Two Men in the 2nd Battle of Ypres

CONTENTS

 LOST OLD CONTEMPTIBLES  PRIVATE 8290 ARTHUR BELL: PRE-WAR SERVICE  PRIVATE 3/2802 SIDNEY HERBERT JOHNSON: PRE-WAR SERVICE  BRITISH ARMY 4TH DIVISION IN 1914-15  SECOND BATTLE OF YPRES  COMMEMORATING SIDNEY AND ARTHUR  SIDNEY JOHNSON AND CASUALTIES FROM THE 1ST HAMPSHIRES  ARTHUR BELL AND CASUALTIES FROM THE 1ST KING’S OWN  SEEKING ARTHUR AND SIDNEY IN 2016  SIDNEY JOHNSON’S FAMILY  ARTHUR BELL’S FAMILY  THE GERMAN PERSPECTIVE  MORE FROM BATTLEFIELD SLEUTH

Special thanks to Stuart Higbee for introducing Sidney Johnson as his Nan’s brother – great uncle.

Also thanks to Alice Bell, the editor of the Battlefield Sleuth Series.

August 2016

LOST OLD CONTEMPTIBLES Great War research is regularly focussed on family members, or men from a particular location or Regiment. Quite commonly, experienced researchers jump in to help friends with their own family history. This research concerns a quest to find more information on my distant relative and a strangely coincidental connection with a close friend’s great uncle. The intertwined themes help extend the knowledge of both men. The eMagazine also provides an interesting example of routes for researching WWI, particularly men with no known resting place.

Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing

Private 8092 Arthur Bell of the 1st Battalion King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment and Private 3/2802 Sidney Herbert Johnson of the 1st Battalion Hampshire Regiment are the subjects of this research.

They represented the vanguard of the British Army and are proudly commemorated as Old Contemptibles1. It is more than 100 years since Arthur and Sidney were killed in the same Flanders trench, in May 1915, during the 2nd Battle of Ypres. Both men have no known grave and they are commemorated on the Menin Gate in Ypres – now Leper.

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The term arose because the Kaiser had referred to the original British Expeditionary Force as a “…contemptible little army.”

PRIVATE 8290 ARTHUR BELL: PRE-WAR SERVICE Arthur Bell enlisted for three years in the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment (King’s Own) on 7th July 1904, aged 21 years and 7 months.2 He attested in Manchester and reported his trade as a painter. His place of birth was St Stephens, Manchester. Medical Records show Arthur was 5’5” tall, 117 lbs, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair. Arthur joined the Regiment in Lancaster on 9th July and remained there until he was posted to 2nd Battalion in Blackburn on 1st September.

On 17th December 1904, Arthur embarked on S.S. Sicilia; and then S.S. Cap badge of King’s Own Royal Canning on 10th January 1905, arriving in India on 20th January. He was Lancaster Regiment st posted to 1 Battalion in Calcutta, with whom he was granted a Good Conduct Badge on 7th July 1906. Medical records show he was hospitalised in Darjeeling and Bhamo during his Indian Service.

On 6th March 1907, Arthur returned to England on S.S. Classy. He was posted to 2nd Battalion in Colchester on 28th March. Arthur forfeited his Good Conduct Badge on 17th May; reprimanded for being Absent Without Leave at Colchester from 7th May for 8 days. He was sentenced to 10 days Confined to Barracks. Arthur’s disciplinary record sheet was otherwise unblemished. On 6th July 1907 Arthur had been transferred to Army Reserve at Colchester; after completing 3 years’ Service.

The Transfer papers identify 88 Derwent Street, off Woden Street, Salford as Arthur’s intended residence. In May 1910 Arthur was found drunk & disorderly by Salford City Police. He was tried and completed 14 days hard labour.

As a former Regular Army soldier, Arthur was required to serve nine years in the Army Reserve. This required compulsory training. He attended a firing range in Stalybridge in October 1913 (Score 52), under the stewardship of the Manchester Regiment Depot. Arthur had earlier attended ranges in Fleetwood in 1909 (Score 68) and 1911 (Score 72).

