Major Thomas Goulding Woolley, Royal Engineers

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Edward De Santis, MSCE, PE, MInstRE
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
May 2020

The principal references used in the preparation of this narrative were from a number of sources. They include census records, official registries in the United Kingdom, medal rolls, family trees, army lists, service papers, unit histories and The London Gazette. One reference used extensively was A History of the East Lancashire Royal Engineers. This book was compiled by Members of the Corps and was published by the Country Life Library, London, in 1921. The book provides a detailed account of the service of the company to which Thomas Golding Woolley was assigned. The narrative in the book was prepared by men who served in the company during the war and it is, per force, a description of what they saw and what they personally experienced. Errors and omissions should be expected in a narrative such as this, since eye-witness accounts of anything, especially something as complex as war, must be expected. However, this book is probably the best reference describing the day-to-day activities and operations of the Woolley’s unit as seen through the eyes of men who experienced them.

All sources used in the construction Major Woolley’s story are contained in the REFERENCE section at the end of the narrative and are cited throughout in the ENDNOTES. Every effort has been made to accurately portray the events of his life and military service. It is expected that in the future Major Woolley’s military service papers may become available. If and when they are available they will add much to his story.

2. EARLY LIFE AND FAMILY INFORMATION

Ernest Woolley (1859-?), the father of Thomas Golding Woolley, a Stock Broker by profession, was born in April of 1859 in South Collingham, Nottinghamshire. Thomas’ mother was Constance Anne Hubbersty (1859-1935) of Cottingham, Yorkshire. Ernest and Constance were married in Wirksworth, Derbyshire on the 6^th of October 1887. They had two sons; Ernest John (1888-1950) and Thomas Golding (1890-1966).[1]

Ernest John Woolley was born on the 19^th of November 1888 at 21 Camden Grove Kensington, Middlesex. Thomas was born on the 27^th of June 1890 at the same address. Campden Grove is a street, only one block long, situated between Hornton Street in the west and Kensington Church Street in the east. His place of birth is located between Queen Elizabeth College to the west of Campden Grove, and Kensington Palace to the east. Thomas’ birth was registered at the Kensington Registry Office on the 9^th of July 1890.

The Woolley family appears to have been well-to-do as a result of Ernest’s success as a Stock Broker. Their four-story home was located in the affluent district of Kensington in the West End of central London. The district's commercial heart is Kensington High Street, running on an east-west axis. The north east is taken up by Kensington Gardens, containing the Albert Memorial, the Serpentine Gallery and Speke's monument. South Kensington and Gloucester Road are home to the Imperial College London, the Royal College of Music, the Royal Albert Hall, the National Historical Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Science Museum. The area was also home to many international embassies and consulates and the residences of many politicians and millionaires. All in all, it was a very posh area.

It is not surprising that the Woolley family was wealthy in the eighteen nineties. Thomas Golding Woolley’s grandparents, Thomas S. and Maria Woolley were a wealthy Nottinghamshire family. The 1861 Census of England and Wales shows Thomas and Maria with three sons, five daughters and five servants. Surely there was money in the Woolley family that had been passed down to Ernest and his family over the years. The luxurious town home of the Woolley family, shown in the photograph below, also is evidence of a family of means.

Figure 1. The Woolley Home at 21 Campden Grove, Kensington, London.
(Photograph courtesy of Google Earth)

The 1891 Census of England and Wales shows the Woolley household as it consisted on the 5^th of April of that year.

By the time of the 1911 census on the 2^nd of April 1911, the Woolley family had again changed addresses and was living in Walton on Thames in Surrey.

In 1904 Thomas entered Cheltenham College (Upper 4c – Special 6) as a boarder in Newick House. While studying at Cheltenham he developed an interest in competitive marksmanship and in military matters.[3] Cheltenham was a Church of England foundation and was well known for its classical, military and sporting traditions,

Figure 2. Cheltenham College, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
(Photograph courtesy of the Cheltenham College web site)

Figure 3. Newick House where Thomas Lived as a Boarder at Cheltenham College.
(Postcard image in the author’s collection)

In 1907 Thomas shot on the Cheltenham Rifle Corps Team as a Cadet Private, and he shot on the team as a Cadet Corporal (Shooting VIII) in 1907 and 1908.

Thomas completed his studies at Cheltenham in 1908 and entered the City and Guilds Engineering College on Exhibition Road, Brompton, London SW7 where he studied Electrical Engineering. In 1911 he was elected a Student Member of the Institution of Electrical Engineering and following his graduation he went to work for the British Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, Ltd. The company was involved with the production of gas engines, steam engines, electric generators, transformers, switchgear, meters, motors, control gear and arc lamps.

Just about the time that Thomas starting working with the firm it became involved in substantial a law suit with the Underground Electric Railways Co of London Ltd. The defendants (British Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co Ltd) supplied the plaintiffs (Underground Electric Railways Co of London Ltd) with turbines which, in breach of contract, were deficient in power. The plaintiffs accepted and used the turbines but reserved their right to claim damages. Later they replaced the turbines with others which were far more efficient than those supplied by the defendants would have been, even if they had complied with the contract. The plaintiffs claimed to recover the cost of the substitute turbines as damages. Although there is no indication that Thomas was involved in this litigation, it must have been a difficult time for the company and one that gave him pause to wonder about the security of his new employment.[4]

On the 9^th of July 1911 Thomas was granted the Liberty of the City of London (Freedom of the Merchant Taylors’ Company by Patrimony), an honor that seemed to be granted to members of wealthy and prominent families. The certificate, shown in the Figure below, is typical of the document given to individuals who were so honored in this way. The term “by Patrimony” indicates generally, a member's son born after the father became a member. The Merchant Taylors' Company dates from 1327, when it was a social and religious fraternity of tailors and linen-armourers dedicated to St John the Baptist.

Figure 4. Thomas Golding Woolley’s Liberty of the City Certificate.
(Image courtesy of the Woolley family tree)

Unfortunately no physical description of Thomas Golding Woolley has yet to be uncovered during the course of this research, nor has a photograph of him been found. His military service papers probably would contain some items related to his physical appearance, but these have not been requested yet from the Army Personnel Centre in Glasgow. Hopefully when this narrative is uploaded to the internet, a family member may see it and may offer to supply a photograph of him. The completion of this section of the narrative is still pending.

Thomas’ interest in military matters first surfaced at Cheltenham College in 1907 or 1908. When he came of age he applied for a commission in the Territorial Force (T.F.) and as he was an engineer he undoubtedly applied to the Royal Engineers. He was commissioned a 2^nd Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers (T.F.) on the 15^th of September 1912 (Army Number 49009) while he was working for Westinghouse.[5] Upon his commissioning he was assigned to the 2^nd East Lancashire Field Company, R.E. (T.F.) with headquarters at 73 Seymour Grove, Old Tafford, Manchester. The company at that time was commanded by Major H.A. Fielding, R.E.[6] Other officers in the company included:[7]

As a graduate engineer Thomas would have been well versed in the sciences of mathematics, physics and chemistry. However, as a new officer in the Corps of Royal Engineers he would have needed some basic training as a soldier and in the areas of field fortifications, surveying, military topography and military law, as his training as an electrical engineer would not have covered these subjects. As an electrical engineer he would have done well in a Royal Engineers Signal Company, but instead he was posted to a field company. Much of his training would have taken place with his unit, but undoubtedly he must have spent some time at the School of Military Engineering in Chatham, Kent.

Second Lieutenant Woolley's first training camp with the company took place between the 27^th of July and the 10^th of August 1913 at Denton (Ilkley), located northwest of Leeds in North Yorkshire, when the company participated in a Regimental Camp including all the units of the East Lancashire Royal Engineers. The other units consisted of the 1^st East Lancashire Field Company and the East Lancashire Divisional Telegraph Company. At this time the East Lancashire Royal Engineers were commanded by Lieutenant Colonel H.T. Crook, VD, M.I.C.E. Lieutenant Colonel Crook also served in the capacity of Commander, Royal Engineers (C.R.E.) for the East Lancashire Division.

Figure 5. Insignia of the 42^nd (East Lancashire) Divisional.
(Courtesy of Wikipedia)
NOTE: The insignia of the 2^nd East Lancashire Field Company was a red triangle with the number “2” in its center.

The 2nd East Lancashire Field Company, R.E. was already at the Regimental training camp in Carnarvon when war broke out in Europe in August of 1914. The company was immediately recalled and reached its headquarters at Old Tafford less than 24 hours after its departure. On the 4^th of August 1914 the East Lancashire Division Royal Engineers mobilized for deployment at Old Tafford. At this time the East Lancashire Division Engineers consisted of a Headquarters, the 1^st and 2^nd Field Companies, and the Divisional Signal Company (since converted from a Telegraph Company). The troops, now under the command of the Lieutenant Colonel C.E. Newton, were to be designated as the divisional engineers for the 42^nd (East Lancashire) Division. At the time of its mobilization, the following officers were in the 2nd East Lancashire Field Company:

The company was shortly to receive officer reinforcements as it prepared for deployment overseas.

The East Lancashire Division Royal Engineers left Old Tafford for Doffcocker Camp, Bolton, just west of Manchester on the 18^th of August 1914. Woolley was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on the 31^st of August 1914, and on this same day Lieutenant Colonel Tennant was appointed C.R.E of the 42^nd Division.

The East Lancashire Division Royal Engineers left Bolton by train at 0630 hours on the 9^th of September and arrived at Southampton Docks at 0500 hours on the following morning. The officers and men, less a few drivers, quickly boarded R.M.S. Aragon, together with the company's vehicles. The animals, plus a small number of drivers, boarded S.S. Messaba under the charge of Lieutenant Mackenzie, a newly assigned officer. The ships sailed at 2300 hours on the 10^th of September.

The company arrived in Alexandria Harbour off the coast of Egypt on the 25^th of September 1914 and moved to quay-side for disembarkation on the following day. Disembarkation took place on the 27^th of September and the company immediately left by rail, arriving at Kasr-el-Nil Barracks in Cairo at 0230 the following morning.

The Ships that Carried the East Lancashire Division Royal Engineers to War.
(Images courtesy of Wikipedia)

What followed now was a series of moves to perform engineer works in the area around Cairo. The company moved to Kantara and El Kubri on the Suez Canal (27 October 1914), back to Cairo (6 January 1915), to Ismailia and El Ferdan (6 February 1915), and finally to Alexandria on the 4^th of May 1915 in preparation for deployment to Gallipoli.

The work undertaken by the 2^nd East Lancashire Field Company while in Egypt consisted of numerous tasks at diverse location. The company’s projects took men of the sections to Kantara, Kubri, El Shatt, Shallufa, Heliopolis, Ismailia and Ferdan. Typical projects consisted of float bridge construction and defensive works for infantry and other units located in the area for the defence of the Suez Canal. These units included a battalion of the Highland Light Infantry, the 1/4^th Gurkha Rifles, the Coastguard Camel Corps, the 27^th Punjaubis, 14^th Sikhs, 93^rd Burmas, Bikhanir Camel Corps and one Mountain Battery of the Royal Artillery. This was a sizeable force all in need of defensive positions to prepare for a potential Turkish attack. When Turkey declared war it had the effect of doubling the company’s work by daylight and keeping the men all out in the trenches by night. This went on for about a month. Fortunately, some Imperial Service Indian Cavalry arrived and relieved the company of its night duties.[14]

As 1914 was coming to a close the unit suffered its first casualties, although the losses were not combat related. An officer, three non-commissioned officers, and three Sappers were killed on the 17^th of December of 1914 when the boiler of their boat exploded while they were on a return trip to El Kubri from Suez. The casualties were:

On the 5^th of January 1915 the company was withdrawn to Cairo with the 1st Field Company joining the train at Ismailia, then travelling together to Kasr-el-Nil and barracks again. January was a month of Divisional Training, including field-days on the Suez road east of Abbassia This involved the R.E. units in a march to Abbassia one day, a bivouac on an icy cold desert, a long and trying field-day, a very long march back, and a cold late supper. It was at this point that Lieutenants Allard and Angus of the Egyptian Government service joined the company in Cairo. Both were engineer officers who were employed on civil works projects for the government.

Towards the end of January the company moved to Heliopolis and went into camp on the race course, and on the 2^nd of February 1915 the company entrained for the Canal again.

The majority of work at this point was now Bench Mark, the deepest cutting on the length of the Suez Canal. The infantry here at first were the 5th Gurkhas and later the 51st Sikhs. The work consisted of preparing cut-and cover tunnels through the crest of the hill, work on the normal defences and the setting of flares. Early every morning the company sailed out across Timsah in a tug, had lunch out there at midday, and towards the evening sailed back.

