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7th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters
The 7th (Robin Hood) Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) was a unit of the Territorial Force, at the outbreak of war they were part of the Notts and Derby Infantry Brigade, North Midland Division and had their HQ at 168 Derby Road, Nottingham. When war broke out in August 1914, they were mobilised and moved at once to Harpenden, moving to to Braintree in November 1914. They proceeded to France on the 25th of February 1915, landing at Boulogne, being first complete Territorial Division to arrive in a theatre of war when they joined the BEF in the Ypres salient. On the 12th of May the Division was retitled 46th (North Midland) Division. They were in action during The German liquid fire attack at Hooge and The attack at the Hohenzollern Redoubt in October. On the 23rd of December the were ordered to proceed to Egypt via Marseilles leaving the DAC, Divisional Train and the Mobile Veterinary Section behind. All units had arrived by the 13th of January 1916 but they spent just a few days in Egypt, being ordered to return to France where the units left behind rejoined. On the 1st of July 1916 they took part in The diversionary attack at Gommecourt. In 1917 they were in action during the Operations on the Ancre, Occupation of the Gommecourt defences, The attack on Rettemoy Graben, The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, The attack on Lievin and The Battle of Hill 70. On the
31st of January the 1/7th Sherwoods transferred to 178th Brigade, 59th (2nd North Midland) Division and absorbed the 2/7th Sherwoods. They saw action in The Battle of the St Quentin canal, including the passage of the canal at Bellenglise on the 7th of May the battalion was reduced to cadre strength and on the 29th transferred to 30th Division. On the 19th of June 1918 they transferred to 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division and on the 15th of August transferred to 116th Brigade, 39th Division and were based near Etaples until the Armistice.
20th Oct 1914 Draft
10th Nov 1914 Reinforcements
8th Feb 1915 Instruction
25th Feb 1915 First Territorial units land in France The 1/7th Battalion Sherwood Foresters was part of 139th (Forester) Brigade in the 46th (North Midland) Division.
In February 1915, the 139th (Forester) Brigade had the distinction of being
part of the first Territorial division to land in France. By the end of the year they had been engaged in heavy fighting and Captain C. G. Vickers of the 1/7th (Robin Hoods) had been awarded the VC.
This Forester Brigade served in France for the remainder of the war and
suffered severe casualties. In particular, it gained special recognition for its valour on the opening day of the Somme Battle on 1 July 1916, where it suffered 80 per cent casualties, and its magnificent part in the breaking of the Hindenburg Line and the final defeat of the German Army in the autumn of 1918. Lieutenant Colonel B.W. Vann MC the Commanding Officer of the 1/6th Battalion and Sergeant W.H. Johnson of the 1/5th Battalion being awarded the VC for conspicious bravery in the latter action.
5th Mar 1915 Instruction
6th Mar 1915 First loss for 7th Sherwoods
8th March 1915 An Exciting Time
26th Mar 1915 First Impressions
5th of April 1915 Quiet Day
7th of April 1915 Mostly Quiet 
4th May 1915 Recovering at Home
10th May 1915 UnLucky Bulllet
31st Jul 1915 Brave Actions
7th Oct 1915 Planning
13th Oct 1915 7th Sherwoods in Action
14th Oct 1915 A Terrible Time
14th Oct 1915 Redoubt Held
16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme
30th Nov 1915 Congratulations
1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets
11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment
13th Dec 1915 Medal Winner Returns
10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens
9th February 1916 Call Ups
16th of February 1916 Collapsing Trenches
28th of February 1916 Changes to the Front
12th Jun 1916 Found Drowned
1st Jul 1916 7th Sherwoods in action
1st July 1916 In Action
29th Jun 1917 Daylight Trench Raid
30th Mar 1918 Inspection
8th Aug 1918 A/Major Basil Terah Hooley, 7th Sherwood Foresters then 2nd Tank Corps, 5th Battalion was awarded an M.C. For gallantry and devotion to duty when in command of a company of tanks near Domart, 8th August 1918.
In order to reach his position of deployment this officer had to take his tanks across the river Luce by Thennes Bridge and move them for a distance of 1700 yards to a flank within100 yards of the enemy front line.
The bridge at Thennes was in a very precarious condition, and the entire approach march had to be carried out through the area in which the enemy’s barrage was known to fall.