The 1st King’s Own were posted to Shaft Barracks, Dover on 4th August 1914 when War was declared and the British Army were mobilised. As a Reservist, Arthur was called up for duty and posted back to 1st Battalion on 5th August. The War Diary notes a draft of 100 reservists arriving from Depot on 6th August 1914, with a further group of 400 arriving the next day.

The Battalion served in coastal defences; before their Brigade training in North West London. The men left for France at Southampton, on board SS Salamanca, arriving in Boulogne at 6am on 23rd August 1914. Arthur embarked with 1st Battalion 22nd August. Their strength was exactly 1,000 men; 26 Officers and 974 Other Ranks.

Crown Copyright. National Archives

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Born 24th November 1884

PRIVATE 3/2802 SIDNEY HERBERT JOHNSON: PRE-WAR SERVICE Sidney Johnson’s Service Record was burned in the London Blitz, so the detailed information on his military career is less extensive that Arthur Bell. Nonetheless, there are some surviving records that permit a picture to be built on Sidney’s background.

Sidney was entitled to a 1914 Mons Star because he arrived in France with the 1st Battalion on 20th September 1914. Both Sidney and Arthur qualified for the rose emblem as Old Contemptibles, because they went overseas prior to 22nd November 1914.

Cap badge of Hampshire Regiment

The first members of the 1st Hamphires had arrived in France on 23rd August 1914. Sidney was held back at Home for final training, before he joined the British Expeditionary Force.

The 3/ prefix in his Regimental Number 3/2802 denotes Sidney was originally a member of the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment. Prior to hostilities many of the County Regiments had Territorial Battalions; as part time soldiers who attended annual camps and weekend training. Most of these Regiments also had Special Reserve Battalions. Men in the Special Reserve trained full time, for a six month period; and then continued their training, on a part time basis, for three to four weeks per year, for a total of six years. In this period they committed to serve in one of their Regiment’s Regular Army Battalions if called up in time of need. 3 The 3rd Battalion generally issued batches of Regimental Numbers in chronological order and analysis of these numbers can be gleaned from surviving records. 3/2695 Samuel Seabrook’s Service Record shows he attested in Winchester on 5th October 1909 and Silver War Badge records show 3/2849 James Woodhouse enlisted on 13th October 1909. As such, Sidney probably enlisted in early October 1909.

The Service Record for 3/2629 Albert Martin shows disembarkation as a member of 1st Battalion in France on 11th November 1914. Sidney disembarked in September as part of an earlier draft of reinforcements for the Battalion. Sidney may have been more recently trained, prepared and suited for active service than some other members of the Special Reserve.

Sidney’s arrival in France on 20th September 1914 would be consistent with his arrival with the 1st Battalion as part of the fourth recorded draft of 174 Other Ranks reinforcements on 23rd September.

It is suggested this draft arrived from the Isle of Wight with Lieutenant E F Lane; who disembarked on 19th September, but is not mentioned in the War Diary’s schedule of Officer Reinforcements.

Lieutenant C H F Twining is reported as part of the fourth draft, having disembarked on 12th September.

The War Diary shows the Battalion were serving in a relatively quiet sector near La Montagne Farm, north of Bucy-Le-Long and the River Aisne at Soissons. In addition to the reinforcements of men, the Battalion also received fresh clothes and equipment at this time.

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http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/soldiers/a-soldiers-life-1914-1918/enlisting-into-the-army/british-army-reserves-and-reservists/

BRITISH ARMY 4TH DIVISION IN 1914-15

© IWM (Q 51499) Troops of the 1st Battalion, The King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment), in the front trench at St. Marguerite, 22nd September 1914.

The 1st Hampshires were part of the 4th Division and 11th Infantry Brigade. 11th Brigade was formed from the 1st Battalions of the Hampshires with the East Lancashire Regiment, Somerset Light Infantry and Rifle Brigade. The 1/5th London (Rifle Brigade) Regiment joined in November 1914.

Arthur Bell’s 1st Battalion King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment was also part of 4th Division, in 12th Brigade. This Brigade also comprised the 2nd Battalions of the Lancashire Fusiliers, Royal Irish (May 1915) and Essex Regiments. The 1/5th South Lancashire Regiment joined in February 1915.