The company’s work was very much hampered by lack of material. Cement-sacks served as sandbags while Egypt and the Sudan sent all spare corrugated iron to the area. Early in March two sections were sent to Ferdan, where the defences were very much as they had been left when the company was last there. The 33^rd Punjaubis soon arrived, and an elaborate program was detailed for that battalion’s defensive positions.

One night at Ferdan after the 33rd Punjaubis had arrived they were awakened by machine-gun bullets going through the tops of their tents. They turned out and lined the defences according to plan; however, it was merely a raid, but there was quite a bit of rifle fire, and the Turks had a camel gun. The raiders stumbled in the dark on a small post of Indians, the entrenchments for whom had been prepared by the 2^ndEast Lancashire Field Company twelve hours previously. Hundreds of rounds were fired by both sides, but dawn revealed no corpses.

At the end of April the company received orders to concentrate at Ismailia, so the two sections at Ferdan were packed on to barges and sailed for that town. Captain Carver had gone to Cairo to look after the movement of the transport, and Major Wells was temporarily indisposed and in bed. The company entrained in good order at Moascar, near Ismailia, on the evening of the 4^th of May 1915, and after a night-journey, reached the Alexandria timber-wharves at about 0800 hours. Captain Carver and Lieutenant Bull met the unit with the horses and vehicles, having travelled with H.Q. R.E. from Cairo. The company departed that evening for Gallipoli.[20]

At the time the unit was preparing to sail to the Dardanelles, the officers listed below were serving in the 2^nd East Lancashire Field Company. It is clear from this list that the company was very much over strength in officers. A Royal Engineers field company consisted of a headquarters and four sections, number 1 through 4. From the unit history it appears that initially Captain Carver was Major Wells’ second in command and the senior warrant officer in the company was 1095 Company Sergeant Major H.M. Davies. Eight of the 2^nd Lieutenants and Lieutenants may have been posted to the sections, two per section, although only one per section was authorized. Two Majors and two Captains also was unique, as if it had been planned to have back-ups to the officer ranks as casualties occurred.

2nd Lieutenant Raymond Brocklehurst Angus, R.E.[27] (joined in Cairo from the Egyptian Government Service) (killed in action, 22 September 1915 with No.1 Section)

A number of officers joined the company as replacements just prior to or during the campaign at Gallipoli. Some of these officers are listed below:

At this point A History of the East Lancashire Royal Engineers goes into much detail regarding the service of Woolley's company in the Dardanelles. Unfortunately, he is not mentioned by name in the history. His Great War Medal Index Card indicates only the first theater of war in which he served; that is, Egypt, and that he arrived there in September 1914 as indicated above. However, a casualty list dated 23 July 1915 lists him as wounded in action in the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF); therefore, it may be assumed that he was at Gallipoli. An entry in the company war diary also indicates that he was wounded while serving at Gallipoli, eliminating all doubt that he was there.

Since his service at Gallipoli and in subsequent campaigns is not specifically mentioned in the history of his company, a condensed version of the service of the 2^nd East Lancashire Field Company will be provided here. It must be recalled that the information provided here is from recollections of men who served in the company and is not based on an official record.

The company sailed from Alexandria on the 5^th of May 1915 and arrived off Cape Helles on the 8th of May. The troops did not commence disembarkation until the 10^th of May and were completely ashore by the 11^th. On the second afternoon a lighter came alongside and Major Wells, Lieutenant Gracey and Company Quartermaster Sergeant Major Thomas, with the company's horses and about twenty drivers were taken away by a trawler to " V " Beach. At dawn the Major sent Lieutenant Gracey on a reconnaissance to find out what was to be done next. The animals were now put on a line, some food found for the animals and men, and then Lieutenant Allard came ashore. Major Wells proceeded to go back aboard and get the remainder of the company off the ship.

Having no previous war experience, the two officers left on shore were a little bit frightened at the prospect of starting a campaign with seventy-six animals, little or no harness or rations, one C.S.M., twenty-five men and themselves. However, they settled down to get some sleep and were awakened in the middle of the night by the arrival of Major Wells with the remainder of the company.

The next day the company moved up to Pink Farm and dug in. Pink Farm was a solitary building which became a famous landmark and rendezvous point during the campaign. From Pink Farm the 2^nd Lancashire Field Company directed the construction of trenches, of lines of rifle pits in front of the trenches, of dugouts, and trench bridges for armoured cars, improvements of rough country tracks, work on wells and appliances for the distribution of drinking water, and the manufacture of bombs. Thus, the company became very heavily engaged in field engineering works in support of the infantry and artillery.

The digging, deepening, repairing and, when material was available, the strengthening of trenches was a never-ending task, which had to be performed under fire from artillery, machine guns and the ever present snipers. The soil was mainly a stiff yellow loam that stood well unrevetted until rain came. It was then transformed into a peculiarly bad mud and water would not drain away from areas that had become saturated by the rain. Gorse and heather, outcroppings of rock and in one or two sectors tough fir roots which interlaced and formed a network at varying depths, added considerably to the difficulties encountered by the sappers.[28] This type of terrain also was difficult for the infantry, which had to do much of the digging for their own trenches.

On the day that company headquarters move to Pink Farm, No. 4 Section moved to Geoghegan's Bluff and had their first action with the 7th Manchesters. The remainder of the company stopped at Pink Farm and the other sections worked on the projects detailed above as well as on the central road. At this point in the landing at Cape Helles the 42^nd Division was consolidating its position on the beach and trying to move inland.

Shortly after the 42^nd Division took over the centre of the attempted move inland, on either side of Krithia Nullah. The 2^nd Field Company had the left side and the 1st Field Company the right side. The forward sections lived in what was called afterwards the Redoubt Line, and was then about 300 yards from the front line.

The company headquarters at Pink Farm was not without work. C.S.M. Davies ran a grenade factory, while the joiners (company carpenters) prepared barbed-wire knife rests, a good example being set in the field to the Ministry of Munitions then being created at home to indicate what was needed in the field in the way of grenades.

The days in late May were busy but the nights were far busier. On several nights the 42^nd Division’s line advanced. The advancing party went forward the required distance and dug themselves in, mostly in disconnected holes, which were joined up the following night; the party remaining out in their holes during the intervening day. On the second night of each advance, as well as connecting up the holes to make a continuous trench, communication trenches were made. Once the trench was reasonably deep it could be improved during the succeeding days. Lieutenant Angus was with No. 1 Section about this time, setting up barbed wire obstacles above the waterfall in the nullah.

At first, before the company advanced by going out and digging in, it tried sapping forward, but it was terribly slow work, and the accurate sniping of the Turks made work at the sap-head dangerous. Sapping was therefore abandoned, but later the company used this method for completing some communication trenches on the right of the nullah. After several night advances the line was brought to within about one hundred and fifty yards of the Turkish defence system, and then on the 4th of June 1915, the Battle of Krithia began.

About half a dozen sappers were detailed to go with the first assaulting troops, with gun-cotton torpedoes to break the Turkish wire, which consisted of two belts of knife rests. The actual attacking troops were in two waves, and were followed by working parties in two more waves. Two sections of the 2nd Field Company — one on each side of the nullah — went with the third wave, or first working party; and the other two sections-- again one on each side of the nullah with the fourth wave, or second working party. The infantry part of these working parties was supplied by the 6th Lancashire Fusiliers.

An advanced company H.Q., consisting mainly of a dump of stores for wiring and other supplies, was established in the nullah close to the Redoubt Line, and about two hundred yards behind the line from which the advance started. To this place messages for Major Wells were to be sent, and here also Captain Carver and C.S.M. Davies were to remain. Major Wells himself went forward on the left of the nullah early in the attack, about the time when the third wave was advancing, to investigate the situation in regard to the amount of consolidation required. No. 3 Section, forming part of the fourth wave on the left, were astonished, while waiting to go forward, to see the Major arriving from the forward direction! He assured them that things were progressing well and that No. 4 Section with the third wave had reached the first Turkish line without much difficulty and were about to start work. There was a pretty heavy shrapnel fire at this time. It was surprising that the company had so few casualties from shrapnel in crossing the old "No Man's Land," most of them occurring later and being the work of snipers.

Captain Carver had left the stores dump in the nullah to go forward on the right in the same manner as the Major had done on the left, with a view to obtaining information as to the situation, and possibly helping in the consolidation of the captured position. Before long he was wounded badly while in the most advanced line, from which he was evacuated after hours of waiting, only to die in a Casualty Clearing Station. The company in him lost a most gallant officer and one who endeared himself to all ranks.

By the time the attack had gotten through the first two Turkish lines, the sappers were with the infantry first line, and soon found themselves clear through the whole Turkish system. From both sides of the nullah one could see into Krithia without any serious opposition. The right, however, had to fall back to the third line of the Turkish system to conform to the line on the right of the divisional front. On the left of the nullah the advanced troops began to dig in slightly further forward. This left a gap unmanned; moreover, the numbers had by this time been very much reduced and the strength on the left did not amount to much more than a hundred and fifty men. The C.R.E. and Major Wells went forward up the nullah in the evening, and after consultation with them the line on the left was withdrawn to the third Turkish line to correspond with that on the right. At the same time, in view of the very depleted strength, the R.E. sections were ordered to remain with the infantry in the front line during the night. There were few men in reserve and it was hoped that the Turks would not counterattack. At dawn, however, they did and were repulsed and for an hour or so the men of the company had some nice target practice on individual Turks trying to get back to Krithia. Meanwhile the gap between the left and right of the nullah had not been properly filled, and the enemy penetrated and began to fire at the men of the company from behind. This was stopped by building barricades, a job which lasted practically all the next day (5^th of June) thus forming a defensive flank to join up the two sides of the nullah.

The men of the 2^nd Field Company were very tired by this time and the casualties during the two days had been heavy. The company had lost six men killed in action on the 4^th of June [Sergeant Herbert Moor, Lance Corporal Joseph Harwood and Sappers John Potts, Frank O’Donnell, John Scott and Herbert Mountfield]. The unit war diary, written in the trenches for the 4^th of June, contained the following entries:

Turkish trenches were attacked. Nos. 3 & 4 sections with working party of 6^th L.F. formed 3^rd and 4^th Lines, following 6^th Manchesters. Nos. 1 and 2 sections on right of KRITHIA NULLAH behind 8^th Manchesters. Work of strengthening captured trenches & making communications trenches was taken in hand and carried on.

A night at Pink Farm was sufficient for the men of the company to rest and on the 6^th of June three sections went forward; No. 1 to the old " forward billet " near the Redoubt Line, Nos. 2 and 3 further forward to live in a trench called Stretford Road, which had been the British front line just before the attack.

On the night of June 6^th -7th occurred the affair known to the men of the company as the "old Turkish Redoubt." This small isolated post was within their line, and after consolidation had begun was re-occupied by Turks getting into it from the nullah. The 8^th Lancashire Fusiliers cleared them out, and themselves experienced a heavy counter-attack. When night came they appealed to Lieutenant Angus, in the neighbouring front line (which he had just come to strengthen with a working party), to give engineer assistance. The circumstances decided him to call for volunteers. All the volunteers were lads of about twenty-one or less, but across the open to the Redoubt they went, worked all night, and before dawn came handled their rifles vigorously against enemy attacks. The rising sun found hardly one of the R.E. or L.F., who was not either wounded or dead. In addition to Captain Carver, the company lost four more men killed in action [Sappers William Barlow, John Henry Kelsall and Tom Hinsley and Driver Charles Henry Bold] and one who later died of is wounds [Sapper George Herbert Grimshaw]. On the 8^th and 12^th of June two more men died of wounds received in the Battle of Krithia [Sappers Henry Ward and Walter Knott].

Sapping was begun from the company front line to the Redoubt, so that the wounded could be evacuated and supplies and small arms ammunition be brought up. It was in this work that Sapper Eachus exposed himself so daringly to fire and eventually was wounded. His handling of an infantry working party on the 4^th of June, when he displayed both energy and courage, had already brought him into notice of the company’s officers.

Sapper Harold Smith was wounded, and both he and another survivor, Sapper Pollitt, received the Distinguished Conduct Medal and promotions. After two years of repeated applications the D.C.M. was awarded to Sapper Eachus also, while Sapper Paterson, who was conspicuous in helping him, only received the thanks of the Divisional Commander. Paterson probably deserved at least a Military Medal.

New communication trenches were dug, headquarters for battalions were constructed, and there was a good deal of work with wire and loop-holing and strengthening barricades. A short time later one of the company’s barricades was overwhelmed by the enemy, and everyone except the Turks ran out of ammunition half-way through the night. On another night some work had to be carried out in conjunction with a battalion of the Royal Naval Division.

In the war diary of the 2^nd East Lancashire Field Company for the period from the 6^th of June to the 12^th of June Major Wells describes the actions during this hectic week and lists the casualties suffered by the company.

