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16th (3rd Birmingham) Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment    16th (3rd Birmingham Pals) Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment was raised in Birmingham in September 1914 by the Lord Mayor and a local committee. After training they joined 95th Brigade, 32nd Division on the 26th of June 1915. They proceeded to France, landing at Boulogne on the 21st of November 1915. On the 26th of December they transferred to 15th Brigade, 5th Division as part of an exchange to stiffen the inexperienced 32nd Division with regular army troops. In March 1916 5th Division took over a section of front line between St Laurent Blangy and the southern edge of Vimy Ridge, near Arras. They moved south in July to reinforce The Somme and were in action at, High Wood, The Battle of Guillemont, The Battle of Flers-Courcelette, The Battle of Morval and The Battle of Le Transloy. In October they moved to Festubertand remained there until March 1917 when they moved in preparation for the Battles of Arras. On 7 September 1917 the 5th Division moved out of the line for a period of rest before, being sent to Flanders where they were in action during the Third Battle of Ypres. 5th Division was sent to Italy and took up positions in the line along the River Piave in late January 1918. They were recalled to France to assist with the German Advance in late March 1918 and were in action during the Battles of the Lys. On the 14th of August 1918 the 5th Division was withdrawn for two weeks rest. Then moved to The Somme where they were more or less in continuous action over the old battlegrounds until late October 1918 and saw action in the Battles of the Hindenburg Line and the Final Advance in Picardy. On the 4th of October 1918 they transferred to 13th Brigade still with 5th Division. At the Armistice they were in the area of Le Quesnoy and moved to Belgium to the area around Namur and Wavre in December and demobilization began. 17th April 1915 5th Division Attack   22nd August 1915 Order of battle. 16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme 1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets 3rd of December 1915  Observation Difficult 11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment 15th Dec 1915 Instruction 16th Dec 1915 Instruction 17th Dec 1915 Rain 20th of December 1915 Deserter Taken 22nd Dec 1915 Assimilating Courage 23rd December 1915 Reliefs 28th of December 1915 Retaliatory Firing   29th December 1915 Reliefs 1st January 1916 In trenches in "C1" sub sector South of Mametz. 6th January 1916 In same trenches in "C1". 10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens 13th of January 1916 5th Division in Reserve 14th January 1916 Shelled fairly heavily, chiefly by 4.2 Howitzer H.E. and 5.9 H.E. schrapnel. 22nd January 1916 In same trenches in "C1". 30th January 1916 "C" Coy. returned to Bray at 1500 hours & "A" Coy. at 1730 hours. 2nd February 1916 15th Infantry Brigade left the line. 4th of February 1916   9th February 1916 Call Ups 10th of February 1916  MG Coys Join 11th February 1916 Battalion marched to Molliens Vidame. 14th Feb 1916 Training 24th February 1916 Battalion marched to billets at Belloy Sur Somme. 1st March 1916 Battalion marched to Coullemont. 4th of March 1916 Snow All Day 5th of March 1916 Moving Around 10th of March 1916 Unit Positions 14th March 1916 Fine day 15th of March 1916  Local Relief 15th March 1916 Reliefs 20th of March 1916 Small Gas Attack 21st March 1916 Battalion Orders   21st March 1916 Reliefs 25th of March 1916  German Mortars Silenced   31st March 1916 Reliefs 4th April 1916 Reliefs 13th of April 1916 Brigade Relief 24th April 1916 Battalion H.Q. shelled 28th April 1916 Relief 2nd of May 1916 Reliefs 2nd May 1916 Reliefs 5th May 1916 Reliefs 11th May 1916 Reliefs 17th May 1916 Reliefs 17th May 1916 Relieved 1st Cheshires in "J2" subsector N.E. Arras. 