Prior to Sidney Johnson’s arrival as a reinforcement, Arthur Bell in the King’s Own, members of the Hampshires and the infantry of 4th Division, had arrived in France on 28th August 1914, very quickly entering the fray in the The Retreat from Mons and the Battle of Le Cateau. In early September they had also played their part in the The Battle of the Marne. When

© (IWM Q 56726) Lieutenant-Colonel Ross-Johnson, 14th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery with Major Jackson, 1/KORLR near Le Touquet (Frelinghien) November 1914.

Sidney arrived with reinforcements in late September the Division was holding the line following the The Battle of the Aisne. By 20th September, the 1st King’s Own and 1st Hampshires had suffered ninety two and forty three casualties (CWGC) respectively, with numerous men wounded or missing.

For example, the 1st King’s Own War Diary records 443 men killed, wounded and missing in their first engagement at Haucourt on 26th August. This was almost fifty per cent of the active Battalion strength.

Sidney and Arthur went on to fight with their Battalions in The Battle of Armentières , when the Division had moved north to Belgium. The overlapping experiences of the two men are found in the War Diaries. The King’s Own War Diary notes the Battalion were relieved by the Hanmpshire Regiment in trenches at Le Touquet cross roads on 22nd October 1914.

The Hampshire’s War Diary notes that the Battalion lost their way and arrived after day break “…and had a heavy rifle fire opened on it by the Germans.”

© IWM Q 56706 Capt WC Garsia 1 Hants near Ypres April 1915.

The King’s Own occupied billets in the village of Le Bizet on Christmas day 1914. The 1st Hampshires were less fortunate; manning the flooded trench line near Ploegsteert Wood and La Gheer. The famous Christmas truce on the Western Front is noted in the War Diary “On Xmas Day an informal truce began with the 133rd Saxons, XIX Corps, opposite us, & continued till the New Year.”

The 4th Division remained in the Armentieres area until April 1915. The King’s Own marched to Ypres in late April and took over trenches north of Ypres, from the 13th Light Brigade on 30th April.

© (IWM Q 56727) Ypres Square, May 1915

SECOND BATTLE OF YPRES The 1st Hampshires arrived in the Ypres salient on 26th April 1915, their War Diary recounting “We passed the blazing ruins of the City…where the 17” shells were still crashing and destroying everything.”

The men were entering the fray of the Second Battle of Ypres and dug in at a position near Zonnebeke. The Battalion then suffered assaults by German infantry; but the withering fire from surrounding artillery for eight days and nights caused the greatest casualties, in an advanced position on the Salient. The Hampshires withdrew behind the Yser canal on the night of 3rd May. One hundred and two men were killed in the period, with two hundred and nineteen wounded. The War Diary notes “Our killed were buried near the remains of a small farm, about a mile north of Zonnebeke and the graves marked as carefully as possible.” Sadly this war cemetery was lost during subsequent action, consistent with many other graves on the Western Front.

Crown Copyright. 12th Brigade Line 1st -9th May 1915. King’s Own occupied the central trenches throughout. The Hampshires moved up to the Support Line at Wieltje Farm on 8th May and relieved the King’s Own in the fire trench on 10th May.

The 1st King’s Own held the Wieltje line, between Shell Trap Farm and Canadian Farm from 1st May. The French infantry occupied the line to the left with 12th Brigade on the right.

At about 4.30pm on 2nd May, the Germans launched a gas attack on Wieltje. The King’s Own held their positions, but suffered many casualties. The German infantry then made a “half hearted” assault on the British line, stopped by rifle and machine gun fire; but made progress to hold Listening Patrol Farm, from where they were later ejected by a charge from the King’s Own. The Germans returned to this Farm during the night and a patrol failed to dislodge them the next morning.

The German artillery bombardment continued heavy spells of fire and there were numerous casualties. The War Diary entries for 6th & 7th May described an artillery bombardment for most of each day.

View from the position of the centre of 4th Division along the front line to the position of Canadian Farm in the middle ground and the 2nd Essex Positions beyond. Taken from pond.

On 8th May the 1st King’s Own remained in the Shell Trap / Canadian Farm Line.

The War Diary described a “Very heavy bombardment of whole line began at 7am and continued until 4pm.

The German assault to the south of the Brigade made some progress and it was reported the village of Wieltje was lost. Men from East Lancs Regiment (11th Brigade) then took back Wieltje and occupied trenches north of the village.”

