Life on the home front

Walter and Rose Matilda Bush (nee Cane) celebrated the birth of their eighth child and fifth daughter Joyce Elizabeth Bush on the 25th January 1917 in Dartford, Kent. Walter was aged 41 and Rose 40.

Walter Bush

Walter (my first cousin four times removed) was born on the 29th October 1875 in Clapham, Surrey, the son of Robert and Sarah Ann Bush (nee Clarke). He married Rose Matilda Cane in 1898 in Windsor.

Joyce had 3 older brothers Walter Morris (born & died 1901 in Harrow), Walter Edwin Frederick Bush (born 1904 in Harrow) and John Thomas Frank Bush (born 1908 in Kent). Her four sisters Doris Minnie Bush (born 1899 in Harrow), Rose Kathleen Bush (born 1902 Harrow), Muriel Annie Bush (born 1913 in Dartford) and Isabelle Margaret Bush (born 1914 in Kent).

In 1911, the family lived at 28 Bexley Lane, Dartford, Kent and Walter was working as a butcher, the same trade as his father.

Walter Bush, who was aged 41 in 1917, had been sent to Crayford to work in the Vickers munitions factory as he was unfit to join the armed services as he had one leg shorter than the other. The family moved into 35 Maiden Lane, Crayford one of the first families to move into the Barnes Cray estate which was built to house workers at the factory.

Walter’s eldest daughter Doris also worked with her father at the munitions factory in 1916/17. Lodging with the Bush family was William Samuel King (known as Billy) who was also unfit to serve at the front and was sent to the same munitions factory to work.

Doris Minnie Bush

The Barnes Cray Estate was built by an organisation connected with Vickers to house a good proportion of the 12,000 people employed by the firm at that time.

The main function of the Vickers Crayford Works in the years of the First World War was the manufacture of the Vickers machine gun, a development of Maxim's invention, and aircraft like the FB5 'Gun-bus'.

Doris Minnie Bush and William King married in 1923.

Reference - Verbal history of Joyce Elizabeth Bush,

From Sheep Fair to Slaughter

William Henry Cunningham was born in 1892 in Rugeley, Staffordshire, the son of Thomas and Hannah Cunningham (nee Mills). William had two sisters Edith (born 1886) and Gertrude (born 1895) and two brothers Thomas (born 1899) and Reginald (born 1909).

William’s younger brother Thomas would become the father in law of my Aunt Dorothy Hollins.

In 1911 William was working in the local colliery below ground as a rope rider and living with the family at 74 Sheep Fair, Rugeley. His father was working above ground at the colliery as a banksman.

 By 1917 his parents moved and were living at 18 Queen Street just a few houses from George, William and Charles Hollins. George despite his time having expired had re-enlisted and in December returned to France serving with the Royal Engineers.

William was serving as a Private with A Company 1^st Battalion the North Staffordshire Regiment and had sailed to France on the 5^th March 1915 along with my Great Uncle Benjamin Hollins.

On 14^th January 1917, after nearly two years in France and Flanders Private William Henry Cunningham aged 26 was killed in action alongside his comrade from D Company Lance Corporal Ernest James Wood from Tooting, London.

Both are buried at the Philosophe British Military Cemetery at Mazingarbe, which lies between Bethune and Lens.

Philosophe Military Cemetry (CWGC)

The loss for the Cunningham family was as you would expect great, as this newspaper article in the Staffordshire Advertiser 12^th Jan 1918 shows

Cunningham – In loving memory of Pte. W. Cunningham (40010), 1^st North Staffordshire Regiment, killed in action Jan 14, 1917. Twelve months have gone and still miss him. Friends may think the wound has healed. But they little know the sadness deep within our hearts concealed – From his loving Father, Mother, Brother and Sisters.

Although it is unclear how William meet his death, the following story published in the Stoke Sentinel By Richard Ault  (Posted: August 29, 2016) highlights the conditions and daily danger for the men of the 1^st Battalion during their time at the Somme in August 1916. William of course was part of A company.

The 1st Battalion of the North Staffordshire Regiment was a battle hardened unit of fighting men. They had been on the Western Front for two years by the time the Somme offensive was launched.

Yet, while the less experienced troops of the Pals battalions and the Territorial Force, like the 1st/5th and the 1st/6th North Staffords, were ordered over the top on July 1, 1916; the 1st North Staffords were kept in reserve.

They first took over a section of the British front line on the Somme on August 9, 1916, near Guillemont village, a key position in the German defence system which had resisted all attempts at capture during the early phases of the Battle of the Somme.

Those defences meant the Germans were able to bring down concentrated machine gun and artillery fire onto any unit attempting to take the village.