23rd May 1916 Reliefs 25th of May 1916  German Patrol Fired At 29th May 1916 Reliefs 4th of June 1916  Germans Raid Trenches   6th Jun 1916 Reliefs 12th June 1916 Reliefs 14th Jun 1916 Reliefs 16th June 1916 Camoflet Blown 21st June 1916 On the March 27th June 1916 On the March 2nd of July 1916 New Orders   20th of July 1916 Positions of Units   23rd July 1916 In Firing Line    24th of July 1916 Reliefs   25th of July 1916  Enemy Advances   26th July 1916 Report on Operations 26th - 28th July 1916.   26th July 1916 Operation Order No.9.   26th July 1916 We had to go through a heavy barrage of Gas shells with the whole Battalion having to wear Gas Helmets.   27th of July 1916 Gas Shell Attack   27th July 1916 At 0650 hours a Company reported they could_hardly muster a platoon owing to most of the Company being buried by the heavy shelling.   27th July 1916 At 0200 hours we arrived at Longueval.   28th Jul 1916 Reorganisation 28th of July 1916 Not Much Change   28th July 1916 Brigadier General Commanding wishes to express to all ranks of the Brigade his great admiration 30th of July 1916 Artillery Active   31st of July 1916 KOSBs Hold Line   31st July 1916 Owing to the very heavy poisoned gas-shell 2245 hours barrage in Valley North of Montauban the whole Battalion had to put on gas helmets.   1st of August 1916  Dispositions after Relief   5th of August 1916 Divisional Dispositions 27th of August 1916 Divisional Dispositions   31st of August 1916  Warning Order Issued   31st August 1916 Battalion H.Q. at A.15.a.2.8.   1st of September 1916 Enemy SOS   3rd Sep 1916 In Action   3rd September 1916 At 1400 hours The Battalion moved to Casement Trench. 4th Sep 1916 In Action   4th of September 1916 Units Mixed Up   4th September 1916 Handwritten Order from sender No. BMa58 4th September 1916 Handwritten Order at 1840 hours from sender No. P9 to All Coys. 4th September 1916 Handwritten Order from sender No. P13 to O.C's. "B" & "D" Coys. 4th September 1916 Handwritten Order 1315 hours from sender No. BMA35 to Norfolks.   4th September 1916 Operation Order No.10    4th September 1916 At 1230 hours came under orders of 15th Inf. Bde.   5th September 1916 0300 hours Falfemont Farm completely occupied by "A" & "C" coys. 19th of September 1916 In the Front Line   20th September 1916 Shelling   21st of September 1916 Situation Normal   22nd of September 1916 Dispositions   23rd of September 1916 Reliefs   23rd September 1916 Operational Order No. 50.   24th September 1916 Operational Order No.51.   24th September 1916 Reliefs   25th September 1916 Attack Made   27th Sep 1916 On the March   28th of September 1916 Heavy Showers   30th of September 1916 Dispositions 3rd October 1916 0900 hours we moved up in to Reserve and took over from 12th Notts & Derby Regt. 4th October 1916 Reliefs   9th Oct 1916 School   10th October 1916 The Brigade side slipped one Battalion to the right.   13th of October 1916 Reliefs   15th Oct 1916 Sniping   16th Oct 1916 Reliefs   20th Oct 1916 Reliefs 24th Oct 1916 Reliefs 28th Oct 1916 Reliefs 31st of October 1916 Distribution   1st Nov 1916 Reliefs 5th Nov 1916 Quiet 9th Nov 1916 Shelling 13th Nov 1916 Reliefs 17th Nov 1916 Reliefs 23rd Nov 1916 Reliefs 27th November 1916 Reliefs   30th of November 1916  Enemy Baling Out   1st Dec 1916 Reliefs 2nd of December 1916 Raiding Party Fails   4th of December 1916  German Trenches Damaged   5th December 1916 Reliefs 6th of December 1916  Working Parties Dispersed   10th of December 1916  Working Parties Dispersed   14th of December 1916  A Combined Shoot   20th Dec 1916 Reliefs 20th of December 1916 German TMs Active   20th December 1916 On the March 21st of December 1916 Ferme Cour d'Avoue Shelled   22nd Dec 1916 Reliefs 22nd of December 1916 Quiet Day   23rd Dec 1916 Recce 24th Dec 1916 Reliefs 24th of December 1916 Germans Very Active   24th December 1916 Reliefs   29th of December 1916  Artillery Quieter   1st Jan 1917 Reliefs   1st January 1917 Reliefs 1st January 1917 In the trenches 5th Jan 1917 Reliefs 5th of January 1917  Aeroplanes Active   