Arthur Bell was killed in action on 8th May. It is likely he was killed by the German shell fire in the front line. Arthur was one of ninety three fatalities for the Battalion in the first two weeks of May.

Wieltje Farm Cemetery. Position of 4th Div Support line and 1/Hants on 8th May 1915

On the night of 10th May, the 1st King’s Own were relieved and withdrew to dugouts at La Brique. By strange coincidence, it was the 1st Battalion Hampshire Regiment that took over their positions; with Sidney Johnson and his Battalion moving up from Wieltje Farm. The Hampshires had been holding the 4th Support Line since 8th May. The German bombardment that killed Arthur Bell also caused significant casualties on the Battalion.

The 1st Hampshire’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Hicks, was fatally wounded on 8th May4, with Major Pack taking Command. There were also eighty men killed on the 8th/9th May, and a further 80 wounded, with two missing. Six more men were wounded on 10th May when the Hampshires relieved the King’s Own. The German artillery continued to take its toll on 11th and 12th May; when the War Diary notes enemy activity with rifle grenades, which they silenced with trench mortars. The next morning the bombardment began at 4am, with the War Diary noting that the barrage moved to the second line at 5.50am, but © IWM (HU 123325) Lt Col Hicks fatally wounded 8th May 1915 and died the heavy fire returned to the Hampshire’s positions at 6.05am. in Guys Hospital in June 1915 Small parties of Germans advanced, but “half-heartedly”.

“Shelling increased till 6.15 when for ¾ hour it was terrific. It continued, but in decreasing violence, till 2pm when it gradually died away. D Company which suffered the most heavily was relieved by C Company from Support trench. “ Sidney Johnson was amongst thirty four men reported in the 1st Hampshire’s War Diary, as killed on 13th May. He was probably killed by artillery fire, in the front line, or possibly the support trench at Wieltje Farm. There were also fifty seven men wounded and three missing. The Battalion was relieved on 16th May with the Diary noting that Shell Trap Farm had changed hands twice with the Hampshire’s knowledge.

Courtesy National Library of Scotland. Superimposed May 1915 trench line on 1917 trench map and modern satellite image.

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The CO of 1st Hampshires, Lt Col Frederick Richard Hicks, was fatally wounded on 8th May 1915. He died in Guys Hospital, London on 12th June.

COMMEMORATING SIDNEY AND ARTHUR The Soldier If I should die, think only this of me: That there's some corner of a foreign field That is for ever England. There shall be In that rich earth a richer dust concealed; A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware, Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam, A body of England's, breathing English air, Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.

And think, this heart, all evil shed away, A pulse in the eternal mind, no less Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given; Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day; And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness, In hearts at peace, under an English heaven Rupert Brooke wrote this poem in 1914; and may have anticipated the ranks of Portland Stone war graves that provide stark reminders of events in the Great War. It’s less likely Brooke envisaged the extent of casualties that grace the Commonwealth Memorials to the Missing. The Thiepval Memorial5 commemorates more than 72,000 men who have no known grave in the battlefields of the Somme. In Flanders, it is the Menin Gate that represents the casualties with no identified resting place. Almost 54,400 men lie in unknown graves in Flanders; with their names inscribed on the Memorial, forming the eastern entrance to the city they were defending. Sidney Johnson and Arthur Bell are members of this multitude of men lying in that rich Belgium earth, but very much remain “...some corner of field that is forever England.”

Every grave for an unknown soldier tells a tale; and every soldier commemorated on a memorial to the missing has their story. With the detailed release of information to the public, there are instances where casualties and graves become identifiable, or connections can be made. At the very least, the combination of records can build a picture to perpetuate the memory of these men.

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Looking along the line towards the ne Shell Trap Farm. Arthur & Sidney were killed near here in May 1915 and may still be buried close by today

http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/80800/THIEPVAL%20MEMORIAL

SIDNEY JOHNSON AND CASUALTIES FROM THE 1ST HAMPSHIRES

Ypres Reservoir Cemetery. Graves of Pte C Williams & C Cooke with four Soldiers of the Hampshire Regiment. Known Unto God

CWGC records show thirty eight members of the 1st Hampshires died on 13th May. This compares with the War Diary record of thirty four men killed on this day, with three men identified as missing.