"During the whole week the company has been engaged in the firing line improving trenches, traversing, making and improving communications, driving saps, etc.

PINK FARM: Manufacture of bombs has been proceeded with on a small scale during this period.

Trenches: The company has been working almost night and day during this period.

Numerous mines which were located in the trenches previously occupied by the Turks have been removed."

NOTE: The men listed above with an (*) after their names subsequently died of their wounds.

The newly arrived 52nd Division took over the line for a few days, relieving the 42^nd Division infantry. The sappers, however, remained, largely because they knew the front so well that their presence was invaluable to any new troops, and the 52nd Division R.E. had not yet landed. This situation just put additional strain on the men of the 42^nd Division field companies who already had been through hell.

On the return of the 42^nd Division infantry, mining detachments were formed by the Royal Engineers from the miners available in the battalions, and later a Lieutenant Boyes, of the 4th East Lancashire Regiment was put in charge working under Major Lawes of the R.N.D. These detachments did very useful work and rapidly put in a sound defensive scheme.

A good deal of sapping was then done and several new lengths of communication trenches were dug. The enemy snipers were very keen on the sap-heads, and great care was necessary when at work there. On the 8^th of July Lieutenant Bull was visiting a sap one morning and stopped a moment too long at a dangerous corner to tell an infantryman at the sap-head to keep his head down. He had scarcely uttered the words when he was himself shot through the head and killed, adding one more to the gradually lengthening roll of good men lost including Sapper Walter George Starsmeare who died of his wounds on the 5^th of July.

Later in the month of July the 42^nd Division’s infantry were again relieved for a short period, this time by the 13th Division, and once again the R.E. were left to act as guides to battalions unfamiliar with the terrain. The troops of the 13^th Division were a fine lot and later distinguished themselves at Suvla Bay. However, while they were in the area of the 2^nd East Lancashire Field Company a jumpy man among their sentries one night mistook Lieutenant Jones for a Turk and fired, wounding him badly. According to the unit’s war diary, Lieutenant Woolley also was wounded in action, sometime between the 7^th and the 18^th of July 1915. His name appears on a casualty list dated the 23^rd of July. The nature and severity of his wound is not given, nor is there an indication that he was able to return to duty after being treated. The war diary page (prepared by Major Wells) for the period in which Woolley was wounded contains the following entries:

"The Company has been engaged during the week in the supervision of saps; deepening of fire and communication trenches; erection of overhead cover for bomb proof shelters; repair of parapets; improvement of water supply and fixing of tanks; improvement of Krithia Nullah Road; providing and making notice boards for water supply, latrines, etc; the manufacture and testing of bombs and conducting numerous Infantry classes in the nature and handling of bombs; building traverse and steps for getting over parapets; construction of a magazine for the storage of bombs at Clapham Junction."

NOTE: Pages of the company war diary through mid September were examined to see if there was any mention of Lieutenant Woolley being evacuated or returned to duty. No such mention of him was located.

Major Wells does not mention it in this war diary entry, but during this period there were many minor operations taking place on the division’s front including local counterattacks and bombing raids. Lieutenant Woolley may well have been wounded in one such action. Snipers also were a constant threat and perhaps it was a sniper’s bullet that wounded Woolley. The Turkish snipers were so troublesome that one of the men in the division composed a humorous announcement indicating that “an official scale of rewards paid to Turkish snipers for shooting British soldiers had been discovered.” The announcement read:

For killing a private, 5 piastres; N.C.O., 10; lieutenant, 25; captain, 50; field officer, 100 Red Tab,[29] court-martial and execution for “assisting the enemy.”

During all the time spent since landing, and indeed right up to the evacuation of the Peninsula, the few drivers and horses of the company were fully occupied, the water-cart having to be replenished frequently, stores fetched from the beaches, and rations, tools, and other supplies carried forward to the trench system. The mounted men suffered casualties, like the rest of the unit, and it was no mean loss when C.Q.M.S. Thomas,[30] Farrier-Sergeant Robinson and Sergeant Graham in turn went off to hospital. The 2nd Field Company draught horses were second to none on the Peninsula, and great credit was due to these N.C.O.s and the drivers.

The landing at Suvla Bay now took place, and to assist the British troops there a series of operations were carried out by some of those at Cape Helles, including the 42^nd East Lancashire. Division. On the 6^th of August 1915 the division attacked on both sides of the nullah and fought it out all day. Their opponents were some of the finest Turks of the Adrianople garrison. The sappers were detailed to proceed in small parties with the attacking infantry, but, owing to the fact that the Turks gave little, if any ground, the sappers simply got mixed up and fought with the infantry. Casualties were very heavy. The attacks and counter-attacks, the fire of the guns, the machine-guns and the flying pigs[31] were continuous all day until dark. The sappers had a lively night, putting in again a number of land mines removed for the attack and patching up the battered defences. The fiercest fighting occurred in or round an old vineyard, and the struggle for its ownership continued long after the general battle had ceased. Sappers Charles Elliott and Alfred Gore were both killed in action on the 7^th of August.

One night an R.E. party went out wiring. A few yards away a grenade duel was in progress, and as the trenches twisted greatly in that neighbourhood shots seemed to be fired in all directions possible. Before a couple of minutes had elapsed one of the party (Sapper George Robinson) was dead and another wounded. The latter made for cover, and in bringing back the dead man one of the remaining couple (Lance-Corporal Harold Swift) was killed, whilst the fourth of the party got a bullet through his breast pocket, shirt and coat-sleeve, harmlessly, however. All this happened in a very few minutes. As cover was regained stretcher-bearers were passing, and gave the news of some 1st Field Company men a little further up the trench who had also just been killed. An infantryman of the East Lancashire Regiment was heard to comment about this incident to his chum:

Praise from the infantry is in any case sweet, and was probably merited at that moment, when one seemed genuinely to stand in the guts of Hell, amidst the blaze of explosives, the din of battle and the anguish of the stricken. Swift and Robinson were buried in a little cemetery at Pink Farm, but many other men had to be interred where they fell. A few days later the 42^nd Division, this time including the R.E., were withdrawn to the Pink Farm neighbourhood for a rest. All the effective men of the company, less those which remained at Pink Farm, moved up to a hollow near Geoghegan's Bluff in Gully Ravine (otherwise called Saghir Dere).

Since July the sappers had ceased to be organized in four sections, as the total working strength of the company only equaled a single complete section. To keep things going constantly the men had to work in three eight-hour shifts daily.

The trenches at this side of the Peninsula were much the same as the ones the men of the company had just left. The defence against mining was useless in this area. The 2nd Field Company sector extended from the R.N.D. left through Border Barricade across the Gully to a point in Inniskilling Inch, where the 1st Field Company carried the line to the cliff at Fusilier Bluff. The work was additional wiring, which was badly needed everywhere, trench repairs also were badly needed since the weather was beginning to break, opening up of communication trenches, which were in a very bad way, the narrowing of all fire trenches, water supply, and other jobs. The company had a particularly rough time in a sap running out of Border Barricade.

Reinforcements of officers and men were now arriving, unfortunately not as many as were required. Unfortunately they succumbed more easily to the different ailments by this time well-established in the expeditionary force than did those who had become accustomed and inured to them.

It was at this time that the first enemy mine went up at Border Barricade. A long period of suspense and sudden bursts of effort had to be made to block the gaps each time and seize the lips of the craters. This carried the company to the middle of October. Major Wells went away with jaundice the day the first mine went up, Lieutenant R.A. Angus was killed helping the consolidation of the second, Corporal Thomas Weilding was also killed, along with many other good men.

During October of 1915, Major Wells being still away in hospital, Major Montefiore took over command of the company for fourteen days. The 1/2nd West Lancashire Field Company had arrived meanwhile, to become the third field company of the Division. After acclimatizing themselves, they took over both companies' front sectors, as they could very easily do, at the end of October. The 1/2^nd East Lancashire Field Company retired to Gully Beach, improved its quarters and continued to work each night on the reserve line at the Zigzag.

In November and December of 1915, apart from the making and maintenance of defences, the work of the company was chiefly the construction of winter quarters, with the aid of inadequate materials and weary working parties, and the maintenance of road communications within the Ravine.

The news of the evacuation of Anzac and Suvla reached the company — first a rumour, then something more definite, and the glare of the huge bonfires. The 42^nd Division was relieved by the 13^th Division on the 28^th of December 1915, but still no news of evacuation was received. Then definite orders to go were received followed by days of packing equipment in cases. The 2^nd East Lancashire Field Company, less some detachments left behind at Gallipoli, embarked from Lancashire Landing at 2330 hours on aboard HMS Redbreast bound for Mudros, Greece.

On the 29^th of December 1915 the majority of the 2^nd East Lancashire Field Company disembarked at Mudros at 1300 hours and went under canvas at Sarpi Camp. The following is a description of the activities of the detachments of the company left behind at Gallipoli. It is not known whether Lieutenant Woolley was with these detachments or if his wound(s) were of such a nature as to have caused his early evacuation from Gallipoli. However, a description of the company’s rear detachment is warranted here to complete its story at Gallipoli.

Early on Saturday, the 8^th of January 1916, orders were received that the final evacuation of Cape Helles would be carried out that night. The R.E. forward preparations had been practically completed for some days, and the work on the left sector had included the construction of controls at points which the various infantry parties would pass on their way to the respective beaches.

Barbed wire obstacles and gates to fill the gaps in the wire at the controls were in readiness, and small parties of sappers were detailed to place " gooseberries" (a portable wire obstacle) and other wire obstacles at selected points in the main communication trenches after the passage of the infantry.

Gully Ravine had been almost impassable owing to heavy rains and a series of small bridges to take infantry in single file had been constructed. The road was demarcated by sandbags throughout its length.

The day was spent in the destruction of surplus vehicles and stores and the burying of ammunition, and in the course of the afternoon the West Lancashire Field Company moved away from the bivouacs near Geoghegan's Bluff towards the embarkation beaches. Two R.E. officers and about twelve sappers were left behind to carry out final duties, and these parties reported at dusk to the Officers-in-Charge Controls. These control posts were situated at several points in the main communication trenches leading from the firing-line, and they were connected by telephone with Headquarters at Gully Beach and " W " Beach so that those responsible for the evacuation might know when the last parties passed through the controls. Only then was permission given to the sapper parties to close the communication trenches with the barbed wire obstacles.

Shortly after midnight the last parties of infantry passed through the controls and the gaps in the wire entanglements were then closed. Candles were lit in the centers of the piles of stores at the Brigade Headquarters at " Y " Ravine and the Zigzag and dumps in Gully Ravine at the Eski Lines, after which messages were sent to Headquarters as to the completion of the work, and orders to leave the control stations awaited. On receipt of these orders the parties at the controls moved to Gully Beach, where the infantry were found lined up in three queues awaiting the arrival of the boats.

The bulk of the men were embarked on the first boat, but the second went aground owing to the rough water, and as it was impossible to refloat the boat it was abandoned and instructions eventually came through from Headquarters at Lancashire Landing for the remainder (about 160 all ranks) to proceed to Lancashire Landing, where another boat was in readiness. The movement to Lancashire Landing along the beach took some considerable time and it was 0400 hours when the party finally clambered into the waiting boat, which proceeded to Imbros, arriving at 0830 hours. Later in the day the various parties re-embarked for Mudros, where they rejoined their units.[32]

The 2^nd East Lancashire Field Company unit embarked on HMT Egra on the 14^th of January 1916 and sailed from Mudros on the l5th of January 1916, bound for Egypt once more.

The company arrived in Alexandria on the 17^th and disembarked the following day, immediately entraining for Cairo and Mena Camp near the Pyramids. At Mena Lieutenant Walker rejoined the company with the animals of the 1st Field Company and of the West Lancashire Field Company.

After a few days at Mena the company packed up again and headed for Tel-el-Kebir. After three days it proceeded to Shallufa on the Suez Canal and went into camp once more on the east bank and animals on the west bank, with a swing floating bridge to operate across the Canal. No. 4 Section was sent to Geneffe to prepare defensive positions. Subsequently Headquarters and the remaining three sections moved to Geneffe, following the Brigade H.Q., and No. 4 Section moved with the 1/10th Manchester Regiment. to Ashton Post, nine to ten miles east of the Canal on a desolate deserted sand ridge. A portion of the company was then engaged in laying miles of pipeline with the remainder of the company doing a good deal of work on the defences at Ashton Post and Geneffe. In February 1916 the company marched to Suez and went into camp with the other companies, and a draft from Southport arrived shortly afterwards.

At Suez the company was employed in the erection of double matting roofed huts for the East Lancashire Brigade. Work commenced very early owing to the increasing heat. The infantry supplied what labor they could. The doctor inoculated all for cholera. The West Lancashire Field Company departed and the heat became daily more unbearable.

