1st/5th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment

[Doug Lewis]

Graham

The 1/5th along with the 1/6th South Staffordshire Regiment were in the 137th (Stafffordshire) Brigade of the 46th (North Midland) Division,which went to France March 1915. On the 1.7.16, the first day of the Battle of the Somme,the Division were in the Gommecourt sector,the most northern section of the attacking front. The following is a page from the History of the South Staffordshire Regiment Vale 1969.

I don't know whether you had the info for John Burns from the SDGW-he was born and enlisted Old Hill Staffs.

Regards Doug.

[Aaron Nelson]

Graham,

Here is a brief summary of the 46th Division as explained on 1914-1918.net up until the death of your relative.

The 46th (North Midland) Division

The 46th (North Midland) Division

A Territorial Force Division

History | Units | Commanders

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Summary history of the division

The Division was a formation created by the establishment of the Territorial Force in 1908. It moved to France 23rd-28th February 1915.

Action of the Hohenzollern Redoubt

The Division suffered large numbers of casualties during the above, which was its first large-scale action.

23 December 1915: ordered to proceed to Egypt, leaving the Divisional Ammunition Column (for the 55th Division), the Divisional Train (with the 56th Division) and the Mobile Veterinary Section. Most units reached Egypt via Marseilles by 13 January 1916.

21 January 1916 : the move of the Division was countermanded and the units were returned to France, whereupon the DAC, Train and Vets rejoined.

The Attack on the Gommecourt Salient (first phase of the Battle of the Somme 1916)

The Division again suffered large numbers of casualties during the above, which was a 2-Division diversionary attack.

My Great Grandfathers brother was also killed at the somme, he was in the New Zealand division as was killed on 26th September 1916. Best of luck with the remainder of your reserach.

Aaron.