The final casualty may have been Private 3/3981 Frederick Arthur Johnston. Frederick’s Medal Roll shows he died of wounds on 13th May, most likely wounded in earlier action. CWGC records confirm he was originally buried a long distance behind the front, to the west of the City. His remains were relocated to New Irish Farm Cemetery in the 1920s.

It is possible Sidney was one of the three men posted missing on 13th May. There could be a range of explanations for a missing notation on the Battalion Roll. A man may have been captured in the “half-hearted” German attack, but there is no indication of this happening in the War Diary.6 Alternatively a soldier may have been killed in a position where the unit had passed through an area, or withdrawn from a line, with no witness noticing the casualty. It is most likely the missing men were killed in the front line and buried in the subsequent bombardment or their bodies could not be distinguished during the desperate defence and withering bombardment.

Such a casualty may also have been found later and buried with his Courtesy CWGC Concentration records for 1st Hants, Ypres Reservoir comrades, or elsewhere.

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Seven members of the 1st Battalion Hampshire Regiment died In Germany; and other Prisoners of War may have died captive in France, Belgium, Holland etc. A number of concentration records have been found for Prisoners who died in German captivity in May 1915.

In addressing the CWGC records for 13th July 1915, most men are commemorated on the Menin Gate, with unknown resting places. There are only four members of the 1st Hampshires killed in action7 on this day who have defined graves. These are all situated at Ypres Reservoir Cemetery and relate to casualties who were relocated from the battlefields to be concentrated in the City.

The front line crossed this photo 100 yds short of the Hampshire Farm hedge line. 1st Hants battlefield burials were to the left, in line with the flyover.

Concentration records were only recently published in 2014 and provide an excellent research resource. The records identify the place where casualties were originally buried and the surrounding schedules identify the burials and original grid reference of Unknown Soldiers. The combination sometimes allows extrapolation for other conclusions.

Privates Wheeler, Cooke and Williams are identified on the same concentration sheet and re-buried in the same row as each other at Ypres Reservoir Cemetery. The intervening five graves are marked as Unknown Soldiers of the Hampshire Regiment, concentrated from the same grid reference at 28C. 22.a.7.8. This provides strong evidence that all eight men were killed on the same date, at the same place and buried together by their Battalion. Private Harry Thatcher is buried nearby, relocated from the same grid reference. The four identified men were relocated from graves 100m east of Hampshire Farm in an area where Battalion Headquarters and the aid post may have been positioned. It is notable that Harry Thatcher’s neighbouring grave is occupied Private Shergold from the 1st Hampshires, killed on 27th April and also relocated from the Hampshire Farm area. The Battalion was not close to this position on this date and it is a little surprising to find an early casualty buried there. The anomaly also implies that some of the other Unknown Hampshire Regiment men, concentrated at Ypres Reservoir Cemetery from Hampshire Farm, may not necessarily have been killed on 13th May.

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Excluding Frederick Johnston, who died of wounds as above.

There are a total of twelve men relocated to Ypres Reservoir Cemetery from the same Grid Reference close to Hampshire Farm and they are all identified as the Hampshire Regiment8. It has been seen that these men were killed on 13th May or other dates in the month. This means Sidney may occupy one of the Unknown Graves, but this is only a small possibility.

A Soldier of the Hampshire Regiment. Known Unto God

1916 British shell fuse from Listening Patrol Farm. Confirmation of continuing hostilities in Wieltje

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1st Battalion is assumed, but not confirmed, creating a further caveat.

The adjoining Shell Trap Farm was acknowledged as changing hands twice on 13th May and this pattern continued in the area and Ypres salient for a sustained period. The continuing fighting explains why the identifying markers on the majority of graves were lost. With the Identity tags being removed when the men were buried, this solely left the wooden crosses, which were vulnerable to the continuing ravages of war. Private Williams’ Regimental Cross was the only one remaining near Hampshire Farm when the graves were concentrated in 1921. A section of cross was left for Private Wheeler, but Privates Cooke & Shergold were identified by the numerals stamped on spoons they had kept in their pockets.

Harry Thatcher was identified by his comb.

