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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment

2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment



12th Aug 1914 1st Kings Liverpool and 2nd South Staffords embark for France  The 1st Battalion, King’s Liverpool Regiment and the 2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment, embarked onboard the SS. Cawdor Castle at Southampton and set sail for Le Harve at 8:00 pm.

13th Aug 1914 1st Kings Liverpool and 2nd South Staffords arrive in France  The 1st Battalion, King’s Liverpool Regiment and the 2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment, disembark from the SS. Cawdor Castle at Le Harve to a joyous welcome. They march from Le Harve Docks to their entraining point, boarding the train which arrived at 2:00 pm.

21st Aug 1914 A Soft Spot in Iron

21st Aug 1914 On the March

22nd Aug 1914 On the March

23rd Aug 1914 On the March

24th Aug 1914 Artillery Duel

24th Aug 1914 Withdrawal

25th Aug 1914 On the March

26th Aug 1914 On the March

27th Aug 1914 Flank Guard

28th Aug 1914 Holding Bridge

29th Aug 1914 Suspected Spies

30th Aug 1914 March through Thick Woods

31st Aug 1914 On the March

5th Sep 1914 On the March

6th Sep 1914 Brigade in Reserve

8th Sep 1914 River Crossed

9th Sep 1914 Advance

10th Sep 1914 In Action

14th Sep 1914 Advance

15th Sep 1914 Line Extended

20th Sep 1914 Under Shellfire

26th Sep 1914 Holding the Line

3rd Oct 1914 Order

5th Oct 1914 Shelling

6th Oct 1914 Digging Trenches

15th Oct 1914 On the March

18th Oct 1914 Ready to Move

21st Oct 1914 On the March  location map

26th Oct 1914 Under Fire

27th Oct 1914 In Action

1st Nov 1914 Reliefs

5th Nov 1914 Heavy Shelling

7th Nov 1914 In Support

9th Nov 1914 Reliefs

11th Nov 1914 Shelling

12th Nov 1914 Enemy Advance

15th Nov 1914 Holding the Line  location map

30th Nov 1914 Admitted to Hospital

12th Dec 1914 Thin Red Line

26th Dec 1914 In the Trenches

4th Jan 1915 Reliefs  location map

6th Jan 1915 Reliefs  location map

8th Jan 1915 Reliefs

10th Jan 1915 Reliefs  location map

12th Jan 1915 Reliefs

3rd Feb 1915 Reliefs  location map

22nd Feb 1915 Trench Raid

10th Mar 1915 Diversionary attack  location map

10th Mar 1915 Attack Made

20th Mar 1915 An Exchange of Verse

8th May 1915 Enemy attempts to blow up trenches

16th May 1915 Gun Retreived

17th May 1915 In Support

12th Jul 1915 Sports

11th Aug 1915 Reliefs

15th Aug 1915 Reliefs  location map

19th Aug 1915 Reorganisation

1st Sep 1915 Orders to Get up Close

2nd Sep 1915 On the March

3rd Sep 1915 On the March

4th Sep 1915 To Take Possitions

5th Sep 1915 Refugees

6th Sep 1915 On the March

7th Sep 1915 Improvised Rations

8th Sep 1915 Enemy Engaged

8th Sep 1915 Reliefs Complete  location map

11th Sep 1915 Nasty Attentions

12th Sep 1915 Reliefs  location map

16th Sep 1915 Reliefs

19th Sep 1915 Reliefs Complete  location map

20th Sep 1915 Reliefs  location map

21st Sep 1915 Orders  location map

24th Sep 1915 Reliefs

25th Sep 1915 Sap Held

25th Sep 1915 Attack Made  location map

26th Sep 1915 Reorganisation

27th Sep 1915 Attack

29th Sep 1915 Reliefs Complete  location map

1st Oct 1915 In the Line

16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme

21st Oct 1915 Reliefs Complete  location map

24th Oct 1915 Orders  location map

15th Nov 1915 To Reach a Field Ambulance  location map

1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets

11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment

10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens

9th February 1916 Call Ups

16th of March 1916 On the Move  location map

16th of April 1916 Quiet Day  location map

17th of April 1916 Quiet Day  location map

18th of April 1916 Howitzers Retaliate  location map

11th Jun 1916 Reliefs

6th Jul 1916 Reliefs

27th Jul 1916 In Action  location map

9th Aug 1916 Reliefs  location map

13th Nov 1916 Attack Made

15th Nov 1916 Reliefs

21st of May 1917 Quiet Night  location map

5th Sep 1917 Recce  location map

7th Sep 1917 Reliefs  location map

18th Sep 1917 Reliefs  location map

4th Jan 1918 In Reserve

5th Jan 1918 In Reserve

6th Jan 1918 In Reserve

7th Jan 1918 Training

8th Jan 1918 Enemy Aircraft

9th Jan 1918 Snow

10th Jan 1918 Snow

11th Jan 1918 Poor Weather

12th Jan 1918 Training

13th Jan 1918 Snow and Frost

14th Jan 1918 Training

15th Jan 1918 Training

16th Jan 1918 Bad Weather

17th Jan 1918 Poor Weather

19th Jan 1918 Orders

20th Jan 1918 Orders

21st Jan 1918 Heavy Rain

24th Jan 1918 In the Line

25th Jan 1918 Artillery Active  location map

26th Jan 1918 Orders  location map

27th Jan 1918 Fog

28th Jan 1918 Artillery Active  location map

29th Jan 1918 Artillery Active

30th Jan 1918 Artillery Active

31st Jan 1918 Thick Mist

1st Feb 1918 Trenches Improved

2nd Feb 1918 Trenches Improved

3rd Feb 1918 Orders

4th Feb 1918 Shelling

5th Feb 1918 Warmer

6th Feb 1918 Orders

7th Feb 1918 Fraternisation

8th Feb 1918 Quiet

9th Feb 1918 Reorganisation

10th Feb 1918 Shelling

11th Feb 1918 Quiet

12th Feb 1918 Quiet

13th Feb 1918 Some Shelling

14th Feb 1918 Patrols  location map

15th Feb 1918 Artillery Active

16th Feb 1918 Artillery Active

17th Feb 1918 Enemy Aircraft  location map

18th Feb 1918 Misty  location map

19th Feb 1918 Quiet  location map

20th Feb 1918 Gas Shells  location map

21st Feb 1918 Reorganisation  location map

22nd Feb 1918 Patrols

23rd Feb 1918 Shelling  location map

24th Feb 1918 Shelling  location map

25th Feb 1918 Shelling  location map

26th Feb 1918 Artillery Active  location map

27th Feb 1918 Artillery Active

28th Feb 1918 Shelling  location map

1st Mar 1918 Raids  location map

2nd Mar 1918 Snow

3rd Mar 1918 Patrols  location map

4th Mar 1918 Quiet  location map

5th Mar 1918 Patrols  location map

6th Mar 1918 Gas  location map

7th Mar 1918 Enemy Active  location map

8th Mar 1918 Enemy Active  location map

9th Mar 1918 Mist

10th Mar 1918 Enemy Active

11th Mar 1918 Gas

12th Mar 1918 Gas

13th Mar 1918 Raids

14th Mar 1918 Artillery Active

15th Mar 1918 Intense Fire

16th Mar 1918 Trench Raid  location map

17th Mar 1918 Patrols  location map

18th Mar 1918 Raids  location map

19th Mar 1918 Patrols

20th Mar 1918 Reliefs

21st Mar 1918 Arrangements  location map

21st Mar 1918 In Action  location map

22nd Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal  location map

22nd Mar 1918 Messages

23rd Mar 1918 Messages  location map

23rd Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal  location map

24th Mar 1918 Messages  location map

24th Mar 1918 In Defence  location map

25th Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal  location map

26th Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal  location map

27th Mar 1918 In Defence  location map

27th Mar 1918 Moves  location map

31st Mar 1918 Shelling

23rd Aug 1918 Attack Made  location map

4th Sep 1918 Advance  location map

If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.





