THE BAGSHAW BROTHERS

during World War I

William Browne Bagshaw
MC and Bar, Croix de Guerre
1889-1974

20th Manchesters;   2/9th Manchesters;
Staff; 9th Manchesters

Date	Rank or Occupation	Event			Place	Supporting documents (TNA=The National Archives, Kew, London)
10 May 1889	.	William born Uttoxeter,. He was the first of four children			Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, England	.
4 Aug 1889	.	William baptised			Uttoxeter	.
William (Billy), looking super-cool on the right, with little sister Elsie in centre, and younger brother Horace (still in skirts) on the left
19 Aug 1898	.	Father, Thomas Bagshaw, died (Billy aged 9)			Holme Lea, Uttoxeter	.
31 March 1901	.	Billy and Horace ("Tim") boarding at a grammar school: Brewood School, near Wolverhampton, Staffs. From the photo below, one can just make out a uniform of broad, stiff white collars and what look like black knickerbockers.			Brewood, Staffs	1901 census
		Brewood Grammar School, early 20th century		Brewood School football team, 1908		With many thanks to Tony Kirk for providing these images of Brewood School, which is still flourishing today.
29 Feb 1904	.	Sister Elsie died of diphtheria (Billy aged 15)			Uttoxeter	.
		Billy did electrical engineering training in Nottingham			Nottingham	Barbara Bagshaw
2 April 1911	Electrical engineer, Nottingham Corporation	Billy living in a large boarding house, aged 21._ Owner was Mr Pearce (a retired bank manager)._ There were a lot of boarders - including a German, resident in Calais, who was a manager in lace-shipping. _			141-145 Derby Road, Nottingham	1911 census online TNA
2 June 1911	.	Brother Horace sailed from London, to Australia			.	Phil Baker, in Oz
11 July 1912		Billy sailed from Southampton to Buenos Aires on board RMS Araguaya (6,634 tons, carrying 198 passengers)				Shipping passenger lists on FindMyPast, at NA, Kew
1912 to 1914	.	Billy worked for the Cordoba Railway Company, in the Argentine, as an electrical engineer.			Argentina	Barbara Bagshaw & website
4 Aug 1914	.	War declared on Germany  (World War I)			.	.
4 Nov 1914		Billy sails for England to enlist._ He arrives in London on board Remuera, of New Zealand Shipping Company. Record says "New Zealand to London", but as ship's route was Wellington, Montevideo, Tenerife, Plymouth, I suspect he boarded at Montevideo.				Shipping passenger lists on FindMyPast, at NA, Kew
30 Nov 1914	.	Billy enlists, alongside brother Horace, who had returned from Australia on 1 November 1914. Height: 5ft 8.5in Vision 6/6 Physical development: Good.			Inns of Court OTC, Berkhamsted	Officer file at The National Archives WO 339/26009
		BAGSHAW, William Browne, number 2218,_ (Horace’s number 2220) served in K and A Companies, joined 30/11/14. Commissioned into the Manchester Regiment on 3/3/15, wounded once, attained the rank of Brigade Major, awarded the Military Cross and Bar, French Croix de Guerre with gold star and was mentioned in Despatches. Home address: Holme Lea, Alexandra Road, Southport.			Inns of Court OTC, Berkhamsted	The Inns of Court O.T.C. during the Great War, 1920 publication edited by Lt-Col F.H.L. Errington. (looked up by a member of the Great War Forum)
	WHY DID THEY TRAIN AT THE INNS OF COURT OTC? At the time of the first World War, the Inns of Court were specifically designed as an officer training corps which was not restricted to barristers. In order to get more recruits, in 1895 they had widened their criteria for entry to four categories i. members of an Inn of Court; ii. members of the Faculty of Advocates, Edinburgh (Scottish barristers); iii. past or present members of the universities or public schools and iv. gentlemen who in the opinion of the commanding officer may be considered specially eligible. It would be natural for men who had been tagged for a commission after enlistment to be sent there for training					Thanks to "Centurion", from the Great War Forum, for some of this information.
.	.	Training			.	.
3 March 1915	Lieutenant	Posted to 20th Battalion, Manchester Regiment. Lieutenant in D Company, commander of 15th Platoon			.	Officer file at TNA. WO 339/26009
Early 1915						Photograph from the book "City Battalions", reproduced by kind permission of the Manchesters forum and museum
	Lt William Browne Bagshaw with 15 platoon, D Company, of 20th Manchesters He is the officer, in centre of second row. Probably taken at Heaton Park.
Early 1915						Photograph from the book "City Battalions", reproduced by kind permission of the Manchesters forum and museum
	Officers of 20th Battalion, Manchester Regiment. Identification is very difficult; _Lt William B Bagshaw could be fourth from right in back row. (Brother Horace, possibly centre of back row) Probably taken at Heaton Park, Manchester, during training.
