Southampton – 4pm, 22nd

Battalion, strength 30 Officers, 1003 Other Ranks, 78 horses embarked for service with Expeditionary Force.

Havre – 8am, 23^rd

Battalion disembarked and went into rest camp, one interpreter joined and was taken on the strength. The Orderly Sergeant proceeded to base and was struck off strength.

Havre – Noon, 24^th

Battalion entrained for Cassel

Terdeghen – 7am, 25^th

Battalion detrained at Cassel & proceeded by route march into Terdeghen into billets. One man admitted to hospital struck off strength.

Bailleul – 8am 28^th

Battalion marched from Terdeghen into billets at Bailleul. One horse died and one horse struck off strength

Bailleul – 29^th

Battalion employed in digging trenches NE of Neuve Eglise

Bailleul – 30^th

Battalion employed in digging trenches NE of Neuve Eglise

Bailleul – 31^st

Battalion employed in digging trenches NE of Neuve Eglise

Armentieres – 1^st (to 5^th)

Battalion marched from Bailleul into billets at Armentieres and attached to 19^th Infantry Brigade for instruction in trench warfare

Bailleul – 6^th (to 11^th)

Battalion marched from Armentieres back into billets at Bailleul

Douve Trenches 12^th

Battalion marched from Bailleul and took over Douve trenches.
Casualties – one man wounded

Douve Trenches 13^th

Casualties – one man killed, one man died of wounds received the same day

Douve Trenches 14^th

Casualties – two men slightly wounded

Douve Trenches 15^th

Casualties – two men wounded

Douve Trenches 16^th  (to 20^th)

Casualties – three men killed, two men wounded. On being relieved in Douve Trenches Battalion marched into hutments near Neuve Eglise in Divisional Reserve

Hutments nr Neuve Eglise 20th

Battalion marched from Hutments and took over Douve Trenches.
Casualties – one man wounded

Douve Trenches 22^nd  / 23^rd

Casualties – one man killed, zero men wounded

Douve Trenches 24^th (to 27^th)

Battalion marched into billets at Petit Pont. Point 63

Petit Pont 28^th / 29^th

Battalion took over Douve Trenches. One man was wounded – “at duty”

Douve Trenches 30^th

Casualty – one man wounded

Douve Trenches May 1^st

Casualties 4 men killed 8 men wounded

Douve Trenches May 2^nd

Battalion marched to hutments at Jonesville

Hutments Jonesville May 5th

Digging parties.
Casualties – one man wounded

Jonesville May 6th

Battalion returned to trenches - Casualty – one man wounded

Trenches 61-65 May 7^th

Casualty – one man killed

Trenches 61-65 May 8^th

Casualties – two men wounded. Captain J.A. Seymour wounded. 2 Lt O.L.Owen accidentally wounded

Trenches 61-65 May 9^th

Casualties 7 men killed, 18 men wounded

Trenches 61-65 May 11^th

Casualty – one man wounded

Trenches 61-65 May 12^th

Battalion marched into billets at Petit Pont. Point 63

Point 63 - Petit Pont May 13^th

Digging parties, casualties two men killed. 2^nd Lt W.A.P. Watson went to hospital as a result of being thrown from his horse.

Point 63 - Petit Pont May 14^th

Digging party, casualty one man wounded

Point 63 - Petit Pont May 15^th

Digging parties, Lt. C.C. Riddell went to hospital for an operation. Capt & Adj C. E. Davies went into hospital. Capt C. Retallack – appointed Adjutant vice Capt C. E. Davies

Point 63 - Petit Pont May 16^th

Major A.W.F. Pauli T.D. returned to England

Battalion returned to trenches – one man wounded

Trenches 61-65 May 17^th

Trenches 61-65 May 18^th

One man accidentally wounded

Trenches 61-65 May 19^th

One man wounded

Trenches 61-65 May 20^th

One man accidentally wounded and one accidentally wounded. Battalion marched to Jonesville

Jonesville May 21^st

Digging party

Jonesville May 22^nd

Digging party

Jonesville May 23^rd

Digging parties

Jonesville May 24th

Battalion returned to trenches

Trenches 61-65 May 25^th

One man wounded

Trenches 61-65 May 26^th

One man killed and one wounded

Trenches 61-65 May 27^th

One man wounded

Trenches 61-65 May 28^th

Battalion marched to Court Dieve

Point 63 – Court Dreve May 29^th

Digging parties

Point 63 – Court Dreve May 30^th

Digging parties

Point 63 – Court Dreve May 31^st

Digging parties

Point 63 – Court Dreve June 1

Battalion returned to trenches. Major General R. Panshawe, D.S.O. assumed command of the Division