In June, when the huts were practically finished, the Division moved by rail and with it the company, to Ferdan, and then by march route to Abu Uruk, the camp in the hills at the rail, road, and pipe head, east of Ferdan. In crossing the pontoon bridge over the Canal, six of the company’s mules were drowned.

At Abu Uruk the 2^nd Lancashire Field Company relieved a company of the 11^th Divisional Royal Engineers, which then was moving to France.

The remainder of June and most of July of 1916 was spent on both maintenance and new work to be done on the railhead defences, which consisted of a series of outlying posts linked together by their fields of fire. The arrangements with regard to water supply, and especially water storage, at these posts, were altered and considerably enlarged.

Towards the middle of July the C.R.E. considered that the field companies should be given some opportunity to train in bridge work, and accordingly No. 1 Section was sent to the Canal bank to live with the newly arrived 3^rd Field Company stationed there and practice pontooning. Before No. 1 had completed its schooling the company was moved to Kantara, marching by way of Ferdan. It stayed one night there and marched the following morning to Hill 60, a few miles east of Kantara.

Soon after arrival of the company at Hill 60, all the company vehicles, most of the animals, and the greater portion of the company’s equipment were sent back, under the charge of Captain Courtis, to the base at Kantara. The new establishment was to fit the company for mobile work on the desert. Fifty-five camels were supplied, sufficient for all the transport work of the company. Only certain tools considered necessary for future work were to be carried. In addition part of the company’s permanent equipment was to include well-lining material, canvas troughs and a Norton-tube pump. The company then began well drilling operations.

By this time it was known that the Turks had advanced to the vicinity of Katia and that an attack on British railhead defences at Romani was imminent. The 126th Infantry Brigade Group, with which the 2^nd Lancashire Field Company was brigaded, formed the Divisional Reserve and moved forward to Pelusium the day after the battle of Romani. After this decisive victory the Anzac Mounted Division pushed the enemy back to Mazar, and the 52^nd Division formed the protective troops at the railhead, as the railway and pipe lines progressed, with the result that 42^nd Divisional H.Q. returned to Pelusium on the 15^th of August. The 42^nd and 52^nd Divisions now took turns to form the supporting division to the cavalry and rail construction work, and the sappers were fully employed on water reconnaissance, being spread out on a broad front and well to the front. The Norton tubes enabled tests to be made very rapidly, and the medical officer, specially attached to these reconnaissance parties, made his analysis of the water on the spot, so that tests for salinity and probable yield were marked on site and the results sent on to the C.R.E. During this trek across Sinai, the company lived in bivouacs made of laths with each man's second blanket stretched across, against heat by day and cold by night. One or two mounted N.C.O.s remained with Company Headquarters to look after the Egyptian camel drivers, and to take charge of and guide the small ration and water convoys which had to be sent from Company Headquarters, or railhead, to the outlying sections. Other work that fell to the company was the erection of 2,300-gallon canvas tanks at each successive railhead, to hold the drinking water that was sent up in tanks on the railway, laying of wire netting " roads," erection of canvas troughing at the wells, whatever their saltiness, for the use of horses and camels. In addition, sapper supervision was provided on the considerable defence works carried out by the Egyptian Labour Corps at each station as the line progressed, with a view to the minimum number of troops being required on the lines of communication.

At the end of August, Lieutenant J. P. Echlin, with No. 3 Section, was engaged in the neighbourhood of Oghratina sinking Norton-tube wells[33] in search of the best sites for wells. After some days of this work the sinking of the full-size wells (usually 4' x 4' x 16' to 20' deep) was commenced. A few days later Divisional H.Q. and the 126^th and 127^th Brigades moved forward into the new area, and the company put down a large number of wells in the Oghratina Hod and between Negiliat and Kilo 60 on the new railway. About a month later the main body of the Division retired to Romani and Mahamdia, but two sections of the 2nd Field Company, with a portion of the 126th Brigade, moved forward to Bir-el-Abd, where much time was put in on the defence works. The-remainder of the company moved at the same time to Kilo 60 with headquarters and the remainder of 126^th Brigade. It was from this point that further water reconnaissance parties went out to Mageibra and Bayud, and made exhaustive surveys of the neighbouring " hods." " Hod " was the local Arabic term for a water-bearing depression in the sand, usually identified by date-palms growing there. From Kilo 60 the company moved forward by stages to Salmana and Abu Tilul, very often by rail. In November Major Wells was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and was appointed as the C.R.E. of the 52^nd Division. At this time few, if any, Territorial R.E. officers had been appointed C.R.E. of Divisions, and the selection of Colonel Wells was a high compliment both to Colonel Wells and the company. Captain Riddick of the 1st East Lancashire Field Company took over the command.

The early days of December 1916 saw the company at Maadan or Kilo 128, preparing wells in the plain which led up to the El Arish defences. The company then marched back to Mazar and took over the maintenance of the many wells and construction of blockhouses and defence works.

After Christmas the Division advanced again, and the 2^nd Field Company went for a few days with the East Lancashire Brigade to Kilo 139 or El Bittia, and then marched into El Arish. The 52^nd Divisional R.E. and the 1^st and 3^rd Field Companies had already done the majority of the work required El Arish. The company then rested as much as possible, although it was bombed from the air on a number of occasions. It was at El Arish that the company learned of the Division being ordered to France.

The company moved by rail to Kantara and then to a camp near the timber sheds at Alexandria. After some days of refitting and packing the wagons the company embarked to sail for Marseilles. It was at this point that the company’s designation was changed from 1/2^nd East Lancashire Field Company, R.E. to the 428^th (East Lancashire) Field Company, R.E. This re-designation took place on the 3^rd of February 1917.

NOTE: 428^th (East Lancashire) Field Company is credited with participation in the Battle of Rumani on the 5^th of August 1916 and the Battle of Rafah on the 9^th of January 1917. While in Egypt Lieutenant Woolley was promoted to Captain on the 1^st of June 1916.[34] It is not known with certainty whether Woolley was still with the company when it left Egypt for France. A review of his military service papers, if they are ever obtained, would answer this question. For the purposes of this narrative it has been assumed that he may have been with the company in France, although his name does not appear on a list of officers known to have been in France with the company (see list below). Since an uncertainty exists with regard to Lieutenant Woolley’s further service in the war, only an outline will be provided of the company’s service in France and Flanders.

Two officers and 80 other ranks of the 428^th Field Company embarked on HMT Transylvania for France on the 23^rd of February 1917. The remainder of company, 3 officers and 120 other ranks, embarked on H.M.T. Huntspill on the 26^th of February. The first contingent arrived in Marseilles on the 2nd of March and the main body on the 6^th of March. During the remainder of 1917 the company covered many miles and moved to many different camps and worksites. The unit finally saw action in 1918 and was credited with participation in the actions listed below. The outline presented concentrates on the unit’s location and personnel.

The officers of the company in France, including those that were at Gallipoli and replacements that joined the company in France, are listed below. This list has been made from officers mentioned in the company’s history and war diary. Lieutenant Woolley’s name does not appear on the list. In many cases forenames and/or initials are not known.

March 1917: The company reached France in two portions in the first week of March 1917. The company traveled from Marseilles Pont Remy, near Abbeville. Towards the end of March the company went to Erondelle, a village on the Somme, for bridging, where parties of the two other field companies also assembled. Captain Courtis was appointed Commandant of the Bridging School and some useful bridging practice was carried out.

4 April 1917: The company entrained at Pont Remy for Chaulnes and marched to Domepierre through thick snow, slush and mud, occupying deep dug-outs and Nissen huts, which a few days before had been a part of the front system. The company was under orders of the Chief Engineer (C.E.) 3rd Corps, while the remainder of the Division engineers was employed behind on roads. Work consisted of building a new Corps Headquarters.

30 April 1917: The company marched from Bias Wood through Buire, Tincourt and Marquaix to Villers Faucon where it remained for more than two weeks.

17 May 1917: The Division was relieved by the 2^nd Cavalry Division, and moving north, went into the line in the Trescault (Havrincourt) sector. The company moved to Metz-en-Couture, passing one night en route at Fins. After working from Metz for several days the company moved into Havrincourt Wood and remained there for about two weeks.

4 June 1917: At Havrincourt Wood the company suffered its first casualties in France. Lieutenant J.H. Saint and Sapper George Hampson were both killed, and Corporal Cliffe (afterwards awarded the D.C.M.) was wounded whilst gallantly attempting rescue work. Lieutenant J. P. Echlin also behaved with great gallantry and coolness on this occasion. C.S.M. Davies and Sergeant Cottrell left the company. Sergeant Boughey was transferred from No. 2 Section to No. 4 Section.

11 June 1917: The front-line work at Havrincourt was handed over to the 429^th Field Company, and the company moved back into reserve at Ruyaulcourt. Lieutenant Echlin and No. 3 Section explored wells and renovated billets at Bertincourt. Captain Court and the transport lines were housed at Ytres during this period, and Lieutenant Welch arrived to do duty with the company in place of Lieutenant Saint.

7 July 1917: The Division came out of the line to go into rest for divisional training in G.H.Q. Reserve, and the company moved via Ytres to Bihucourt, removing again in three days to Courcelles-le-Comte.

21 August 1917: The company marched to Mailly-Maillet, via Ablainzevelle, Bucquoy, Puisieux, Serre and Mailly-Maillet Suererie.

22 August 1917: The company moved to Beaucourt-sur-Ancre, where it entrained and arrived at Proven about midnight.

1 September 1917: The company marched to Poperinghe, then Headquarters and three sections proceeded by rail to Ypres, the remaining section and the transport lines being billeted alongside Divisional H.Q. at Brandhoek.

12 September 1917: Sapper Harold Jackson was killed. He showed by his gallantry that, while far from strong physically, he was brave and cheerful up to the last. In an attack on the Potijze Road to the point just beyond Bavaria House, where transport nightly dumped the loads of wiring materials, duck-boards the company was fortunate in suffering no casualties during the operations connected with the attack, but Corporal Fox and Lance-Corporal Bardsley were wounded one night at the Menin Gate, when starting off for work. Sapper Marshall Atkinson, store-keeper of No. 3 Section, was unfortunately killed by a fragment of an aeroplane bomb in Ypres, and Driver Yates was seriously wounded in like manner when going through Vlamertinghe on a motor lorry. Captain Courtis also received a wound in the arm which took him to England, and he was never able to rejoin the unit.

16 September 1917: The company was relieved by a field company of the 9^th Division and proceeded to Brandhoek. Enemy artillery fire hit Sapper Lynn and though seriously wounded he made a good recovery.

6 October 1917: Sappers Twemlow, Murray and McGill, were dispatched to the base as unfit about this time. The company was relieved by a field company of the 41^st Division, and the 42^nd Division took over from the 32^nd Division in the right flanking sector, which included the town of Nieuport, and its maze of waterways and bridges.

The company was on forward work and was responsible for the right brigade sector with some thirty-eight bridges over the various canals. For this work, and the improvement of front-line trenches (all breastworks), three sections of the company, under Lieutenant J. P. Echlin, lived at Tricar Dump, near White House on the Bruges Road. The shelters here were of the flimsiest description, and considering the enemy shell-fire activity and his low-flying planes at this time, there were very few casualties in the advanced billets. Corporal Reginald Goldstraw was wounded and all in the company were grieved to hear later that he had died of his wounds. Company H.Q. and the remaining section lived further back at a large farm near Wulpen. Lieutenant Jones was recalled to the 429^th Field Company as second in command.

18 November 1917: The 428^th Field Company concentrated at Wulpen Farm and marched through Oost Dunkerque, reaching Adinkerke, proceeding by canal through Dunkerque to Bergues followed by a march of fifteen miles to Wormhoudt.

28 November 1917: The company arrived at Essars, one and a half miles east of Bethune.

Sergeant Graham left for the U.K. Corporal Howard at once took over the duties of Transport Sergeant. C.Q.M.S. Young proceeded to the U.K. for a month's leave.

20 December 1917: The division’s C.R.E., Lieut.-Colonel D. S. MacInnes left the division and was replaced by Lieut.-Colonel R. E. B. Pratt, D.S.O.

24 January 1918: Lieutenant Echlin left the 428^th Field Company to become second in command of the 427^th Field Company. Lieutenant Lord joined the company shortly afterwards.. Other awards at this time were the Meritorious Service Medal to C.Q.M.S. A. J. Young, and the Belgian Croix-de-Guerre to Corporal Boyes, Lance-Corporal W. Hardman, and Sapper L. Cottriall.