It is noted that other graves were relocated from Hampshire Farm to Sanctuary Wood and Bedford House Cemeteries, including an identified group of 1st Hampshires and a member of the Lancashire Fusiliers of 12th Brigade. This confirms that the Grave Registration Units couldn’t identify all burials in the first or second attempts.

ARTHUR BELL AND CASUALTIES FROM THE 1ST KING’S OWN Seventy five members of the 1st Battalion King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment died in the fortnight commencing 1st May 1915. In this group, sixty three men are commemorated on the Menin Gate, including all sixteen casualties killed in action in the period the 1st Battalion were in the line to 10th May 1915.9 The absence of known graves prevents assessments of concentrated war graves, equivalent to the Hampshires analysis.

Consideration of earlier casualties provides no further assistance, but the subsequent death of Private Henry Allen offers a possible connection.

Henry died on 13th May 1915 and he is the sole member of the 1st King’s Own who was killed in action in the first two weeks of May and has a known resting place. Henry’s grave is situated in La Brique Military Cemetery No. 2, close to the place where the Battalion withdrew on 10th May. La A Soldier of the King’s Own. Known Unto God, Courtesy http://www.britishwargraves.co.uk/ Brique also provides graves for numerous ‘Unknown’ soldiers. However; concentration records provide no group of Unknown graves of King’s Own men.

Evidence that the King’s Own men were properly buried, is provided in Service Records for a number of individuals from the 1st Battalion. Arthur Bell’s Service Record, together with at least three other casualties in the period, shows they originally had military burials. These graves are all noted as being 2 miles N.E. of Ypres with narrative for War Grave Commission Sheet 634/5.

CWGC have confirmed they do not have Sheet 634, so we have no indication where these burials may have been located. The graves or markings may have been destroyed by shell fire, with the men remaining beneath the Flanders fields. Otherwise the graves were relocated in the 1920s, with none of the men being identified 9

© National Archives. Arthur Bell Killed in Action & buried 2 miles NE of Ypres

Pte 3683 John Mulcahy died of wounds on 7th May and Pte 2722 R Holt died of wounds in Boulogne on 8th May 1915.

at that time. As such the group would be commemorated in one of the concentration cemeteries as “A Soldier of the Great War”, possibly noting the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, if the regiment had been identifiable from the remains.

It has been possible to review records from a series of concentration cemeteries – see http://cefresearch.ca/wiki/index.php/The_Unknown. Ypres Reservoir Cemetery was the first place to look, because there was a possibility that the Hampshires men had been buried after the King’s Own men near Hampshire Farm. This was not the case.

Concentration records for New Irish Farm, Bedford House, Poelcapelle, have been considered, along with a number of other cemeteries. These show burials for other members of the 4th Division have been concentrated to these locations, from the immediate area of the battlefield. Original burial groups for the period were identified in Wieltje and Shell Trap Farm. South Lancs men and a group of unknown Soldiers were buried in a May 1915 mass grave in the centre of the King’s Own trench line. These were concentrated to Bedford House Cemetery in 1934.

Eight burials of known 1st Hants men, killed on 11/12th May, were relocated from the Hampshire Farm area to Sanctuary Wood in 1931. Their names must have been etched in the Menin Gate, when it was unveiled in 1928; although the current panels do not include this group. The later exhumations confirm that the original removals from the battlefield cemetery in 1920/21, did not include all graves in the area. It is quite reasonable to anticipate other King’s Own or Hampshire men may remain beneath these fields.

Courtesy CWGC Concentration records for 1st Hants, Sanctuary Wood

As yet, it has still not been possible to identify a group of unknown graves for King’s Own men.

SEEKING ARTHUR AND SIDNEY IN 2016 Military research can become tenuous; so clear focus is needed on limited interests and quests at any one time. On the anniversary of their deaths, I hadn’t discovered Arthur as a relative and failed to recall Sidney’s details from the plethora of other private research quests.

Arthur and Sidney’s names are inscribed on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing. Every evening, at 8pm, the Last Post is played to commemorate the men on the Memorial and I witnessed the ceremony for the first time in June 2015. Irrespective of personal connections, a visit to Ypres, Flanders and battlefield sites is thoroughly recommended for visitors with an interest in history. The first visit is always memorable, but the next was even better.