Want to know more about 2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment?


There are:5422 items tagged 2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire 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

2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment

during the Great War 1914-1918.

  • Ball William Ormsby Wyndham. Lt. (d.26th Sep 1914)
  • Bateman Joseph. Pte. (d.3rd Dec 1917)
  • Bedford Arthur. Pte. (d.3rd Nov 1914)
  • Betts George. L/Cpl. (d.27th October 1914)
  • Bolus Herbert. Sgt
  • Brunn Frank William. Pte.
  • Butcher Bertie John. L/Sgt. (d.17th Feb 1917)
  • Bywater John William Arthur. Pte. (d.27th Oct 1914)
  • Cockeram Frank. Pte. (d.10th March 1915)
  • Coleman Thomas. Pte
  • Cullis Frank. Pte. (d.27th July 1916)
  • Dinsdale Thomas. Pte. (d.8th January 1915)
  • Fullwood Joseph. Pte. (d.12th April 1918)
  • Gaunt Harry. Pte. (d.18th May 1915)
  • Gibbons Joseph Edwin. Pte. (d.9th Oct 1918)
  • Graham Thomas. Pte. (d.28th Sep 1918)
  • Green George W.. Pte. (d.13th July 1918)
  • Herrington MM, MC, MID. John. 2nd Lt.
  • Jackson Franklin. L/Cpl (d.17th Feb 1917)
  • Kilby VC MC Arthur Forbes Gordon. Capt. (d.25th Sep 1915)
  • McNally Michael. Pte (d.12th November 1914)
  • Morris Arthur. Pte.
  • Neeham James William. L/Cpl. (d.17th February 1917)
  • Nicholls Joseph. Pte. (d.15th August 1916)
  • Osborne John Edward.
  • Osborne Thomas Chidley. Pte. (d.1st Feb 1915)
  • Osborne William George.
  • Smith Arthur. Pte. (d.28th Oct 1914)
  • Sorrell WIlliam John. A/Cpl. (d.17th February 1917)
  • Taylor J.. Pte. (d.6th Nov 1917)
  • Thompson Joseph. Cpl. (d.26th July 1918)
  • White Thomas. Pte. (d.27th April 1917)
  • Wright DCM. William. 2nd Lt. (d.17th Feb 1917)
  • York Harry. Pte (d.1st Aug 1916)

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 2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment from other sources.


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  Capt. Arthur Forbes Gordon Kilby VC MC 2nd Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment (d.25th Sep 1915)

Arthur Kilby was killed in action on the 25th of September 1915.

An extract from the London Gazette, dated 30th March, 1916, records the following :- "For most conspicuous bravery. Captain Kilby was specially selected at his own request, and on account of the gallantry which he had previously displayed on many occasions, to attack with his Company a strong enemy redoubt. The Company charged along the narrow towpath, headed by Captain Kilby, who, though wounded at the outset, continued to lead his men right up to the enemy wire under a devastating machine gun fire and a shower of bombs. Here he was shot down, but, although his foot had been blown off, he continued to cheer on his men and to use a rifle. Captain Kilby has been missing since the date of the performance of this great act of valour, and his death has now to be presumed."

Captain Kilby's heroism was acknowledged by the German defenders who erected a memorial cross at the location of his death. His body was eventually found on 19 February 1929 and interred at Arras Road Cemetery, Roclincourt.

s flynn






  Pte. George W. Green 2nd Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment (d.13th July 1918)

George Green was killed in action on the 13th of July 1918. He is buried in Bienvillers Military Cemetery in France.

s flynn






  Pte. Arthur Morris 7th Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment

Arthur Morris is my father born 17th of June 1898. His age at enlistment was 19 years and 1 month and he served duration of WW1, and was posted to the 2nd Battalion In 1920 he served in Ireland as a paid Lance Corporal. He was discharged on the 15th of December 1921 and returned to coal mining

He also served in WW2 as head warden also was a signaller teacher to Air Force cadets and a Scout Rover leader He died April 1961 aged 62.

