THE BAGSHAW BROTHERS

during World War I

Kenneth Bagshaw MC
1894-1958

19th Manchesters;  last serving with 1/7th Manchesters

Date	Rank/ Occupation	Event	Place		Supporting documents (TNA=The National Archives, Kew, London)
8 Feb 1894	.	Kenneth born Uttoxeter, youngest of four children	Uttoxeter		.
19 Aug 1898	.	Father, Thomas Bagshaw, died (Kenneth aged 4)	Holme Lea, Uttoxeter		.
29 Feb 1904	.	Sister Elsie died of diphtheria (Kenneth aged 10)	Uttoxeter		.
2 April 1911	Auctioneer’s pupil	Kenneth working for an auctioneer in Southport, Cheshire. Lodging at a boarding house belonging to Mr and Mrs Pilgrim (the owner was a “draper’s buyer”).	4 Seabank Road, Southport, Cheshire		1911 census online TNA
2 June 1911	.	Older brother Horace sailed to Australia	.		.
1911	Articled pupil	Worked for J Hatch & Son, auctioneers & estate agents	4 Seabank Rd, Southport		TF attestation Officer file at TNA. WO 339/55348
12 June 1911	.	Ken joined Corps Unit "aged 17 years & 4 months" height 5ft 6.25in Vision "good" physical development "good". "Fit for Ter.Force.	.		Officer file at TNA. WO 339/55348
30 July 1911	Driver	RASC (Royal Army Service Corps) No 1, to 6 Aug 1911	Farleton Camp		Officer file at TNA. WO 339/55348
4-11 Aug 1912	Driver	RASC No 1	Kirkham Camp		Officer file at TNA. WO 339/55348
.	.	.	.		.
4 Aug 1914	.	War declared on Germany  (World War I)	.		.
5 Aug 1914	.Driver	Began "Embodied Service", to 23 Feb 1915	.		Officer file at TNA. WO 339/55348
4 Jan 1915	.		Living at 11 Camden Villas, Tubs Hill, Sevenoaks, Kent		Officer file at TNA. WO 339/55348
24 Feb 1915	A/L/Cpl	.	.		.
20 March 1915	A/Cpl	.	.		.
1 Nov 1915	A/Sgt	.	..		..
3 March 1916	Sgt	"Sgt Kenneth Bagshaw, 57th West Lancs Divisional Train, ASC, has been admitted for commission to an Officer Cadet Battalion and ordered to join at Oxford on 3 March 1916. Nominated for the 27th (Reserve) Battalion, Manchester Regiment."	.		Officer file at TNA. WO 339/55348
9 June 1916	Officer cadet	Kenneth was best man at the wedding of his eldest brother Billy to Mamie Seal, image below, at Doveridge/Uttoxeter, Staffs.	based at Wadham College, Oxford		Photograph & newspaper report
.	.	. Kenneth is second from right, between bride Mamie Seal and bridesmaid Daisy Seal.	.		.
July-Nov 1916	.	Battle of the Somme	.		.
6 July 1916	Driver A/Sgt	Discharged from job as Driver with RASC on appointment to commission, Manchester Regiment Reg No T4/252701. (or T4/252301 ?) Kenneth commissioned to 19th Battalion, Manchester Regiment. Part Of 90th Infantry Brigade Total service to this point 5 years 25 days.	.		Officer file at TNA. WO 339/55348
7 July 1916	T/2nd Lt	Appointed to temporary commission as 2nd Lt, Manchester Regiment.	.		.
		Ken Bagshaw as a young officer
1916 Possibly around 10 Aug	.	Ken arrives in France	FRANCE		(i) Officer file at TNA. WO 339/55348 (ii) Information from the Manchester Regiment website.
10 Aug 1916	August 1916 ...until the 10^th, when [the Battalion] moved to Gorre in Brigade reserve. A draft of 10 Officers and 150 men from various units joined and training continued until the 14^th when the Battalion relieved the 18^th Kings Liverpool Regiment in the trenches at Givenchy. The tour lasted until the 19^th when they were relieved by the 2^nd Wiltshire’s.				Information from the Manchester Regiment website. Follow the link to read the whole document
		Does this indicate Ken's arrival in France? Was this Ken's first experience of the trenches, at Givenchy?