7 March 1915	Lieutenant	Discharged on appointment to commission in 20th Manchesters.			.	Officer file at TNA. WO 339/26009
	The 20th (Service) Battalion (5th City Pals), Manchester Regiment The 20th Battalion moved to Morecambe in April 1915 and then on to Grantham as part of the 91st Brigade, 30th Division on the 10th August 1915. The battalion was taken over by the War Office in September 1915;_ it moved to Larkhill early in November 1915. The battalion landed at Boulogne on the 20th December 1915._ The 91st Brigade was transferred to the 7th Division. Info from The Manchesters website
3 Nov 1915	.	Billly arrives in France			FRANCE	Medal roll
28 Nov 1915		20th Manchesters in training in live trenches with 145th Infantry Brigade. 48th Division. “Temperature zero, trenches muddy and wet, plus the new experience of lice, large rats, shells and Germans.“_ Phil Baker,			Nr Hébuterne FRANCE	Phil Baker, Feb 2009
3 April 1916	.	To hospital with German measles.			FRANCE	Officer file at TNA. WO 339/26009
6 April 1916	.	At 16 General Hospital, located on headland above the seaside town of Le Tréport. It was part of a vast complex of hospitals on the site that held in total 10,000 beds - probably far more in the latter part of WWI. [No 16 hospital was operational from 1915 to 1919, being taken over by the Americans in June 1917  (when it was called Philadelphia US Hospital)]			Le Tréport, FRANCE	Officer file at TNA. WO 339/26009
23 April 1916	.	Joined 30 OBD ex hospital			Etaples, FRANCE	Officer file at TNA. WO 339/26009
21 May 1916	OC Unit	Joined battalion (20th Manchesters) 91st Infantry Brigade, 7th Division.			FRANCE	.
c 4 June		Billy probably went on leave when the Battalion came out of the trenches into billets on 4 or 5 June (no specific mention in Bttn war diary)._ He had to travel back to England for his wedding on 9 June.				War diary for 20th Btn. Transcribed by ASB
9 June 1916	Captain	Billy marries Mamie Seal (image below). Very small wedding, with only immediate family present. "By licence" on wedding certificate, indicates that maybe it was arranged in a rush (at between 3 weeks' and 1 day's notice). The couple set off by car to London for a three-day honeymoon. The bridegroom had to rejoin his regiment in France. (Billy was at day 1 of the Battle of the Somme less than 1 month later.) People seem to have been accorded a maximum of 6 days' leave._ If it had taken a day to travel each way from the Somme toStaffordshire (optimistic), and a day to get married, that would indeed leave just 2 or 3 days for a honeymoon.			Doveridge church, near Uttoxeter	Photograph (below);  newspaper report in Uttoxeter Advertiser
.	. Billy and Mamie are second and third from left. Far left, Stephen Seal, brother of bride; far right Daisy Seal, sister of bride. Cadet Kenneth Bagshaw is best man. .					.
.14 June	.	Presumably Billy rejoined his Battlion about now – though this fact is not mentioned in the Bttn War Diary for June 1916. (He probably missed the period 10-13 June in action, and rejoined when Bttn was under canvas at Bussy-les-Daours.) Battalion was under canvas until 26 June, during a spell of fine weather.			Bussy-les-Daours, nr Corbie	War diary for 20th Btn. Transcribed by ASB
26 June		Battalion struck camp and left Bussy for Morlancourt (see picture below) where they went into billets. Weather unsettled.			Morlancourt	War diary for 20th Btn. Transcribed by ASB
28 June 1916		20th Bn proceeded to trenches to relieve 4th Border Regt, but move cancelled (1st Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers relieved Borderers.) Three new junior officers joined Bn from base.			C.1 Sector/ Morlancourt	War diary for 20th Btn. Transcribed by ASB
30 June		Relieved 1st RWF at 7.30am; relief complete by 3pm. Proceeded to trenches in Fighting Order			C.1 Sector	War diary for 20th Btn. Transcribed by ASB
July-Nov 1916	.	Battle of the Somme			FRANCE	.
		Here is the Order of Battle, from the CWGC site. The 20th Battalion Manchester Regiment (5th City Pals) was in the: 22nd Brigade, 7th Division (Major-General HE Watts), XV Corps (Lieutenant-General HS Horne), British Fourth Army (General Rawlinson) Here is a view of the area the 20th Manchesters were to attack that day, between Fricourt (church on the left) and Bois Français on the right. From a blog by “Old Fogey”.
