Carr Vale reports from the Derbyshire Times.
'Lest we forget'.
Derbyshire Times.
29th. December 1917.
Sergeant J.Gandy.
It was a glorious morning in September 1914 and Carr Vale was gay with flags and bunting of a festive touch which caused a workman to explain to a friend whom he met on the street who asked "What does this mean?" he replied that 55 of us are joining up this morning. "We are old soldiers and we are going to France" was the reply, "you are wrong came the quiet retort the number is 56 I am with you". Over three years have passed since Sergeant J.Gandy Leicestershires thus impulsively forsook civil life and placed his services at the disposal of King and Country. He has suffered many adventures and on numerous occasions has proved his courage and devotion to duty and on Saturday evening at Palterton where he was spending a short leave with his wife and family he was presented with the D.C.M. Sergeant Gandy won this coveted decoration at the trenches before Ypres as long ago as June 1915.
The official record states that the medal was awarded for conspicuous gallantry when in charge of a "wiring party", rifle and machine gun fire was unexpectedly opened on the party and Sergeant Gandy ordered his men to return to the trenches. Then finding two of his party absent he returned alone and brought them in. The vicar the Rev. S.Biss presided at the presentation and voiced the feeling of pride and appreciation aroused in Palterton by Sergeant Gandy's achievements. The decoration was formerly presented by Mr. J.Godber Chairman of the local soldiers Christmas Fund. Sergeant Gandy who had been given a rousing reception suitably expressed his thanks for the kindly welcome he had received. Sergeant Gandy was one of the old brigade which played a magnificent part in the training of Kitcheners Army.
Prior to the war he had served twelve years with the colours being stationed at Crete during the South African War. He went to France in January 1915 and has been three times wounded and twice gassed.
Sergeant Gandy who has a wife and three children was working at the new shaft at Palterton when the war broke out and he had previously been employed as a stoker at Bolsover Colliery.
He left Palterton on route for France on the evening of Christmas Day.
23rd December 1916.
Private H. Bentley.
News has just reached Bolsover that Private H. Bentley Notts/Derbys has been killed in action. Private Bentley who was married leaves a widow and two children. He was 24 years of age and formerly resided with Mrs. Hunt of Spencer Street Carr vale. The sad news was conveyed in a letter to Mrs. Bentley from Lieutenant R.S. Bishop of the 33rd Machine Gun Corps who writes. "I very greatly regret to have to tell you that your husband was killed in action yesterday. His officer Lieut. George Jagger was wounded earlier in the week and I took his place. I found your husband was in charge of a gun and doing excellent work. He was a very brave and capable man and one we can ill afford to lose. Will you accept the sympathy of every officer and men in this company in your loss. Your husband was killed instantly by a shell and was reverently buried by his comrades. The place will be marked by a cross. He was killed in the front line and no soldier will wish for a better death. You must always remember that he died whilst gallantly doing his duty. May God comfort you and help you to bear up. You husband was a man to be proud of."
In civil life Private Bently was a miner engaged at Glapwell Colliery.
4th March 1916.
Corporal George Henry Miller.
Still another of Bolsovers soldier sons has fallen in the person of Corporal G.H. Miller of Carr Vale who was attached to the R.A.M.C. The news was conveyed by Sergeant Parry who received a letter from Lance Corporal Redick of the R.A.M.C. which reads, "It is with sorrow that I write these few lines to you to let you know if you have not already got to know that we have lost our dear old pal George. He was killed in action on 17th February but I can tell you we had him brought back to town and he was buried in the cemetery here and a cross has been erected over his grave. I can tell you it went through me to have to put my old pal in his coffin. Corporal Winter, George and I were inseparable when we were off duty. He was a terribly hard worker and one night he was out for three and a half hours attending to a wounded man and under heavy shellfire all the time. He was getting his supper at the first aid post when a shell came through the roof right in front of him. He was hit in the leg, arm, head and foot and death was instantaneous."
Corporal Miller who was 21 years of age enlisted six months before proceeding to France in November.
He was formerly a Sergeant in the Bolsover C.L.B. an institution in which he took a great interest. By his genial disposition and general bearing he was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him.
In civil life he was employed at the Bolsover colliery and was esteemed alike by officials and colleagues.
His sister was killed in a cycling accident on Hady Hill Chesterfield about five years ago.
4th March 1916.
Lance Corporal J.A. Maiden.
Still another Carr Vale man has fallen whilst fighting in France. The latest victim being Lance Corporal J.A. Maiden of 10th Notts/Derbys. Very little information is to hand but it appears that he was killed on 14th February during the assault in which so many men of his regiment lost their lives.
He was 32 years of age and joined the colours on 18th December 1914 proceeding to the front about a year later.
He was formerly employed by the Bolsover colliery company and had also been engaged at the Carr Vale Hotel.
Lance Corporal Maiden leaves a widow and two young children.
16th September 1916.
Private F.H. Lyne.
Carr Vale.
On the Roll of Honour he is reported killed.
(Unable to find any further details).
7th December 1918.
Private William Alfred Hobson.