My second trip to Ypres on 1st July 2016 was simply overpowering. At 8.30am that morning, we had stepped forward in the Somme battlefield of Montauban10. With friends and family, we walked forward in the footsteps of Grandad, exactly one hundred years after him and the 2nd Manchester Pals. We had a quiet commemoration of the First Day of the Battle of the Somme, but the personal connection renders the morning’s events deeply memorable to all concerned11.

Heading north on my own, I decided to take advantage of the free time across the Channel and popped in to see the Battlefield of Arras, walking in the steps of Grandad’s Pals12. After jousting with the traffic near Lille, I arrived at the excellent campsite in Ypres just before reception closed. I then rushed to pitch the tent before rushing over to the ramparts and briskly strolled alongside the moat towards the Menin Gate.

With minutes to spare I found a spot to stand and see the Last Post ceremony; and then found a brief time to catch my breath with two minutes to spare. I turned round to view the huge wall of names looming over me and found Arthur Bell’s inscription, immediately behind, eight feet above my head. The haunting tones of the Last Post became a private ceremony for two young men who were killed two miles from the Menin Gate one hundred and one years earlier. I found Sidney’s name at first floor level when the drama of the ceremony had subsided and a more calm commemoration was possible.

Mixed in with a Belgium international football game being broadcast throughout the City, I had dinner and some incredibly strong lager. I also 10

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The King’s Own Panel inside the Menin Gate. Arthur Bell’s inscription is highlighted

https://17thmanchesters.wordpress.com/the-big-push/ https://17thmanchesters.wordpress.com/2016/07/03/centenary-of-the-liberation-of-montauban-1st-july-2016/ https://17thmanchesters.wordpress.com/afterwards/arras-hindenburg-line-heninel-23rd-april-1917/

visited Ypres Reservoir Cemetery13 to pay respects to the members of Sidney’s Battalion, who were killed on the same day. I then photographed some graves for Unknown Soldiers of the Hampshire Regiment. It is possible Sidney was one of these, although the research indicates this may not necessarily the case.14

The Menin Gate from the Cloth House Bell Tower

Ypres Reservoir Cemetery 13

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http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/9500/YPRES%20RESERVOIR%20CEMETERY

There is a firm recommendation for the British public to visit the sites of the Western Front. Perhaps advice should be extended to avoid too many locations in one trip, also suggesting that visitors hold back from too many casualties in one go. The 1 st July Centenary was excessive for one exhausted man in a tent in Ypres.

SIDNEY JOHNSON’S FAMILY Sidney was born in Mile End, East London on 18th April 1889.

He was baptised in May 1889 with the name Sidney Leopold Johnson and there is no explanation for the alternative name as Herbert which was universally used on Military records. His parents, George and Elizabeth had at least nine children, including the youngest Frances, born in 1900 and eldest, George, born 1885. The family lived in West Ham in 1901.

George had married Elizabeth Chaney at St Dunstan & All Saint’s Church in Stepney on 17th September 1883. George and his father, William, were rope makers. By 1911 the family had moved to 11 Dale Road, Canning Town. Elizabeth lived there with her five youngest children.

Hampshire Regiment panel inside the Menin Gate. Sidney Johnson’s inscription is highlighted

Sidney’s third brother was Death Penny passed to sister Frances and her Pte Spencer Johnson in Egypt Spencer Alfred Johnson, who was grandson Stu 1916. Courtesy Stu Higbee born in 1896. Spencer enlisted in 1/3 (Territorial) East Anglian Field Ambulance of the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) on 5th June 1913, aged 17. He worked for Messrs Abram, Lyle & Sons in Silvertown and was still resident with his mother at 71 Dale Road. His Regimental Number was 1874; later 477069. Spencer served as a Cook in the RAMC and volunteered for Overseas Service on 3rd September 1914. His medal records indicate arrival in Egypt on 18th December 1915, although Service Records suggest he arrived in August 1915. The December date may relate to disembarking in Gallipoli. The 54th East Anglian Division had arrived at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli in August 1915, withdrawing to Cairo in February 1916.