22 March 1918: The company moved to Busnes by way of St. Pol, Frevent and Doullens the Arras road to Adinfer Wood.

24 March 1918: The company formed a part of the divisional reserve during the Battle of Bapaume with company headquarters at Ervillers.

25 March1918: The company acted as an infantry escort to the divisional artillery through Douchy and Ayette to the depression just west of Courcelles.

26 March 1918: The company moved about with the divisional artillery to positions south of Logeast Wood, again to Courcelles, and finally to low ground south of Ablainzevelle. Fresh positions were taken up by the artillery on the eastern edge of Essarts village near the crucifix and the line finally stabilized just east of Bucquoy until the afternoon of the 26^th of March. Later in the evening the company was ordered to move into Essarts, where the R.E. and Pioneer Battalion formed the Divisional Reserve. The company transport moved to Pommier late on the 25^th and joined the 126^th Brigade Transport on the 26^th at St. Amand.

27 March 1918: The company marched up to Bucquoy after dark and wired in the front of the 127^th Brigade.

28 March 1918: Essarts was heavily shelled, and Lance-Corporal Oscar McQuinn and Sapper Fred Stevenson were killed by enemy shell fire during the Battle of Arras. On the evening of the 28^th the company moved up through Bucquoy to support trenches west of Ablainzevelle.

29 March 1918: The Division was relieved by the 41^st Division and the company proceeded via its rear head-quarters at Essarts to a map reference just west of Gommecourt, which turned out to be the old German front line of 1916 with very fine deep tunneled dug-outs.

1 April 1918: The company again went into the support trenches west of Ablainzevelle, being attached to the 1/5^th East Lancashire Regiment. An important section of front-line trench was dug on the succeeding nights with infantry and pioneer assistance.

2 April 1918: The transport during this time was at Couin, but moved to Souastre.

5 April 1918: Company headquarters was at Bucquoy during the Battle of Ancre.

8 April 1918: On the 8^th of April the 457^th Field Company of the 62^nd Division relieved the company, which marched via Monchy-au-Bois and Bienvillers to Souastre, where lorries met and conveyed the company to Pas.

15 April 1918: The company relieved the 154^th Field Company of the 37^th Division in Gommecourt Wood and occupied the same quarters as between 30^th of March and the 1^st of April. For three weeks the company struggled hard to improve the defences and communications in this sector, and three main strong points were dug and wired they were Salmon Point, Julius Point and Gommecourt Locality.

28 April 1918: Major Riddick, handed over the command of the company to Captain Entwistle. Captain A. N. Walker rejoined as second in command on vacating his position as Adjutant R.E. at Division Headquarters. Several casualties were suffered, among them Corporal Whitehead (wounded), who was later awarded the M.S.M. for the excellent work he had done while with the unit.

5 May 1918: Sappers William Greenwood and William McLeod were killed while proceeding to their work. Greenwood was an original member of the company and was much respected by all his fellows in No. 2 Section. The two bodies were taken to Couin and buried there.

6 May 1918: The company was relieved by the 421^st Field Company R.E. of the 57^th Division and again marched to Pas, where it bivouacked in tents in a wood just above the village. Sergeant Kinley was awarded the Military Medal.

20 May 1918: The company worked on dug-outs at Couin and Château de la Haie and on hutting at Halloy. Lieutenant Oxley left the company to take up an appointment as Adjutant to the C.R.E. Fifth Army Troops. Lieutenant Hall also left through sickness and was never fit to rejoin.

26 May 1918: The Divisional Commander presented medal ribbons and amongst the company recipients on this day were Sergeant Kinley, Corporal Boyes, Corporal Hardman, and Sappers Cottriall and R.C. Jackson, Lieutenant Taylor and a party proceeded to support the 502^nd Field Company.

3 June1918: An advance party went to the H.Q. of the 2^nd N.Z.E. at Bus-les-Artois.

7 June 1918: The company moved to the woods east of Bus village taking over the camp of the 154^th Field Company RE. Lieutenant K. H. Read joined the unit at Pas. The company transport at this time occupied a field off the Bus—Louvencourt road. No. 2 Section were set to work on mined dug-outs at Fort Bertha, a mined dug-out with a pop-up at a point near Colincamps. No. 4 Section, under Lieutenant Marr, was attached to the R.A. for dug-out work.

1 July 1918: Shift work was commenced on a concrete machine gun pill-box in a farm building near Colincamps. Sergeant Kinley returned from the Army Musketry School with a special mention on the results of his work. Large infantry parties were employed daily on the various strong points under construction by the company, of which the main ones were Fort, Bertha, Orchard, Cutting, and Mustard Points, Crimea Locality, and Shrine West and East.

15 July 1918: Lieutenant Baldwin joined the company and Corporal Fox and several other men left owing to sickness, chiefly from influenza. August found the company fully recovered from the influenza epidemic.

23 July 1918: The dismounted portion of the company moved forward to Courcelles for two nights. A water-point of considerable importance was made at Manly Maillet Sucrerie on the 23^rd and 24^th.

25 July 1918: The company moved to Puisieux. All work in the Colincamps area was left behind and the company was engaged (after its march) on the repair of the wooden plank road between Puisieux and Miraumont and a water-point at the latter place.

29 July 1918: A section was attached to the 125^th Brigade for work on a defence line at Loupart Wood.

30 July 1918: The company moved forward, the Transport under Lieutenant Baldwin to Miraumont, and the Company H.Q. to a point between Irles and Warlencourt—Eaucourt, while No. 3 Section rejoined the company from Loupart Wood.

21 August 1918: The company marched to Mailly-Maillet, via Ablainzevelle, Bucquoy, Puisieux, Serre and Mailly-Maillet Suererie, then the next day to Beaucourt-sur-Ancre.

22 August 1918: The company entrained and arrived at Proven about midnight. Sapper Atkins fell off the railway platform and injured his back, and went to hospital.

23 August 1918: Battle of Albert. The march was continued to Watou and billets were occupied in the vicinity. From Watou advance parties consisting of the O.C. and a number of officers and men, went to Ypres by lorry to learn the geography of the sector which was to be taken over from the 15^th Division in preparation for the Battle of Bapaume (31 August - 3 September 1918).

1 September 1918: The company marched to Poperinghe; then, H.Q. and three sections proceeded by rail to Ypres.

3 September 1918: The company moved up to Pys from Miraumont, and on the following day proceeded to Thilloy, while the Company H.Q. went forward to a wood at Villers-au-Flos.

6 September 1918: The company marched back to Pys, handing over work to the 1st Company N.Z.E., the New Zealand Division having taken over the line from that day. A period of rest and training followed, and Lieutenant J. Taylor joined from the base.

21 September 1918: The company moved up to Havrincourt Wood, taking over from the 153^rd Field Company, R.E., and at once set to work on a well at Trescault, working day and night shifts.

27 September 1918: Opening of the Battle of Canal Du Nord (27 September - 1 October 1918). The infantry stormed the Hindenburg Line. Parties of sappers reported at left and right Brigade Headquarters to mark out tracks, and further small parties were attached to the infantry for dug-out reconnaissance and dealing with booby traps. Company headquarters at Ribécourt-La-Tour.

28 September 1918: The N.Z. Division took over after the 42^nd Division had captured Welsh Ridge, and five road mines were removed in Trescault village on the same day. Dug-out reconnaissance and gas proofing formed the company’s main source of activity for the next few days.

29 September 1918: Well reconnaissances were undertaken in the villages of Beaucamp and Ribecourt, and water was exploited at the latter place on the following day, while a divisional twelve-spray bathhouse was commenced at Trescault.

1 October 1918: An officer and several N.C.O.s proceeded to Masnieres and Crevecoeur on reconnaissance of the River Escaut or Scheldt. This party extracted forty charges from a couple of road bridges on the canal and reconnoitered the new country. The company completed the baths at Trescault and assisted the 142^nd Army Troops Company, R.E., in the repair of the water main from Metz-en-Couture to Trescault.

4 October 1918: The company moved up to Trescault, carrying on work on water supply there and at Ribecourt, and endeavoring with the assistance of a company of the 1/7^th Northumberland Fusiliers (the Divisional Pioneer Battalion) to make the Trescault—Ribecourt road passable.

8 October 1918: Preparations were made for a further advance and No. 4 Section under Lieutenant Marr was attached to the 126^th Infantry Brigade for forward work as the advance progressed.

9 October 1918: Battle of Cambrai. The company marched to a point near Lesdain, via Villers Pluich and La Vacquerie, where it bivouacked and collected surplus water supply stores from Ribecourt. The next few days were spent in collecting the N.Z.E. bridging equipment from the Escaut River and taking it forward to Jeune Bois on the Caudry—Cambrai Road and in locating booby traps in Esnes and in sign-boarding water-points. Company headquarters was at Briastre.

12 October 1918: The whole company marched to Jeune Bois via Beauvois, and at noon commenced work on a new water-point at the Brasserie.

15 October 1918: A fourth water-point was installed at Herpigny Farm. The whole of the company's work at this juncture was water supply and its maintenance, the 427^th and 429^th Field Companies were responsible for bridges and roads.

17 October 1918: The enemy had retreated to the Selle River and had left huge craters at all important cross-roads, which meant large infantry working parties and much horse transport had to be found to ensure rapid repair of the roads. Preparations for the battle of the Selle River (17-25 October) were then being made and all preliminary work completed with a view to establishing new water-points at Viesly and Briastre. The company was responsible exclusively for water supply work. Company headquarters was at Solesmes.

20 October 1918: The Battle of the Selle took place and an officer and a section proceeded east of the river on water reconnaissance. The points at Viesly and Briastre were quickly put in working order according to plan, and Lieutenant Lord and No. 3 Section put down a supply point at Viesly, using a portable steam engine which was found and used work a vertical pump.

22 October 1918: The N.Z. Division once again leapfrogged the 42^nd and the time between the 22^nd and the end of October was spent quietly at Jeune Bois clearing up, resting and patrolling water installations still in use in the area, while many sappers were still detached running power pumps and baths.

31 October 1918: Lieutenant Petry joined the company and took charge of No. 1 Section.

5 November 1918: The company marched Quesnoy, recently captured by the N.Z. Division.

6 November 1918: It became imperative to get traffic through the Foret de Mormal, so the company was ordered to make a crossing over a blown culvert at N. 29 a 8.4. (map coordinates). Sections were detailed to work in six-hour shifts.

9 November 1918: The whole company concentrated at Hautmont and at 1000 hours commenced to erect pontoon bridges of a temporary nature over the River Sambre.

10 November 1918: It was decided to improve the footbridge over the debris of the demolished masonry bridges for the use of civilian foot passengers, who naturally wished to cross the river which divided the town about equally into halves. This work was commenced and finished off with handrails and steps on the following day.

11 November 1918: The 428^th Field Company was at Hautmont on the 11^th of November 1918 when the Armistice finally ended the Great War. The company moved to Charleroi and remained there until the 2^nd of April 1919 when it departed for England via Antwerp.

For his service during the Great War Captain Woolley was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and Victory Medal. The 1924 Army List indicates that Woolley was awarded the 1914 Star; however, his Great War Medal card clearly indicates that he was authorized the 1915 Star. Captain Woolley served until 1922 when he was finally demobilized as a Captain in the Territorial Army Reserve. He applied for his Great War medals on the 12^th of March 1922. His 1914-15 Star was issued to him on the 13^th of June 1922 and his British War Medal and Victory were issue to him on the 14^th of November.[35]

After the Great War Woolley was demobilized and returned to his engineering practice. Although no longer on active service he remained a Captain in the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers and would be called back to serve in the Second World War.

Thomas Woolley was elected an Associate Member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers (A.M.I.E.E.) in 1921.[36] In 1922 he began working again as an electrical engineer for The British Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, Ltd.[37] His residence in 1927 was listed as "Riber", Framingham Road, Brooklands, Cheshire. In 1934 he was employed as a Technical Assistant at The Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Company in Manchester.

Figure 17. Framingham Road, Brooklands, Cheshire.
(Photograph from a postcard in the author’s collection)

On the 22^nd of February 1941 Woolley was appointed a Temporary Major in the Royal Engineers, but he was not called up for active service.[38] Unconfirmed reports indicate that between 1942 and 1944 Woolley served as a Private in the Home Guard, but this information remains to be verified. On the 8^th of June 1943 he was awarded the Efficiency Decoration with bar [TERRITORIAL].[39] He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Home Guard in 1945 (again unverified) and was subsequently called to active service as a Major in the Royal Engineers. The Monthly Army List, July 1942, indicates that he was a Temporary Major, specially employed. No specific data regarding his employment has been uncovered. For his service during the Second World War Woolley was awarded the Defence Medal and the War Medal.