19 Aug 1916	The battalion took over the defence of the village line and held and improved the conditions in 9 keeps. On the 23^rd, the Men were again back in the front line trenches and the next day an artillery barrage was opened on the Enemy mine shafts behind Red Dragon crater. A raid was attempted on the night of the 26^th by Second Lieutenant Parkes and 32 Men with the object of locating the enemy mine shaft and dropping incendiary bombs down it. At 10.55pm the raiding party left the trenches and divided into 3 bombing sections a clearing party. Rain had been falling heavily and the night was exceptionally dark. The raiders lost direction and only Second Lieutenant Parkes and 4 Men reached the objective. They found that the wire had not been cut and the enemy were on alert and were compelled to withdraw. The battalion was relieved on the 27^th and Marched to Hingette, where it was billeted. On the 3^rd September, the Commanding Officer returned from leave and the Battalion moved to Le Hamel and Essars and took over billets. The battalion was in and out of the trenches for the rest of the Month and by the end of September was billeted at Naours carrying out training.				Information from the Manchester Regiment website. Follow the link to read the whole document
Late Sept- 4 Oct		Battalion in training at Naours	Naours, N of Amiens
Oct 1916	On the 4^th October, the Battalion left Naours and by the next day was in the Pommern Redoubt, Major General O’Shea inspected the Men on the 9^th and the N.C.O’s were parading for demonstration purposes when a German grenade exploded and caused 21 casualties. On the 10^th October, the Battalion moved off and spent the day at work on a new road between High Wood and Longueval. The following day, whilst working in Crest trench, the position was violently shelled and six Men were killed. On the 12^th October, the ridge in front of Ligny-Thilloy was assaulted by the Men of the 89th and 90^th Brigades and the 19^th Battalion had been held in reserve. From 4.00am on the 13^th, 200 of the Men were engaged for over 12 hours carrying the wounded from the front line to the dressing stations.   In the Evening, orders were received for the 21^st Brigade to relieve the 89^th, and the Battalion moved to Flers trench. No sooner had the relief taken place when the enemy shelled the trenches, causing many casualties. From 1.00am to 4.30am on the 14^th, the wind was blowing towards the German lines and the enemy dropped gas shells behind the Battalions lines. Gas helmets were quickly donned and only six men were slightly affected. On the 15^th, the Battalion were again at work on the High Wood-Longueval road but orders were received to relieve the 2^nd Wiltshire’s in the front line trenches. The relief was completed by 10.30pm. The trenches were intermittently shelled for the next 2 Days, damaging the trenches the Battalion were digging in preparation for the attack planned for the 19^th.				Information from the Manchester Regiment website. Follow the link to read the whole document
19 Oct 1916	At zero hour, 3.40am the British artillery opened a terrific bombardment on the German positions and the 21^st brigade attacked the enemy trenches. The two Companies under the command of Captain Keefe and Captain Myers were already in the communication trenches which had been vacated by the assaulting Battalions. They suffered a few casualties as they passed Battalion HQ, one of whom was second Lieutenant Walker who was injured and died later that Day. By the time the Battalion reached the front line trenches it was apparent that the attack  had failed, although some progress had been made by the 2^nd Wiltshire’s who had  managed to gain Gird trench and take some prisoners. At 10.30am, a tank went over to the German line and cleared the trenches of the enemy, and coming back, reported no sign of the 2^nd Wiltshire’s. At 12 noon, the Brigade Major, Captain Hobson came to Battalion HQ and said that the Brigadier wished the Commanding Officer to attach a company to the 18^th Kings Liverpool Regiment for another attack. As the Battalion was already badly depleted, the Commanding Officer suggested two Companies would be required. Subsequently, the Brigadier ordered that the whole Battalion was to attack in conjunction with a tank. At 12.35pm, orders were issued and the Battalion assembled 2 Companies in the front line trenches. The assault was planned for 4.30pm but was cancelled at the last minute as the tank due to lead the attack broke down on its way to the trenches. During the night of the 18^th-19^th the enemy made violent bombing attacks on the front line trenches, at one point using a flame thrower, but with little success. It rained heavily during the night and early morning and, consequently, the trenches were deep in mud. The Men were under constant heavy shell fire and there were a number of casualties. Heavy rain continued throughout most of the next day and the shelling was especially severe towards midnight. [CASUALTIES PRESUMABLY INCLUDED KEN, SO HE WAS OUT OF IT FROM HERE ON. BY 1918, WHEN HE REJOINED THE REGIMENT IN FRANCE, HE WAS WITH A DIFFERENT BATTALION] Early on the morning of the 20^th, the Brigadier asked if the Battalion could hold the line for a further 24 hours and although the Men were greatly exhausted the Commanding Officer agreed. By the time the Commanding Officer toured the trenches at 9.00am, the rain had stopped but the trenches were in a shockingly bad condition. There were many dead and wounded men and several of the trenches had collapsed completely but the Men were cleaning their rifles, attempting to clear the trenches and burying the dead. Casualties for the day were; 8 Men killed, 31 wounded and 3 missing. The Battalion were relieved the next Morning by the 56^th Australian Regiment and started the march back to the Pommern redoubt. The Battalion transport, under Lieutenant Ince, met the exhausted Men close to Flers village to carry the packs of some of the most exhausted Men. Near the village of Bazentin, ambulances picked up about 25 of the most exhausted who were in a state of collapse. The 23^rd was spent resting, cleaning rifles and equipment. On the 24^th, the Battalion marched to Dernancourt. The enemy shelled the village during the day and the Battalion lost 1 Man killed and several wounded.				Information from the Manchester Regiment website. Follow the link to read the whole document
18 Oct 1916 day before the above battle	2nd Lt	Ken wounded, at Flers, north-east of Albert, in the above battle. "Wounded by fragments of HE shells (two places) in front of lower third of R thigh. They were embedded in the femur and subsequently removed. No fracture of bone." "...penetrating the muscles, a portion remained still lodged close to the femur, the remainder emerged 1.25 in above and to outer side of patella.	Flers, NE of Albert (Somme dept) FRANCE		Officer file at TNA. WO 339/55348
20 Oct 1916	.	"Fragment removed".	FRANCE Presumably in hospital in France.		Officer file at TNA. WO 339/55348
2 Nov 1916	..	Embarks by ship for England, to hospital. Travels Calais-to-Dover, on board HMS "Dieppe". The steamship SS Dieppe was commandeered by the Army for use as a troopship and later as a hospital ship under the name HMS "Dieppe".	Endsleigh Palace Hospital, Endsleigh Gardens, nr St Pancras, London		Officer file at TNA. WO 339/55348
30 Dec 1916	.	Medical Board (see letter below)	Caxton Hall, London		Officer file at TNA. WO 339/55348
13 Jan 1917	..	Letter from Kenneth to War Office, on paper embossed with mother's Southport address "I have the honour herewith to put before your consideration a claim for a wounds gratuity. ... My leg was rendered entirely useless for the time being, but through treatment at hospital the use is now returning. I appeared before a Medical Board at Caxton House, London, on Dec 30 1916 and was discharged from hospital on that date, having been granted 6 weeks sick leave. Kenneth Bagshaw 2nd Lieutenant 27th Reserve Manchester Regiment att to 19th Battalion Manchesters, BEF"	. Southport,Lancs, England		Officer file at TNA. WO 339/55348