6th of January 1917  German Guns Quiet   9th Jan 1917 Reliefs 9th of January 1917  Spotted Dog Shelled   13th Jan 1917 Reliefs   13th of January 1917  Retaliation "Feeble"   13th January 1917 Relief 17th Jan 1917 Reliefs 17th of January 1917 Guns Active   20th of January 1917 Active Artillery   21st of January 1917 Our TMs Active   22nd January 1917 Relief Complete 26th of January 1917 TMs Busy   30th of January 1917 Hostile TMs Busy   1st of February 1917  Balloon Spotted   1st February 1917 Reliefs   3rd of February 1917 Artillery Active   5th Feb 1917 Reliefs 6th of February 1917 Fairly Quiet   7th of February 1917  Feeble Retaliation   9th Feb 1917 Reliefs 9th of February 1917  Little TM Retaliation   12th of February 1917 Artillery Quiet   14th Feb 1917 Reliefs 15th of February 1917 Enemy TMs Fall Short   17th of February 1917 TMs Quiet   17th February 1917 Reliefs 18th Feb 1917 Reliefs   19th of February 1917 Our Guns Active   21st Feb 1917 Reliefs 21st of February 1917  Our Guns Active   23rd February 1917 Orders   25th Feb 1917 In the Line 25th February 1917 Reliefs 28th of February 1917 Artillery Quiet   1st of March 1917 POWs Taken   4th of March 1917 Damage Caused by Heavies   6th of March 1917  Brigades Attached   8th of March 1917  Divisional Relief   9th Mar 1917 Reliefs 9th Mar 1917 Relief Completed   9th of March 1917  TMs Very Active   9th March 1917 Reliefs 11th of March 1917 Auchy Heavily Shelled   13th Mar 1917 Reliefs 14th of March 1917 Pekin Trench Hit   15th of March 1917  Brigade Relief   17th Mar 1917 Reliefs   17th March 1917 Reliefs 19th Mar 1917 Reliefs 20th of March 1917  Composite Division Formed   24th of March 1917 Pioneers On the Move 27th of March 1917 In Corps Reserve   2nd of April 1917  Positions   8th of April 1917 HQ Moves 11th of April 1917 Dispositions 12th of April 1917 Orders and Reliefs   13th of April 1917  A Push Forward   13th April 1917 Reliefs 14th of April 1917 Orders to Move   14th April 1917 Advance 15th April 1917 Reliefs 16th of April 1917 Heavies Bombard Wire   18th of April 1917 Divisional Front Readjusted   19th Apr 1917 Reliefs 20th of April 1917 Orders to Attack   21st of April 1917 Operations Postponed   22nd of April 1917 Warning Order Received   22nd April 1917 Operational Orders   23rd of April 1917 Reliefs Complete   24th of April 1917 35 Minute Bombardment   25th of April 1917 Canadians Take Over Front   28th of April 1917 Rest and Training   4th May 1917 Battalion moved off at 0900 hours and proceeded to old German Front Line in Rocklincourt. 5th of May 1917  Wood Shelled   6th of May 1917 Enemy Guns Active   8th of May 1917  Orders to Attack   9th of May 1917 No Further Advance   9th May 1917 Directly after midnight 8th/9th we moved in to position. 10th of May 1917 Enemy Concentration Reported   10th May 1917 During the early hours of the morning the plain between Farbus Wood and Arleux heavily shelled with Gas shells. 11th of May 1917 Enemy Guns Active   12th of May 1917 Bailleul Shelled   13th of May 1917 Front Line Shelled   13th May 1917 The day was very quiet. We moved up about or 0900 hours to relieve the 16th Warwick's in the line. 15th of May 1917 Very Quiet Day   17th of May 1917 A Surprise Attack   18th May 1917 Trench Works 20th of May 1917 Guns Active   21st of May 1917 Quiet Night   22nd of May 1917  Quiet Day   22nd May 1917 Reliefs 24th of May 1917  Relief Completed   26th of May 1917 Quiet Day   27th of May 1917 Work 31st May 1917 Work and Training   2nd of June 1917    9th of June 1917  A Relief   10th of June 1917 Minor Op Planned   14th of June 1917 Relief   15th of June 1917   Relief Completed   16th June 1917  Quiet Night   17th of June 1917 Quiet Day   18th of June 1917   Aircraft Active   19th of June 1917  Quiet Day   21st of June 1917  Brigade Relief Completed   24th of June 1917  A Raid   26th of June 1917  Quiet Day   26th June 1917 Operation Order No.1 dated today. Major S.W. Montgomerie. Commanding 1st Norfolk Regt.   28th of June 1917  Successful