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6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment    The 6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment was a Territorial unit with HQ at The Armoury, Stockport. A and B Coy were based at The Drill Hall, Astley Street, Stalybridge, C Coy were from Hyde, D Coy from Glossop and Hatfield, E, F and H Coys were from Stockport. They were part of the Cheshire Brigade, Welsh Division when war broke out in August 1914. They proceeded to France on the 10th of November 1914 joining 15th Brigade, 5th Division on the 17 December 1914. On the 1st of March 1915 they transferred to GHQ and took over guard and other duties at Rouen, Abbeville and Dieppe. On the 9th of January 1916 they transferred to 20th Brigade, 7th Division then on the 29th of February 1916 to 118th Brigade, in the newly arrived 39th Division to replace units who had remained in England to complete their training. On the 30th June 1916 they were in action in an attack near Richebourg l'Avoue with the Sussex battalions suffered heavy casualties. They were in action during the Battles of the Somme, including, the fighting on the Ancre, The Battle of Thiepval Ridge, The Battle of the Ancre heights and the capture of Schwaben Reddoubt and Stuff Trench as well as The Battle of the Ancre. In 1917 they fought in The Battle of Pilkem Ridge, The Battle of Langemarck, The Battle of the Menin Road Ridge, The Battle of Polygon Wood and The Second Battle of Passchendaele. In 1918 they were in action at The Battle of St Quentin, The actions at the Somme crossings, The Battle of Bapaume and The Battle of Rosieres before moving to Flanders. They took part n The fighting on Wytschaete Ridge, The First and Second Battle of Kemmel and The Battle of the Scherpenberg. On the 28th of May 1918 they transferred to 75th Brigade, 25th Division and were in action at The Battle of the Aisne, on the 17th of June the battalion absorbed men of the 11th Cheshires, which was reduced to cadre. On the 8th of July 1918 they transferred to 21st Brigade, 30th Division. They were in action during the Advance in Flanders and by the Armistice had crossed the River Scheldt with advanced units reaching the line between Ghoy and la Livarde, north west of Lessines. In January 1919 30th Division took up duty at the Base Ports of Dunkirk, Calais, Boulogne and Etaples and demobilisation began. 21st of August 1913 Lecture 11th of December 1914  Battalions Strengthened   14th of December 1914  French on the Offensive   15th of December 1914  Operations Resumed   16th of December 1914  Instruction   17th Dec 1914 Wet   17th December 1914 Reliefs 18th Dec 1914 Artillery Active   26th of December 1914 Messines Square Targetted    24th of January 1915 Machine Gun Silenced   24th January 1915 Reliefs   28th of January 1915 Active Snipers    1st of February 1915  No 7 Trench Hit 9th of February 1915 German Post Located   13th of February 1915 Trenches Maintained   18th of February 1915 Grenades Cause Confusion   19th of February 1915 Three Airships?   21st of February 1915   22nd of February 1915 Cheering and Rockets   23rd of February 1915  B Sector Shelled 24th of February 1915 Snipers Checked   25th of February 1915  Trench Mortar Explodes   27th of February 1915 Brigade Relief   28th of February 1915  Artillery Reorganised   1st of March 1915  Quiet   4th of March 1915 Enemy Nervous   6th of March 1915  No Hostile Patrols    16th March 1915  Information 18th of March 1915 Trench Mortars 21st of March 1915 Intelligence 22nd August 1915 Order of battle. 16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme 1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets 11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment 10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens 8th Feb 1916 Working Parties   9th February 1916 Call Ups 10th Feb 1916 Working Parties 14th Feb 1916 Poor Conditions 16th Feb 1916 Poor Conditions 19th Feb 1916 Wet Day 21st Feb 1916 Working Parties 23rd Feb 1916 Stand To 6th Mar 1916 Orders 2nd Apr 1916 Shelling 6th Apr 1916 Change of Billets 14th Apr 1916 Change of Billets 27th Apr 1916 Inspection 1st May 1916 Reliefs 13th May 1916 Reliefs 8th Jun 1916 Quiet 10th Jun 1916 Heavy Rain   14th Jun 1916 Bad Weather 19th Jun 1916 Baths 9th Jul 1916 Trench Work 18th Jul 1916 Bombardment 10th Aug 1916 Reliefs   13th Aug 1916 On the March 27th Aug 1916 Patrols 1st Sep 1916 Trench Raid 6th Sep 1916 Gas Shells   7th Sep 1916 Working Parties   11th Sep 1916 Working Parties   15th Sep 1916 Trench Raid   16th Sep 1916 Shelling   20th Sep 1916 Shelling   26th Sep 1916 Trench Raid 23rd Oct 1916 Fatigues 26th Oct 1916 Fatigues 28th Oct 1916 Artillery Active 19th Nov 1916 On the Move 25th Nov 1916 Training 29th Nov 1916 On the March 7th Dec 1916 Trench Work 9th Dec 1916 Shelling 11th Dec 1916 In Reserve   24th Dec 1916 Reliefs 1st June 1918 withdrawn