been magnificent.

The leading platoon lost quite 50% going across “No man’s Land” On arrival near the enemy’s front line they were momentarily held up by a machine gun, but as the successive supporting lines came up they soon got in.

Already the enemy had opened an artillery barrage on “No Man’s Land” and our front line trench – which caused heavy casualties among the supports. The only enemy found alive in his front line were a few machine gunners, who were immediately killed.

Our men worked their way down the German communication trenches, bombing dugouts which contained live Germans, then on to where the trenches had been battered out of all recognition and only consisted of a mass of craters.

They were supported by one Stokes gun but the officer in charge and the team were soon knocked out; then a Lewis gun team of ours got … & but considerable help; enabling our men to make a further advance. This party was under 2LT Kellett and worked its way from crater to crater until it got to Lozenge Alley which had not been straffed by our artillery, here they consolidated – making fire steps etc. because it was only a communication trench. The enemy’s barrage of shrapnel prevented further advance.

In Lozenge Alley 2Lt Kellett’s party joined up with 2LT A.H. Halls party making a total of about 100, who had been doing much the same work. They held this position all night – during which time they repulsed a bombing attack coming from the direction of Fricourt.

The high hopes of the Officers and men of the first day were soon replaced by grinding attrition. The attacks had soon stalled and the appalling loss of life made the first day of the Somme the worst in British military history. In total 57,470 casualties were recorded including 19,240 dead.

The 8^th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry suffered 116 casualties killed on the first day.

Like most of country, family and friends had to wait for news of their loved ones.

News of Albert’s fate was reported in the Lichfield Mercury Friday 21^st July 1916

Local Casualties

Sargent A. Hollins. Information has been received by Mr and Mrs Thomas Hollins, Sandy Lane, Rugeley that their son, Sergeant Albert Hollins, has been killed in action. Sergt. Hollins joined the Somerset Light Infantry Sept 1^st 1914 and went out to the front in Sept 1915. 

He went all through the Battle of Loos, and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant for gallantry in the field. Previous to enlistment he was employed by messers Siemens. He was home on leave about two months ago. 

The Sergeant-Major of his company, in a letter of sympathy to his deceased parents, says: He died as he lived, a solider. He was killed about three yards from machine gun, which he was charging and trying to take. His end must, have been instantaneous as he had four bullet wounds, from his head to his throat. Deceased has a brother in the Royal West Kent Regiment.

Albert has no known grave and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial (Pier 2 and Face 2A) and on the war memorial in Brereton, near Rugeley.

Thiepval Memorial

Brereton War memorial

The Kitchener Connection

Lord Kitchener was the Secretary of state for war during the First World War (until his death in 1916). His recruitment poster, a masterpiece of marketing, encouraged millions of young men to join up and do their bit.

On the 9^th July 1915 Lord Kitchener inspected the 2^nd battalion The Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment. The regiment including my Great Grand Uncle in law John Joseph Graffham lined the road north of St. Hilare.

It was not the first time John Graffham’s battalion had been inspected by senior commanders. On the 21^st April Field Marshall Sir John French (Commander in Chief of the BEF) had inspected the regiment.

And on 27^th May the Allies supreme commander, General Joffre had inspected the regiment. The 2^nd Battalion war diary for that day stated:

Gen. Joffre, C-in-C of the allied forces honoured the 7^th Division this afternoon by inspecting it. The Division was formed up in a large field near Bas Rieux just east of Lillers. The 22^nd Bde was in the centre, each Bde being formed up in mass of battalions in quarter column. Gen. Joffre accompanied by F.M French and other distinguished officers passed down the lines after which three cheers were given and the troops marched past.

My Grandmother, Dorothy Renshaw, working as a domestic servant at Shugborough Hall for Lord Anson, the Earl of Lichfield, was once presented along with the rest of the staff to Lord Kitchener apparently for the excellent table setting. (Family Verbal History).

Dorothy Renshaw

I am still researching the exact date of when this event happened.