Operation    1st of July 1917  Front Line Adjusted   3rd July 1917 Report   5th of July 1917  Our Trenches Damaged   6th of July 1917  A Brigade Relief   10th of July 1917 A Raid Ordered   12th Jul 1917 Sport 12th of July 1917  Back Areas Shelled    17th of July 1917 Quiet Time   18th of July 1917 Direct Hits Made   19th of July 1917   Situation Quiet    21st of July 1917 Back Areas Shelled   23rd of July 1917 Minenwerfer Active   26th of July 1917  Very Quiet    27th of July 1917  Gas Attack   29th of July 1917 Brigade Relief   1st of August 1917 MG Activity   3rd of August 1917   Snipers Active   3rd August 1917 Reliefs 4th of August 1917  Hostile Shelling   7th of August 1917  A German Raid   10th of August 1917 Mostly Quiet   13th of August 1917 Two Minute Barrage   16th of August 1917 MGs Active   19th of August 1917  Gas Drums Plan   22nd of August 1917 Railway Shelled   25th of August 1917  TMs Hit Oppy Wood   27th of August 1917 Quiet Time   27th August 1917 Reliefs 28th of August 1917 Enemy Guns Active   29th of August 1917  Normal Fire   31st August 1917 Quiet Time   3rd of September 1917  Quiet   5th of September 1917 Brigades on the March   6th of September 1917 Gas Shelling   7th of September 1917 Training   9th of October 1917 Hostile Guns Active   10th of September 1917  Division to Move 11th of September 1917  Artillery Marches 18th of September 1917 5th Division Transferring 19th September 1917 Inter Coy. and Regimental boxing. 4th of October 1917 Attack Launched   5th of October 1917 Quieter Night   5th October 1917 Battalion in very old and knocked about trenches at Tor Top. 7th October 1917 Battalion was relieved at night by 16th Warwick Regt. and withdrew to Support in front of Inverness Copse. 8th October 1917 received orders to attack Polderhoek Chateau on the morning of the 9th in conjunction with 16th Warwicks on the right. 10th of October 1917   "Intense Barrage" Endured   11th of October 1917 Snipers Active   14th of October 1917 Training   17th of October 1917 Training   21st of October 1917 Offensive to be Resumed   23rd of October 1917 More Moves   27th of October 1917  Quiet Time   28th of October 1917 Enemy Guns "Above Normal"   1st November 1917 The Battalion moved from Bedford House at about 1600 hours and took over the Firing Line in front of Polderhoek Chateau from the 1st D.C.L.I. 4th of November 1917 Heavy shelling   6th of November 1917 Attack Launched   8th of November 1917 Fairly Quiet   11th of November 1917 Quiet Time   16th of November 1917 15th Brigade Entrain 18th of November 1917 121st Battery Moves   19th of November 1917  Pioneers Move 26th of November 1917   HQ Closes and Re-opens 27th of November 1917 Entraining for Italy 28th of November 1917 Entraining for Italy 9th of April 1918 Orders 10th of April 1918  Relief Postponed 13th of April 1918 Enemy Attacks   15th of April 1918   Another Enemy Attack   16th of April 1918 Situation Quiet   16th April 1918 Moved up to the line in the evening and relieved 1st Devon Regt   18th of April 1918  Artillery Active   19th of April 1918 A Raiding Party    21st April 1918 Operational Order 26.   21st April 1918 Relief 22nd of April 1918  A Gas Attack   22nd April 1918 Quiet   23rd of April 1918 Constant Shelling   25th of April 1918  Division Attacks   26th Apr 1918 Gun Positions   28th of April 1918 Artillery Quieter   3rd of May 1918 Enemy Artillery Active    3rd May 1918 On the night 3rd/4th we relieved the 1st Devon Regt.   4th of May 1918 Situation Quiet   6th May 1918 At daybreak rain was still falling heavily and Artillery activity was all in our favour. 8th May 1918 Shelling 9th May 1918 Heavy Artillery Fire   10th of May 1918 Gas Shells Used    15th of May 1918 Our Heavies Busy    17th of May 1918 Active Artillery   22nd of May 1918 Enemy Active   23rd of May 1918 Quiet Night   30th of May 1918 A Relief   3rd June 1918 Shelling 4th of June 1918 Quiet Day   5th of June 1918  Brigade Relief   13th of June 1918  Brigade Relief Completed   15th of June 1918  Operation Proposed   18th June 1918 No great activity. 