Trenches 61-65 June 2

Captain J.H. Francis killed – one man wounded

Trenches 61-65 June 3

2/Lieut R.W.L. Edgington killed – one man wounded

Trenches 61-65 June 4

One man killed

Trenches 61-65 June 5

One man wounded – Battalion marched into huts at Jonesville

Hutments – Jonesville June 6

Digging parties

Hutments – Jonesville June 7

Battalion marched into Court Dreve – Capt J.R.M Minsullford – Royal Welch Fusiliers assumed duties as Bde Major – one man was accidentally wounded

Point 63 – Court Dreve June 8

Digging parties

Point 63 – Court Dreve June 9

Battalion went into trenches taking up a new line  - 5 new trenches being taken in on the right of the old line and 2 trenches given up on the left

Douve Trenches 36-40, 61-63  10

The following officers arrived from England & taken on strength of the battalion. Capt K. Jennens, 2 Lieut A.F. Adkin, 2 Lieut R.W. Arrend. Major W.H. Franklin to be senior Major.

Douve Trenches 36-40, 61-63  11

One man wounded – Battalion marched into billets at Romarin

Romarin June 12

Romarin June 13

Romarin June 14

Battalion (in Divisional Reserve) turned out at 3.5am for an alarm occasioned by the explosion of a mine but the situation dealt with by the Garrison in the trench. The Battn was inspected in the afternoon by G.O.C. Division

Romarin June 15

Battalion took over another line of trenches between Frelinghem and Ploegsteert. No 1 – 19

Trenches 1 – 19 June 16

A company of 7 Norfolks in our trenches for instruction throughout our tour.

Trenches 1 – 19 June 17

Three men wounded – one died of his wounds the following day. On night of 17/18 an effort to take a prisoner in accordance with 3^rd Army Cops orders was made by a party under 2^nd Lt A.W.L. Groom who patrolled with a bomb party – No prisoner was taken but the party threw bombs when they encountered the enemy & only retired when forced to do so by superior fire & numbers of enemy having penetrated nearly as far as enemies trenches.

Trenches 1 – 19 June 18

Two men wounded. 2/Lt Groom made another sortie on night of 18/19 but no Germans were found in front of their line.

Trenches 1 – 19 June 19

Two men wounded. Battalion went into Brigade Reserve with HQ at the The Convent, Ploegsteert.

Convent, Ploegsteert June 20 - 22

Drill and working parties

Convent, Ploegsteert June 23

Battalion returned to trenches 1-19 – one man wounded

Trenches 1 – 19 June 24

Trenches 1 – 19 June 25

Two men wounded – one died 26.6.15 of his wounds

Bailleul June 26

Battalion left trenches 12.30am and marched to Bailleul. Inspection by Lieut General Sir. W.P. Pulteney K.C.B; D.S.O, Commanding 3^rd Corps. Battalion marched to Vieux Berquin

Vieux Berquin June 27

Battalion marched to Ham en Artois. 2^nd Lieuts E. Holt and W.E. Walsh arrived from England and taken on strength of Battn.

Ham en Artois June 28

Battn marched to Auchel and goes into Corps reserve.

Auchel June 29

~

Auchel June 29

~

July 1

Battalion in Corps Reserve

July 3

Battn inspected by General Sir Douglas Haig, Commanding First Army

July 8

Battn inspected by Earl Kitchener

July 11

Lieut Col G.C. Sladden (The Rifle Brigade) took over Command of the Battalion

July 12

Battn marched to bivouacs at Houchin

Houchin – July 16

Battalion returned to Auchel

Auchel – July 18

Battalion marched to Bivouacs’ at Beauquesne

Beauquesne – July 21

Battalion marched to Courcelles and went into Brigade Reserve. 143^rd Inf Bde take over trenches at Hebuterne

Courcelles – July 25

Battalion marched to trenches and took over as in Operations Order 2

Trenches – July 26

Three men killed and seven men wounded

Trenches – July 27

Three men wounded

Trenches – July 28

Lieut P.E. Robinson and 2/Lt W.J. Buck arrived from Havre and taken on strength of Battn