1 July 1916	OC Unit	First day of the Battle of the Somme (The 20th Manchesters were allotted the longest stretch of Front on the first day of the Somme.) The troops left their trenches and walked calmly, with sloped arms, towards the German front line. Hundreds were mown down by machine-gun fire. Billy and Horace with the 20th Manchesters, were part of the attack launched at 2.30pm by_ 22nd Brigade against the south side of the Fricourt salient. Billy wounded in right shoulder by a rifle bullet. goes to 21 FA (Field Ambulance) Here’s a link to a BBC site where British military historian Richard Holmes shows, with animations, the progress of the Battle of the Somme from day 1._ Look at Fricourt, near the bottom left, to see what Billy and Horace were involved in. That day, in the 20th Manchesters, 10 Officers and 110 Other Ranks were killed; 6 Officers and 171 Other Ranks wounded;_ 29 Other Ranks missing.			Near Fricourt, Somme FRANCE	Officer file at TNA. WO 339/26009 Bn War diary for July 1916, transcribed by ASB.
		Images from the IWM, showing various aspects of soldiers during the Battle of the Somme, are viewable here, on part of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site. A map here on the same site shows the front line of the Battle of the Somme, on the left, and the front line at the end of the battle on 18 November 1916. The 20th Manchesters were on the front line south of Fricourt (to the right of the town of Albert). Here is another good map of the Somme, showing by a shaded area the amount of the advance on the first day. Billy and Horace, in the 20th Manchesters, were part of the 7th Divison, visible to the SE of Albert. Clearly their attack failed to take much ground. This site “Sassoon on the Somme” shows present-day photographs of the terrain, with descriptions of the battle often based on the writings of Siegfried Sassoon who observed the action of the 20th Manchesters from a vantage point where he was held with the 1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers (pages 2-6 of the “military tour” are relevant).
		FROM THE APPENDIX TO THE BATTALION WAR DIARY FOR 1 JULY 1916 1916. On the morning of the 1st July, 1916, word was received from Bde. H.Q. that the ZERO Hour for MAIN ATTACK would be 7.30 a.m. and that the 20th Manchesters would attack on the right of FRICOURT at 2.30 p.m. - Promptly at this hour the Battalion attacked as follows ;- ‘C’ Company Over the Craters. ‘A’ and’B’ Companies . From the New Front Trench. A and B Companies were supported by 2 Platoons of D Company. C Company was supported by 2 Platoons of D Company. The Commanding Officer, Adjutant and Headquarters accompanied the 2 Platoons of D Company who were in support of A and B. Heavy Machine Gun Fire was encountered from WING CORNER in FRICOURT, - and the rear of B Coy. and the 2 Platoons of D Company suffered many casualties in the Sunken Road from this Gun. The 2 leading Companies reached SUNKEN ROAD Trench and were met by heavy Machine Gun Fire from somewhere in the region of ZINC Trench. Here A and B suffered very heavily.				TNA
2 July 1916	.	2 Sty (?Stationary) Hospital			Abbeville, Somme FRANCE	Officer file at TNA. WO 339/26009
2 July 1916	.	To England from Le Havre on HS Oxfordshire. (arrived on British soil 3 July 1916, less than a month after his wedding!)			Le Havre, Normandy FRANCE	Officer file at TNA. WO 339/26009
.	.	Medical treatment and leave in England.
17 Nov 1916	Temporary Captain to be Captain (temp)	Temporary Captain WBB, from a Service Btn, to be Captain (temp) with precedence as from 20 Oct 1915.
18 Jan 1917	Adjutant	Captain William Browne Bagshaw to be Adjutant (presumably of 2/9th) He took over this function from Captain HV Sampson, later to become his brother-in-law.				London Gazette 9 Feb 1917
22 Feb 1917		King George V inspected 66th Division (in which was included Billy’s new battalion, the 2/9th Manchesters).			ENGLAND	66th Division history on Manchester Rgt website.
4 March 1917	.	Billy embarks with 2/9th Battalion, Manchester Regiment_ at Folkestone for Boulogne after "seven weeks' medical leave". 2/9th  Manchesters relieved Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry in front line of Cuinchy sector.			FRANCE	Officer file at TNA. WO 339/26009
	“The Givenchy sector, near La Bassée, was a foul panorama of depressingly flat coalfields and shell holes, interspersed with conical slagheaps and wrecked mine heads ... During 1915 Givenchy had been at the centre of fierce fighting but by 1917 it was a quiet, miserable, and forgotten sector.” Rob Thompson 66th Division history on Manchester Regiment website					66th Division history on Manchester Rgt website.
17 Mar 1917	Captain and Adjutant	Read about the situation in the trenches on the La Bassée sector in the 66th Division history here.			Cuinchy (between Béthune & La Bassée, 30 miles S of Ypres), Flanders FRANCE	Battalion war diary, written & signed by WBB Captain/ Adjutant) WO95/3141
	Robert Graves (Royal Welch Fusiliers) wrote, in "Goodbye to All That": "Cuinchy bred rats. They came up from the canal, fed on the plentiful corpses, and multiplied exceedingly."