20th of June 1918 Situation Unchanged   22nd of June 1918  Slight Activity   24th June 1918 Reliefs 25th of June 1918 WO95/1510/4   29th of June 1918 Enemy Guns Active   1st of July 1918  Situation Unchanged   7th of July 1918  Gas Shelling   12th of July 1918 Back Areas Bombed   18th of July 1918  Our Guns Active   24th of July 1918  Relief Completed   28th of July 1918 Quiet    31st of July 1918 Relief Completed   9th of August 1918  Training   10th of August 1918  Training 13th of August 1918 Entraining Commenced 15th of August 1918  Training 21st of August 1918  Division Advances   23rd of August 1918  Division Attacks   24th of August 1918  5th Division Co-operates   25th of August 1918 Brigades Move   26th of August 1918  Enemy Retreats   27th of August 1918 Quiet   28th of August 1918   Situation Unchanged   30th of August 1918  Advance Continues   31st of August 1918  Counter-Attack   1st of September 1918  Attack Sucessful   2nd of September 1918 Strongly Defended 3rd of September 1918  Enemy Withdraws   4th of September 1918 Divisional Relief 5th of September 1918 Rest and Training 17th of September 1918 Back Areas Bombed   18th of September 1918 Attack Commences   19th of September 1918 Enemy Guns Quiet   20th of September 1918  Quiet Time   22nd of September 1918 Field Guns Active   30th of September 1918  Divisional Relief   1st of October 1918  Division Relieved 20th of October 1918    11th of November 1918 Armistice and a Report   13th of November 1918 Resting 10th of January 1919  Locations If you can provide any additional information, please add it here. Want to know more about 16th (3rd Birmingham) Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment? There are:5626 items tagged 16th (3rd Birmingham) Battalion, Royal Warwickshire 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 16th (3rd Birmingham) Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment during the Great War 1914-1918. Burton George Henry. Pte. (d.10th October 1917) Chance Wilfred George . Pte. (d.20th October 1918) Coley Harry. Pte. (d.5th Oct 1917) Cotterell Leslie Malcolm. Pte. Foster Sidney Dent. Cpl. (d.17th Feb 1917) Hancocks William Thomas. L/Cpl. (d.21st March 1918) Hughes MM Albert. Sgt. (d.6th October 1917) Jones Ernest Frederick. Pte. (d.27th July 1916) Medcalf John James. Pte. (d.27th Jul 1916) Neate Robert. Pte (d. 28th Jun 1917 ) Nelson George Harry. Pte. Palmer John Albert. Pte. Smith Clarence Alfred Sinclair. Pte. (d.27th Jul 1916) Steadman Alfred James. Pte. (d.10th Oct 1917) Wilkes Reginald Samuel. 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 16th (3rd Birmingham) Battalion, Royal Warwickshire 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. John James Medcalf 16th (3rd Birmingham) Btn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment (d.27th Jul 1916) John Medcalf was one of many who signed up at Birmingham Town Hall with his workmates. He was a postman at Villa Road Handworth and was subsequently stationed at the head office in Birmingham. He joined the 3rd Birmingham Battalion early 1915. He was placed in the 16th Battalion, Birmingham Pals He was killed in action on 27th of July 1916 at the Somme age 21. He was one of many thousands who gave his life for his King and country. Robert A Rose Add to this record.   Pte. John Albert Palmer 16th Btn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment My Grandad, Jack Palmer, died long before I was born, so the information I have is sketchy. He died at 50 from the effect of being gassed from his time serving in WW1. His son, my father, was only 11 when he died, but he always said his father was an old man at the age of 40. Jack was 28 when he joined up and I have learnt from medical records and research that he was posted to France on 10th of July 1916 and was sent home on 13th of September 1916. I have worked out that he would've fought in the Battle for High Wood and he received a gunshot wound to his right forearm. He was discharged from the Army a year later due to this wound and being not physically fit for service. He never truly recovered, but at least did marry and have a son. We are all very proud of him and his generation. Mary Palmer Add to this record.   