A proud military record is recalled by the death of Private W.A. Hobson Notts/Derbys who succumbed to gunshot wounds on the 13th November in the No16 General Hospital Le Treport. Private Hobson enlisted at the beginning of the war was returned to civil life after two and a half years with the colours. Following the enemy advance in the spring of this year he was ordered to rejoin his regiment on 9th April and about a fortnight later he was sent to France.
Private Hobson was one of a family of five brothers who have fought for King and Country. Two have made the great sacrifice. One on Wednesday of last week at Arkwright Town was presented with the Military Medal and another is permanently incapacitated through wounds. Whilst the fifth is still serving in France.
Private Hobson was 36 years of age and was formerly employed at Markham No1 pit.
He leaves a widow and five children the youngest being only a fortnight old. Mrs Hobson whose home is at 41 Carr Vale Cottages used to live at Arkwright Town.
3rd November 1917.
Lance Corporal George Smith.
A wide circle of friends will learn with regret of the death of Lance Corporal G. Smith Sherwood Foresters who has succumbed to his wounds received in action. The news that he had made the supreme sacrifice was received by his wife Mrs. Smith of 47 Orchard Cottages Carr Vale in a letter from the Sister in Charge of No7 Casualty Clearing Station who wrote. "I am very sorry to have to tell you that your husband died in this hospital on the 23rd October at 4:00 am. He was admitted three days earlier very badly wounded in the head, leg and back. It will be of some slight consolation to you to know that he suffered very little pain and that the one you loved has bravely done his duty."
Lance Corporal Smith went back to France as early as the 13th October after a visit to his home. He was 31 years of age and well known to the followers of winter pastime having played with the Bolsover Colliery and Bolsover Town football clubs.
He forsook his employment as a miner at Glapwell Colliery on 18th February 1915 and his first experience of actual warfare was gained in Ireland where he assisted in quelling the rebellion. He went to France on 3rd September last year and he fought on the Somme and Vimy Ridge.
His brother had been missing since July last. Whilst his brother in law Mr. S. Wyre was recently killed at Bolsover Colliery.
He leaves a wife and three children.
Derbyshire Courier.
17th October 1914.
Private Samuel William Barnett.
Private Samuel William Barnett of Carr Vale is another Bolsover man who found a soldiers grave on the 20th September in the Battle of the Aisne better known as 'Snowball Gulley' he was attached to the 18th Brigade 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters and he was previously stationed at the Hillsborough barracks. He comes of a fighting stock for his great grandfather fought in the Battle of Waterloo and his great uncle lost his life in the war of 1870. His half brother who has been stationed in India Corporal J. Potter of the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters left for France on Tuesday. Private Barnett was formerly a bugler in the C.L.B. at Bolsover and also in the Army Service Corps being one of the buglers who played the 'Last Post' at the memorial service to the late King Edward and one held in memory of Able Seamen Fred Reeney who was on board the ill fated submarine C11 sunk off Cromer about five years ago. His father is well known in the district being the village postman and also following his trade as a cobbler.
30th October 1915.
Private Daniel Davis.
Quick disaster has overtaken one of the miners who recently joined the tunnelling section of the Royal Engineers in the person of Private Daniel Davis of Orchard Terrace Carr Vale. Joining on the 10th of September he went out to France quite recently and whilst working in the trenches on the 20th October he was killed by a grenade. The information is conveyed in a letter sent to Mr. W.R. Collier Manager of Bolsover colliery by a friend of the deceased ex Sapper R. Elliot who writes, "I am sorry to inform you of the death of one of the Bolsover Sappers Private D. Davis who was working in the trenches when he got the contents of a grenade. He was the only man from Bolsover who came out with me. We buried him in a little graveyard at the back of the trenches another man and myself helping to cover him up."
Private Davis who was 30 years of age leaves a widow and three young children.
For 13 years he had been employed at Bolsover colliery and in the season 1910-1911 played football for Hillstown.
14th October 1916.
Private H.E. Forknall.
The parents of Private H.E. Forknall Grenadier Guards whose home was 42 North View Street Carr Vale have received official notification that he has been killed in action.
Private Forknall responded to the call early in September 1914 and he had been in the trenches for over 22 months taking part in many heavy engagements. He was 22 years of age and prior to the war he was at Bolsover colliery. He was fond of athletics and made fair progress as a runner.
One of his brothers was killed a short while ago at Rufford colliery.
Derbyshire Times.
8th January 1921.
Memorial to Fallen Heroes. (Extract).
'Their Name Liveth For Ever.'
A memorial was dedicated in the Market Place Bolsover to the men who fell in the great world conflict. Dedicated to the 159 men of the Parish who died in the conflict. The memorial is of Portland stone with a bronze sword and is a replica of those erected in the British cemeteries in France designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield R.A. and is a tribute to the heroism and sacrifice of those whose memory is intended to perpetuate.
The cost of the memorial is £800, only £60 of which is left to be raised.
A united memorial service was held in the Old Parish Church and was attended by ex servicemen, members and officials of the Urban Council and the family and friends of the fallen.
Photo above A.N.Bridgewater 2008.
Many thanks once again to Mr & Mrs Jackson.