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.

Counter Attack at the Battle of Cambrai

James Wilson (my second cousin twice removed) was born in 1894 in Rugeley, Staffordshire. He was the third son of Shem Edward and Elizabeth Wilson (nee Harding). James had two older brothers Shem Edward (born 1888) and Albert (born 1889). He also had two younger brothers Horace (born 1897) and Frank (born 1899) and three younger sisters Lizzie (born 1901), Lavinia (born 1903) and Irene (born 1907).

James’ father Shem was the adopted son of William and Harriet Hollins (nee Deakin). In 1911 the Wilson family was living at 60 Queen Street, Rugeley, with James aged 16 employed as a grocery sugar wrapper. His father was employed in the local Stokes and Negus Phoenix Tannery as was his father’s step brother William Hollins who was living at 64 Queen Street, Rugeley. William’s sons George was living at 24 Queen Street and Charles at 45 Queen Street.

William Hollins had two other sons, William who was working on muntions and Horace who had been killed in April 1916, his wife moved back to 73 Queen Street after his death. His son in law James Fisher in the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt at Loos in Oct 1915.

James Wilson had enlisted in Birmingham and was serving as a Lance Corporal in the 3^rd Battalion Coldstream Guards.

The Battle of Cambrai had launched on November 20^th and for the first time had used a coordinated approach of tactics, infantry and more importantly massed tanks. Compared with the recent slog at the Battle of Passchendaele, the initial phase was regarded as a huge success, with considerable territorial gains made for, in First World War terms, relatively small losses. However, the attack stalled attempting to capture Bourlon Wood and on November 30^th the Germans launched their counter attack.

Units hurriedly ordered to shore up the clearly splintering defence were shocked at what they saw. Not least of them was the Guards Division, still recuperating from a mauling in Fontaine Notre Dame and now heading into what would become a bitter fight to hold the enemy at Gouzeaucourt: 

“First we had to struggle through the flood of terrified men … nothing seemed to stem the torrent of frightened men with eyes of hunted deer, without rifles or equipment, among them half-dressed officers presumably surprised in their sleep, and gunners who had had the sense and calmness to remove the breech blocks from their guns and were carrying them in their hands. Many were shouting alarming rumours, others yelling “Which is the nearest way to the coast?” 

Ref - Norman D. Cliff, To hell and back with the Guards (Braunton, Devon: Merlin Books Limited, 1988) p.85

The War Diary for the 3^rd Battalion reads as follows

Nov 30^th The Battn, in conjunction with the 2^nd Bn Coldstream guards and the 1^st bat Irish guards counter attacked the enemy and retook GOUZEAUCOURT. A line was consolidated on the far side of the village.

Dec 1^st. Orders were received at 3am for the bttn. To attack the QUENTIN RIDGE in conjunction with the 2^nd Bat Grenadier guards on the right and the 3^rd Grenadier batt. On the left. The attack was successful, largely through the gallant behaviour of the tanks – 4 of which were attached to the battn. They put into position a few minutes before zero and little could be given them in the way of information as to the objective, Officers who took part in the attack say that it is doubtful if the battn. Would have reached its objective with enough men to consolidate had it not been for the tanks.

The Battn. Was relieved during the night of Dec 1^st and 2^nd by the 1^st Bat Grenadier guards.

Casualties 30^th Nov

Officers 9 wounded

Other ranks 6 killed 83 wounded 3 missing

Casualties Dec 1^st

Officers 3 killed 2 wounded

Other ranks 9 killed 100 wounded 8 missing

James Wilson aged 23 was killed on the 1^st December 1917. He is buried at Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, Pas de Calais.

Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery

Originally buried as an unknown British solider, he was identified by Khaki, boots, badges, numerals

Among his effects which were forwarded to base was a Gold ring with initials J.W. inscribed on the outside and on the inside of ring the initials V.S.

James’ parents Shem & Elizabeth have the grave inscribed “Gone but not forgotten”

One can only imagine the sense of loss felt by his parents Shem and Elizabeth, it was not their first experience.