Alan Morris






  Pte. Frank William Brunn 2nd Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment

Frank Brunn enlisted with the South Staffs on 23rd of July 1902. According to the 1911 census he was a machinist at a cycle works, but I don't know if he became a reservist, as he apparently disembarked in Le Havre on 27th of August 1914. He was discharged from the army in April or May 1916 due to wounds. I have no information on any battles he took part in or how his injuries were sustained. He died in 1973

Paul Brunn






  Pte. Harry Gaunt 2nd Btn South Staffordshire Regiment (d.18th May 1915)

Pte. Harry Gaunt died at the Battle of Festubert.

Dianne Brown






  Pte. Frank Cullis 2nd Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment (d.27th July 1916)

Frank Cullis was my great great uncle. He was born in Wolverhampton in 1893 to Thomas and Sarah Ann Cullis. He died at the Somme and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.







  Sgt Herbert Bolus 2nd Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment

Bert Bolus, born Willenhall, Staffs signed up as a boy soldier around 1904 at Lichfield Barracks. He was almost immediately posted to India and was stationed mainly in Agra, between 1904-1910. Later he served in South Africa and then returned to England, where he was stationed at Aldershot when WW1 began.

He was an Old Contemptible, having been posted to France in August 1914 and was part of the great retreat of August and September 1914. He served continuously through the Great War on the Western Front with the 2nd South Staffs. He fought in many of the famous or infamous battles and engagements between 1914 and 1918. He ended the War as a Sergeant and continued to serve as part of the Army of Occupation in Germany during 1919.

He survived and lived in Willenhall, Staffs until his death in 1966. A wonderful man who never spoke about the Great War, though he was quite happy to talk about India and South Africa. God Bless him.

Ron Bolus






  Pte. Thomas "Curly" Graham 2nd Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment (d.28th Sep 1918)

Thomas Graham enlisted in the 5th Durham Light Infantry in 1915 and served throughout till July 1918 when he transferred to the 2nd South Staffs. Thomas died of wounds on the 28th of September 1918 and is buried at Grevillies near Bapaume, aged 35.

Tom O'Hara






  A/Cpl. WIlliam John Sorrell 2nd Btn. South Staffordshire (d.17th February 1917)

William was killed in action at Baillescourt Farm, near Miraumont on 17th February 1917. He was my great uncle.

Ian Kidd






  Pte. Arthur Bedford 2nd Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment (d.3rd Nov 1914)

Arthur Bedford was my great uncle. All I know is he was born in 1883 and died 3 November 1914. He has no known grave but his name is inscribed at Ypres on the Menin Gate.

Olwen Howard






  Pte. Joseph Edwin Gibbons 2nd Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment (d.9th Oct 1918)

Joseph Gibbons was my great great uncle. I recently started to investigate my family history. I have a photo of him in his South Staffordshire Regiment uniform. We think he enlisted in December 1917 after a few months of getting married to Eliza Gibbons (nee Clarke). He was fatally injured in France and is buried in Grevillers British Cemetery, which I hope to visit.

Roger Gibbons






   John Edward Osborne 2nd Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment

John Osborne served in the 2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment with his brother, William George Osborne, and step-brother Thomas Chidley Osborne. John was 40 years old when the brothers sailed for France in August 1914. He was wounded and discharged on 16th February 1916.

B. Osborne






   William George Osborne 2nd Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment

William Osborne served in the 2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment with his brother, John Edward Osborne and step-brother Thomas Chidley Osborne. William was 38 years old when his brother sailed to France in August 1914. William, my great-grandfather, saw the war through and was discharged on 1st May 1919.