from outpost 1st June 1918 Wihdrawn from line. 1st June 1918 Reorganisation 2nd June 1918 Defensive Line 3rd June 1918 Night Relief 4th June 1918 Shelling 5th June 1918 Enemy Active 6th June 1918 Heavy Shelling 7th June 1918 Quiet 9th June 1918 Reliefs 10th June 1918 Reorganisation 11th June 1918 In Reserve 18th June 1918 Reliefs 19th June 1918 On the Move 20th June 1918 Reorganisation 21st June 1918 Training 22nd June 1918 Training 23rd June 1918 Church Parade 24th June 1918 Training 25th June 1918 Musketry 26th June 1918 Training 27th June 1918 Training 28th June 1918 Training 29th June 1918 Musketry 30th June 1918 Church Parade 1st July 1918 On the March 2nd July 1918 On the March 3rd July 1918 On the Move 4th July 1918 On the Move 5th of July 1918  5th July 1918 Training 6th of July 1918  6th July 1918 Training 7th July 1918 On the Move 8th July 1918 Bivouack 9th July 1918 On the March 10th July 1918 Wet Day 11th July 1918 Training 12th July 1918 Baths 13th July 1918 Recce 14th July 1918 Church Parade 15th July 1918 Working Parties 16th July 1918 Thunderstorms 17th July 1918 Practice 18th July 1918 Training 19th July 1918 Working Parties 20th July 1918 Practice 21st July 1918 Working Parties 22nd July 1918 Working Parties 23rd July 1918 Working Parties   24th July 1918 Reliefs   25th July 1918 Training 26th July 1918 Training 27th July 1918 Inspection 28th July 1918 Church Parade 29th July 1918 Training 30th July 1918 Training 31st July 1918 Training 1st August 1918 Training 2nd August 1918 On the March 3rd August 1918 Training 4th August 1918 Anniversary Service 5th August 1918 Training 6th August 1918 Inspection 7th August 1918 In Support   8th August 1918 Reliefs 9th August 1918 Trench Work 10th August 1918 Working Parties 11th August 1918 Artillery Active 12th August 1918 Quiet 13th August 1918 Artillery Active 14th August 1918 Reliefs 15th August 1918 Bivouack   15th August 1918 In Billets 16th August 1918 Training and Working Parties 17th August 1918 Training and Working Parties 18th August 1918 Baths 19th August 1918 Baths 20th August 1918 Into Position 21st August 1918 Attack Made   22nd August 1918 Positions Held 23rd August 1918 Reliefs   24th August 1918 In Support 25th August 1918 In Support 26th August 1918 Artillery Active 27th August 1918 Reliefs 28th August 1918 Quiet 29th August 1918 Poor Weather 30th August 1918 Withdrawal 31st August 1918 Advance   1st September 1918 On the March   2nd September 1918 On the March   3rd September 1918 Construction 4th September 1918 Training 5th September 1918 Training 6th September 1918 New Billets 7th September 1918 Construction 8th September 1918 Church Parade 9th September 1918 New Camp 10th September 1918 Training 11th September 1918 Training 12th September 1918 Diary 13th September 1918 Diary 14th September 1918 Diary 15th September 1918 Diary 16th September 1918 Diary 17th September 1918 Diary 18th September 1918  19th September 1918 Diary 20th September 1918 Diary 22th September 1918 Diary 23rd September 1918 Diary 24th September 1918 Diary 25th September 1918 Diary 26th September 1918 Diary 27th September 1918 Diary 28th September 1918 Diary 29th September 1918 Diary 30th September 1918 Diary 1st October 1918 Into support 2nd October 1918 In Support 3rd October 1918 In support 4th October 1918 Diary 5th October 1918 Diary 6th October 1918 Diary 7th October 1918 Diary 8th October 1918 Diary 9th October 1918 Diary 10th October 1918 Diary 11th October 1918 Diary 12th October 1918 Diary 13th October 1918 On the Move 14th October 1918 Artillery Active 15th October 1918 Reliefs 16th October 1918 Bivouack 17th October 1918 On the March 18th October 1918 On the March 19th October 1918 On the March 20th October 1918 Attack Made 23rd October 1918 Standing to 24th October 1918 Influenza 25th October 1918 Standing to 26th October 1918 On the Move 27th October 1918 Patrols 28th October 1918 Patrols 29th October 1918 Artillery Active 30th October 1918 Artillery Active 31st October 1918 Incorrect Reports 1st November 1918 Reliefs 2nd November 1918 In Billets 3rd November 1918 Sports 4th November 1918 Training 5th November 1918 Orders Cancelled 6th November 1918 Lectures 7th November 1918 Training 8th November 1918 Training 9th November 1918 On the March 10th November 1918 On the March 11th November 1918 On the March 12th November 1918 Training 13th November 1918 Training 14th November 1918 Training 15th November 1918 On the March 16th November 1918 On the March 17th November 1918 Church Parade 18th November 1918 Baths 19th November 1918 Training 20th November 1918 Education 21th November 1918 Classes 22nd November 1918 Inspection 23rd November 1918 Training 24th November 1918 Church Parade 25th November 1918 Inspection 26th November 1918 Training 27th November 1918 Lectures 28th November 1918 Baths 29th November 1918 On the March 30th November 1918 On the March 1st December 1918 On the