21.3.1917	.	Bttn relieved by 2/4th E Lancs			Billets Le Quesnoy 22-24 May; FRANCE	War diary
25.3.1917	.	2/9th Battn relieved 2/4th E Lancs in front line, Cuinchy.			FRANCE	War diary
	“The 66th Division spent its time here recovering communication trenches (of which 17,000 yards had been recovered by May), laying water supplies and telephone cable, and repairing the damage caused by Minenwerfers. They also laid tramways and light railways, and were constantly at work trying to drain the all-pervasive mud described as having a ‘rare and gluesome tenacity’.” Rob Thompson 66th Division history on Manchester Regiment website					66th Division history on Manchester Rgt website
24.4.1917	.	Relieved by 2/10th Manchesters after 31 days on front line at Cuinchy			To billets at Annequin, SE of B_thune; training. FRANCE	War diary
		The Ashton Territorials site has quite a few entries for June 1917 for deaths in action. Two of the letters of condolence quoted have been written by Captain HV Sampson, who was to marry Daisy Seal and become Billy’s brother-in-law. Burials of the fallen were often at Gorre: Gorre is a hamlet 2.5 kilometres north of Beuvry, and 4 kilometres east of Bethune. Leave Beuvry on the D72, crossing the railway and then the Canal d'Aire on the way. The Cemetery is 150 metres from the church in Gorre, to the left of the D72 (Rue de Festubert).
23 June 1917	.	Training programme			Bray-Dunes, NE of Dunkerque; Flanders FRANCE	War diary
	“In late June the Division was once again on the move this time to the coast at Nieuport via Bethune. This was the [66th] Division’s first major move, a prodigious feat of organisation and logistics, and also its first move by London Omnibus. In all 100 buses were required by each Brigade. The first week in July was spent in very necessary training, but by 15 July the 66th Division found themselves on the coastal sector under XV Corps command.... ...The Germans were especially active with their artillery, gas was much used and the sandy ground was a nightmare to dig defences in.” Rob Thompson 66th Division history on Manchester Regiment website					66th Division history on Manchester Rgt website
12.7.1917	.	Battalion to take over coast defences at Fort des Dunes			? Dunkerque area Flanders FRANCE	War diary
31 July 1917	.	Nieuwpoort sector. Here is a link to a trench map of that sector at that time, with a tightly-packed maze of trenches. (Click on the image to zoom in.) This is from a large selection on the interesting Croonaert Research Services’ site.			Belgian coast Flanders BELGIUM	War diary
9 Aug 1917		Captain (Temporary) William Browne Bagshaw to be Captain with precedence as from 20 Oct 1915_ and to remain Adjutant.				Officer file at TNA. WO 339/26009 London Gazette 7 Aug 1917
12 Aug 1917	.	Captain (Temporary) William Browne Bagshaw to be Captain, and to remain Adjutant.			.	War diary
25 Sept 1917	.	“Battalion moves to Renescure area (E of St-Omer) tomorrow, by buses.”			Flanders FRANCE	War diary
	On 27 and 28 September the Division made its move into the ‘Tent City’ of Vlamertinghe just west of Ypres prior to taking over the line in the vicinity of Tyne Cot. Rob Thompson 66th Division history on Manchester Regiment website					66th Division history on Manchester Rgt website
4 Oct 1917		Deluging rain made the terrain into the most impossible mud.
		Here on the Ashton Territorials site are biographies of soldiers of the 9th Manchesters who fell. From the stories of those in the 2/9th, you can have an idea of the actions that Billy was involved in, both in the Cuinchy sector (spring 1917) and here at Poelcappelle and Ypres.
9 Oct 1917	.	Battle of Poelcappelle (Commander: General Herbert Plumer, of the British Second Army) A brief description here, on the Stockport 1914-1918 website, of the day's events.			Flanders BELGIUM	..
.	.	Description here of the lead up to the battle, and the battles of Poelcapelle and Passchendaele themselves. Note that the 2/9th Manchesters was part of the 198th Brigade, which in turn was part of the 66th Division.			.	.