30 March 1917	.	Unit 57th West Lancs	.		Officer file at TNA. WO 339/55348
11 Oct 1917	.	"Probably incapacitated 11m.  Severe but not permanent."
1918		Kenneth sent back to France sometime
? date		Kenneth joins 1/7th Battalion (part of 42nd Division)
Feb 1918	During the month of February the drain upon the manpower of the British Empire caused by the war made itself apparent. It was found to be impossible to maintain in the field four battalions per brigade, and a reduction to three was ordered. Then took place the solution of a most confusing Chinese puzzle. Some battalions were broken up, and the fragments sent to others either in the same division or in other divisions, while in the case of many units, particularly territorials, there was a transfer of a sort of cadre which was amplified to full strength in its new division. The 42nd division lost the 6th L.F's., the 4th East Lancashires and the 9th Manchesters {BILLY ?}, and the 8th Manchesters were transferred to the I26th brigade, which was now composed of 5th East Lancs., the 8th and ioth Manchesters, while the i27th brigade was left with the 5th, 6th and 7th Manchesters. A whole company of seven officers and 200 men of the 2/l0th Manchesters from the 66th division came to wear the Fleur de Lys [MAYBE THIS INCLUDED KEN?], and we were glad to welcome them as comrades. In the heavy fighting that followed they proved themselves to be good stuff of the regular Oldham type, while they themselves forgot their natural initial heart burnings and grew proud of the Cap badge and flashes that they had adopted. Our period of rest was divided between Burbure and Busnes, and in both places the mesdemoiselles and the estaminets were a source of real delight to the men of the 7th. As might be expected, some good, solid training was achieved, and this was interspersed by most enjoyable football competitions and cross-country running. In fact, the middle of March found the division extremely fit. From: The Seventh Manchesters, July 1916 to March 1919 by Captain S. J. Wilson, M.C. (1920) Manchester, The University Press.  pgs. 89, 90 "Stopping the Hun" (March 28, 1918). The entire book is available to read on-line here.
21 March 1918	.	German spring offensive	.		.
	Stopping the Hun. GOOD GOD! What is the matter with the Boche to-night?' Such were our ejaculations on the night of March 2lst at Busnes. The coming of darkness had brought with it the long-drawn out, familiar "A-zoom, a-zoom-- CRASH -- CRASH -- CRASH," of enemy planes but in doser proximity than ever before. Previously they had confined their attentions to Bethune each night, but on this particular evening Lillers was the objective, and plane after plane came over maintaining an almost continuous bombardment throughout the night. An ammunition train standing in the station. was hit, and the terrific explosions that followed at irregular intervals accompanied by huge rires added to the evening's excitements. Next day, wires from G.H.Q. enlightened us. The German offensive opened on the morning of arch 21st, the fifth and third armies being engaged. The front line defence had been overwhelmed, but we were led to suppose that the enemy was being held up amongst the defended localities.
	We afterwards learnt that intensive bombing of back areas and particularly of railheads and junctions had taken place that night in the whole of the British area. One of the objects of this was to impede the movements of reserve divisions, and when it is known that detailed instructions had been issued for the entrainment of the 42nd at Lillers in case we should be required at some distance, such a policy as this is easily understood. But the German had reckoned without the London omnibus driver, who before the war had served another kind of "General." Arrangements were rapidly completed in twenty-four hours, so that on the morning of March 23rd the whole division, in battle order, found a huge fleet of buses ready to convey them to--" Somewhere in France." The French villagers smiled confidently at us as we journeyed northwards in the direction of the Portuguese front, but they did hot know, poor souls, that this was the only way the large convoy could "about turn," nor did they know, although perhaps they guessed, that the Portuguese front would collapse the following month and they would be fleeing for their lives before the blonde beast. We eventually turned our faces south and rode the whole of that day without stopping over the dusty roads of France. The Hun had been extraordinarily lucky in weather, there having been hardly a drop of rain for more than three weeks, so that the ground was perfectly dry for his operations.
24 Mar	Nightfall round us still travelling, and the day of 24th March had almost broken belote we "debussed" to find ourselves in the devastated area of the Somme lands, near the village of Ayette. There was no rest to be had. Uncertainty as to the situation in front and also as to the future possibilities necessitated an immediate adoption of tactical positions, and the 27th brigade took up a defensive line, on an outpost principle, to cover the ground between Ablainzevelle and Courcelles. Until this had been achieved no man was able to turn his thoughts to sleep, in fact the sun had been up some hours belote this was possible. The day produced a complexity of events in the handling of which Col. Bromfield proved himself to be at once human and masterful. In the first place, a " battle surplus " had to be decided upon. This was a small group of officers and men, selected as far as possible from each rank and from each type of specialists, who remained behind the line whilst the bat- talion was in action. In the event of the battalion being obliterated by casualties, they would form the nucleus of a ncw unit. Choice generally fell upon those who were considered due for a rest from the line. When the necessary officers and men had been abstracted the Company Commanders were Capt. Tinker, "A," Capt. Nidd, " B," 2nd-Lt. Harland, "C," and Capt. J. Baker, "D." Headquarters comprised the C.O., Capt. J. R. Creagh, Adjutant; Lt. C. 'S. Wood, Signals; and Lt. S. ]. Wilson, I.O.; while Capt. Philp, the M.O., and Padre Hoskyns were in confident control of aid post arrangements. We had now become a part of the third army, and as such we were desfined to remain until the conclusion of the war. General Byng was not a stranger to the 42nd, for it was as a part of his corps on Gallipoli that they ruade their first fight against the Turk. As the reports have it, "the situation was obscure" on this portion of the third army front. As far as we were concerned the 40th division had experienced a very severe handling but were still fighting gamely. They had recaptured Mory twice and were now expected to be in possession of the greater part of the village, while the Guards on their left were only yielding ground inch by inch. What had happened to the right of this was not very, clear. The orders of the I27th brigade were to go up and relieve some frag- ments of the 40th division in Mory on the night of the 24th, and when darkness fell we set out with this object in view, but such plain, straightforward work as that was not to be