March 2nd December 1918 On the March 3rd December 1918 On the March 4th December 1918 Interior Economy 5th December 1918 Education 6th December 1918 Sports 7th December 1918 Training 8th December 1918 Church Parade 9th December 1918 Training 10th December 1918 Training 11th December 1918 Working Parties 12th December 1918 Training 13th December 1918 Training 14th December 1918 Sports 15th December 1918 Colours 16th December 1918 Football Match 17th December 1918 Working Parties 18th December 1918 Training 19th December 1918 Workimg Parties 20th December 1918 Football 21st December 1918 Training 22nd December 1918 Church Parade 23rd December 1918 Football 24th December 1918 Working Parties 25th December 1918 Festivities 26th December 1918 At Rest 27th December 1918 Working Parties 28th December 1918 Route March 29th December 1918 Diary 30th December 1918 Diary 31st December 1918 Diary 1st January 1919 Diary 2nd January 1919 Diary 3rd January 1919 On the March 4th January 1919 On the March 5th January 1919 Church Parade 6th January 1919 Inspection 7th January 1919 Games 8th January 1919 Route March 9th January 1919 Interior Economy 10th January 1919 Baths 11th January 1919 Working Parties 12th January 1919 Working Parties 13th January 1919 Move 14th January 1919 On the Move 15th January 1919 In Camp 16th January 1919 In Camp 17th January 1919 In Camp 18th January 1919 In Camp 19th January 1919 Church Parade 20th January 1919 Drill 21st January 1919 Drill 22nd January 1919 Drill 23rd January 1919 Baths 24th January 1919 Inspection 25th January 1919 Working Parties 26th January 1919 Church Parade 27th January 1919 Working Parties 28th January 1919 Working Parties 29th January 1919 Working Parties 30th January 1919 Working Parties 31st January 1919 Guard Duty 1st February 1919 Church Parades 2nd February 1919 Guard Duty 3rd February 1919 Guard Duty 4th February 1919 Guard Duty 5th February 1919 Guard Duty 6th February 1919 Guard Duty 7th February 1919 Guard Duty 8th February 1919 Church Parade 9th February 1919 Inspection 10th February 1919 Docks 11th February 1919 Sports 12th February 1919 Guard Duty 13th February 1919 Working Parties 14th February 1919 Concert 15th February 1919 Church Parade 16th February 1919 Patrols 17th February 1919 Guard Duty 18th February 1919 Guard Duty 19th February 1919 Guard Duty 20th February 1919 Guard Duty 21st February 1919 Sports 22nd February 1919 Church Parade 23rd February 1919 Football 24th February 1919 Guard Duty 25th February 1919 Guard Duty 26th February 1919 Guard Duty 27th February 1919 Guard Duty 28th February 1919 Guard Duty 1st March 1919 Guard Duty 2nd March 1919 Sport 3rd March 1919 Docks 4th March 1919 Docks 5th March 1919 Sport 6th March 1919 Award 7th March 1919 Guard Duty 8th March 1919 Guard Duty 9th March 1919 Church Parade 10th March 1919 Training 11th March 1919 Training 12th March 1919 Lecture 13th March 1919 Drill 14th March 1919 Lecture 15th March 1919 Inspection 16th March 1919 Gymkhana 17th March 1919 Drill 18th March 1919 Preparation 19th March 1919 Appreciation 20th March 1919 On the March 21st March 1919 Cleaning up 22nd March 1919 Training 23rd March 1919 Church Parade 24th March 1919 Training 25th March 1919 Training 26th March 1919 Training 27th March 1919 Training 28th March 1919 Training 29th March 1919 Training 30th March 1919 Football 31st March 1919 Training 1st April 1919 Guard Duty 2nd April 1919 Guard Duty 3rd April 1919 Classes 4th April 1919 Departure 5th April 1919 Church Parade 6th April 1919 Training 7th April 1919 Training 8th April 1919 Training 9th April 1919 Appreciation 10th April 1919 Training 11th April 1919 Training 12th April 1919 Church Parade 13th April 1919 Training 14th April 1919 Guard Duty 15th April 1919 Guard Duty 16th April 1919 Training 17th April 1919 Arrival 18th April 1919 At Rest 19th April 1919 Rest 20th April 1919 Church Parade 21st April 1919 Rest 22nd April 1919 Guard Duty 23rd April 1919 Training 24th April 1919 Training 25th April 1919 Appreciation 26th April 1919 Guards 27th April 1919 Church Parade 28th April 1919 Sport 29th April 1919 Training 30th April 1919 Training 1st May 1919 Guard Duty 2nd May 1919 Guard Duty 3rd May 1919 Training 4th May 1919 Church Parade 5th May 1919 Training 6th May 1919 Guard Duty 7th May 1919 Guard Duty 8th May 1919 Guard Duty 9th May 1919 Guard Duty 10th May 1919 Guard Duty 11th May 1919 Church Parade 12th May 1919 Guard Duty 13th May 1919 On the March 14th May 1919 Guard Duty 15th May 1919 Guard Duty 16th May 1919 Guard Duty 17th May 1919 Guard Duty 18th May 1919 Church Parade 19th May 1919 Guard Duty 20th May 1919 Training 21st May 1919 Guard Duty 22nd May 1919 Guard Duty 23rd May 1919 Guard Duty 24th May 1919 Guard Duty 25th May 1919 Church Parade 26th May 1919 Guard Duty 27th May 1919 Guard Duty 28th May 1919 Guard Duty 29th May 1919 Guard Duty 30th May 1919 Guard Duty 31st May 1919 Guard Duty 1st