That was the position facing the 1st North Staffords when they arrived in the lines in August, 1916. Yet their role in the fight for Guillemont would not be an especially dramatic one, their job was not to attack with rifles and Mills Bombs, as they had done many times before. Instead, they were sent out with shovels, to dig another trench.

The front line was in a poor state after weeks of fighting, and the British top brass had realised that to reduce casualties during any attack on Guillemont, the amount of space between the British and German lines must be reduced.

Their job was to dig a new trench, closer to the German lines, meaning the British attackers would have less distance to cross, and the German machine guns less time to do their murderous work.

Although, this time, the 1st North Staffords wouldn't be fighting, that didn't mean that their job was any less dangerous.

That menial task would require them to move 100 yards closer to the enemy, with its wealth of artillery and rapid fire weapons, under cover of darkness, and to dig.

The North Staffords took over the line on August from the 1st/10th (Scottish) Battalion of the Kings (Liverpool Regiment), who had made a costly and failed attack on Guillemont.

As soon as dark fell, members of the North Staffordshire battalion went out into No Man's Land to help carry back men who had been wounded during that attack.

That first night, the North Staffords were supposed to start digging the new trench, but the order came in to postpone the task. One company of men, A Company, was already in 'Teale Trench', ready to start the work. During that night Teale Trench was shelled heavily by the enemy and one soldier, Private Francis Cliffe, from Hilton, was killed – the first man of the 1st North Staffords to be killed on the Somme.

The next night, at 11.45pm, the order was given to start digging. The men of A Company went out to start the job. Only C Company would join them before dawn. The men of B Company arrived late, and D Company did not managed to get started.

It wasn't long before the noise attracted the attention of German observers based at forward listening posts. The message soon got back to the commander of the enemy artillery barrage.

The night was dark and the British worked quickly, knowing their best chance of survival was to dig as quickly as possible. The dark of night made it difficult for the enemy artillery fire to pick them out – yet that did not stop the Germans from trying.

All through the night the North Staffords worked – and all through the night they were shelled by the enemy. Sometimes the bombs would explode harmlessly in the mud. Other times shrapnel would rip into flesh and one of the soldiers would cry out and collapse into the mud.

By the end of the night, the battalion had dug 120 yards of trench. But six men had been killed during the night.

They had not been involved in a single attack or trench raid during this time. This gives some indication of the daily losses experienced by the British army.

William Henry Cunningham is remembered on the Rugeley War Memorial.

Rugeley War Memorial (photo by Allison Smith)

On a slow boat to India

James Othen married Annie Cobbold (my great grand aunt in law) in 1905 in Epsom, Surrey. They had four children Rosey (Born 1905), Mabel (1907), Alfred (born 1909) and Florence (born 1911) and in 1911 were living at 32 Folkland Hill, Dorking, with James working as a labourer.

James had been born in 1880 in Farnham, Surrey the youngest son of Charles and Elizabeth Othen. James had 4 older brothers and two older sisters. Annie Cobbold was the daughter of Alfred and Sarah Cobbold (nee Alston) and had been born in 1886 in Burnham, Essex. After marrying James the family lived in Great Bookham, Surrey where their first three children were born and then 1910/11 they moved to Dorking where Florence was born.

Annie had two older brothers Frederick (born 1874 in Braintree, Essex) and Alfred (born 1884 in Burnham, Essex). Alfred's brother in law John Joseph Graffham had been killed whilst serving in France with the 2nd Battalion The Royal West Surrey Regiment in July 1915

James had enlisted with the 5^th Reserve Battalion “The Queens” Royal West Surrey on the 5^th October 1914 aged 34 years and 6 months and was 5 feet 5 3/4 inches. He was living at 71 Orchard Rise, Dorking, Surrey and was considered physically fit. James was employed as a bricklayer's labourer at that time. 

He had been stationed in England since enlisting but on the 28^th October 1916 James, was at Devonport, embarking with the 1 / 4^th Battalion Royal West Surreys to India.

Defending from air attack

On the 4^th October 1916 Henry Renshaw was posted to the 29^th Anti-Aircraft Company of the Royal Garrison Artillery.

While the normal role of the air forces during the Great War was mainly reconnaissance for the purposes of assisting the artillery, tactical and strategic bombing, together with ground support and strafing, grew in importance. Shooting down enemy aircraft, or at least frightening them off, naturally followed as an important aspect of defence.

Henry Renshaw was my 1^st Cousin twice removed and was born in Colwich, Staffordshire in 1883, the son of Henry and Elizabeth Renshaw (nee Mills). He had three brothers, Charles (born 1877), Walter (born 1880) and Arthur (born 1888) and two sisters, Lizzie (born 1879) and Mary (born 1884).