	“The area of the assault ran from VIENNA COT on the right ... through TYNE COT – FLEET COT as far as KRONPRINZ FARM in the Ravebeek Valley .... The depth of the assault was about 1,500 yards and would bring the 66th into the outskirts of Passchendaele Village itself. Assault was due to begin at 5.20am on the morning of 9 October 1917.” “... At first everything went well with 2/9 Manchesters clearing dugouts, capturing prisoners and leaving a general trail of carnage in their wake. However heavy casualties were sustained from MG and sniper fire cutting across their front from BELLEVUE SPUR. In addition the exhausted men were simply unable to cross the swamp of the RAVEBEEK VALLEY where the mud was up to 6 feet deep.” Rob Thompson 66th Division history on Manchester Regiment website					66th Division history on Manchester Rgt website
9 Oct 1917	.	List of officers of the battalion who took part in operations on the Passchendaele Ridge: includes WB Bagshaw “Captain & Adjutant (headquarters)”.			Flanders BELGIUM	War diary
	Posted by Aaron Nelson on  Great War Forum in Jan 2007 On the 9th of October 1917 the 66th Division took part on the Battle of Poelcapelle: The nightmare began on 8 October. 197 [on right] and 198 Brigades [on left] assembled in the vicinity of the FREZENBERG RIDGE at 6 p.m. and were subjected to very heavy shelling even as they assembled.  Only one track was allocated for each brigade and these were already torn up by pack animals. The troops were subjected to constant shelling as they filed along the tracks in the inky darkness.  Frequent stops were made to save those who had been blown off the tracks into the quagmire.   By 12:30 a.m. on 9 October it was clear that troops would not be in position on time unless they got a move on.  The order went out – they were not to stop for any reason.. The troops marched on desperately trying to ignore the screams of their fallen comrades who were drowning in the liquid mud. 2 _ miles before the jump off point the tracks ended and the men struggled on through driving rain in knee deep mud. Despite Herculean efforts they arrived late. In the case of 197 Brigade the head of the 3/5 Lancashire Fusiliers was at the start line. The 2/8 LF’s still 400 yards behind the start, whilst the 2/7 and 2/8 LF’s were still some 6-800 yards in the rear. Anticipating this problem 199 Brigade was put on alerts and the 2/5 and 2/7 Manchesters who fully expected to be cheering their chums on suddenly found themselves ordered into the attack.. The opening barrage was feeble and most troops could not even see it let alone follow it. What followed rapidly descended into tragic chaos. 9 Oct 1917: 'The Division attacked at 5.20 am, zero hour, with two brigades. 198 Brigade attacked with the 2/9th Manchesters and the 2/4th East Lancs; the 2/5th East Lancs were in support and the 2/10th Manchesters in reserve. The assaulting troops immediately came under severe artillery and machine-gun fire. The 2/5th East Lancs came under heavy fire from Hamburg Redoubt, which they attacked without success. By midday it became apparent that the Brigade had only reached the first objective. Consolidation was begun.  The remnants of the 2/5th were pulled back to form a line behind the two front-line battalions in anticipation of counter-attacks. At dusk the enemy launched a counter-attack, which was repulsed by artillery and small-arms fire, the 2/5th East Lancs being usefully employed. 197 Brigade, comprising four battalions of the Lancashire Fusiliers, attacked with the 3/5th Lancashire Fusiliers. The attack was then taken over by the 2/6th and 2/8th, with the 2/7th in reserve. The Brigade advanced in dribs and drabs owing to the state of the ground. The 3/5th Lancashire Fusiliers advanced with their right on the Roulers railway and took the Red Line. They linked with the 2/6th at about 9.30 am and joined 198 Brigade in Augustus Wood on the right. Meanwhile the 2/8th and part of the 3/5th were pushing on towards the Blue Line, which they reached by 9.30 am and started to consolidate. Patrols were sent out and some reached the outskirts of Passchendaele itself. Bodies of the men from these two battalions were found when the village fell on 6 November. After the mauling they received at Passchendaele, they were relieved but remained in the Ypres area throughout the winter of 1917/1918.
10 Oct 1917	“The attack [of 9 Oct] was a complete disaster. The division as a whole had hardly moved at all from their start positions on 9 October though small groups of men were seen in isolated forward positions. Hundreds of wounded men were clustered around the two pillboxes that now form the entrance of TYNE COT....” _ ”Casualties were very heavy. 197 brigade sustained 1,295 casualties, half the brigade strength, and it would be fair to say that 198 Brigade suffered similarly. .... It would be another month before the Canadian Corps finally took the Ridge.” _Rob Thompson 66th Division history on Manchester Regiment website					66th Division history on Manchester Rgt website
12 Oct 1917		First Battle of Passchendaele			.	.
2 Nov 1917	.	Captain & Adjutant William Browne Bagshaw reported to 198 Infantry Brigade for 1 month instruction in general duties			198 Inf Brigade	War diary
6 Nov 1917	.	Capture of Passchendaele village			.	.
8 - 29 Dec 1917	.	Billy granted leave to UK			.	Officer file at TNA. WO 339/26009
1 Jan 1918	.	Billy's first MC gazetted (was it won at Passchendaele?)			.	London Gazette/ medal roll
.	.	A link to a page about the history of the Military Cross  Instituted in 1914, it was initially awarded to officers of Captain rank or below, and to warrant officers.			.	.