June 1919 Guard Duty 2nd June 1919 Guard Duties 3rd June 1919 Guard Duties 4th June 1919 Guard Duties 5th June 1919 Guard Duties 6th June 1919 Guard Duties 7th June 1919 Guard Duties 8th June 1919 Church Parade 9th June 1919 Guard Duties 10th June 1919 Guard Duties 11th June 1919 Guard Duties 12th June 1919 Guard Duties 13th June 1919 Guard Duties 14th June 1919 Guard Duties 15th June 1919 Church Parade 16th June 1919 Guard Duties 17th June 1919 Guard Duties 18th June 1919 Church Parade 19th June 1919 Guard Duties 20th June 1919 Guard Duties 21st June 1919 Guard Duties 22nd June 1919 Guard Duties 23rd June 1919 Guard Duties 24th June 1919 Guard Duties 25th June 1919 Guard Duties 26th June 1919 Guard Duties 27th June 1919 Guard Duties 28th June 1919 Guard Duties 29th June 1919 Guard Duties 30th June 1919 Guard Duties 1st July 1919 Guard Duties 2nd July 1919 Guard Duties 3rd July 1919 Guard Duties 4th July 1919 Guard Duties 5th July 1919 Guard Duties 6th July 1919 Church Parade 7th July 1919 Guard Duties 8th July 1919 Guard Duties 9th July 1919 Guard Duties 10th July 1919 Guard Duties 11th July 1919 Guard Duty 12th July 1919 Guard Duty 13th July 1919 Guard Duty 14th July 1919 Guard Duty 15th July 1919 Guard Duty 16th July 1919 Guard Duty 17th July 1919 Guard Duty 18th July 1919 Guard Duty 19th July 1919 Guard Duty 20th July 1919 Church Parade 21st July 1919 Guard Duty 22nd July 1919 Guard Duty 23rd July 1919 Guard Duty 24th July 1919 Guard Duty 25th July 1919 Guard Duty 26th July 1919 Guard Duty 27th July 1919 Church 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add it here. Want to know more about 6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment? There are:5759 items tagged 6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment available in our Library   These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War. Those known to have served with 6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment during the Great War 1914-1918. Andrew Charles Herbert. Pte. (d.1st Mar 1917) Callison F. H.. Lt. Clarke MM,DCM. James. WO. Coyle Ian. L/Cpl Davies W.. Pte. (d.3rd Sep 1917) Gosset Claude Butler. Maj. (d.15th Feb 1916) Hammonds Albert Edward. Pte. (d.2nd September 1918) Howard James Stanley. A/Cpl. Lee MC. Jack. Capt. (d.31st July 1917) Matley Thomas. Pte. Mullins Harry. Pte. (d.13th Nov 1916) Murphy MM. Harry. Pte. (d.31st Aug 1918) Nield Allen. Pte. Peters Nicholas Owen. Pte. Price J.. Pte. (d.4th Oct 1918) Procter Harold. Pte. (d.20th Sep 1917) Whittaker George. Cpl. Wood William Arthur. Pte. All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List Records of 6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment from other sources. The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website. 1st of September 2024 marks 25 years since the launch of the Wartime Memories Project. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over this time. Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the Great War? Our Library contains many many diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. Looking for help with Family History Research?    Please see Family History FAQ's Please note: We are unable to provide individual research. Can you help? The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors. If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web. If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation. Announcements 19th Nov 2024     Please note we currently have a massive backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 264989 your submission is still in the queue, please do not resubmit. Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to the Great War. If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them. The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted. World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great battalion regiment artillery Did you know? We also have a section on World War Two. and a Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations.   Pte. Albert Edward Hammonds 16th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers (d.2nd September 1918) Albert Hammonds enlisted in the 6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment in October 1914. He was killed in action on the Somme in 1918. Elaine Glover Add to this record.   Lt. F. H. Callison 6th Btn. Cheshire Regiment Lt. F. H. Callison served with the 6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment and the Machine Gun Corps. Keith Bradley Add to this record.   