achieved in these queer days. Events moved quickly and a change in the situation was an hourly occurrence; it therefore devolved upon unit commanders, and as far as possible commanders of higher formations to act with initiative and resource. The head of the brigade column had reached Gomie- court when word was received that the enemy was attacking again, and there were vague reports that Behagnies had either been captured or was being hard pressed. It was considered inadvisable to continue the journey to Mory, and more important to hold up this possible enveloping movement. We were therefore de- flected to the right, and then those things were done which we used to practise on the desert, but never expected to put into use in France. We moved across the open in artillery formation by battalions and finally deployed into a defensive position. Meanwhile the guns were hammering away at S.O.S. speed from their hastily im- provised positions either on or near the roads. The difficulty of all this work was not diminished by the darkness, and it was with some astonishment that we found the I25th brigade coming through our lines diago- nally. One or two stragglers from other divisions came in and told stories of heavy enemy attacks, but a gunner major rode back from the front on a white horse, and said the situation was not so bad as these men's reports had intimated. Still, there seemed to be a good deal of confusion, and the 7th were somewhat bewildered, hOt knowing quite what to expect next. Meanwhile they longed hard for daylight in order to get their whereabouts and some idea of the lie of the land. From: The Seventh Manchesters, July 1916 to March 1919 by Captain S. J. Wilson, M.C. (1920) Manchester, The University Press.  pgs. 89, 90 "Stopping the Hun" (March 28, 1918). The entire book is available to read on-line here. As daylight approached on the 25th it was obvious, from the increasing proximity of rifle fire on our left, that Mory had fallen and the line was falling back steadily. Quiet seemed to reign now, however, in the direction of Behagnies. We later discovered that the L.F's. had received orders to push on and cover the Behagnies-Sapignies Road, and this they had success- fully achieved in the night. At the same time the i26th brigade was in touch with the enemy in front of Ervillers, so that on the morning of the 25th all three brigades were in the front line and were rigging up an impromptu battle with the Hun. The enemy soon made his inten- tions clear and he commenced a vigorous assault. What troops still remained of the 40th and other divisions, when they found that the 42nd were in position, gradualIy dribbled through in search of a long-delayed and well- earned rest. They had been fighting without respite since the morning of the 2lSt. The 6th Manchesters were now on the right of the division in the vicinity of Bihu- court, but they were uncertain as to the state of affairs on their right. As a matter of fact, although we were not aware of it at the time, Bapaume had been taken and a large gap had been left in the line south of our right flank, through which the Huns were pouring in victorious mass. The New Zealand division and one brigade of Australians, with the 62nd division on their left were hurried forward, and after very severe fighting stopped the enemy rush about Hebuterne, some miles westward of the position we held on March 25th. Meanwhile we wcre in blissful ignorance of out hazar- dous position and the Manchesters were preserving strict guard over an exposed right flank. The 6th came in for a good deal of heavy fighting in the vicinity of Bihucourt, but they held the village all day. The headquarters of the 7th was in an old shallow dug-out close to the light railway that had been constructed from Achiet-le-Grand to run eastwards in the direction of Bullecourt. This railway wound its way through a sort of valley to the north of which lies Gomiecourt and to the north-east Mory. Due east on higher ground are Behagnies and Sapignies where the L.F's. were making such a fine stand. This high ground continues southwards towards Bihu- court and Bapaume, and it was along this ridge that most of the day's fighting took place. During the previous night the 7th had been spread out fanwise in out-posts covering the shallow valley, and it was not long after daylight belote the enemy began to drop shells indiscriminately about this ground. "C" and "D" companies were ordered forward to assist tho 5th and " A" and " B " were left in support. Tanks came up and they courageously crawled out over the ridge and did some very sound work before being knocked out by guns which had been brought up to unwonted proximity. It was whilst crawling out to rescue a wounded man of the crew of a tank that Sergeant Heath, M.M., was mortally wounded. The 27th[?] brigade could not be driven from their positions and they dug themselves in, in small section posts, confidently awaiting nightfall and the next day's fight. The attacks died down and when darkness came, digging parties went up to assise in the work of consolidation. Events as described above, how- ever, had decided otherwise, for about zo p.m. a divisional staff officer arrived with orders to fall back to a line of defence between Logeast Wood and Cour- celles. Casualties had been fairly heavy in this day's work. Capt. J. Baker and 2nd.-Lt. B. Taylor had gone down wounded, while Col. Brornfield, Capt. Creagh and the M.O. had ail been slightly wounded by a shell which knocked in the entrance to the headquarter's dug-out. They remained at duty, although the C.O. suffered con- siderably from an internal bruise in the stomach which made it impossible for him to walk without assistance. The arrangements for clearing the wounded became con- fused when Gorniecourt was evacuated, for there the Advanced Dressing Station had been established. Then it was that the Padre displayed his vigour, courage and resource. He commandeered a hut close to Achiet and had a large number of wounded from various battalions collected there. Eventually he was able to get an ambulance which carried many of them back to the Casualty Clearing Station, but this process suddenly stopped. All sorts of conveyances were then seized and men were gradually carried back. When the order to withdraw became known matters were critical.. but the Padre continued his labours. Diffculties were not diminished when the Hun commenced to drop 5"9's near this spot. Hoskyns was slightly wounded, but he was bound up and carried on his self-appointed task until some time after the last of the brigade had gone by, leav- ing him with no one in front but the Hun. Not until the last man had been carried safely off did he leave this place, and then he collected various stragglers and marched them up as a platoon to join their own units This, and his continuous plucky and considerate work in tending bodily as well as spiritual needs during the next few days obtained for hirn a well-earned M.C. From: The Seventh Manchesters, July 1916 to March 1919 by Captain S. J. Wilson, M.C. (1920) Manchester, The University Press.  pgs. 89, 90 "Stopping the Hun" (March 28, 1918). The entire book is available to read on-line here.