Trenches – July 29

One man accidentally wounded

Trenches – July 30

Battalion marched into billets at Bayencourt

Bayencourt – July 31

Battalion remained in billets at Bayencourt

Bayencourt – August 1

Battalion in Divisional Reserve

Bayencourt – August 3

Battn inspected by Lt. General Sir T.D.O. Snow K.C.B, Commanding VII Corps

Trenches Colincamps – August 7

Battn relieved 4^th Glosters in trenches and took over line & dispositions as in O.O. no 4

Trenches Colincamps – August 10

One man wounded (at duty) one accidental injury

Trenches Colincamps – August 13

One O.R. wounded

Trenches Colincamps – August 15

Battalion relieved by the 4^th Glosters and marched to billets at Bayencourt

Bayencourt – August 16

Bayencourt – August 17

Working parties of 375 per day & baths during stay in billets

Bayencourt – August 19

One man accidentally wounded

Bayencourt – August 20

Two men accidentally wounded

Bayencourt – August 22

2/Lt W.A.P. Watson returned from England and taken on strength of battalion

Trenches Colincamps – August 23

Battn relieved 4^th Glosters in trenches taking up same dispositions

Trenches Colincamps – August 24

1 O.R. killed, 3 wounded (1 at duty)

Trenches Colincamps – August 25

2 O.R. Wounded. Battn relieved by 2^nd Battn Essex Regiment and marched to bivouac in Bois de Warnimont

Bois de Warnimont – Aug 26 to 29

Working parties and baths

Bois de Warnimont – August 30

Battalion went into billets at Bus

Bus – August 31

Working parties and baths

Bus – September 1

Working parties and baths – Capt J.K. Rabone died at No 1 Red Cross Hospital, Le Touquet from peritonitis after an operation for appendicitis

Bus – September 2

Baths – The Battn took over trenches from the French 56^th Division as in O.O. no 6

Trenches - September 5

Reinforcements of 30 O.R. taken on strength of Battn

Bayencourt – September 6

Battn relieved in trenches by 6 R War R and took over billets in Bayencourt. No casualties in trenches

Bayencourt – September 7

½ Coy under Major Carter at work to continue defences of Bayencourt

Trenches - September 10

Battalion took over trenches from 6 R War R as in O.O. no 7

Fonquevillers - September 14

Battalion relieved by the 6 R War R and took over dispositions of 8 R War R as in O.O. no 8

Fonquevillers - September 15

One O.R. accidentally wounded, Working parties on defences of Fonquevillers

Fonquevillers - September 18

Battn relieved 6 R War R in trenches as in O.O. no 9

Trenches – September 19

One O.R. killed

Trenches – September 22

Battalion relieved by 6 R War R and took over billets of 8^th R War R at Bayencourt as in O.O. no 10

Bayencourt – September 23

Battn Route March – Capt E.V. Jeavons appointed acting Q.M. vice Q.M and Major W. Taylor to England sick 6-9-15.

Bayencourt – September 26

Battn relieved 6 R War R as in O.O. no 11

Trenches – September 28

One O.R. Wounded

Trenches – September 30

Battn relieved by 6 R War R in trenches and took over defences of Fonquevillers and La Haie as in O.O. no 12 from 8 R War R.

Fonquevillers - October 3

Lt. Col G.C. Sladden wounded whilst in M Sector – remaining in command

Fonquevillers - October 8

5^th Battn relieved 6 R War R as in O.O. no 13

Trenches – October 11

HQ’s and A&B Coiy of 15^th Bn R I Rifles attached for instruction until 17th

Trenches – October 16

5^th Battn relieved by 6 R War R and took over billets of 8 R War R at Bayencourt as O.O. no 14

Bayencourt – October 18

Battn Route March

Bayencourt – October 19

Working parties on Bayencourt defences & for R.E.