In 1911 he was living with his parents who were farmers, his two siblings Mary and Arthur were also working on the farm. Henry was working as an Estates Clerk.

Henry married Ethel James in October 1915 at Christ Church, Stone and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery on the 11^th December 1915. They lived at 10, Taylors Lane, Rugeley, With Henry still working as an Estates Clerk at the Anglesey Estate Office in Rugeley. He was aged 31 years and 1 month when he joined the army and was 5 foot 7 inches tall.

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

Lost at the Somme

William Herbert Hollins (My third cousin once removed) was serving as a Lance Corporal with the 7^th Battalion Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry. He had enlisted in November 1915 and had been out in France since April 1916.

He was the oldest son of William and Amy Hollins (nee Saunders) and in 1916 he was just 19 Years old. His father William was working on munitions and his uncles had all joined up. Horace had been killed in April1916, Charles was still serving and George had just re-enlisted in the Royal Engineers after coming home following serving with the 6th North Staffords. His two aunt’s husbands - James Fisher, had just been killed at Hohenzollern Redoubt in October 1915 and Fred Williscroft had been discharged from the army in August 1914.

William Herbert Hollins

The battle of the Somme began on the 1^st July, with heavy losses for the attacking British forces including his half first cousin Albert Hollins. The battle dragged on throughout the following weeks and months into one of terrible attrition.
 

The 7^th DCLI were positioned in the ‘Brompton Road’ Trench, near Guillemont, which they had moved into on the 21^st August, having relieved the 3^rd Rifle Brigade and 12^th Royal Fusiliers who had ‘gained and retained’ the railway station’ after heavy fighting. They remained in this frontline trench under heavy bombardment with significant German counter attacks occurring on the 23^rd and 24^th August. The net was closing around the village and the Germans were desperate to retain this high ground, throwing artillery and ‘bombs’ at the Brompton Road line.  The DCLI’s final engagement in this area involved a heavy bombardment and follow up attack by the enemy who were targeting the supply lines to the frontline.

Bombarding the supply lines and DCLI HQ which was situated in and around the Station, plus an advance on the Brompton Road. Again the attack was repulsed and finally on the 25^th August the DCLI were relieved from the frontline and returned to Carnoy (3 miles South West of Trones Wood for R&R. 

Throughout this ‘rest’ period, the 7^th Battalion were repeatedly marching back to this sector at night to repair and rebuild trenches. The weather is noted as atrocious with persistent storms and heavy rain.

On the 29^th of August, the DCLI once again moved forward and relieved the 10^th Rifle Brigade. They had just completed a 9 hour fatigue (trench repairs) and were immediately moving straight back into action. New trenches had been dug and immediately attracted enemy fire, such that when the DCLI came up to take occupancy they found very little cover, many dead or wounded and the trenches literally ‘knee deep’ in mud.

This would have been William’s final experience as no sooner had the DCLI completed the relief of the frontline, the enemy shelling started once again.

The Battalion War diary for the night of the 30^th/31^st August reads as follows:

“Very wet night. Men very tired, many of the men developing a form of trench foot. Incessant bombardment in support and reserve trenches. Many tear or lachrymatory shells used by Hun in this area. Bombardment so heavy and general that attack by enemy was expected but did not materialise.”

It can be assumed that William lost his life during this bombardment, and due to the poor weather and terrain it’s not difficult to understand why his body remains unidentified or indeed lost.

Guillemont Station (Sept 1916)

This would have been directly behind William as he fought in the Brompton Road Trench.

William is commorated at the Thiepval Memorial on Pier and Face 6B. On the same panel are 5 comrades from the 7^th Battallion who were listed as killed on the 31^st August.

L.Cprl Edgar Fuller 15592 Age 25

Pte Ernest Came 22316

Pte Ernest Hazel Griggs 17455

Pte Archie Smith 24477 aged 27

Pte James Herbert Tullett 24347

The Coventry Evening Telegraph reported the news of William’s death on Saturday 23^rd September 1916

Mr & Mrs W. Hollins, 11 Francis Street have received official notice that their son Corpl. W.H. Hollins 23942, Duke of Cornwall LI was killed in action in France on August 30^th last. He enlisted on Nov 30, 1915 and was in France four months. Previous to joining the colours he was employed at Messrs. Matherson, Huxley and Watson Ltd.

The following notice appeared in the Coventry Evening Telegraph on the 30^th August the following year and the year after that.

Hollins – In Loving memory of Lance Corporal William Herbert Hollins, DCLI who was killed in action in France August 30^th 1916. Deeply mourned by father, mother, brothers and sisters.

He sleeps not in his native land,

But under foreign skies,

And far from those who loved him best

In a hero’s grave he lies.

With thanks to Stan Hollins who provided the original research.

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