L/Cpl. William Thomas Hancocks 16th Battalion Machine Gun Corps (d.21st March 1918) In Memory of Lance Corporal William Thomas Hancocks,16th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps, previously Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Killed in action WW1 (1914-18) Battlefields of the Somme on 21st March 1918, Aged 20. William Hancocks joined the Army at 16 years of age and fought bravely from the outset of WW1 in 1914 until he was killed in action a few months before WW1 ended. A letter from the Battlefield in the Somme (France) dated 18th April 1918 written by Captain W.T. Hale to Joseph Hancocks (William's father) reads: 18th of April 1918 Dear Mr. Hancocks, I am writing to tell you about your son Lance Corporal Hancocks. It is a story that has touched us all, and I feel proud to think I had the privilege of having your son in my Company. During enemy attack, by skilfully handling his gun, Lance Corporal Hancocks inflicted very heavy casualties on the German troops and continued to fire his weapon to the last. By his magnificent behaviour he saved several of his comrade's lives, that is those who could rally together while the enemy was being repelled by your son. I ask you to accept the deepest sympathy of all those who knew him. His fine example has inspired us all to further efforts. Believe me, Yours truly Signed W.T. Hale Captain Richard John Hancocks Add to this record.   Pte. George Harry Nelson 16th Btn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment George Nelson served with the 16th, 15th & 1st Battalions, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. John Nelson Add to this record.   Pte. Leslie Malcolm Cotterell 16th Btn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment My Grandfather, Leslie Cotterell was badly wounded in attack on the Somme July 1916, one of the stretcher bearers bringing him back was also shot. His parents were called when he arrived back in a Southampton Hospital as they thought he would not survive. He lost one lung at age 19 and was very fortunate to recover. Edward Cotterell Add to this record.   Cpl. Sidney Dent Foster 1st Btn Wiltshire Regiment (d.17th Feb 1917) Sidney Dent Foster was born in 1896, in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, where his family had lived for several generations. His older brother, Percy, is my great-grandfather. My family are fortunate to have kept several artefacts, medals and papers from both brothers, which I now hold. It is from these, and some research, that I can share some of Sidney's story. Sidney worked as a clerk for the gas board in Nuneaton. As well as Percy, he had a younger sister and 2 brothers. There is a formal studio shot of him taken just before the war in his Sunday best. After his older brother enlisted as a volunteer at the start of the war Sidney, too, joined up. He initially joined the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 13th Battalion, probably in October 1914. We have a picture (photo 3) of him standing in his first uniform, outside the house where he was billeted during training. One of the addresses kept by his brother shows that he was at a training camp near Blandford in Dorset. At some point Sidney seems to have transferred across to the 16th Battalion (3rd Birmingham Pals) and probably arrived in France with them in November, 1915. We have a picture of him as a Lance Corporal with some friends (photo 4), clearly showing the antelope cap badge of the Royal Warwickshires. From the state of their uniforms I assume this was taken before their arrival in France. Whilst serving in France Sidney was transferred again, this time to the Wiltshire Regiment (Duke of Edinburgh's), 1st Battalion, C Company. This was a