In carrying out this most difficult operation Major Hooley displayed the greatest coolness and judgement, and succeeded in getting all thirteen tanks to a position of deployment, whence the proceeded into action at zero.
Throughout the operation on 8th August Major Hooley kept in close touch with his tanks in spite of heavy artillery and machine-gun fire, and supervised them in their operations with the greatest judgement and decision. His gallantry and capable handling of his command enabled the infantry to reach their objectives at the expense of very few casualties.
THE TANK CORPS BOOK OF HONOUR Book owned by father John Peter Lloyd 460 pages, here is just one entry on page 155 and I quote
5th Sep 1918 Reliefs
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These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
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Those known to have served with7th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters during the Great War 1914-1918. - Ball VC, DSO, MC. Albert. Cpt. (d.7th May 1917)
- Cartledge George Henry. Gnr.
- Duke George Edward. L/Cpl. (d.1st July 1916 )
- Elliott Frank. Pte. (d.20th Jun 1916)
- Hawkins Harold Mawby. L/Cpl. (d.29th May 1916)
- Hewing William Henry. Cpl.
- Hunt Albert Edward. L/Cpl.
- Jackson Harold. L/Cpl. (d.9th July 1916)
- Maskrey John Henry. Rflmn. (d.1st July 1916)
- Nichols William Joseph . Pte. (d.7th July 1916)
- Pritchett William. Capt.
- Tranter Harry Alexander. Sgt. (d.21st Mar 1918)
- Twigger John. L/Cpl. (d.21st Mar 1918)
- White Percy William. Cpl.
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 7th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters from other sources.
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Cpt. Albert Ball VC, DSO, MC. 56 Sqd. (d.7th May 1917)  Albert Ball formerly served with the 7th (Robin Hood) Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment),
He was killed in action on the 7th of May 1917, aged 20 and buried in the Annoeullin Communal Cemetery and German Extension in France.
He had been awarded yhe Legion d'Honneur (France) and Order of St. George, 4th Class (Russia) and was the son of Sir Albert Ball, J.P., of Stansted House, Wollaton Park, Nottingham.
An extract from the London Gazette dated 8th June 1917, records the following:- "For most conspicuous and consistent bravery from the 25th of April to the 6th of May, 1917, during which period Capt. Ball took part in twenty-six combats in the air and destroyed eleven hostile aeroplanes, drove down two out of control, and forced several others to land. In these combats Capt. Ball, flying alone, on one occasion fought six hostile machines, twice he fought five and once four. When leading two other British aeroplanes he attacked an enemy formation of eight. On each of these occasions he brought down at least one enemy. Several times his aeroplane was badly damaged, once so seriously that but for the most delicate handling his machine would have collapsed, as nearly all the control wires had been shot away. On returning with a damaged machine he had always to be restrained from immediately going out on another. In all, Capt. Ball has destroyed forty-three German aeroplanes and one balloon, and has always displayed most exceptional courage, determination and skill." 
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L/Cpl. Harold Mawby Hawkins 7th Btn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) (d.29th May 1916) Harold Hawkins was killed in action on the 29th of May 1916, aged 20 and is buried in the Foncquevillers Military Cemetery in France.
He was the son of Benjamin and Harriett Hawkins, of 78 Egypt Rd., Basford, Nottingham.
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Pte. Frank Elliott 7th Btn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) (d.20th Jun 1916) Frank Elliott was killed in action on the 20th of June 1916, aged 21. Buried in the Foncquevillers Military Cemetery in France, he was the husband of Mrs. Elliott, of 107 Union Rd., Nottingham.
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L/Cpl. Albert Edward Hunt 7th Btn. Sherwood Foresters Albert Hunt survived the war and re enlisted as a private in WW2 as he didn't want to carry his rank. He also served as an ARP warden.
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Gnr. George Henry Cartledge 175th Siege Battery Royal Field Artillery George Cartledge enlisted into the Sherwood Foresters Territorial Force and was posted to the 7th (Robin Hood) Battalion on 27th of April 1912. From the Roll of Honour on the front page of the Nottingham Evening Post dated 5th of August 1916, George was wounded on the 1st of July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme (the family only became aware of this in 2016).
George was transferred to the Royal Field Artillery and retrained as a Gunner, later he became acting Fitter Corporal.