Mid Feb 1918		66th Division told to leave Ypres Salient and move back south to the Somme.
19 Feb 1918	.	2/9th Manchesters absorbed into 1/9th Manchesters			.	.
21 Feb 1918	Captain	WBB vacates appointment of Adjutant.				Officer file at TNA. WO 339/26009
21.3.1918	.	German spring offensive			.	.
21 Mar 1918	“The 66th along with the 24th Division faced six German Divisions who were infiltrating through very heavy mist. ... Up until about 11 a.m. the Germans delivered a terrifically heavy barrage mixed with heavy concentrations of Mustard Gas. At 11.25 199 Brigade HQ received a report that forward outposts held by 2/5 and 2/6 Manchesters had been surprised in the flank due to a retirement by the 16th Division on their left. ... Meanwhile the 2/8 LF’s had been completely surrounded and the HQ captured. The 2/7 Manchesters were putting up a stout defence ...but were under heavy attack. 1 Company of 2/6 Manchesters had formed a defensive position at FERVAQUE FARM. They beat off several very heavy attacks but the Germans brought up flamethrowers and at 1.30 p.m. the farm fell. Only 8 men survived. Further north 1 Coy of 2/9 and 2 Coys of 2/5 Manchesters held up the attack at a sunken road....By 2 p.m. it was clear that the 66th Forward Zone had been overrun. ...By 7 p.m. Maj. Fisher of 2/5 Manchesters and Maj. Howarth of 2/9 Manchesters were reinforcing CARPEZA COPSE with orders to hang on for as long as possible. ...” Rob Thompson 66th Division history on Manchester Regiment website (to read the full story, follow the link)					66th Division history on Manchester Rgt website
22 Mar 1918	“...some of the troops in CARPEZA COPSE had managed to fight their way out back to the British lines. However a serious situation was developing. The 16th Division to the left of 197 Brigade had retired again thus exposing 197 Brigade’s flank even further. The Brigade had no choice to retire but small parties fighting desperate rearguard actions temporarily checked the German advance yet again. Meanwhile Brig.-Gen. Williams ordered the divisional reserve (the 8th and 19th Hussars) along with 3 tanks to counter-attack. The attack was partially successful and bought much needed time for the division. By mid-afternoon ... the 66th was ordered to retire ... The 50th Division who had been hurriedly brought up during the night manned this line. ... The pursuing Germans soon broke through despite a desperate resistance. The decision was made during the night to retire all troops to the Somme River at PERONNE, ...” Rob Thompson 66th Division history on Manchester Regiment website					66th Division history on Manchester Rgt website
23 Mar 1918	“At 3 a.m. on the morning of the 23 March the 66th, now just a quarter of its original strength arrived at their positions. The 66th were ordered to defend the bridges at PERONNE. At 11 a.m. 2nd Lt Walker, 2nd Lt MJP Gapp and 100 OR of 2/7 Manchesters sent up an advanced party to hold the bridges at all costs. The rest of 23 March was spent preparing positions whilst the Germans pushed their artillery forward. The strength of the battalions was pitiful with the 2/5 Manchesters down to only 78 men.” Rob Thompson 66th Division history on Manchester Regiment website					66th Division history on Manchester Rgt website
24 Mar 1918	“On the morning of 24 March what was left of the Division moved up to the Somme River to join the advanced parties. ... By 1.45 p.m. the fight had developed again. The 66th poured incessant Lewis gun fire into the Germans but elements had managed to get across and gain footholds. By 3 p.m. the Division was so weak that the three brigades were formed into one composite Brigade... ... the 66th counter-attacked again and again into the night forcing the Germans to halt their attack that day.” _ Rob Thompson 66th Division history on Manchester Regiment website					66th Division history on Manchester Rgt website
25 Mar 1918	“The morning and afternoon were spent in a desperate defence of the Somme bridgeheads under intense artillery fire. The Germans began to cross the Somme in greater numbers despite sustaining massive casualties. At 6 p.m. the Division was ordered to abandon the Somme and retreat a further 5 miles to the rear. By 10 p.m. the withdrawal was complete and rations and ammunition were issued. “ _ Rob Thompson 66th Division history on Manchester Regiment website
25 March 1918 (or 3.5.18?)	Acting Brigade Major 9th Btn Manchester Regiment, Territorial Force, 198th Infantry Brigade, 66th Division	Billy wins Bar to Military Cross Citation:   "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in operations. Units of his brigade were carrying out a heavy rearguard action, and the enemy were pressing hard. By his great personal courage, energy and example, he encouraged the troops to a dogged resistance, thus giving time for the construction of a fresh line and for its  occupation by other troops."			Framerville area (near Bray-sur-Somme), FRANCE	London Gazette 26 July 1918
	“At this point until 30 March the battle dissolved into desperate rearguard actions, hasty counter-attacks and a general retreat as the Division was slowly forced back from position to position. Finally at 8:10 p.m. on 30 March, after 212 hours of continual fighting the 18th Division relieved the 66th and the men were given a hot meal and a bed. ... ... the casualties for 199 Brigade should give some idea of the level of sacrifice. On the morning of 21st March 199 Brigade strength equalled 2,300. When roll call was taken on 31 March there were only 461 replies.” Rob Thompson 66th Division history on Manchester Regiment website