Dorothy was born in Brereton, Staffordshire on the 9th January 1902, The youngest of three daughters of George and Matilda Renshaw (Nee Thompson). In 1911, Dorothy and her parents were living at 8 Talbot Road, Brereton, with George being employed as a Coal Miner. Dorothy's sisters Alice was working as a domestic servant in Longdon (near Rugeley) and Elizabeth was married to Joseph Vernon, who also worked as a Coal Miner and were living at 6 Talbot Road.

Continuing the Kitchener connection, my Great Uncle Benjamin Hollins, originally from Rugeley, but living in Armitage in 1915 with his wife Hilda and two young children Benjamin and Henry, had been out in France serving with the 1/6^th North Staffordshire Regiment since March. His third son was born between April and June 1915. The boy’s name -  George Kitchener Hollins.

Another Rugeley Recruit arrives in France

On the 22^nd June 1915, James Fisher, aged 27, of the 1/6^th North Staffordshire Regiment arrived in France.

James Fisher 1/6th North Staffords

James Fisher was born in 1887 in Rugeley, Staffordshire. The eldest of ten children, in 1911 he was living with his parents James and Mary Anne Fisher (nee Glaze) and his 5 brothers, Albert, John, George, William and Frederick and 4 sisters, Eliza, Sarah, Elsie and Harriet at 40 Brereton Road, Rugeley. James along with his brother Albert and father were working as coal miners.

James had married Harriet Hollins (my 2^nd cousin twice removed) the daughter of William and Sarah Ann Hollins (nee Wood) between January and March 1914 and their son also called James was born later on in 1914. 

In 1911 the Hollins family was living at 64 Queen Street, Rugeley. Harriet was seven years older than James and in 1911 was working as a Tin Box Grainer. Her father William was a labourer in the local Phoenix Tanyard.

His brother Albert had been discharged from the 1/6th North Staffords on the 18th January 1915 

The 1/6^th North Staffords, since arriving in France in March 1915, had settled into a rotational routine of 4 to 5 days in the trenches followed by 4 to 5 days resting in camp before returning back to the front lines. Each period in the trenches had seen the regiment suffer casualties, it’s recent tour had been no different on the 19^th June the 1/6^th lost one officer Killed and one wounded, 3 other ranks killed, one died of wounds and five more wounded. 

On the 22^nd June the 1/6^th North Staffords were at “Aldershot” Camp, with showery weather. On the 25^th June the battalion marched with the rest of the brigade to Hutments One mile North East of Ouderdom, Belguim.

Rugeley - Early days

Through this blog I am endeavouring to bring to life what was happening to my ancestors 100 years ago to the day, there will inevitably be some events which research only reveals after that milestone has passed. So this would seem an ideal time to mention three other ancestors and their Great War experiences in 1914.

Frederick Williscroft was the husband of Mary Hollins my 2nd cousin twice removed. 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, Frederick was employed as a tanner working in the same Tanyard, Stokes and Negus Phoenix Tannery, as his father in law William Hollins. William Hollins and his family lived at 64 Queen Street, Rugeley. 

Frederick Williscroft

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

Frederick’s wife’s first cousin, Horace Wilson was born in 1897 in Rugeley and was the son of Shem and Elizabeth Wilson. Shem was the adopted son of my great, great grand uncle William Hollins and step brother to Mary’s father William Hollins. Horace was the fourth eldest of eight children (4 brothers and 3 sisters)

Horace lived at 60 Queen Street, Rugeley and enlisted with the Grenadier Guards on the 1st December 1914. He was 19 years and 3 months old, 5ft 10 inches, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair.

Horace was discharged from the army on the 12th December 1914 on the grounds of being inefficient.

William Hollins other daughter Harriet Hollins married James Fisher, a coal miner from 40 Brereton Rd, Rugeley between Jan-March 1914. Harriet was 33 and James 26 was the oldest son of James and Mary Anne Fisher (nee Glaze). Their son James was born between September and December 1914.

James’ younger brother Albert Fisher, also a coal miner before the War, had been discharged from the 1/6th North Staffordshire Regiment on the 18th January 1915