Pte. Nicholas Owen Peters 11th Btn. Cheshire Regiment Nicholas Peters was born on 14 Dec 1888, the son of Nicholas and Catherine Peters of Seacombe, Cheshire. Before joining up, he was a ship’s cook with the Allen Line steamship Co. of Liverpool. He enlisted on 10th of September 1914 at Wallasey and joined the 11th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment on 18th of September 1914. After training, he transferred to 75th Brigade Headquarters in Aug 1915. He arrived in France in Sept 1915 with the 11th Battalion. In June 1918, he was absorbed into the 1/6th Battalion. On 25th of August 1918 he received a gunshot wound to the jaw and was transferred back to hospitals in the UK. He was discharged on 11 Feb 1919. He was awarded a military pension later that year of 19 shillings and 3 pence. He married Florence Hazelhurst in 1925. They were both living in Wallasey, Cheshire in 1939. His occupation was canteen cook. He died in July 1971, aged 82. Tom McMahon Add to this record.   Pte. Thomas Matley 6th Btn. Cheshire Regiment Thomas Matley (also Matkey) was my grandfather. According to his medal record, he was with 6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment but it appears he also served with 8th Battalion. Stephen Bridgehouse Add to this record.   Pte. Harry Mullins 1st/6th Btn. Cheshire Regiment (d.13th Nov 1916) Harry Mullins enlisted underage when he was 15 years old and still a schoolboy. He'd had a minor skirmish with the Law and was told they would forget it as long as he joined a club such as the Boys Brigade or the Scout Movement and kept out of further trouble. Harry decided that he'd enlist instead. His mother tried to get him sent home as he was underage but because he'd been on the front line for a while and was deemed an excellent soldier they decided that he'd be staying put. Harry died on Monday 13th of November 1916 in France, aged 18. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Nancy Morris Add to this record.   WO. James Clarke MM,DCM. 1/6th Btn. Cheshire Regiment My Grandfather James Clarke served with the 1/6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment. He enlisted in 1912/13 and was a Territorial pre war. Both his brothers in law were killed in action, Charles Chandler with the KRRC and John Walker with the Cheshire Regiment, both were from Hyde. His brother George Clarke also served. Richard Clarke Add to this record.   Capt. Jack Lee MC. 6th Btn. Cheshire Regiment (d.31st July 1917) My grandfather, Jack Lee, was the eightth child of William Lee, who from poor beginnings had founded a successful Manchester Clothing Company, Kay & Lee Ltd., and his wife Isabella. At the outbreak of war Jack had joined the Manchester Regiment with his older brother Bert (who was killed at Gallipoli on Christmas Day 1915), but he then trained to be an officer and was commissioned into the Cheshire Regiment in January 1915. He was posted to Aberystwyth for training where that summer he met and fell in love with a university student, Nancy Erskine. Shortly after they met, her brother Tommy was killed in action on the Western front at Hooge in Belgium. In an act of incredible courage, he had tried to break into a German pill-box with an axe. He had previously been awarded the Military Cross for bravery, and his family believe that his final act was recommended (without success) for a Victoria Cross. At Christmas Jack bought Nancy an engagement ring. They were married the following year, and on 15th February 1917 she gave birth to William Jack Barrie Lee, my father. Jack was able to take leave for the week of the birth before leaving Carlisle when the baby was two days old. He spent a couple of days at the family home in Wilmslow before travelling south to rejoin his regiment. However, his sailing was cancelled due to enemy submarines in the channel and he was able to make the lengthy journey back to Carlisle for another brief visit, finally sailing for France on 24th February 1917. Jack Lee never saw his son again. Five months later the Cheshire Regiment took part in the Third Ypres offensive which began on 31st July with an action known as the Battle of Pilckem Ridge. In a letter written to Isabella Lee after he was released from captivity at the end of the war, Corporal F Burch of the 1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment described the events of that morning: Streatham SW 17/1/19 Dear Mrs Lee, I hope you will not think badly of me for not answering your lovely letters before, but really my time seems so full that I have had to neglect my correspondence. Miss Rendell certainly did wonder why you had not answered her letter, but was sure you had a good reason for it. We are both deeply sorry that it was the death of your sister-in-law, and pray that God in all his goodness has given you strength to bear this additional sorrow. (A reference to Aunt Bessie who had passed away in December 1918.) I am so pleased that you liked the photo group so much, the dear old Dad has gone nearly white-haired since it was taken but Miss Rendell and myself have not altered in the least. Now to the best of my ability I will tell you about that fateful July 31st. Some of the things that happened I have forgotten, but the majority are of course impressed on my memory. You know