regular army unit in the 25th Division but we are not sure how or when this transfer took place. At the start of 1917 the 1st Battalion of the Wiltshires was stationed in the line around Ploegsteert Wood, south of Ypres in Belgium. Here, between 12th - 14th February, Sidney's C Company was withdrawn from the rest of the battalion to prepare for a daylight trench raid. They rehearsed this attack many times while positioned at Pont de Nieppe, right on the French-Belgian border directly south of Ypres. At 10:40 am on 17th February the raid commenced, following preparatory work to cut the wire defences in no-man's-land. C Company was joined by soldiers from 10th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment, totalling about 200 in the raiding party. The objectives were north and south of Factory Farm, as well as the farm itself, the primary aim being to surprise the enemy and retrieve prisoners and information. The raid was successful in surprising the enemy, approximately 20 being killed by the preliminary bombardment or during the fighting. All objectives were taken, with the exception of Factory Farm where, in the words of the official war diary 'stout resistance was offered'. Other than the dead enemy, however, no German prisoners were captured and no useful identifications were made. This minor skirmish cost the raiding party (again, from the war diary) 4 other ranks killed, 26 wounded, 1 died of wounds and 1 missing. Most of this seems to have resulted from enemy machine gun fire as the party returned to the British lines. Cpl. Sidney Foster was one of those killed. He was 20 years old. The following day his battalion was withdrawn from the front line. As well as official documents mentioning this incident, the family also received 3 letters that help to explain some of the circumstances surrounding Sidney's death. The first of these, dated 19th February, was from his platoon commander, Lt. G. K. Wait, who described the raid and some of the bombing that went on. He also mentions the enemy machine guns that fired on the returning group, a bullet hitting Sidney in the head. The second letter was from one of Sid's best friends in 10 Platoon, Sgt. David Mansell, D.C.M. He wrote to Sid's parents to express his condolences and sense of loss at his friend's death. He briefly explains that Sidney was hit by shrapnel in the chest – not a bullet – and died almost instantly. (We will never know which story is most accurate. Many such letters describe a quick death when sent to the bereaved.) The final letter, dated 28th February, is the Army form B. 104-82, officially notifying the family of the death. It is a very dry document, listing the titles and numbers identifying Sidney and noting the cause of death as Killed In Action. By far the most significant document for the family, however, remains the hand-written final letter that Sidney wrote to his father during training for the raid, only 4 days before he was killed. He thanks everyone for the parcels that just arrived with gifts of cigarettes, food and so on. He sounds in good spirits and sends his love to all the family. Most of the remaining paperwork the family kept relates to Sidney's final resting place. An official grave card and picture was sent between the wars (photo 5), after the original crosses had been turned into headstones by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Sidney seems to be unusual in that he still lies in exactly the same place he was buried in 1917. He rests in a corner of the Berks Cemetery Extension, alongside his comrades from the Wiltshire and Cheshire regiments who fell on the same day. Sidney's father, Frederick Foster, chose the inscription to be added to his gravestone, as a lasting tribute: 'At Rest, Ever Remembered By Loved Ones'. In some small way, telling this story is my own way of honouring those words. Matthew Hall Add to this record. Recomended Reading. Available at discounted prices.

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