25 Mar
26.3.1918	.	Supreme Command of Allied forces placed in hands of France’s Marshal Foch	Doullens		.
26 Mar 1918	The night of the 25th-26th was even more strenuous than the previous one. About 11.30 p.m. the withdrawal commenced, and was very skilfully carried out, so skil- fully, in fact, that the German battle outposts could be heard firing interrnittently for hours after our troops had retired. After steady plugging, man-handling everything, we reached a system of admirably prepared trenches north of Logeast Wood. The pioneer battalion 7th Northumberland Fusiliers, who had come to the division in February, had been working upon them all day, and, excellently sited as they were, they inspired everyone with a great feeling of confidence. Men took a lively interest in their posts, and after a considerable amount of organisation sentries were mounted and the battalion settled down for a test until the enemy should arrive. It was now 3 a.m. At this hour it so happened that the division had received another urgent order to fall back stiil further. Staff offîcers made their way on foot through the congested roads behind the front and searched dimly for the various brigades, a most uncertain task in view of the rapidity of events. We were found eventually and the brigade major aroused us from slumber to trans- mit the news. Once again the 7th rose up, shouldered their burdens. and strode backwards. " What are we going back for? What does it all mean? We held up Jerry yesterday-- why retire?" It all seemed very unsatisfactory and we were very tired. Food had naturally been scanty and only obtained in snatches, but much energy was being consumed. It was a disappointed battalion that straggled wearily through Logeast Wood. We were only just in time. howvever, for advance parties of the enemy were already entering the east side of the Wood as we emerged from the south-west side. Here we found some explanation of things. Col. Wedgewood, of the 6th, reported bodies of the enemy moving forwar to strike in on our southern flank, and this news had the effect of an electric shock amongst us. Col. Bromfield at once ordered positions to be taken up to face the enemy who were advancing from the south and south-east. " A" and "D" companies moved out quickly to seize the high ground and one or two Lewis guns opened fire at the bodies of grey figures in the distance. Meanwhile, however, the brigadier had decided to cover the Bucquoy-Ablainzevelle road, and so touch up with the 62nd division, who had some hours previously occupied a position from Hebuterne to Bucquoy, and were at that moment resisting violent efforts on the part of the Hun to turn our right flank. It was, therefore, in the latter village where we met the gallant Yorkshiremen of the end line West Riding Territorials. Gen. Henley personally assisted in getting the platoons of " B " and " C " companies into position, and then "A " and "D " companies were ordered to withdraw to their line. When the withdrawal had been completed the 7th were on the right of the division, with the flank resting on the edge of Bucquoy village. The road from Bucquoy to Ayette, which was almost south to north, is an important one and is marked by a row of trees on each side. As one walks from Bucquoy along this road, another road branching off to the right from the edga of the village is seen leading down to Ablainzevelle. The road junction marks the highest portion of ground in the vicinity, and there is a long sweep eastwards towards Logeast Wood and Achiet-le-Petit. It was when we noticed the latter place that the whole irony of the situation broke upon us. Eight months ago we had been enjoying a blissful period of rest on this self-same spot, and such features as we now gazed upon had merely been used for the purpose of containing a supposed enemy in the working out of a tactical exercise--a sham fight. Now--the enemy could not be more real or more alive. He was here with the sole intent of destroying us by any possible method if we would not vacate out position. What happened? The 7th was assured that this was at last the spot where resistance would be offered. There were no trenches, and the men lay out in the open on the sloping ground east and south of the Ablainzevelle road, with intent to dig in as soon as possible. " C" company were on the right, and they were rather fortunate in being on the site of an old camp, because in these days of modern war it is necessary to dig a hole in a tent even, as a safe-guard against bombing. "C" company then disposed them- selves amongst these circular holes, and later round them useful protection when the heavy shelling commenced. " B" company, in the centre, were totally exposed, while '°A" company on the lefl, in touch with the 6th, were almost as bad, although two platoons were able to make use of the sunk road. "D" company were behind in support and could occupy portions of an old Boche trench running east and west. Headquarters lay out in the Ayette road at first until an old Boche dug-out, not completed, was round farther up the road. and then they got into it. Platoons had barely been allotted their areas when clumps of Huns began to appear on the ridge we had just vacated. They proved to be teams of light machine gunners, and without preliminaries in the matter of searching for cover, they promptly opened fire, and soon there was a perfect hail of grazing bullets swishing over the battalion area. German officers calmly walked about directing operations and the whole scene resembled a "stunt on the pictures" rather than modern war. They had made a mistake, though, and if they were seeking dramatic effect it was only short lived. Our men were delighted at the perfect target they presented on the sky- line, and rat-tat-tatted merrily in reply to the Hun swish. By this time also "D" company of the Machine Gun battalion had taken up a position and they also joined in the conversation. The enemy then considered the advisability of concealment, and he disappeared from view. Small parties of his infantry meanwhile had dribbled forward, considerably helped by old systems of trenches which extended down into the low ground. Our men were ready, however, and met them with a heavy fusillade whenever they showed themselves. Between Logeast Wood and Ablainzevelle was a camp of Nisson huts, which had been protected against bomb- ing, in the usual manner, by thick walls of earth round each hut. The enemy was now making the fullest possible use of these, for they afforded him most excellent pro- tection. Luckily they were on a piece of ground fully exposed to us, and we were able to get some idea as to his movements in that direction. It was soon evident that they were to be utilised as a stepping stone to a further advance. First, light M.G's. and snipers were brought up, and these dribbled out of the huts into Ablain- zevelle, where they established themselves to the dis- comfort of our men, for they were well on out left flank and could take some of our position in enfilade. The battalion suffered a number of casualties from this cause. Unfortunately also, our guns had not got a clear con- ception of the state of affairs, and one battery fairly peppered the H.Q. road with shrapnel, inflicting about a dozen casualties, while others covered our own forward positions with the same kind of shell, and so added to the list. I am convinced that there is nothing more de- moralising to a soldier in defence than to come under the fire of his own guns, so, to say the least, these moments were very trying. The difficulty of communica- ting with the rear caused a further delay in the correction of this serious blunder, and our men had to maintain a grip on their positions whilst subjected to fire from both sides, for by this time the enemy had got his guns up, impudently close to the front line, evidently with a view to a further