of course that the 6th Cheshires and 1st Herts were brigaded together, so that by reading what my regiment did you will know what Captain Lee's did. Our Brigade had to go over last of all in the Division as our objective, called the Langemark Line, so that we had to pass through the first two Brigades on our way. At about 4.15 am we received our order to go over the top, and away we went. The sight which met our eyes I shall never forget, but it was also one which I cannot describe. All went well with us until we reached the half-way line, where we had to rest two hours just behind a ridge, after which we had a rather warm time, but with only two casualties. We had to take Kitcheners Wood which the Germans were shelling heavily but we got through all right. A little further on we came to the River Steenbech which we crossed with only two more casualties although we were swept with heavy machine gun fire from the right flank. From that point we had to advance in open order, the Black Watch on the left, Herts in the centre, Cheshires on the right, and as I was in charge of the extreme right section in our regiment, I was in touch with the Cheshires all the way afterwards. Our next job was to capture the village of St Julien, the Herts and the Cheshires taking a half each, and it is needless to say that we got it. But now our real task was in front of us, the taking of the Langemark Line, and we saw that it was a stiff task for we had to advance over 500 yards of completely flat open country and the trench was in the form of a semi-circle, simply packed with Germans. We were immediately subjected to severe machine gun and rifle fire, and to make matters worse our own barrage was falling all amongst us and not touching the Germans. But even then all might have been well if one single British aeroplane had been above us to see what was happening. We all looked in vain though and kept on pegging away. Hundreds had fallen or were falling, but we managed to get within 50 yards with every officer shot and almost every NCO. It was just before that that I saw your son lying in a shell hole, a shallow one, but strict orders had been issued that we were not to stay and assist wounded men as it would hinder our advance, so I had to go on. When we found we hadn't enough men to continue, we thought that the best thing to do was to get into shell holes and wait for the supports to come up, but on looking behind us to see where they were we could see only Germans - they had got in behind us and cut us off. Just at that point the order every man for himself was passed down the line so we started trying to get back, at first in a group but men were falling so fast that it soon became ones and twos. At one place there were three of us in a small shell hole and we decided to try for one farther back. The other two were killed and I reached the hole alone, almost falling on top of your son who said hello corporal straight away. I set to work to see what was wrong with him and found he had been hit in the small of the back in the region of the right kidney. The wound had stopped bleeding but I could see he was badly hit internally and by the shape of the wound it was shrapnel. He told me he felt no pain whatsoever but on looking into his face I saw he was too far gone to feel anything so I cut his equipment off and removed a khaki covered steel plate which the shrapnel had penetrated, and then made a pillow for his head out of his respirator so that he could lie as comfortable as possible. Then I saw that he had begun to write a letter to his mother, it was on the back of a torn photograph of German trenches taken by one of our aeroplane observers. He finished the letter but the latter half was unintelligible and I only glanced at it as I put it in my pocket. I cannot remember any actual sentences but I know it was to the effect that he was thinking you at the time, that he had done his bit and you were to have the M.C. he had won at Ypres a month before. About his wife and child I saw nothing. I did not know he was married until I received your letter in Germany, but he may well have put a message for them in the part I could not read through. If I had had the time I might have been able to decipher it. He told me to take the little gold ring off his little finger (I remember it was so tiny I would not go on me, so I put it in my purse and if I remember rightly it had the date 1915 on the inside). Next he asked me for a drink and when he had had that he told me to take his revolver, field glasses and an electric torch, and also a couple of correspondence books which were in his pack, and send them all with the ring and his letter to you. He then asked me if we had taken the final objective as it seemed to be so much quieter, which it was - I told him we were waiting for reinforcements to come up first. More than once he asked me for a drink, and repeatedly said