Bayencourt – October 24

5 R War R relieved 6 R War R in trenches as in O.O. no 15

Trenches – October 27

14^th Battn R Irish Rifles in for instruction until Nov 2nd

Trenches – October 29

25 O.R. arrived as reinforcement draft from base.

Trenches – November 1

5^th Battn relieved by 6 Battn and took over disposition of 8 R War as in O.O. no 16

Fonquevillers – November 2

Lt. Col G.C. Sladden 1/5 R War R assumed temporary command of the 143^rd Inf Bde during absence of Brigadier General C.H.L. James on leave

Fonquevillers – November 9

5^th Battn relieved 6 R War R in the trenches (L Sector) as in O.O. no 17. The trenches now occupied by 143^rd Bde are opposite Gommecourt and L Sector of front line is from E.27.d.7.6 to K.3.d.3.8 ref Map France 57D. On the right is 144 Inf Bde and on left is 37^th Division.

Trenches – November 14

One other rank wounded

Trenches – November 15

A Coy of 12^th Bn R Irish Rifles attached for instruction

Trenches – November 17

5^th R War R relieved by 6 R War R and marched to Bayencourt as O.O. no 18

Bayencourt – November 18

Draft of 26 men arrived

Bayencourt – November 22

2/Lt E.P.G. Carter taken on strength by the Battn

Bayencourt – November 25

5 R War R relieved 6 R War R in trenches as in O.O. no 19

Trenches – November 27

Capt. A.S. Alabaster and one O.R. taken on strength of Battalion

Trenches – November 28

One other rank wounded, HQ’s and 2 Coys of 21 Manchester Regt in for instruction.

Trenches – November 30

Lt. J.W.W. Hudson killed

Trenches – Dec 1

Trenches – Dec 5^th

5^th Battn relieved by 6 R War R and took over dispositions of 8^th Warwicks at Fonquevillers

Fonquevillers – Dec 11^th

5^th Battn relieved 6 R War R in the trenches (L Sector

Trenches – Dec 11^th

One company of the 17^th Bn Manchester Regiment attached for instruction

Trenches – Dec 12^th

A draft of 32 OR’s arrived

Trenches – Dec 18^th

HQ and one company of the 19^th Batt Liverpool Regiment attached for instruction

Trenches – Dec 19^th

5 Battn relieved by 6 R War R and took over billets of 8 R War R at Bayencourt

Bayencourt – Dec 23^rd

2/Lt. J.H. Wilson taken on strength of Battn

Bayencourt – Dec 25^th

Christmas Day

Bayencourt – Dec 27^th

5 Battn relieved the 6 R War R in the trenches as in O.O. no 23

Trenches – Dec 28^th

-

Alcester is a market town in the Stratford-on-Avon District of Warwickshire, England. It is 8 mi (13 km) west of Stratford-upon-Avon, and 7 miles south of Redditch. The town dates back to the times of Roman Britain and is located at the junction of the River Alne and River Arrow. In the 2021 census, the population of the parish was 6,035, with 6,421 in the built-up area.

Alcester was founded by the Romans in around AD 47 as a walled fort. The walled town, possibly named Alauna developed from the military camp. It was sited on Icknield Street, a Roman road that ran the length of Roman Britain from south-west England to south Yorkshire. The town was also just north of the Fosse Way, another important thoroughfare in Roman Britain.[6] By the end of the 2nd century, Roman Alcester had developed into a bustling trading and market town: A small walled area in the centre of the town was surrounded by an extensive grid of roads serving a complex of workshops and their associated housing, which specialised in trades such as tanning, metal working and pottery manufacture. Some of the houses of Roman Alcester appear to have been well endowed, with features such as heating, painted plaster and mosaic floors. Along with most Romano-British towns, it appears to have gone into decline in the 4th century when the Romans began to leave Britain. Detailed archaeological work began in the 1920s.

In the Early Middle Ages, Alencestre had become an Anglo-Saxon market town in the Kingdom of Mercia. Alcester was also the site of Alcester Abbey, a Benedictine monastery founded in 1138 by Ralph le Boteler. Richard de Tutbury, the last abbot, resigned his office in 1467 and Alcester Abbey was absorbed into the neighbouring Evesham Abbey. By 1515 Alcester Abbey was in ruins as a result of the neglect of various abbots, and later during the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII it was largely demolished. The ruins were granted to the local Greville family, who used much of the stone to rebuild their family seat of Beauchamp Court.

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War Memorial Transcription

South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

Lighthorne War Memorial - St. Laurence Churchyard, Lighthorne, CV35 0VS

REMEMBER THE BRAVE MEN OF LIGHTHORNE
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR KING AND COUNTRY
IN THE GREAT WAR
1914-1919