Carr Vale Fallen - oldminer.co.uk

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 2020.

Many thanks once again to Mr & Mrs Jackson.

Carr Vale reports from the Derbyshire Times.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Private F.H. Lyne.

Carr Vale.

On the Roll of Honour he is reported killed.

(Unable to find any further details).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Private J. W. Warner. Bolsover, died a hero's death. This fact emerges from the story told to the father of the deceased by a soldier of the Grenadier Guards, who was with Private Warner when he fell mortally wounded during the fearful fighting near Kruiseik, Belgium, on October 29th.

The dead soldier was working the field telegraph, and despatches for the general in command were crowding in upon him. Eventually the enemy cut the wire, but Private Warner, with characteristic resourcefulness, promptly seized a bicycle, placed the messages in his pouch, and prepared to deliver them in person, “Ta, ta, old chap; see you again soon." he shouted to the chum who relates the story. With these words he sprang on his machine, but before he had covered half a dozen yards a shrapnel shell burst almost on his shoulder. His back was badly torn, a piece of shell passing right through his body. His indomitable spirit, however, triumphed over his bodily injuries, and as he was removed to the rear he cried out cheerfully, " I'll give them snuff for this when I get back.”

In the No.11 General Hospital at Boulogne, his patience and fortitude won the admiration of the nurses, one of whom, Sister M. A. Roe, wrote .to Mrs. Warner, senr., as follows :-—"I am very sorry to say that your son has died in this hospital. He had been shot through the back, and was paralysed. He was always so good and cheerful, and had great hopes himself that he would get better. He died quite peacefully in the night. He had a watch and a locket containing the photographs of his children, which was in his hands to the last. These have been sent in stores, and will be forwarded to his wife. He died so nobly I am very sorry to his wife to whom I send my deepest sympathy.

“ Lady Ardee, Gloucester Square, Hyde Park, whose husband was at one time in command of the Grenadier Guards, has sent to the wife of Private Warner copy of the report issued on December 14th by the G.O.C., 7th Division, to the G,O.C., 4th Corps, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. “ I know,” says Lady Ardee, “that it will be a pleasure to you to read and keep the enclosed, telling you and all the world what glorious work your husband and his companions did for their country. I think of you so much. Please let me know if I can help you in any way.

” The report reads ;—-" This battalion fought with the utmost tenacity and determination in a most exposed position at Kruiseik in front of Ypres, being subject to almost ceaseless artillery fire and repeated attacks of the enemy for a week. Owing to the length of front to be held no relief could he found for the troops in the trenches. During this fighting Major Colby’s Company (No. 4) of this battalion counter-attacked the enemy, who had almost successfully attacked the line. In this counter attack this Company lost 4 officers killed and wounded,  only one officer and 45 men returning unhurt, but that Company succeeded in driving back a very much larger hostile force. This battalion lost very heavily in the three week’s fighting before Ypres. I consider that the resolution and gallantry of this battalion, obliged to take its share in holding a height which was the pivot of all operations in this part of the field, was most noble and devoted, and worthy of its highest traditions.”

“ Later on, in the same operations, though weakened in numbers and with few officers, the battalion exhibited gallantry in a counter-attack near Gheluvelt, where it was instrumental in restoring the battle south of the main Ypres-lllenin road, and subsequently, the same tenacity as it had shown at Kruiseik in holding a very difficult and exposed part of the brigade line in the final position in front of Ypres.“

It should be added that Private Warner was a member of Major Colby’s Company.

Bolsover Soldier Succumbs to Wounds.

Bolsover has lost a respected townsman, and the Country a valiant soldier, by the death from wounds, on November 17th, of Private J. W. Warner, 1st Grenadier Guards.  Beyond the curt official announcement, no news of the gallant Guardsman’s death has been received by his relatives, but it’s surmised that he was wounded about a month ago during the severe fighting which marked the enemy’s initial efforts to reach Calais. Military influences had surrounded the deceased soldier from childhood, and his highest ambition was to assist in upholding the honour of the flag and the prestige of British arms, A Reservist, he was recalled to the Colours at the commencement of the war, together with Ptes Harris and G. Spray, also of Bolsover. The three comrades were in the same battalion, and all were wounded shortly after reaching the Front.

Private Warner was a man of varied interests. At one time he was a Sergeant-Instructor to the Bolsover C.L.B., and one of the range officers of the Bolsover Rifle Club. He was an enthusiastic devotee of the winter pastime, and Carr Vale Albion F.C. owes much to his energy and capable administration. He was a member of the St. Mary’s Young Men’s Bible Class and of the Bolsover Colliery Institute, while his name figures on the Bolsover National School Roll of Honour as that of an old scholar.

Private Warner left Southampton for the Front on October 5th,and within ten hours of his arrival in France was in the firing line. In a communication to his parents, on October 9th, he wrote: “ Landed safely after a good passage. I hope that soon we shall be having another kind of passage. I mean passage of arms."

“ This affair will not be over in a hurry," he wrote after a week of fighting, “ as it is on such a gigantic scale that one can only guess at what is to come. At the moment we can only say that we shall do our duty. I left England in search of pastures new, and I have found them. Just fancy,” proceeds the  letter, " twelve months ago we were drilling the lads of the C.L.B., and instructing the members of the Rifle Club in the art of shooting. How many members of the club have enlisted? Some of them will be able to give a good account of themselves when they get out here, and will prove to us that our labour has not been in vain. The only thing I now regret,” he wrote to his father, “is that I did not profit by your advice to improve my French. I should have found a better knowledge of the language very useful.”

On October 15th, he wrote to say that his company had been getting plenty of marching, but were being well fed. The next news of Pte. Warner was contained in a letter addressed to his wife by the Rev. Llewellyn Gwynne, Chaplain at No. ll General Hospital, Lines of Communication, who stated: “ I am writing to inform you that your husband is lying in this hospital wounded. He is receiving every attention from the doctors and nurses, and begs you not to worry, as he is going on as well as can be expected. He hopes to be removed to England as soon as the doctors allow.”

My Grandfather, John William Warner DCM. Neil McMaster.