The following sections are presented in tabular form to summarize Woolley’s promotions, appointments, military training and qualifications and the medals that he was awarded during his time in the Army. They are provided to give the reader easy access to these aspects of his military career. The tables are followed by sections dealing with his marriage, personal information and post-service life.

Thomas Golding Woolley received the following promotions during his time in service:

NOTES: No information has been included in this table regarding his service in the Home Guard, as it has yet to be verified.

Military Training: Any military training that Woolley received would be noted in his service records. If and when these records are obtained, this section will be amplified.

Qualifications: Any military qualifications earned by Woolley also would be noted in his service records. Despite his degree as an electrical engineer, he was considered qualified to serve as an officer in a field company of the Royal Engineers rather than in a signal company.

Major Woolley received the following medals, awards and decorations during his time in service.[40] The medals are mounted on a pin bar as Woolley wore them.

Figure 18. The Medals of Major Thomas Golding Woolley, ED, R.E.
(Photograph from the author’s collection)

Figure 19. Medal Index Card of Major Thomas Golding Woolley, R.E.
(Image courtesy of Ancestry.com)

On the 1^st of June 1914 2^nd Lieutenant Thomas Golding Woolley married Mabel Florence Woolley-Dod at St. Andrew’s Church on Wells Street, St Marylebone, London.[41] Their marriage certificate lists Woolley’s profession as Electrical Engineer and his address as 15 South Drive in Charltonville, Manchester. Unfortunately a residential structure no longer exists at this address. The bride’s father is shown on the certificate as Anthony Hurt Wolley-Dod, Major, Retired, of His Majesty’s Army (Royal Artillery).[42]

Figure 20. St. Andrew’s Church, Wells Street, Marylebone, London.
(Image courtesy of Wikipedia)

It is of some interest that Thomas Golding Woolley married a woman whose surname was Woolley-Dod, but no connection has been made between the two families prior to this marriage, although most assuredly there must be a common thread in their lineage.

Thomas’s mother, Constance Anne Woolley, died on the 2^nd of September 1935 at Bricket House in St. Albans, Hertfordshire. His father, Ernest Woolley, died on the 9^th of August 1939 in Hendon, Middlesex.

Thomas’s brother, Ernest John Woolley served during the Great War of 1914-1918 as an infantry officer in a battalion of The London Regiment. He and his unit saw action in many engagements in France and Flanders between 1915 and 1918 and Woolley earned distinction by being awarded the Military Cross and being twice mentioned in despatches. His story deserves more than a paragraph embedded in his brother’s story; therefore, it has been covered in more detail in ADDENDUM No. 9 at this end of this narrative.

Major Woolley was released from active service on the 13^th of June 1922.[43] He served in the Reserve of Officers until the end of the Second World War. His total service was reckoned as shown in the tables below. Until his service papers can be obtained, the dates and periods of service shown below can only be considered to be approximate. As stated previously, he may not have served with the 428^th Field Company after being wounded at Gallipoli, so his service in Egypt and France between from 1916 to 1919 is questionable.

As previously indicated Woolley began working again as an electrical engineer for The British Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, Ltd. when the war ended and he was demobilized. His residence in 1927 was listed as "Riber", Framingham Road, Brooklands, Cheshire. In 1934 he was employed as a Technical Assistant at The Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Company in Manchester. Metropolitan-Vickers, Metrovick, or Metrovicks, was a British heavy electrical engineering company of the early-to-mid 20th century formerly known as British Westinghouse. Highly diversified, they were particularly well known for their industrial electrical equipment such as generators, steam turbines, switchgear, transformers, electronics and railway traction equipment. Metrovick holds a place in history as the builders of the first commercial transistor computer, the Metrovick 950, and the first British axial-flow jet engine, the Metropolitan-Vickers F.2. Their factory in Trafford Park, Manchester, was for most of the 20th century one of the biggest and most important heavy engineering facilities in Britain and the world. Coincidentally, the Metrovick factory was located in Trafford Park where Woolley first joined the 2^nd East Lancashire Field Company when he was commissioned in the Royal Engineers in 1912. He retired from the practice of engineering in 1948.

Woolley’s hobby appears to have been the study of heraldry. Between 1950 and 1955 he wrote a number of articles for “Coat of Arms,” the journal of the Heraldry Society. These articles included the following:

His interest in the Merchant Taylors Company was undoubtedly the result of his admission into the Freedom of the City of London by way of this company. Likewise, his article on the Cheshire Armorial Seals was due his establishing his residence in Brooklands, Cheshire after leaving the Army.

At some point after retiring from Metrovick, Woolley moved to Dorsetshire, and living there inspired him to research the heraldry in Hazelbury Bryan Church. Hazelbury Bryan is a village and civil parish in the county of Dorset. It is situated in the Blackmore Vale, approximately 5 miles southwest of the small town of Sturminster Newton, the town where Woolley and his wife settled after his retirement.

Thomas Golding Woolley died at Narrow Field Cottage, Kings Stag, Sturminster Newton on the 5^th of August 1966 at the age 76. He was buried on the 10^th of August, presumably at the Sturminster Newton cemetery. His will was probated in London on the 1^st of November 1966 with his effects, amounting to £63,675 (about $1,621,270 US in 2020 currency) to Robert Comine Palmer, Solicitor and Alan John Ernest Edelsten,[44] Medical Practitioner. Mr. Palmer probably was charged with looking after Woolley’s affairs for his wife. Dr. Edelsten, a resident of Sturminster, may have been Woolley’s physician and friend.

Mrs. Mabel Florence Woolley died on the 23^rd of February 1971 in Sturminster Newton. Her will also was probated in London with no heirs indicated. Her effects were in the amount of £23, 839 (about £557,130 US in 2020 currency).

Figure 22. The Chapel and Cemetery at Sturminster Newton, Dorset.
(Photograph courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission)

NOTE: The division was commanded by Major-General Bertram R. Mitford during the period from March to October 1917.

1/5th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers
1/6th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers
1/7th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers
1/8th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers

1st East Lancs Brigade Royal Field Artillery (R.F.A.) (Blackburn Artillery)

4th Lancashire Battery from Blackburn. Renamed A Battery 6 May 1916.

2nd East Lancs Brigade R.F.A. (Manchester Artillery)
Renamed 211 Brigade 29 May 1916

15th Lancashire Battery from Manchester. Renamed A Battery 29 May 1916.
16th Lancashire Battery from Manchester. Renamed B Battery 29 May 1916.
17th Lancashire Battery from Manchester. Renamed C Battery 29 May 1916.

3rd East Lancs Brigade R.F.A. (Bolton Artillery)
Renamed 212 Brigade 29 May 1916

18th Lancashire Battery from Bolton and district. Renamed A Battery 29 May 1916.
19th Lancashire Battery from Bolton and district. Renamed B Battery 29 May 1916.
20th Lancashire Battery from Bolton and district. Renamed C Battery 29 May 1916.

4th East Lancs (Howitzer) Brigade R.F.A. (Cumberland Artillery)
Renamed 213 Brigade in May 1916.
1st Cumberland (Howitzer) Battery from Carlisle. Renamed A Battery in May 1916.2nd Cumberland (Howitzer) Battery from Workington. Renamed B Battery in May 1916.

V/42 Heavy Trench Mortar Battery.
Medium Trench Mortar Batteries. Formed in France March 1917
X/42 Battery
Y/42 Battery
Z/42 Battery.

Light Trench Mortar Batteries.

42nd Battalion Machine Gun Corps
Formed 23 February 1918 from the previous four separate companies. One company was attached to each of the three infantry brigades and one company in Divisional Reserve.

Figure 25. Lieutenant Colonel D.S. MacInnes, CMG, DSO, R.E.
(Photograph courtesy of the National Gallery)

1/2nd East Lancashire Field Company renamed 428^th Field Company February 1917
(T.G. Woolley's Company)

1/3rd East Lancashire Field Company joined Division in June 1916 in Egypt.
Renamed 429^th Field Company February 1917

1/2nd East Lancashire Field Ambulance did not proceed to Gallipoli;
attached to 126 Brigade

NOTE: This is approximately the order of battle at the start of the war. Many changes occurred as the war progressed.

Fatal Casualties in the
428^th Field Company, Royal Engineers
(formally the 2^nd East Lancashire Field Company)
During the Great War of 1914-1918

(References: Commonwealth War Graves Commission., Soldiers Died in the Great War. and History of the 2^nd East Lancashire Field Company, Royal Engineers.)

Regimental Number	Rank	Name	Cause of Death		Date of Death
Home Service
1097	Shoeing Smith	T. Edwards	Died⁽³⁾			29 Aug 1914
Egypt
	2^nd Lieutenant	Basil Hamilton Woods		Drowned		17 Dec 1914⁽²⁾
216	Sergeant	William Mellor⁽¹⁾		Drowned		17 Dec 1914
694	Lance Corporal	John Butterworth⁽¹⁾		Drowned		17 Dec 1914
985	Sapper	J.A. Moscrop⁽¹⁾		Drowned		17 Dec 1914
981	Sapper	Harold Greenhalgh		Drowned		17 Dec 1914
1028	Sapper	John Nugent		Drowned		17 Dec 1914
511	2^nd Corporal	G. McLeavy		Drowned		17 Dec 1914
Gallipoli
278	Sergeant Bugler	James William Nolan		Died		27 Apr 1915
1049	Sapper	Alfred Cooper		D of W⁽⁴⁾		22 May 1915
943	Sapper	William Robert Hodge		KIA⁽⁵⁾		31 May 1915
1147	Sapper	John Potts		KIA		4 Jun 1915
1158	Sapper	Frank O’Donnell		KIA		4 Jun 1915
785	Sapper	John Scott		KIA		4 Jun 1915
1103	Lance Corporal	Joseph Harwood		KIA		4 Jun 1915
1071	Sapper	Herbert Mountfield		KIA		4 Jun 1915
86	Sergeant	Herbert Moor		KIA		4 Jun 1915
727	Sapper	Joseph Dunn		KIA		4 Jun 1915
984	Sapper	William Barlow		KIA		6 Jun 1915
678	Sapper	John Henry Kelsall		KIA		6 Jun 1915
701	Driver	Charles Henry Bold		KIA		6 Jun 1915
	Captain	Oswald Armitage Carver		KIA		7 Jun 1915
1201	Sapper	George Herbert Grimshaw		D of W		7 Jun 1915
1041	Sapper	Tom Hinsley		KIA		7 Jun 1915
940	Sapper	Thomas Henry Ward		D of W		8 Jun 1915
1131	Sapper	Arthur Bradshaw		D of W⁽¹²⁾		11 Jun 1915
623	Sapper	Walter Knott⁽⁶⁾		D of W		12 Jun 1915
956	Sapper	Thomas Waterhouse		D of W		16 Jun 1915
1026	Sapper	Walter George Starsmeare⁽⁶⁾		D of W		5 Jul 1915
	Lieutenant	Godfrey John Oswald Bull		KIA		8 Jul 1915
Egypt
849	Sapper	Charles Elliott		KIA		7 Aug 1915
1204	Sapper	Alfred Gore		KIA		7 Aug 1915
1124	Lance Corporal	Thomas Edward Shaw		D of W		11 Aug 1915
901	Sapper	Harold Swift		KIA		11 Aug 1915
1018	Sapper	George Robinson		D of W		12 Aug 1915
1129	Sapper	John Harry Warburton		KIA		3 Sep 1915
393	2^nd Corporal	Thomas Weilding		KIA		3 Sep 1915
1188	Sapper	James Edwin Palmer		KIA		3 Sep 1915
	2^nd Lieutenant	Raymond Brocklehurst Angus		KIA		22 Sep 1915
565	Sapper	Walter Brookes⁽⁷⁾		Died		23 Sep 1915
1023	Sapper	James Saunders		Died		11 Oct 1915
809	Driver	John Taylor		KIA		24 Dec 1915
440433	Sapper	Raymond Shaw		KIA		1 Jan 1917
France and Flanders
440408	Sapper	George Hampson		KIA		4 Jun 1917
	2^nd Lieutenant	James Harcourt Saint		KIA		4 Jun 1917
155089	Sapper	Marshall Atkinson		KIA		11 Sep 1917
440054	Sapper	Harold Jackson		KIA		12 Sep 1917
440525	2^nd Corporal	Reginald Goldstraw		D of W		7 Nov 1917
440020	Lance Corporal	Oscar McQuinn		KIA		28 Mar 1918
440363	Sapper	Fred Stephenson		KIA		28 Mar 1918
526040	Driver	Horace Farmer		D o W		2 May 1918
440164	Sapper	William Greenwood		KIA		5 May 1918
545300	Sapper	William McLeod		KIA		5 May 1918
440135	Lance Corporal	Herbert Victor Pickston		Died⁽¹³⁾		3 Oct 1918
440072	Corporal	Clarence William Kerridge		Died⁽¹¹⁾		1 Nov 1918
440456	Driver	J.W. Magee		Died		15 Nov 1918
244229	Lance Corporal	E. Brocklesby⁽⁷⁾		Died		25 Nov 1918

Figure 26. Advanced Dressing Station Plan, 428^th Field Company, R.E., 1918.
(Drawing from the company war diary)

Figure 27. Plan for a Gas Proof Shelter for 12 Stretcher Cases,
428^th Field Company, R.E., 1918
(Image from the company war diary)

Figure 28. Machine Gun Dugout Plan, 428^th Field Company, R.E., 1918.
(Image from the company war diary)

Figure 29. Machine Gun Emplacement No. 1 and Observation Post Plan,
428^th Field Company, R.E., 1918.
(Image from the company war diary)

Figure 30. Plan for Machine Gun Emplacement No. 2, 428^th Field Company, R.E., 1918.
(Image from the company war diary)

2^nd Lieutenant
HENRY FRANCIS SEVERNE
1/6^th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters
Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment (T.F.)

