TWO BROTHERS
1914 Star & Bar Trio & Plaque.
To:


3962 L/CPL ERNEST FLEET. 2nd NOTTS & DERBY REGT.

KILLED-IN-ACTION Between 13th & 16th Sept 1916.
(Battle of Fluers-Courcelette, Quadrilateral)
To France 11th November 1914.

[BIOGRAPHY]
Based on his service number Ernest originally joined the 1st Notts & Derby Regt in January 1893. He was a collier from Swanwick, Alfreton, Derbyshire of 31 when he re-mustered for 2nd Notts & Derby Regt on 14th August 1914. Prior to his death between 13th-16th September 1916 he had been previously wounded (Gunshot Wound to Head) on 10th August 1915 with an admission to 25th Hospital Etaples. Also, the day before his wounding he had received a CO's commendation for gallantry which was reported in the Derbyshire Courier of 30th October 1915. Sadly this seems to have been overlooked and no DCM or M.I.D. was awarded.

[BATTLE OF FLUERS-COURCELETTE]
This action was fought during the third stage of The Battle of the Somme, by the British Fourth & Reserve Army, and the French Sixth Army against the German 1st Army. The Anglo-French attack of 15th September began the Third Period of the battle but by its conclusion on 22nd September, the strategic objective of a decisive victory had not been achieved.

The infliction of many casualties on the German front divisions and the capture of the villages of Courcelette, Martinpuich and Flers had been a considerable tactical victory but the German defensive success on the British right flank, made exploitation and the use of cavalry impossible.

Tanks were used in battle for the first time in history and the Canadian Corps and the New Zealand Division fought for the first time on the Somme. On 16 September, Jagdstaffel 2, a specialist fighter squadron, began operations with five new Albatros D.I fighters, which were capable of challenging British air supremacy for the first time since the beginning of the battle.

The attempt to advance deeply on the right and pivot on the left failed but the British gained about 2,500 yards in general and captured High Wood, moving forward about 3,500 yards in the centre, beyond Flers and Courcelette. The Fourth Army crossed Bazentin Ridge, which exposed the German rear-slope defences beyond to ground observation and on 18th September, the Quadrilateral, where the British advance had been frustrated on the right flank, was captured. Arrangements were begun immediately to follow up the tactical success which, after supply and weather delays, began on 25th September at the Battle of Morval and was continued by the Reserve Army next day at the Battle of Thiepval Ridge.

In September, the German armies on the Somme lost about 130,000 casualties, the most costly month of the battle. Combined with the losses at Verdun and on the Eastern Front, the German Empire was brought closer to military collapse than at any time before the autumn of 1918.








WITH FULL & VERY RARE SURVIVING PAPERS



And Brother:
38859 GUNNER ALBERT FLEET R.G.A.
1914 Star & Bar trio with original Silver War Badge (339286) & metal wounded stripe.
M.I.C. gives entry to France on 21st August 1914.

The 2nd Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery proceeded to France on the 17th of September 1914 with the BEF. On the 6th of November 1914 the Battery was in a position near Loisine Beuvry. the war diary records: "Loisne was shelled by the enemy between 10 & 10.30am and again between 1.30 & 2.20pm. During the latter period one shell pitched in the Battery's bivouac killing two gunners (31514 Joseph Peter Cole (21) and 24769 George Adam Squires (30) who are both buried side by side in Bethune Town Cemetery.

AN EXCELLENT & RARE "DOUBLE 1914 STAR" FAMILY CASUALTY GROUPING WITH GREAT NOTTINGHAM INTEREST TO SHERWOOD FORESTER COLLECTORS.

£995 with stacks of papers & MIC's etc