esdee Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 A while ago I discovered that my grandfather served with the Royal Engineers during the First World War. He belonged to the 2/1st, later the 458th, Field Company, which was attached to the 49th Division. I have the diary he wrote in 1915, and have obtained his unit's War Diary from the National Archives. Having read as much as I can about the period I am now writing about his experiences for the family history. Most of what I have read, however, doesn't mention the units based in Sheffield, and I was wondering if anybody out there has any more information about them? They are mentioned in 'West Riding Territorials in the Great War', for example, but there doesn't seem to be a unit history. One thing I would like to know, for example, is where my grandfather would have enlisted. Could he have enlisted at the Gell Street barracks in the hope that he would become an engineer, or would he have enlisted elsewhere, and then be assigned to the engineers? I would also be interested to hear from anybody who had a relation who served in the same unit. Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Trefcon Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 Do you have a name and number for him Sue ? ( i have replied to your post on Sheffield Records Online ) Dean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esdee Posted February 7, 2011 Author Share Posted February 7, 2011 Hi Dean, He was called Albert Edward Marshall, and he had 2 numbers: 1487 and 476248. I believe he enlisted in November 1914. I've seen his medal card, but sadly his service records seem to have been lost. Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Trefcon Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 Hi Sue, There is a book by Stephen Johnson ‘Volunteer Forces in Sheffield 1794-1908’, chapter 7 covers the Engineers, and the restructuring of the Territorial’s in 1907 etc. There were 28 men of the 458th Field Coy. killed in the war, at least 8 of those from Sheffield. They might well have known your grandfather. Allison. Horace, 1004/476113 died 30/4/18 Burns. Albert Henry. 2845/476825 died 10/7/18 Butcher. George, 100/476008 died 12/12/17 Castledine. Fred, 1620/476315 died 12/4/18 Clarke. George E. (T)3682/476956 died 16/10/17 Cooke. John Wilfred, (T)2951/476860 died 18/3/17 Leadbeater. Ernest, 1521/476271 died 30/4/18 Oates. Albert, 1583/476304 died 30/5/18 All the above enlisted in Sheffield. If you do a search on here re Fred Castledine, you’ll find his sister Lucy, a nurse at Fir Vale military hospital during the war, who died of flu. Albert Oates and Ernest Leadbeater appear together in a group photograph of members of Woodseats Primitive Methodists, in the Sheffield Independent newspaper of 27/7/16, Local Studies for a copy. Oates died 3 days after his discharge. Hope this helps in some way, Dean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esdee Posted February 7, 2011 Author Share Posted February 7, 2011 Hi Dean, I'll look out for the book you mention. Of the 8 men from Sheffield who died my grandfather certainly knew Ernest Leadbeater and Horace Allison. Their names were in the back of a 1918 diary that he occasionally wrote in - it's a pity he didn't fill it in every day. They were in his section and Allison was on a list of those who were to receive iron rations on April 15th 1918. Corporal Leadbeater's name was on what seems to be rough list of who was on duty on an unknown day in Neuve Eglise - the times of their duties are jotted down. Shortly after the diary entries my grandfather was injured and invalided home. I'll look for Ernest's photo in the Independent. I've a few more questions but I'll post them later - thankyou for your help upto now. Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Trefcon Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Hi Sue, small world, two more men with RE '476' prefixed numbers - Edward John Audoire 2631/476755 Harry Audoire (T)2628/476753 The Audoires are mentioned on this forum. Dean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esdee Posted February 8, 2011 Author Share Posted February 8, 2011 Hi Dean, I've found the soldiers you listed on the CWGC website - I've got details of several more men from Sheffield who belonged to the same company and died, plus a few more who lived in the surrounding area, Rotherham, Barnsley, Mexborough etc, if you're interested. I'll have a look for the Audoires. Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Trefcon Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 Hi Sue, i do have details of other 'local' '476' men, i just posted the Sheffield men, but post anyway in case i've missed owt! Scanning and posting copies of Albert's 'stuff' is very much recommended on here if you wish !! Would love to see it. regards Dean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esdee Posted February 9, 2011 Author Share Posted February 9, 2011 Hi Dean, The Sheffield men I've found are: Arthur McClarence 968 died 1/7/1916 Alan Faber Hobson Major died 28/8/1916 Charles Henry Kay 3007 died 3/9/1916 Other local men are: Ernest Bowring 2715 died 28/12/1915 Barnsley Albert Henry Kay 2456 Died 1/7/1916 Mexborough Thomas Batty 2719 died 1/7/1916 Brinsworth Arthur Froggatt 1496 died 7/7/1916 Barnsley Joseph Hinton 2394 died 8/7/1916 Mexborough Newton Thompson Carr 476774 died 12/4/1918 Rotherham Ernest C Jackson Major died 15/4/1918 Doncaster J Flint 476699 died 17/4/1918 Rotherham G Jackson 476791 died 10/2/1919 Kimberworth (?) Could you help me with any of the following questions or point me in the right direction? Have you any idea how many men from Sheffield joined the Royal Engineers? When Albert enlisted would he have lived at home, or would he be based somewhere else? (I know he spent some time at Southwell, Newark, Cantley and Fiskerton) I know there was a shortage of uniforms at the beginning of the war - any idea if Albert would have had one straight away? He did some rifle training at the Brincliffe range - do you know where this was? He was trained in trench building at Parkwood - again do you know where this would have been? Any help would be much appreciated. Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Trefcon Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Hello Sue, yes, got those, and others. To try and answer some of your questions - No idea really to all of 'em! 390,000 medal index cards to the RE. 687 surviving service records to them. 191 deaths mentioning 'Sheffield' on CWGC. 286 deaths with 'Sheffield' from SDGW. In 1914 11,500 regular and Reserve men, 13,500 TA men, by end of 1917, 300,000 men. Probably at home until called for, then training at such places you mention, then going by his MIC landed in France on 21/6/15. Dont know about straight away but obviously pretty soon. Apparently there was a range at Brincliffe quarry. I've never heard of 'Parkwood' for trench building, but thats not to say they didn't work up there. The only place i know of is Redmires. hope this helps Dean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esdee Posted February 10, 2011 Author Share Posted February 10, 2011 Hi Dean, Thanks for all your help. Sorry if the questions were a bit elementary - I'm new to military matters! Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darryl nugent Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 Hi My uncle Tom Nugent as in the RE in WW1 9. He was in N0 8 Coy and served in France before being repatriated to Wharncliffe Hosp with disentry. He was in the Territorials from 1912 and his Attestation showns W.R.D.R.E.. He did some training at Burley-in-Wharfedale and had to march there from Leeds. His service record is on ancestry. Other than his record I have found very little of his role in WW1. Darryl Nugent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Trefcon Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 Darryl, i've added him to my database, regards Dean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MedalMan Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 Sue/Dean. I have as part of my collection the medals for Sapper Gearge Herbert Castle 476329 of 458th Field Coy. He died 16/4/18 at the age of 23 having joined up ane shipped out to Frace in March 1915. His parents were from Warmsworth, Doncaster. I was wondering if you have any records as to where the 458th were in April 1918 or if you had mention of george. Any info you have will be great. Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Trefcon Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 Nothing for this chap i'm afraid. Doncaster local studies for him. He was in fact born at Bicester, enlisting at Doncaster. 458th were with 49th(West Riding) Division in April 1918, from 13th to 19th involved in actions from Bailleul to Kemmel, the 16th more likely around Bailleul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esdee Posted October 17, 2011 Author Share Posted October 17, 2011 Hi Max, According to the War Diary the 458th Field Company moved to Lemco Camp near Neuve Eglise on April 10th and awaited orders. During the next few days they were involved in action in the area of the Neuve-Eglise - Wulverghem Road, and in Neuve-Eglise itself, as a result of which 2 officers were wounded and later died, 1 sapper was killed, 2 were missing, 1 was wounded and missing, and 25 were wounded. I can perhaps let you have more details if you're interested. Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MedalMan Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 @Trefcon - Thanks for the extra info. It's helping to build a picture. @Sue. - Great info. I wonder if George was one of the missing seeing as he is only remembered on the Memorial wall at Tyne Cot. I would love as much info as you can give. Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esdee Posted October 18, 2011 Author Share Posted October 18, 2011 Max - I've sent you a PM. Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Trefcon Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Sue, what other, if any, War Diaries do you have ? Just being nosey !! Dean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esdee Posted October 18, 2011 Author Share Posted October 18, 2011 I haven't any others Dean, just the 458th Field Company. Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esdee Posted October 24, 2011 Author Share Posted October 24, 2011 Hi Max, I've sent you some more information by PM. Best wishes, Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miked Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 Just going through my grandfathers field book (Edward John Audoire RE 455 Coy 29th Div) came acroos these names which may be of interest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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