Spencer received a Good Conduct Badge on 5th August 1916. The Division moved on to fight in Palestine and later served in Egypt again and then Lebanon15. Spencer embarked Home on 19th March 1919, arriving 4th April. He may have contracted Malaria, but his Pension request was rejected and he was disembodied on 5th May 1919. Correspondence shows Spencer remained resident at 71 Dale Road, Canning Town in July 1920. Spencer became a Policeman after leaving the Army.

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http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/54th-east-anglian-division/

Youngest brother, Stanley Oliver Johnson was born in August 1899 and enlisted in the Royal Navy on 19th February 1917, aged 17 years 6 months but claiming 18 years. He trained at HMS Pembroke I and went on to serve on HMS Grafton, Edgar, Europa, Egmont and Vivid I. During Stanley’s service on HMS Edgar, the ship was damaged off Tunisia, by an attack from an Austro-Hungarian submarine, SM U-29. Following repair the ship returned to Service.

No Military History has been found for older brothers, George William or Bertie Edwin Johnson.

Stanley Johnson 1916. Courtesy Stu Higbee

HMS Edgar IWM Q 21207

Family records indicate this is Sidney. He has a Grenadier Guards cap badge. Courtesy Stu Higbee

Courtesy National Archives and http://maps.nls.uk/index.html War Diary plan with 1917 Trench Map and current satellite view.

ARTHUR BELL’S FAMILY Arthur’s sister Mrs Agnes Piggot acknowledged receipt of his medals in June 1921. This included the 1914 Star, with Clasp; Victory Medal and British War Medal. The Victory Medal is now held in the Regimental Museum in Lancaster.

Arthur Bell’s inscription on the Menin Gate

The medals had previously been posted to brother J W Bell in April 1919 at 86 Church Street, Chester Road, Hulme. This is where Arthur lived when he was arrested in 1910 and for the 1911 Census. Arthur was then a wheelwright’s labourer.

Agnes was the eldest sister, claimed to be next of kin and received his Effects. This amounted to a Letter, Photo, Pocket Wallet and a Medal.

Soldiers Effects records show the four sisters and brothers received an equal share of his estate.

Arthur’s father was George Bell, who was born in Manchester in 1848 as the youngest son of William and Jane Bell. George’s eldest brother (21 years his senior) was my great, great grandfather, Andrew Bell. Hence, George was my grandfather’s great uncle. My grandfather was also named Arthur; and nine years younger than his cousin Arthur.

There are other resources 16 to find out more about both Arthur Bells’ extended family and Service in the Great War. Their relatives Herbert Bell and Alf Ridge, were casualties of the Machine Gun Corps and Manchester Regiment respectively. Unlike Arthur and Sidney, Herbert and Alf have known graves in Palestine and Flanders. All four men are not forgotten and we can still pay respects to the lost casualties at the Menin Gate.

Alf Ridge & Herbert Bell © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS

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THE GERMAN PERSPECTIVE

Langemark German Cemetery

Losses on the other side of the wire in Ypres were also significant. German casualties from 21st April to 30th May were recorded as 34,933 by the Official historians of the Reichsarchiv. Many of these men have no known grave, although a large number are interred at Langemark German Cemetery17.

More than 44,000 men are buried here including 25,000 in a mass grave. Just like the Menin Gate, the extent of loss is hard to envisage. To see a personal perspective, we have photos of graves for men killed on the days Arthur and Sidney were lost. It can be seen that groups of men were interred in each marked grave.

The Grave of Ludwig Pertchen, Willy Ritter & Ernst Benningr. Died 8th May 1915 in the same battle as Arthur Bell

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The Grave of Joseph Wilhelm, Karl Kolle & Willi Pfaff. Died 13th May 1915 in the same battle as Sidney Johnson

Langemark Memorial inscriptions for Ernsst & Friederich Bell who are buried in the ‘comrades grave’

MORE FROM BATTLEFIELD SLEUTH Manchester Co-op's Battle of the Somme An eMagazine about Recruitment and Losses in the Battle of the Somme, using the Case Study of CoOperative Wholesale Society Head Office in Manchester.

17th Battalion Manchester Regiment on the Somme A website about my grandad’s service in the Battle of the Somme with the 2nd Manchester Pals.

The Steel Helmet Film - Montauban 1st July 1916 A film with contemporary drone footage, archive photos and original interviews recounting the Manchester Pals on First Day of the Battle of the Somme.