George was finally demobilized on 15th of March 1919. He was issued with the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and the Territorial Efficiency Medal.
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Pte. William Joseph Nichols 7th Battallion Sherwood Foresters (d.7th July 1916) William Nichols served with the Lincolnshire Regiment and 7th Sherwood Foresters.
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Rflmn. John Henry Maskrey 10th Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps (d.1st July 1916) John Maskrey joined the 10th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps on 4th of September 1914. By 9th of September, he was posted for training at the KRRC Winchester Barracks. On 18th Of September, he was discharged as medically unfit under the Kings Regulations. Not satisfied with the outcome, a year later, in 1915, John tried once again to join the British Army, this time enlisting with the 1/7th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derbys) Regiment.
Within months, he was posted to France and the village of Gommecourt at the Northern most point on the Somme. On 1st of July 1916 he was posted as missing believed killed. His body was never found and he has no known grave.
On 26th of June 1917, his photograph appeared in the Nottingham Evening Post newspaper as one of four Sherwood Foresters presumed dead. His widow, Florence (Wildman) Maskrey married again to William Radford. John Henry is remembered on the Thiepval memorial and in the Regiment Role of Honour.
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Cpl. Percy William White 1/5th Btn. Sherwood Foresters Percy White was with 1/7th Robin Hoods until break up, then went to 59th Division. He was wounded in front of Baillieul on the 17th of Apr 1918. Recovered and went back to the 5th Battalion Sherwoods. He was wounded on the Somme on the 17th of Oct 1918, in front of Bohain. Sent back home and discharged on 5th of March 1919.
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L/Cpl. Harold Jackson 7th Btn. Sherwood Foresters (d.9th July 1916) Harold Jackson served with the Sherwood Foresters, 7th battalion. He died of wounds on 9th July 1916 and is buried at Le Treport Military Cemetery, France.
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L/Cpl. John Twigger 7th Btn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) (d.21st Mar 1918) My great uncle John Twigger is remembered with honour at the Arras memorial
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L/Cpl. George Edward Duke 1st/7th (Robin Hoods) Battalion Sherwood Foresters (d.1st July 1916 ) George Duke was my paternal great grand uncle, killed in action at the Battle of the Somme on the 1st July 1916 aged 20 years old. He is buried in Foncquevillers Cemetary, Pas De Calais Nord.
Lance Corporal Duke was a pre-war Territorial soldier having enlisted in 1913. I also served with the last of the Territorial infantry line of the Robin Hood Foresters between 1974 and 1988 in D. Company 3WFR as had my father before me. I hope to be at Fonquevillers to pay my respects on the Centenary of his death on the 1st July 2016.
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Sgt. Harry Alexander Tranter 1/7th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (d.21st Mar 1918) 266730 Sgt.Harry Alexander Tranter, serving with 1/7th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Robin Hoods) was reported missing presumed killed in action on the 21/03/1918. According to the Red Cross enquiry list 01/10/1918. He is remembered on the Arras Memorial.
He was the son of Caroline Furner Tranter and the late Robert Luther Tranter.
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Capt. William Pritchett 17th Btn. Notts and Derbys Regiment (Sherwood Foresters) William Pritchett went out into no mans land, leading a squad, with orders to blow up a knocked out tank the Germans were using for artillery ranging. Looking inside the tank he saw it'd been caught in a gas attack, as the interior was yellow, and the remains of the crew and their uniforms were broken down by the mustard.
He lost his rank as Acting Captain when the 17th Sherwood Foresters were disbanded but regained the rank on 21/3/18 with the 7th Robin Hoods, only to be captured that very day. The day of The disaster at Bullecourt.
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Cpl. William Henry Hewing 7th Btn. Sherwood Foresters My Grandfather, William Hewing was 19 when he went to war in France and was involved in some of the bloodiest and most gruesome battles ever endured by soldiers of the British Army. He was with the infantry in Richelbourge St Vaast in 1915, The Somme in July 1916, Vimy Ridge in winter 1916, part of the attack on Gommecourt later he saw action with the tanks at Ypres, Cambrai, Amiens, Hindenburg Line, Arras, Selle Villers and Bretonneaux.
I have a detailed account of the time he spent in France written by his own hand some years after the war. It is a very moving account which is being printed in the Derby Evening Telegraph on Monday 9th November.
AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM.
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