advance, and was using them to advantage. Some of them could be distinctly seen on the outskirts of Logeast Wood, and it was obvious that most of the others responsible for our discomfort were in the Wood itself. Further away the roads from Grevillers, Bapaume, Loupart Wood, etc., could be seen choked with masses of advancing Germans. ... How we longed for the heavy guns during the days that followed, but they could not, of course, come into action until the infantry line had been stabilised. Weeks later we heard stories of the doings on those roads behind the lines, and perhaps we should not judge too harshly, for traffic control was difficult and there was obviously an excessive demand upon transport. Add to this the disturbing lack of news and the peculiar shape of the front, for whereas we were facing east, the 62nd division with the exception of one battalion in Bucquoy were facing south, and some explanation may be found for the slight degree of confusion. The divisional artillery, 18-pounders and 4"5 howitzers, remained faithful to the infantry, and the 42nd gunners never showed up to prouder advantage than they did during those stern days. It was not they who had fired upon us. They were too close to us to make any mistake in that way, for during the heaviest fighting they had their guns within 1,6oo yards of the front line, and where cover was unobtainable either for gun or man. Needless to say they suffered very heavily both in personnel and material, for the enemy aircraft soon found them, and they were hammered and gassed mercilessly. Their forward observation officers maintained a liaison with the H.Q. of the infantry battalions, and in addition to courageous work in searching for targets and correcting gun fire they showed the greatest consideration for our needs. Although the 7th occupied a commanding position it was singularly bare and exposed so that cover was difficult to find. During the first few hours "D" com- pany of the M.G's. had all their guns but one put out of action, and almost all their officers and men became casualties. They had pluckily worked their weapons in the hastily sited positions until knocked out-- not before, however, they had carried out savage execu- tion amongst the more venturesome Huns, and they certainly had the effect of making the remainder hesitate. The nature of the ground made it difficult also for the battalion observers to work, for it was evident the enemy F.O.O's. were specially searching for such people, and the moment they fixed up a telescope down came a hurricane of shelling, the close proximity of the Boche guns making their fire extremely accurate and deadly. The result was that after the first day's fighting, of the observers only two, Cpl. Maguire and Pte. "Wilmer, re- mained. Not to be daunted by the fate of their comrades they clung to their task, and when shelled out of one spot immediately found another. They kept the enemy under close watch and strung together most valuable chains of evidence as to their movements, gallant work for which both received the M.M. The signallers also suffered heavily. Wires were difficult to keep in repair but the linesmen continued to go out during the heaviest shelling, while others maintained a systern of lamp signalling to the brigade behind a pile of ammunition boxes until a 5"9 dropped plumb amongst them with dire results. Other signallers at once found a new spot and kept communication going. But these were searching days for everyone, when physical endur- ance and mental stamina were stretched to their furthest limit. As the day wore on, the guns that we had seen in the distance gradually came into action against us until shells were raining down continuously on all parts of our line. Obviously, the enemy infantry had given up the hope of further progress, for our men were like terriers, keenly watching for the slightest sign of a Hun helmet, and the artillery were left to do their worst upon us. Just before dusk the M.O., Capt. Philp, was killed by a shell whilst bending over a wounded man on a stretcher. No cover could be found for an aid-post, and it had to be established in the open at a convenient spot on the ground. In fact, the only dug-out in the area was that occupied by H.Q., and it was shared by Col. Wedgwood of the 6th, so that two battalion H.Q. were confined in a spot no more than seven feet square, while the entrance faced the enemy in an exposed part of the road. Darkness had brought quiet at last, but no rest. Rations had come up and they had to be distributed. Similarly with ammunition and water. Also the enemy might attempt a night assault, for it was not to be expected that he would be satisfied with this very pro- nounced re-entrant in his line. The 6th, whose line ran close to the edge of Ablainzevelle, sent a patrol into the village. The small parties of Boche fled at their approach and left two M.G's. in their hands. Our patrols searched all the low ground in front but could not find the enemy. From: The Seventh Manchesters, July 1916 to March 1919 by Captain S. J. Wilson, M.C. (1920) Manchester, The University Press.  pgs. 89, 90 "Stopping the Hun" (March 28, 1918). The entire book is available to read on-line here.
	Next morning, March 27th, about 9 o'clock, the battle re-opened with redoubled vigour. Fresh enemy troops had been brought up and they made a determined attempt to push forward. A terrific bouncing barrage came down upon our positions, but the men stood up to it, in spite of the heavy casualties, and opened fire upon the groups of Boche who attempted to get across the open. The main infantry assault took place near Ablainzevelle, and here the 6th had the work of repelling them, but after some hand to hand fighting the enemy fell back and confined his energies to sniping and M.G. work. Mean- while, the landscape was steadily changing its appearance in the 7th sector. What had once been good roads and respectable fields were shell-pitted and strewn with debris, a pile of S.A.A. boxes that had been left behind had been hit and in the fire that resulted there was a disturbing display of fireworks from the exploding cartridges. The trees were losing their accustomed beauty, many having been smashed down completely. But picture the trepi- dation of the aid-post detachment, now in charge of Capt. Greville, for they lay close to a huge dump of shells that was liable to be hit at any moment. During the quieter days Bucquoy had evidently been an ammunition park, and as not much of the stuff had been removed, it was an exciting spot to fight in. Ail day this steady pounding continued, and when the enemy infantry definitely gave up their efforts to get near our line they supplemented the shelling by an unceasing hail of traversing M.G. fire. Yet, through this the runners and stretcher bearers performed their appointed tasks, and there was no period when perfect touch was not maintained between the C.O. and any part of the front line and also back to brigade H.Q., nor were there cases of wounded men being left unduly exposed after they had been hit. The constant stream of runners, etc., of both battalions converging on the H.Q. dug-out, exposed to observation as it was, soon made the truth of the matter plain to the enemy, and he began to pay attention to it with 5"9's. An anxious moment came when he hit the entrance and buried a number of men standing on the improvised steps. All were extricated, however, and those who were wounded carried away. The entrance was cleared, steps constructed again, and the work carried on as usual. "D" company lost its commander again, for Lieut. Morten was hit, and this left Lieut. Gresty in charge.				From: The Seventh Manchesters, July 1916 to March 1919 by Captain S. J. Wilson, M.C. (1920) Manchester, The University Press.  pgs. 89, 90 "Stopping the Hun" (March 28, 1918). The entire book is available to read on-line here.