26 March 1918	.	Supreme Command of Allied forces placed in hands of France’s Marshal Foch			Doullens, Somme, France	.
26 March 1918	Brigade Major 198th Infantry Brigade, 66th Division	Billy to be Brigade Major 198th Infantry Brigade, with Captain FB Hewson MC, Lancs & Yorks Regiment.			FRANCE	Officer file at TNA. WO 339/26009
		REGULAR FORCES COMMANDS AND STAFF The undermentioned appointments are made: Attd to Hd Qr Units Brig Majors: Capt WB Bagshaw MC, Manc Rgt, TF, and to be secd. 26 Mar 1918.				London Gazette_ 21 May 1918; issue 30700, p6085
14 May 1918	Brigade Major	To be Brigade Major, 74th Infantry Brigade			.	Officer file at TNA. WO 339/26009
May/June 1918, esp 28 May 1918	.	Billy wins Croix de Guerre, with Gold Star Citation:     8^o Captain WB Bagshaw MC, Manchester Regt & Staff. "A montré, pendant des opérations entre le 27 mai et le 4 juin 1918, beaucoup d’initiative et de dévouement. Le 28 mai a réussi, malgré de violents feux de mitrailleuses, à regrouper des hommes ayant perdu leurs unités. Par l’ascendant qu’il avait pris sur ces hommes, grâce à son calme, a pu opposer une sérieuse résistance à l’ennemi et lui faire subir de lourdes pertes.         Au GG, le 13 ao_t 1918, Le Général commandant le 5e corps d’Armée." Translation: "During operations between 27 May and 4 June 1918 he showed much initiative and devotion to duty. On 28 May he succeeded, in spite of heavy machine-gun fire, in regrouping men who had lost their units. Through his leadership of these men, thanks to his calm, he was able to offer serious resistance to the enemy and cause him to suffer heavy losses."			.	London Gazette 26 Nov 1918 Citation from Barbara Bagshaw
		THE CROIX DE GUERRE The Croix de Guerre was established in 1915 and was awarded for bravery to military personnel mentioned in dispatches. A recipient was awarded a bronze palm leaf for Army citations, a gold star for Corps citations, a silver star for Division citations or a bronze star for Brigade and Regimental citations.
29 June 1918	.	"Proceed to UK" from HQ 74th Infantry Brigade			HQ 74th Infantry Brigade FRANCE	.
Aug 1918	.	Billy must have had home leave around this time (first child born 9 months later,  in May 1919!).			.	.
15 Sept 1918	.	Embarked Folkestone to Boulogne with 74th Infantry Brigade.			FRANCE	.
11 Nov 1918	.	ARMISTICE			.	.
9 Jan 1919	.	"Granted extension of leave to return to UK for demobilisation." (is this right?)			.	.
18 May 1919	.	First child born born: Dorothy Joyce Susanne (Sue)			Living at Green Lane Cottage, Burbage, Buxton, Derbyshire	.
10 July 1919	.	"Proceed to Aintree"			HQ 14th Infantry Brigade, Cambrai, FRANCE	.
28 July 1919	.	Embarked at Le Havre for England.			.	.
31 July 1919	.	"Disembodied" Last Unit: 74th Infantry Brigade H2. Occupation: Electrical engineer. Medical: A1 Married/single:  Married			Ripon, Yorkshire	.
?Nov 1918		Billy "Mentioned in Despatches"				London Gazette 5 July 1919
3 March 1920	.	Billy invested with MC and Bar to MC (also with brother Kenneth, receiving his MC)			Buckingham Palace, London	London Gazette/ family photograph (see below)/ The Times online for 4 March 1920.
.	. Before the investiture, 3 March 1920: L to R: Billy, Horace and Kenneth Bagshaw, with their mother .					.
	Billy’s dress medals, now in the hands of his granddaughter Clare (née Bagshaw). Billy decided that his actual medals should be sold through a London dealer in the 1970s in order to provide extra money for his wif, Barbara
17 May 1920	..	Second child born: Jeffrey Hugh (Hugh)			.	.
4 July 1922	.	Mother, Susan Bagshaw (n_e Trubshaw) dies, aged 69, at 65 Alexandra Road, Southport			.	.
Sept 1922	.	Billy proves his mother's Will			30 Framlingham Rd, Brooklands, Cheshire	.