he felt no pain. I don't think he did but he was so brave I could have cried over him. While I was with him the Germans singled us out, and one big shell burst within a foot of my head, but by a miracle we both escaped. Bullets flew all round us but we were unhurt by them, and my belief to his day is that your son was hit by one of our own shells. So many were the Germans couldn,t hit us. After I had been about a quarter of an hour with him I looked down to see that he had gone and so peacefully that I had not noticed it. After that I tried the almost impossible task of getting back and, getting into one hole after another, I at last found a comrade in the shape of a lance corporal of the Cheshires. We stayed together shooting Germans all around us until four of them got quite close without our noticing them. We immediately jumped out after them to make a fight for it and actually reached them before we saw there were scores of Germans lying in shell holes all around us. The Cheshire with me took the rifle out of my hands almost before I knew it and I remember I laughed and he and I shook hands. The Germans (they were Saxons) were jolly decent and only took your son's revolver from me, but everything else I had to leave behind except the ring and letter in my pocket. I saw a few more men captured round about but you will be pleased to know that none of us put our hands up. We were escorted through no man's land and along a trench to some headquarters. Here an officer who spoke excellent English was joking with us so, being afraid everything would be taken off me, I asked his advice with regard to the letter and the ring. He was full of sympathy and said he would see that you got them within three weeks if I left them with him. I could see that he was speaking the truth so I gave them to him, writing a letter to you myself to go with them. Your address I memorised and I was not likely to forget it. We had to be moved quickly after that as our gunners began knocking the whole place to pieces with high explosives and my belief is that he must have been killed because I know he meant to keep his word, that is probably the reason why the ring and letter did not reach you. These are all the facts I can at present think of Mrs Lee of what happened on 31st July 1917, and I tender you my deepest sympathy on losing such a brave tender son and to Mrs Jack Lee on losing a husband who was loved so much by his men. All that I have written is true, not just to show you what I did, but to tell you everything that happened as it happened, for your son's men went through I as well as myself. A man of the 6th Cheshire whose name I have forgotten but who lives near you was captured on the same day as myself, and he told me all about Captain Lee, saying how he was well loved by his men and considered the best officer in the battalion. Any questions you like to ask I shall be only too pleased to answer to the best of my ability, and please do not think you are causing me any trouble. I am sorry I cannot give you a definite date just now for my visit to Wilmslow as I am awaiting orders for my discharge but be assured I shall manage to see you during February. With sincere regards from Miss Rendell and myself, I remain, Yours sincerely, F.G.Burch 1st Herts Regiment PS I may mention that only one sergeant, 2 corporals and 56 men out of my regiment and only one corporal and myself with the men were captured. Everyone else (including officers) were killed. Robert Lee Add to this record.   Pte. Allen Nield 6th Btn. E Coy. Cheshire Regiment Taken from postcards to his brother and sister. E.Company, 6th battalion, Cheshire Regt. Territorial bat. Allen Nield. (WR/203603) 12th August 1914 We are all packed up for a 12 mile march to Church Stretton tomorrow, starting possibly in the dark (eg 3.30 am) Saturday. We might find tents (up or down or none at all). We have to be ready to kip under hedges with nothing but what each man carries in shape of food and shelter. Food is good and plentiful but rough. Yrs Allen. 1915 photo of Fountainblue Tuesday 16th. We are up near the scene of the advance near La Bassee and have just been engaged in clearing the wounded from where they lay in the open. Some since Wednesday Our forces captured 3 lines of trenches in 12 minutes but paid a hellish price. The shell fire here is horrible. I am going back to barracks today. Allen. S Rayner Add to this record.   