James’ younger brother Horace had been killed on the first day of the Somme on the 1^st July 1916. Horace had originally enlisted with the Grenadier Guards on the 7^th December 1914 in Hednesford stating he was 19 years 3 months. Horace was born in 1897 making him 17 in 1914. Previous to enlisting he was employed as a miner. Horace was 5ft 10 with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He was discharged 6 days later on 12^th December due to likely to become an efficient solider on the grounds of amblyopia vision in both eyes.

Amblyopia is more commonly known as lazy eye. A “lazy eye” is not lazy at all.  Recent research has shown that amblyopia is a disorder of the brain’s ability to use both eyes together as a team. Amblyopia is an active process due to suppression, or the brain actively ignoring the information coming from one eye.  In addition to poor visual acuity, people with amblyopia are more prone to have difficulties with depth perception, eye movements related to reading, and visual decision making.

Despite his poor eyesight, at some point Horace re-enlisted with the North Staffordshire Regiment and was a member of D coy 1/6^th Battalion. And on the 1^st July Horace was in the trenches preparing for the attack on Gommecourt Wood.

1/6^th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment War Diary – 1^st July 1916

Battalion in trenches at Fonquevillers preparatory to an attack on Gommecourt Wood and Village. Battalion on right, 6^th South Staffs Regt, Battalion on left, 7^th Notts & Derby Regt. The attack was preceded by an intense bombardment lasting 65 minutes and the infantry assault took place at 7.30am under cover of a smoke barrage. The attack was carried out by means of four waves, each wave consisting of one platoon per company. The 1^st wave occupied the assault trench, the 2^nd & 3^rd waves the fire trench and the fourth wave the Retrenchment. These were followed by consolidating and carrying parties, found by the 5^th North Staffs. Immediately the smoke appeared the enemy opened heavy machine gun fire and barraged our front line. Whilst the assault was in progress this fire caused heavy casualties which occurred chiefly in the first four waves. The casualties so depleted the strength of the waves that very few men succeeded in reaching the enemy wire, which was found to be very strong in parts. Owing to the smoke many men lost direction and were unable to see the gaps in the wire. Previous heavy rain had made the trenches in a very bad condition, especially the assault trench, which was from 2 to 3 feet deep in mud. This caused delay in the waves leaving the trenches. The enemy front line trench was found to be very strongly held and with so few men left it was impossible to advance. After this, those who had not become casualties retired to the assault trench. Nothing of note occurred between this and 5pm when the battalion was relieved by the 5^th North Staffs and proceeded to Siamand and billeted.

Casualty Return

Officers – Killed 8, Missing 4, Wounded 6

Other ranks – Killed 34, Missing 122, Wounded 170

Horace Wilson was reported as missing in action in September 1916 but it wasn’t until the following year that the Lichfield Mercury reported his death.

Lichfield Mercury Friday 15^th June 1917 – Local Casualties

Mr & Mrs S Wilson of Queen Street, Rugeley, have now received official notification that their son Pte. Horace Wilson, who was reported missing July 1^st 1916, must now be presumed to have been killed in action on that date. Pte. Wilson was a member of the local territorials and joined the North Staffs Regiment at the outbreak of the war, went out to France in the early part of 1915 and took part in several engagements, his last being the battle of the Somme, since when he has not been heard of. Another brother Pte. Wilson, died in hospital in the early part of last year, a few months after joining the army.

Horace’s body was never recovered and he is commemorated on Thiepval memorial on pier and face 14B and 14C

The other brother was most likely to have been Pte. Harry Wilson who died on the 8^th February 1915 and was serving with the Army Service Corps. Harry is buried at Rugeley Cemetery.

All three Wilson brothers are commemorated on Rugeley War memorial.

Rugeley War Memorial Panel 

Horace Wilson is also commemorated on the Ancient Order of Foresters memorial in Rugeley

Ancient Order of Foresters Memorial - Rugeley

My Great Uncle Edward Hollins sounded the Last Post when this Memorial was first dedicated. Horace Hollins is also commemorated on both memorials

Sources

Commonwealth War Graves Commission website

Staffordshire Roll of Honour website

British Newspaper Archive website

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