27 March 1918	Temp Lt, 19th Btn Manchester Regiment, attached to 1/7th Btn TF	Kenneth wins Military Cross Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He commanded a party of thirty men carrying ammunition to the front line across the open ground in daylight under heavy shell and machine-gun fire. His party had heavy casualties, but by his leadership and determination he rallied his men and got the ammunition through in time.	Bucquoy (south of Arras & 10km N of Bapaume, Somme dept), FRANCE		Gazetted  26.7.1918 Medal rolls and citation.
		Bucquoy (between Arras and Albert) had been in British hands since March 1917, when the Germans had retreated to the Hindenburg Line, farther east. After the major enemy offensive 12 months later, on 21st March 1918, Bucquoy saw very heavy fighting for the next week, as the remnants of various  British Divisions withdrew through the Bucquoy line. On the afternoon of the 26 March alone, five attacks by regiments of the Prussian Guard were repulsed here. Here is a trench map of the Bucquoy/Bois du Biez area in June 1918. This is from a large selection on the interesting Croonaert Research Services’ site.
27 March 1918	...Evening again brought a welcome respite, and it was decided to minimise casualties by reducing the garrisons of the front trenches, for by now a sort of trench had been made and a little wire had been put out in front the previous night. One platoon per company was taken out and sent back, where they were placed under the command of Col. Blatherwick of the 5th, who remained in brigade support. Daylight of March 28th brought a resumption of the enemy effort at least to straighten his line and masses of Huns could be seen gradually collecting in the Nisson huts. In the previous days the 18-pounders had kept this spot under fire, but Col. Bromfield decided to call for howitzer assistance to smash down the earth walls around the huts, a plan which met with great success. Our shells dropped plumb amongst them, and Huns could be seen dashing about in all directions in search of more effective cover. Our shrapnel barrage had been considerably improved also, and the moment the enemy left their positions it promptly came down and drove them to earth again. The 7th were worn out, and the men were losing their spruce appearance, but rifles and L.G.'s were kept clean, and amidst the terrific shelling of that day they asked for nothing better than that Jerry would try to come across to give them an opportunity for revenge. The enemy's guns had increased in number, chiefly the heavy variety, and it was now his obvious intention to blow us off the ridge. The heavy pounding never ceased. Many gallant deeds were performed by runners, stretcher-bearers and ammunition-carrying platoons through this inferno. Lieut. Bagshaw was awarded the M.C. for his work in leading ammunition fatigues, but the supreme decoration of all--the seal of death--came to a large number of the Fleur-de-lys. Amongst the officers--Capt. Tinker, Lieut. Walter Thorp and Lieut. Ludlam were killed outright, while Lieuts. Woods and McLaine were mortally wounded. After a final effort in the late afternoon to advance against our positions in a line of small sections, which was met with the usual devastating fire, the enemy gave it up and occupied the remaining hours of daylight with fierce shelling. Our heavy artillery had at last returned and got to work and their shelling began to have effect, for it was noticeable that the Boche shells were now arriving from a greater distance than formerly. The 6th had an exciting episode that day. A party of courageous Germans, led by an officer, had pushed forward and were throwing bombs amongst them. Lieut. Mall decided this must be stopped, and he led one platoon over in a short sharp charge. Fifteen Huns were bayonetted, and Mall returned triumphantly with the officer and one man as prisoners. They proved to be Jaegers, and although the officer told us nothing the man was very voluble. It was some comfort to find that of one fresh battalion that had entered Ablainzeville, about forty only remained. A couple of packets of Woodbines were found in the pockets of the officer--loot from the canteen at Achiet-le-Grand. The soldier told us that this form of German enterprise was reserved for the officers. This day, March 28th, marked the end of the heavy fighting. The German thrust had been checked, and the effort to reach the Coast had failed. A glance at the map will show that, had the advance continued here the Arras position would have been seriously threatened, and the Germans would have been well on their way to Abbeville and the Channel Ports. That night the 7th were overjoyed to hear that they were to be relieved. The L.F.'s took over the brigade sector, but the relief had been ordered so suddenly that it was almost dawn before the last platoon of the battalion had struggled over the crest line to the old system of trenches 1,500 yards further back in dead ground. From: The Seventh Manchesters, July 1916 to March 1919 by Captain S. J. Wilson, M.C. (1920) Manchester, The University Press.  pgs. 89, 90 "Stopping the Hun" (March 28, 1918). The entire book is available to read on-line here.
6 May 1918	There was very little of outside interest during the succeeding days beyond the usual work of consolidation and keeping the enemy under closest possible observation. Still, the battalion was glad to be relieved on May 6th, the whole division coming out for a good period of rest. From: The Seventh Manchesters, July 1916 to March 1919 by Captain S. J. Wilson, M.C.