Pte. Harry Murphy MM. 6th Battalion Cheshire Regiment (d.31st Aug 1918) Harry Murphy's original service number, 2337, suggests that he was a pretty war territorial or enlisted in the first few days of war breaking out. At some point in his service, Harry won the Military Medal although it is not know when he undertook his act of bravery but he did receive a letter from the general to express his "appreciation and gratitude of his gallantry and devotion to duty when you preformed admirable work as Battalion runner under the most difficult and dangerous conditions". Harry's brother, James Murphy, was also awarded the Military Medal in June 1918 but, unfortunately, there is no account for when he undertook his act of bravery. On 28th of August 1918, Harry and James were with the Battalion in front line trenches at Locre, 10 kilometres south west of the town centre of Ypres. The Battalion's War Diary only records "Situation very quiet. Weather very inclement". What probably happened during the day is that an enemy shell landed in the trench killing a lieutenant and wounding 7 other including Harry and James. Although from personal records they say that "as they were marching to the front line a shell exploded and cut through the line of men killing the lieutenant and then wounding the men behind. Although it is unknown how accurate this is. However we do know that the shrapnel landed in James' side and wounded him but miraculously managed to survive. However, Harry received shrapnel in his foot and was excavated 30 kilometres to a casualty clearing station in the town of Arneke where military surgeons amputated his foot. A letter for a sister at the clearing station said that there was little hope of him surviving. And on the 31st of August 1918 Harry died from gangrene. He is buried at Arneke British Cemetery. Add to this record.   Cpl. George Whittaker 6th Btn. Cheshire Regiment My grandfather, George Whittaker, previously served in the Indian Army and during WW1 signed up with the 6th Cheshire Regiment at St Margaret's Camp, Heaton Park, Manchester. My mother told me that he was poison gassed in France in 1918 and came to convalesce at Dalmeney, Ramsey, Isle of Man. He went on to live in Hightown, near Southport, and, because of his health, had to work outside as a gardener. Sheila Macaulay Add to this record.   L/Cpl Ian Coyle 6th Cheshire Regiment I have an official copy of Musketry Regulations Part 1. 1909, reprinted in 1914. There is a stamp: '6th Reserve Bn. The Cheshire Regiment Orderly Room'. Hand written inside is 'l/c Coyle 3145 6th Chesire Regt. Ian McEwan Add to this record.   Pte. Harold Procter 1/6 Btn. Cheshire Regiment (d.20th Sep 1917) Pte. Harold Procter served with the 1/6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment and died on 20th September 1917. adrian booth Add to this record.   A/Cpl. James Stanley Howard 1/6th Btn Cheshire Regiment My grandfather James Howard enlisted in the Cheshire Regiment Army Reserve on 13 Dec 1909. Between that date and the outbreak of the First World War he attended various annual training camps, during one of which he was promoted to lance corporal on 20 May 1914. He was mobilized into 1st Battalion on 5 Aug 1914 and promoted to acting corporal on 3 October 1914. Shortly after arriving in France he was captured at a place called Violaines, near La Basse and was confirmed as a POW on 22nd Oct 1914. Details of his units capture can be found in "The History of the Great War" by Arthur Crookenden (Col. of Rgt.) pages 28 & 29. He spent the remainder of the war in various Prison of War camps as listed below. The dates and places were supplied by the International Red Cross Committee: 16 Jan 1915 Wahn, 19 Jul 1916 Merseberg, 4 Sep 1916 Wittenberg, 25 Jan 1917 AltenGrabow, still there on 10 Feb 1917, 21 Mar 1917 Magdeburg/Sud (IRCC quote 'Hilfskrkanst' as part of the camp name) Detailed as arriving in England on 18 Nov 1918 on the SS "Willochra" on an undated list. Having returned to England he was transferred to Army Reserve on 18 Feb 1919 and then discharged from the Army on 31 Mar 1920. Having experienced the conditions of the Prisoner of War camps one would expect him to have settled for a civilian existence but he re-enlisted into Section D, Army Reserve at Chester on 28 Mar 1922 with Army number 4118343, rank - Private. He was finally discharged on 27 Mar 1926. He re-enlisted yet again into the Territorial Army (Royal Artillery) with No. 4118343) on 27 Oct 1938. Embodied 25 Jun 1939, Disembodied 20 Jul 1939, Embodied 24 Aug 1939. Transferred to Cheshire Regiment and posted to 8th Home Counties Defence Battalion 24 Jul 1940 (late redesignated 30th Battalion). Posted to No. 2 Company 27 Jun 1942. Attached to G setion, 165 Provost Company as Cook 17 Nov 1942. Attachment ceased 28 Sep 1943 Posted to 2nd Battalion 2 Feb 1944 Posted to 38 Reinforcement Holding Unit 5 Apr 1944 Posted to 35 Reinforcement Holding Unit 12 Apr 1944 Posted to 24 Machine Gun Training Centre 30 Apr 1944 Posted to No. 4 Army Selection Centre 14 Aug 1944 Discharged again on 27 Aug 1944 as his services were no longer required. Having survived through two wars he passed away on 5 Feb 1966 as a result of being hit by a car whilst crossing the road. Harold Keith Howard Add to this record. Recomended Reading. Available at discounted prices.

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