B. Osborne






  2nd Lt. John Herrington MM, MC, MID. 9th Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment

As a 33 year old miner, John Herrington tried to join up in April 1915 but he failed the trade test with the ASC board who reported that he would not make an efficient soldier and so was discharged one day later. He then joined up elsewhere and became a private with the 2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment. Here, he quickly rose to the rank of Sergeant and during fighting at Delville wood, was awarded the Military Medal for his bravery. Soon after he was recommended for a commission and attended a course in Dumbarton. Upon successful completion of this, he was then transferred to the 9th Battalion at Menin Road. In Italy, he was mentioned in despatches and awarded the MC for his work in Asiago and the San Siesto ridge.

M Allport






  Pte. Frank Cockeram 2nd Btn. D Coy. South Staffordshire Regiment (d.10th March 1915)

Frank Cockeram was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Cockeram, of Tamworth; husband of Mrs. R. Cockeram, of S2 Married Quarters, Crownhill Huts, Plymouth.

David Cockeram






  Pte. Thomas Chidley Osborne 2nd Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment (d.1st Feb 1915)

Thomas Chidley took the surname Osborne when his mother married George Osborne. Thomas, along with his step-brothers William George Osborne and John Edward Osborne, signed up with the 2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment and sailed for France in August 1914. Thomas was 35 years old, William, 38, and John, 40.

Thomas was killed in action in February 1915. Although he has no grave, his name is inscribed on the Le Touret Memorial. John was wounded and discharged 16th Feb 1916. William, my great-grandfather, saw the war through and was discharged 1st May 1919.

B. Osborne






  Pte. Arthur Smith 2nd Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment (d.28th Oct 1914)

Arthur Smith is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres. This is an attempt to find out where and how my great uncle died. I have sent off for his death certificate. I have his war medals. His death was either in Belgium or France. Why don't they know? The information I have from the War Graves Commission is that he was 23 years old. What is happening here? Were they just a number so it didn't really matter how old they were or even where they died for this country.

Carolyn Pickersgill






  Pte. Joseph Bateman 2nd Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment (d.3rd Dec 1917)

Joseph Bateman was executed for desertion 03/12/1917 and buried in Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery, Manacourt, France. Se was the son of Mr. C. Bateman, of 3 Kilton St., Sheffield and was aged 28.

The granddaughter of a soldier shot for desertion has met the man behind adding his name to a war memorial on a visit to the monument. WW1 soldier Pte Joseph Bateman - one of 306 British deserters shot - was executed in December 1917 by firing squad. Historian Graham Hodgson got Dudley Council to add the soldier's name to Wordsley's war memorial. The Staffordshire Regiment soldier's grand-daughter, Judith Lampitt, was tracked down after a TV appeal. "Mr Hodgson has done all of the hard work. We didn't know how my grandfather had died. I knew he died in the war, he'd been shot in the war, but I had no idea at all he had died in that way."

S Flynn






  Pte. J. Taylor 2nd Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment (d.6th Nov 1917)

Pte. J. Taylor served with the South Staffordshire Regiment 2nd Battalion. He was executed for desertion on 6th November1917 and is buried in Lapugnoy Military Cemetery, Lapugnoy, France.

s flynn






  Lt. William Ormsby Wyndham Ball 2nd Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment (d.26th Sep 1914)

William Ball, son of Henry Wyndham Ball and Elizabeth Ball, was born in Palmerston Park, Dublin on September 27th 1889. Before the outbreak of the war he played hockey, and represented Ireland in six International matches in 1910 and 1911. After much success as a student in the School of Physic of Trinity College, William gained a commission in the Medical Services on January 24th 1913. He was serving at Longmoor Army Camp upon the outbreak of the war.

At the beginning of the war William was attached as Regimental Medical Officer to the 2nd Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment. He landed at Le Havre with them on August 13th 1914. he Battalion fought as part of the 2nd Division in the Battle of Mons. During the subsequent retreat William was lucky not to have been fatally wounded on four separate occasions. Sadly, he was finally killed by a shell at La Cour de Soupir whilst attending to the wounded at one of the dressing stations. He was 24 years old.

William Ball was buried in La Cour de Soupir Farm, and is commemorated on La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial.

S Flynn






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