9 May 1918	.	Ken sustained injury to knee : "Synovitis R knee. May cause slight permanent disablement. Not reported as battle casualty. No evidence of actual manner of injury occurring (during recreational training).		FRANCE		Officer file at TNA. WO 339/55348
11 May 1918	.	Kenneth Bagshaw, 19th Manchester Regiment, attached 1/7th Manchesters, 42nd Division. Left unit abroad. "Recurrence of complications to knee caused by wound received in Oct 1916.		FRANCE		Officer file at TNA. WO 339/55348
17 May 1918	.	Ken embarked for England (sick leave granted 17/5/18-15/8/18) Le Havre to Southampton.  Arrived 18 May 1918.		Southampton		Officer file at TNA. WO 339/55348
27 May 1918	.	Unfit		1st Southern Gen Hospital, Birmingham		Officer file at TNA. WO 339/55348
31 May 1918	.	"Knee creaking, 90-degree mobility, scar 2in above knee. Indication of osteo-arthritis folliwing traumatic effects of wound."		1st Southern Gen Hospital, Birmingham		Officer file at TNA. WO 339/55348
16 July 1918	.	Unfit (fit Cat C(ii)) (click here for explanation of official categories of fitness) "Report forthwith in writing to Controller OUTC Gresham House" Employment under Ministry of Labour.		Savoy Convalescent Hospital, Blackpool, Lancs.		Officer file at TNA. WO 339/55348
16 Aug 1918	.	Assumed duties with Ministry of Labour "until fit".		.		Officer file at TNA. WO 339/55348
23 Oct 1918		Suffered a bout of broncho-pneumonia, while in billets at Reading		Reading, Berkshire		Officer file atTNA, report of 11 Dec 1919
11 Nov 1918	.	ARMISTICE		.		.
12 Nov 1918	.	Medical Board Unfit (fit Cat C(ii).  Recommended 3 weeks' leave.		.		Officer file at TNA. WO 339/55348
3 March 1919	.	Medical Board Unfit (fit Cat C(ii)).  "To continue course at OUTC"		.		Officer file at TNA. WO 339/55348
17 April 1919	.T/Lt	Temporary Lt Kenneth Bagshaw MC, Manchester Regiment, Released (?demobbed)		.		Officer file at TNA. WO 339/55348
11 Dec 1919	.	Medical report on a disabled officer "Does not walk with limp. Says can walk 2 or 3 miles. Creaking in R knee joint. Fit to continue course at OUTC."		.		Officer file at TNA. WO 339/55348
3 March 1920	.	Ken and Billy invested with MCs		Buckingham Palace		London Gazette/ Photograph
.	.	Left to right: Billy, Tim (Horace) and Ken with their mother, Susan Bagshaw (née Trubshaw)		.		.
23 Dec 1920	.	"To retain the rank of Lieutenant" Submit for Gazette of 6 Jan 1921.		.		Officer file at TNA. WO 339/55348
4 July 1922	.	Mother, Susan Bagshaw (née Trubshaw) dies		Southport		.
1924	"Manager"	Kenneth sails from Liverpool for the US, and to join his brother Horace in Vancouver. Sails on Cunard ship Franconia. (launched only in 1923) for New York. Gives last UK address as: 3 Framlingham Road, Brooklands, Cheshire. Occupation: Manager Intended future residence: England.		.		Passenger lists in TNA/ Phil Baker, in Australia.
.	.	Ken sailed to the UK on Cunard's luxurious new ship Franconia		.		.
12 Dec 1927	.	Ken's brother Horace ("Tim") died at 8.17am of artero-sclerosis (general) from which he had suffered for more than 2 years. A contributory cause was cerebral haemorrhage during the night of 11/12 Dec.		Ken and Tim were living at 1724 Pendrill St, Vancouver, BC Canada (Horace/Tim had lived at this address for 2 years, presumably with Ken too)		From death certificate. Reg. No   1927-09-381917 B.C. Archives Microfilm No  B13130 GSU Microfilm Number 1927349
Aug 1928						Cutting from Vancouver Daily Province, Aug 1928
		To be married at end of month. The engagement is announced by Dr and Mrs Robert MacKenzie of their daughter, Margaret Helen, to Mr Kenneth Bagshaw M.C. , som of the late Mr and Mrs Thomas William Bagshaw of Staffordshire, Eng. The marriage will take place at 3pm, Thursday August 30^th, at St Paul’s Anglican Church. Miss MacKenzie attended Crofton House School , and is an accomplished musician as well as a popular member of the younger set. Mr Bagshaw, who served with the Manchester Regiment, has been residing in Vancouver since the close of the war.		Ken and Margaret clearly could not announce their engagement while Ken was still in mourning for his brother. This would have lasted six months. So, engagement and marriage were announced here in one go.		Cutting from Vancouver Daily Province, Aug 1928
30 Aug 1928		Ken’s bride, vivacious Margaret MacKenzie		St Paul’s Anglican Church, Burnaby, Vancouver
1939-1945		Ken Bagshaw in the uniform of the Connaughts, in Canada during World War II		Vancouver, Canada
1958	.	Ken died		Vancouver, Canada		.
		Buried at Ocean View cemetery, Burnaby, Vancouver.

NAVIGATION

William Browne Bagshaw (Billy) 20th Manchesters  2/9th Manchesters	Horace Stanley Bagshaw (Tim) 20th Manchesters .	Kenneth Bagshaw (Ken) 19th Manchesters 1/7th Manchesters
Brothers' timeline	Links & background information	Back to Home page
	Contact webmaster: bagshaws  AT angelabird.plus.com

These pages were put together in early 2008 by Angela Bird, grand-daughter of William Browne Bagshaw,
with much help from the descendents of Kenneth Bagshaw in Vancouver,
and from Phil Baker in Australia, as well as from the experts on the forum of The Manchester Regiment.