Figure A-8-1. 2^nd Lieutenant Henry Francis Severne.
1/6^th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters
(Photograph courtesy of Jackquiline Hopkins)

Henry Francis Severne was the eldest son of Arthur De Milt Severne a Solicitor of Wirksworth, Derbyshire and his wife Adelaide Elizabeth, daughter of the late John Hubbersty. He was born in Wirksworth on the 16^th of February 1892. Henry was the first cousin of Major Thomas Golding Woolley, Royal Engineers.

Henry was educated at Riber School, near Matlock, Marlborough College (where he participated in the Officers Training Corps) and the Royal School of Mines. He joined the University of London Artillery in 1910 or 1911.

Severne enlisted in “E” Company of the 6^th Sherwood Foresters on the outbreak of the war. He was granted a commission as a 2^nd Lieutenant on the 2^nd of September 1914 and joined the 1/6^th Battalion in Chesterfield as part of the Notts. & Derby Brigade in the North Midland Division. The battalion moved on mobilisation to Harpenden and went on in November 1914 to Braintree. His battalion left for France on the 25^th of February 1915.

2^nd Lieutenant Severne was killed in action at Kemmel, Belgium on the 10^th of May 1915. He was shot in the heart by a sniper and is buried at Kemmel. He was mentioned in the despatch of Field Marshal Sir John French of the 31^st of May 1915 [London Gazette, 22 June 1915] for saving the life of a fellow officer on the 27^th of April. On that day a small charge was exploded in a mine. Some hours afterwards a small party of Royal Engineers, consisting of a Sergeant and two Lieutenants, entered the gallery. One Lieutenant, who was a little way behind the others, found them unconscious from the effects of gas. He ran back to the entrance and shouted for help. 2^nd Lieutenant Severne, who was standing nearby, without a moment’s hesitation, jumped down the shaft although, being a mining engineer he well knew the danger. He helped the Lieutenant to drag his brother officer along the gallery until the former also began to suffer from gas. He told him to go back and said that he would bring the unconscious man along. This he did, although his burden was a heavy one, until he was himself rendered unconscious. In the meantime other help arrived, and all were brought around except the Sergeant. It was undoubtedly due to 2^nd Lieutenant Severne’s prompt and gallant conduct that the life of one officer was saved and possibly that of the other. The late Captain Johnson, VC, who was in charge of the party of Engineers, was filled with admiration and reported 2^nd Lieutenant Severne’s conduct for official recognition.

Figure A-8-2. The Medal Index Card (front) of 2^nd Lieutenant Henry Francis Severne,1/6^th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment).
(Image courtesy of Ancestry.com)

Figure A-8-3. The Medal Index Card (back) of 2^nd Lieutenant Henry Francis Severne, 1/6^th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment).
(Image courtesy of Ancestry.com)

For his service during the Great War, 2^nd Lieutenant Severne was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. The Medal Index Card below shows that Lieutenant Severne’s father applied for his medals on the 20^th of October 1919. In addition to the service medals his family also would have received a Memorial Plaque in recognition of his death while on active service.

Figure A-8-4. The Grave of 2^nd Lieutenant Henry Francis Severne.
(Photograph courtesy of findagrave.com)

Another cousin of Major Thomas Goulding Wooley who serve in the Great War was Alfred de Milt Severne, the brother of Henry Francis Severne, who served in the Royal Field Artillery, Wessex Brigade (Gazette appointment as 2nd Lieutenant, 18 December of 1915). In civilian life Alfred was dentist.

The CCXV (I Wessex) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery served as Divisional Artillery with the Wessex Division, which was part of the Territorial Force. Just before war broke out in August 1914 the units of the Division gathered on Salisbury Plain for their annual summer camp and orders arrived for precautionary measures to be taken. On the 3^rd of August they broke camp and moved to take up defensive positions at the ports. The division was mobilised for full time war service on the 5^th of August and by the 10^th had returned to Salisbury Plain to prepare for service overseas. The Wessex Division was ordered to India to replace British and Indian regular army units who were to be deployed to the Western Front. It sailed from Southampton on the 19^th of October 1915, via Malta and Suez, arriving at Bombay on the 9th of November. They left the Division in October of 1916 and moved to Mesopotamia.

2^nd Lieutenant de Milt Severne transferred from the Royal Field Artillery to the Royal Flying Corps and was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal for his service, as shown on the Medal index card below.

Colonel
ERNEST JOHN WOOLLEY, MC
22^nd (County of London) Battalion (The Queen’s)
The London Regiment

Cap Badge of the 22^nd Battalion, The London Regiment.
(Image courtesy of Wikipedia)

Ernest John Woolley was born on the 19^th of November 1888 at 21 Camden Grove, Kensington, Middlesex. In 1901 he was a student in a boarding school at Haywards Heath in Sussex.

By 1908 Ernest was a stockbroker’s clerk working in London. He applied for membership to The Stock Exchange, listing his business as a Broker in partnership with one Frederick Cornwallis Day, with an office at 7 Finch Lane, London E.C. On the 1^st of December 1909 Ernest was granted the Liberty of the City of London (Freedom of the Merchant Taylors’ Company by Patrimony), an honor that seemed to be granted to members of wealthy and prominent families, and an honour that also would be granted to his brother Thomas Goulding Woolley about two years later. The certificate, shown in the Figure below, is typical of the document given to individuals who were so honored in this way. The term “by Patrimony” indicates generally, a member's son born after the father became a member. The Merchant Taylors' Company dates from 1327, when it was a social and religious fraternity of tailors and linen-armourers dedicated to St John the Baptist.

Freedom of the City Certificate of Ernest John Woolley.
(Image courtesy of Ancestry.com)

It appears that Ernest had an interest in the military at an early age so in 1908, upon the creation of the 22^nd (County of London) Battalion (The Queen’s) of the London Regiment, he applied for and received a commission as a 2^nd Lieutenant in that Territorial Force unit. The battalion’s headquarters and drill hall were located at 2 Jamaica Road in Bermondsey, a district in southeast London. Today this is the site of the war memorial to 22nd Battalion, The London Regiment (The Queen's). It is a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by this battalion in the Great War of 1914-1918 and it is of strong historic and cultural significance both at a local and a national level.

2nd Lieutenant Woolley participated in the battalion’s annual field exercises and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on the 25^th of January 1912 and to Captain on the 1^st of May 1913. Since service in a Territorial Force unit was not a full time occupation, he continued with his work as a stockbroker during this period.

Shortly after the start of the war in August of 1914, Captain Woolley’s battalion became a first line Territorial Force unit of The London Regiment as was re-designated the 1/22^nd Battalion. It was assigned to the 142^nd Brigade of the 47^th (2^nd London) Division. On the 14^th of March 1915 Captain Woolley embarked with his battalion for France and landed at Le Havre on the 16^th of March. The battalion was heavily engaged in the following actions during the war:

· Captain Woolley was mentioned in the despatches (MID) of Field Marshal French for gallant conduct and distinguished service in the field. This despatch was dated the 15^th of October 1915 and was published in the London Gazette of 1 January 1916. He was awarded the Military Cross (MC) on the 14^th of January 1916. The MID and MC were certainly the result of Woolley’s conduct during the Battle of Loos.

· Captain (Acting Major) Woolley was mentioned in the despatches of Sir Douglas Haig, dated the 9 April 1917 and published in the Supplement to the London Gazette dated 25 May 1917.

Following the action at St. Quentin Captain Woolley’s battalion took part in the pursuit of the retreating German forces to the River Mons.

It is believed that most of the action seen by Captain Woolley was with the 1/22^nd Battalion, as he appears on the medal roll for the 1914-15 Star with this battalion. However the medal roll for the British War Medal and Victory Medal shows his serving in the 1/15^th Battalion of the London Regiment, so it is possible that he was transferred between battalions at sometime near the end of the war. In any case, the 1/15^th Battalion was engaged in the same actions listed above, but in the 140^th Brigade of the 47^th Division.

When the war ended Captain Woolley was demobilized, but he remained active in the Territorial Force Reserves. He applied for his 1914-15 Star on the 24^th of October 1919 and for his British War Medal and Victory Medal on the 25^th of May 1921 using the postal address Pinners Hall, Austin Friar, London E.C.

Medals Earned by Captain Ernest John Woolley during the Great War.
Left to right: Military Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
(Images courtesy of Wikipedia)

Presumably Woolley returned to his profession of stockbroker after leaving the Army and in July of 1920 he married Cicely Francis Helena Wollaston (1895-1979) at St. Albans, Hertfordshire. On the 1^st of July 1920 he was promoted to the rank of Major in the Territorial Force Reserve. In 1922 his old battalion was re-designated the 22^nd London Regiment (The Queen’s) and in the 1924 Army List Woolley is shown as a Major serving in this unit, which was now part of the Territorial Army (T.A.) Reserve. On the 30^th of September 1926 Cicely gave birth to a son, Philip Michael Woolley (1926-1990) at Marylebone, London. Ernest and Cicely would have a second child, a daughter, Mary Priscilla Woolley (1928-1977) at Sevenoaks, Kent.

In February of 1927 Ernest John Woolley assumed command of the 22^nd London Regiment (The Queen’s) with the rank of Temporary Lieutenant Colonel. He commanded the unit for over three years, relinquishing command in July of 1930 and reverting back to the rank of Brevet Major.

During the period from 1937 to 1941 Woolley held the position as the president of the Grand Junction and Grand Union Canal Carry Companies. The Grand Union Canal Carrying Company was a freight carrying transport service in England from 1934 to 1948. After World War II he was the president of the National Conference of Road Transport Clearing Houses. In 1939 he was living in Hatfield, Hertfordshire and he was Chairman of a Stock Exchange. He was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and a member of the Old Malvernian Masonic Lodge No. 4363.

Woolley died at Leaside Mill Green, Hatfield, Hertfordshire on the 24^th of December 1950 at the age of 61. His will indicated that he had two residences; 62 London Wall, London and Leaside Mill Green in Hatfield. His effects were left to his widow, to his son Philip and to his unmarried daughter Mary in the amount of £15,420 12s 9.

2. Great War Medal Index Card, Captain Ernest John Woolley: Public Record Office

4. British War Medal and Victory Medal Roll: 15^th London Regiment, Captain Ernest John Woolley.

5. 1914-15 Star Medal Roll: Royal Engineers, Lieutenant Thomas Goulding Woolley.

6. British War Medal and Victory Medal Roll: Royal Engineers, Lieutenant Thomas Goulding Woolley

1. Application for membership to The Stock Exchange for the year commencing 25 March 1908.

[1] Woolley Family Tree (Ancestry.com)

[2] This census was difficult to locate as the family name was listed as Wooley rather than Woolley.

[3] Cheltenham College Register.

[4] Wikipedia.com.

[5] The London Gazette, 22 October 1912.

[6] Later, Lieutenant Colonel, Commander Royal Engineers, 66^th Division.

[7] Gibbon, 1920.

[8] Later, Lieutenant Colonel, T.D., Commander Royal Engineers, 42^nd Division.

[9] Later, Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Lloyd Howard, MC, R.E.

[10] Captain Oswald Armitage Carver, R.E.. Killed in action at Gallipoli on 7 June 1915, aged 28. Son of Oswald William and Kate Carver, of Holmes Chapel, Cheshire; husband of E. A. N. Carver, of West Runton House, West Runton, Norfolk.

[11] Later, Captain, OBE, 42^nd Division Signal Company.

[12] Later, Major and Officer Commanding, 431^st Field Company.

[13] Subsequently wounded in action.

[14] The work of military engineer units is greatly hampered when they are required to provide their own work site security. Much more useful work can be done by such units when they can apply their full manpower to the engineering tasks at hand.