1923	.	Brother Horace sails from Liverpool for Canada emigrating to Vancouver.			.	Phil Baker, in Australia
1924	.	Brother Kenneth sails from Liverpool for New York, and to join his brother Horace in Vancouver. (Gives Billy's Framlingham Rd, Brooklands address as last known address in UK)			.	Phil Baker, in Australia
c 1925	.	Moved to Knowle, Warwickshire, presumably because Billy had a job in Birmingham. (In my memory, he worked for Deritend Stamping Company)			Woodgate, Station Road, Knowle, Wks	Sue (née Bagshaw)
12 Dec 1927		Brother Tim (Horace) dies in Vancouver.				Document from BC Archives, Victoria, BC, Canada.
22 Apr 1929	Commercial traveller	Billy obtains probate on Horace's estate				Original probate record on Ancestry.com
during 1930s	.	Billy and Mamie and children move to larger house in Bentley Heath, just outside Knowle.			The Paddock, Four Ashes Rd, Bentley Heath, Knowle, Wks.	Angela Bird
1939	.	Billy and Mamie visit Canada "same year as the King and Queen" (i). They went by ship, and then crossed Canada by train to see Ken and family in Vancouver. Ken's young sons particularly remember their uncle's visit, as he brought them a tent as a present! (iii) (George VI & Queen Elizabeth toured Canada in May 1939, visiting Vancouver on 29 May. The royal couple arrived by train, stayed a night at the newly-opened Hotel Vancouver, and opened the Lion Gate Bridge) (ii)			.	(i) Margaret Thompson (ii) websites (iii) Derek Bagshaw, 2009
2 July 1939	Director / Housewife	Billy and Mamie arrive at Southampton from New York, back from their trip to Canada. (Could not find record of their outward trip by ship.) They sailed on Cunard White Star Line's RMS Britannic (Listed as William (age 50) and Mary (46) Bagshaw)			Address given as The Paddock, Bentley Heath, Knowle, England	Shipping passenger lists on FindMyPast, at NA, Kew
		RMS Britannic was built in 1929; she had fashionable Art Deco interior
1939	.	Billy applies to join Auxiliary Air Force (RAF).			.	Officer files at TNA
13 July 1939	Flight-Lieut (equivalent to rank of Captain in Army)	Commissioned as a Flight Lieutenant with 916 (County Of Warwick) (Balloon) Squadron on Thursday 13 July 1939. He enlisted within a few days of arriving home from his trip to Canada, and was one of the original officers at the camp. 916 Squadron was one of two based at RAF Wythall with responsibility for barrage balloon defence of Coventry (the other two squadrons defended the south side of Birmingham). His RAF number_ was 91100. (London Gazette of 12 September 1939; page_ 6197)			RAF Wythall, Warwicks.	With many thanks to Andrew Gardner for supplying all the information on Billy's service with RAF Wythall, now home of the Transport Museum
		RAF Wythall from the air	Barrage balloon at Coventry
		Barrage balloons were huge silver inflatables, moored on long wire cables, that were floated above cities to discourage low-level bombing raids, and also to force enemy aircraft up higher into the range of searchlights and anti-aircraft guns. They were inflated with a special gas, and moored to large concrete blocks, or sometimes to mobile trucks.
1 Sept 1939		Britain declares war on Germany (World War II)
18 Apr 1940		King George VI and Queen Elizabeth arrived in Birmingham aboard the royal train for a "secret visit". They went to the BSA factory in Small Heath, the Wolsley car factory, and later watched an ARP display. The King then visited "a barrage balloon headquarters in the area" (possibly Wythall), where the Queen later joined him.				Birmingham History forum. The Times online for 19 Apr 1940
29 Nov 1941	.	Daughter, Sue, marries a young Signals officer; reception at home, in Bentley Heath (Sue lives at parents' home until her husband's return, in 1946)			Knowle parish church, Wks	Wedding photos
1 Dec 1942	.	First grandchild born (Angela), at Billy and Mamie's house.			Bentley Heath	Angela Bird
1 May 1944	.	Mamie (Billy's wife) died of cancer.			.	.
c 1947	.	Billy remarries: to Barbara Whatley			.	.
c 1952	.	Son, Hugh, marries Marian Blaxill.			Solihull parish church, Wks.	.
10 Feb 1954		Billy relinquished his commission in the RAF (from WWII).				Andrew Gardner, from London Gazette 19 July 1955
c 1954	.	Billy and Barbara moved to Herefordshire, where Barbara's family (the Whatleys) owned a  property.			The Woodground, Aston Ingham, nr Newent, Herefordshire	.
7 Nov 1965	.	Daughter, Sue, died.			.	.
27 Dec 1974		Billy died.			Gloucester, England Herefordshire	.

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.