[15] Second Lieutenant Basil Hamilton Woods, died 17 December 1914, aged 23, Son of William Henry and Norah Mary Greville Woods, of 6, Grosvenor Mansions. Buxton.

[16] 216 Sergeant William Mellor, aged 26, Son of George and Ellen Mellor, of 98, Rushford St., Longsight, Manchester.

[17] 511 2^nd Corporal G. McLeavy, age 23. Son of George and Eliza McLeavy, of 53, Walker Rd., Blackley, Manchester.

[18] 694 Lance Corporal John Butterworth, age 20. Son of John and Harriet Butterworth, of 71, Church St., Pendleton, Manchester.

[19] Sapper John Nugent, age 16. Son of the late James and Elizabeth Nugent, of Liverpool.

[20] A History of the East Lancashire Royal Engineers. Compiled by Members of the Corps, Country Life Library, London, 1921.

[21] Later Captain, French Croix de Guerre. Joined the company in Cairo from the Egyptian Government Service.

[22] Later, Major, DSO., O.C. 432^nd Field Company.

[23] Later, Major, MC. O.C., 517^th Field Company.

[24] Later, Captain, MC.

[25] Later, Captain.

[26] Later, Captain. M.i.d.

[27] Second Lieutenant Raymond Brocklehurst Angust, aged 27, Son of Jonathan Angus, of 10, Princes St., Westminster, London.

[28] Gibbon (1920), p. 29.

[29] Gibbon (1920), p. 51. Red tabs were worn on the lapels of staff officers and brigade and higher level, who were considered by the troops in the line to be the idiots giving the orders that were getting so many of the men killed.

[30] There may have been two Quartermaster Sergeants in the company, Young and Thomas.

[31]The ML 9.45 inch Heavy Trench Mortar.

[32] A History of the East Lancashire Royal Engineers. Compiled by Members of the Corps, Country Life Library, London, 1921.

[33] A quick bit of research provides some detail on Norton's Patent Tube Well, as discussed in "A Handbook of Hygiene and Sanitary Science", by George Wilson MA MD, FRSE (Fellow of the Chemical Society, Fellow of the Sanitary Institute of Great Britain, Medical Officer of Health for the Mid-Warwickshire Sanitary District) published 1883 in London by J. & A. Churchill. "For a small or temporary [water] supply the American tube well (Norton's patent) has been found to be very useful. It consists of a narrow iron tube driven into the ground in lengths, the lower part being pointed and perforated at its end, and is fitted with a single or double action pump according to the depth. The water enters the tube through the perforations, and, if the bed is sandy, has to be filtered for some time, until by gradual removal of the sand, a well is formed around the lower end, and the water is obtained without sediment. This pump is especially adapted for country districts, and it possesses the further advantage of helping to keep out surface impurities."

[34] This is the date of precedence of his promotion. The promotion actually was dated the 3^rd of August 1916 in the London Gazette of 21 December 1916, but his date of rank was pre-dated to 1 June 1916.

[35] Medal Index Card and Medal Rolls.

[36] I.E.E. Journal, 1914-1915.

[37] Ibid.

[38] The Army List, October 1941, p. 628.

[39] London Gazette, 8 June 1943.

[40] The medals are in the author’s collection.

[41] Woolley family tree (Ancestry.com) and marriage certificate from St. Andrew’s church.

[42] Anthony Hurt Woolley-Dod: Lieutenant, 23 February 1881; Captain, 1 August 1889; Major, 19 March 1899. Source: Hart’s Army List, 1908. Anthony Hurt Wolley-Dod (1861-1948) was a British soldier and botanist. The fourth son of the Rev. Charles Wolley-Dod, of Edge Hall, Cheshire, an assistant master at Eton, and his wife Frances Lucy Pelly, he trained at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, was commissioned to the Royal Artillery in 1881 and retired as a major in 1901. In the First World War he was remobilized and served as lieutenant colonel. He collected plants in South Africa, Gibraltar, California and extensively in the United Kingdom. He donated his collection of several thousand South African specimens to the British Museum, to which he also bequeathed his herbarium. He married firstly, in 1888, Agnes Gardyne Macintosh (died 29 Oct 1917), who bore him a daughter, Mabel Florence (born 1889); he married secondly, on 4 April 1922, Eileen Griffin. Source: Wikipedia.com.

[43] Medal Index Card.

[44] Dr. Edelsten was born in 1907 in Lambeth, Surrey. He died on the 18^th of February 1968 in Sturminster, Dorset, aged 61.

[45] Later, Brigadier General. Died of accidental injuries, 23 May 1918. Aged 47. Inspector of Mines, G.H.Q., 1st Echelon, Royal Engineers. Buried at Etaples British Mil. Cemetery. Son of Hon. Donald MacInnes and Mary Robinson, his wife, of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; husband of Millicent Wolferstan MacInnes, of The Ridge, Camberley, Surrey.

[46] Later, Brigadier, DSO, MC.

[47] Later, Brigadier.

[48] Later, Colonel, CBE, DSO, TD.

Census Location: 21 Campden Grove, Kensington, London.
Name and Surname	Relation	Marital Status	Age	Profession or Occupation	Birthplace
Ernest Woolley	Head	Married	32	Stock Broker Agent	South Collingham, Nottinghamshire
Constance A. Woolley	Wife	Married	32		Cottingham, Yorkshire
Ernest J. Woolley	Son		2		Kensington, London
Thomas G. Woolley	Son		9 mos		Kensington, London
Thomas C.S. Woolley	Brother	Married	37	Land Agent and Surveyor	Collingham, Nottinghamshire
Grace E. Cockram	Servant	Single	28	Domestic Servant	Marylebone, London
Eva E.E. Everett	Servant	Single	22	Housemaid	Oldham, Lancashire
Hester A. Tilbury	Servant	Single	28	Nurse	Gosport, Hampshire

Census Location: 378 Collingworth, Harrow on the Hill, Middlesex
Name and Surname	Relation	Marital Status	Age	Profession or Occupation	Birthplace
Ernest Woolley	Head	Married	42	Stock Agent	South Collingham, Nottinghamshire
Thomas G. Woolley⁽¹⁾	Son		10		Kensington, London
Arie M. Woolley⁽²⁾	Visitor	Single	54		South Collingham, Nottinghamshire
Constance M. Woolley⁽³⁾	Visitor	Single	50		South Collingham, Nottinghamshire
Elizabeth Eldridge	Servant	Single	32	Domestic servant	Ballinger, Buckinghamshire
Alice Eldridge	Servant	Single	25	Domestic servant	Ballinger, Buckinghamshire
Annie P. Reeves	Servant	Single	22	Domestic Servant	Long Marston, Hertfordshire

Census Location: Collingworth Station Avenue, Walton on Thames, Surrey
Name and Surname	Relation	Marital Status	Age	Profession or Occupation	Birthplace
Ernest Woolley	Head	Married	52	Stock agent	South Collingham, Nottinghamshire
Constance A. Woolley⁽¹⁾	Wife	Married	52		Cottingham, Yorkshire
Thomas G. Woolley⁽²⁾	Son	Single	20	Electrical Engineer, Student	Kensington, London
Harriet Ridgwell	Servant	Single	47	Cook	Wimbish, Essex
Alice Eldridge⁽³⁾	Servant	Single	35	Parlour Maid	Ballinger, Buckinhamshire
Sarah Jane Higgins	Servant	Single	27	Housemaid	Waddeson, Buckinghamshire

Capt. Oswald Armitage Carver wounded in back II Lieut. W.N. Malcolm RE (attached) wounded
Killed	Wounded	Missing
785 Sapr. Scott J	612 Sergt. Cottrell J.	86 Sapr. Moor H.
1071 “ Mountfield H.	417 Corpl. Kearns I.E.	1147 “ Potts J.
1103 “ Harwood J.	53 Corpl. Farran F.S.
1158 “ O’Donnell F.	553 II Cpl. Redfern W.
	994 L/Cpl. Neville J.
	1144 Sapr. Perkins J.
	1042 “ Hinsley E.
	727 “ Dunn J.
	1131 “ Bradshaw A.
	1125 “ Smith F.J.
	1017 “ Austeberry G.
	1216 “ Marsh J.W.
	300 “ Brooks H. (RAMC attached)

Date of Promotion or Appointment	Rank or Position
15 September 1912	Commissioned a 2^nd Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers (T.F.).
31 August 1914	Promoted Lieutenant, Royal Engineers (T.F.)
1 June 1916	Promoted Captain, Royal Engineers (T.F.)
24 August 1939	Appointed Temporary Major, Royal Engineers (T.F.)
22 April 1941	Major, Royal Engineers (T.F.) (Specially Employed)

2. EARLY LIFE AND FAMILY INFORMATION

Figure 8. Second Lieutenant Basil Hamilton Woods

Died 17 December 1914, aged 23, Son of William Henry and Norah Mary Greville Woods, of 6, Grosvenor Mansions. Buxton.

(Photograph courtesy of The Roll of Honour)

Figure 10. Lieutenant Godfrey John Oswald Bull. Killed in action at Gallipoli, 8 July 1915, aged 26.

Son of the late Col. William Henry and Emma Cherry Bull. Educated at Wellington College and Magdalene, Cambridge.

Date of Promotion or Appointment

Location

[10] Captain Oswald Armitage Carver, R.E.. Killed in action at Gallipoli on 7 June 1915, aged 28. Son of Oswald William and Kate Carver, of Holmes Chapel, Cheshire; husband of E. A. N. Carver, of West Runton House, West Runton, Norfolk.

[15] Second Lieutenant Basil Hamilton Woods, died 17 December 1914, aged 23, Son of William Henry and Norah Mary Greville Woods, of 6, Grosvenor Mansions. Buxton.

[16] 216 Sergeant William Mellor, aged 26, Son of George and Ellen Mellor, of 98, Rushford St., Longsight, Manchester.

[18] 694 Lance Corporal John Butterworth, age 20. Son of John and Harriet Butterworth, of 71, Church St., Pendleton, Manchester.

[19] Sapper John Nugent, age 16. Son of the late James and Elizabeth Nugent, of Liverpool.

[27] Second Lieutenant Raymond Brocklehurst Angust, aged 27, Son of Jonathan Angus, of 10, Princes St., Westminster, London.

Location	Period of Service⁽¹⁾
Home	15 September 1912 – 9 September 1914
Egypt	10 September 1914 – 4 May 1915
Gallipoli	5 May 1915 – 27 December 1915
Egypt	28 December 1915 – 25 February 1916
France	26 February 1916 – 2 April 1919
Home	3 April 1919 – 13 June 1922
Reserved of Officers (T.A.)	14 June 1919 - July 1942

2. EARLY LIFE AND FAMILY INFORMATION

Figure 8. Second Lieutenant Basil Hamilton Woods Died 17 December 1914, aged 23, Son of William Henry and Norah Mary Greville Woods, of 6, Grosvenor Mansions. Buxton.

(Photograph courtesy of The Roll of Honour)

Figure 10. Lieutenant Godfrey John Oswald Bull. Killed in action at Gallipoli, 8 July 1915, aged 26. Son of the late Col. William Henry and Emma Cherry Bull. Educated at Wellington College and Magdalene, Cambridge.

Date of Promotion or Appointment

Location

[10] Captain Oswald Armitage Carver, R.E.. Killed in action at Gallipoli on 7 June 1915, aged 28. Son of Oswald William and Kate Carver, of Holmes Chapel, Cheshire; husband of E. A. N. Carver, of West Runton House, West Runton, Norfolk.

[15] Second Lieutenant Basil Hamilton Woods, died 17 December 1914, aged 23, Son of William Henry and Norah Mary Greville Woods, of 6, Grosvenor Mansions. Buxton.

[16] 216 Sergeant William Mellor, aged 26, Son of George and Ellen Mellor, of 98, Rushford St., Longsight, Manchester.

[18] 694 Lance Corporal John Butterworth, age 20. Son of John and Harriet Butterworth, of 71, Church St., Pendleton, Manchester.

[19] Sapper John Nugent, age 16. Son of the late James and Elizabeth Nugent, of Liverpool.

[27] Second Lieutenant Raymond Brocklehurst Angust, aged 27, Son of Jonathan Angus, of 10, Princes St., Westminster, London.

Figure 8. Second Lieutenant Basil Hamilton Woods

Died 17 December 1914, aged 23, Son of William Henry and Norah Mary Greville Woods, of 6, Grosvenor Mansions. Buxton.

Figure 10. Lieutenant Godfrey John Oswald Bull. Killed in action at Gallipoli, 8 July 1915, aged 26.

Son of the late Col. William Henry and Emma Cherry Bull. Educated at Wellington College and Magdalene, Cambridge.