William Brown – North Staffordshire Regiment
William was born in Rushton on 23 Jul 1898 to William and Maria née Knight. In 1901 the family were farming on Cloudside but by 1909 he was living with his parents, sisters Mary and Maria and brother Charles at Long Gutter Farm, Wincle. They moved again in Wincle, this time to Hazels Farm in 1913 and it was from there that William was called up in May 1918. He joined as private no. 61687 in the 5th North Staffordshire Regiment.
His initial training took place at Mablethorpe in Lincolnshire. He later commented that they were thankful for training which changed them from farm boys into soldiers, and were grateful to be taught bayonetting! Much to his surprise they ate unpeeled potatoes ‘sprits and all’ boiled in metal containers on the beach. On one occasion they had a visit from a dentist, who seemed determined to extract teeth from everyone, whether they needed it or not.
His posting to France, arriving on 11 October and now for the 1/6 North Staffs, was delayed by two weeks because of flu, a factor which probably saved his life as many comrades who left ahead of him were killed. That was probably at the Battle of St Quentin Canal when capturing the Riqueval Bridge on 29 September. The regiment was involved in further heavy fighting at the beginning of October during which the Allied forces forced a breach in the Hindenberg Line. The 1/6 North Staffs were relieved in mid-October and moved to billets in Fresnoy-le-Grand. After more, brief, action in early November the regiment returned to billets in Fresnoy again where they stayed till the beginning of March 1919 when they moved to Troisvilles.
William was transferred to the South Staffs Regiment in February 1919 and in May he volunteered to join the Cycle Corps – 9th Battalion - and served in the Rhine Army of occupation. He was finally demobilised in November 1919, returning to his parents’ farm (Hazels) in Wincle.
His initial training took place at Mablethorpe in Lincolnshire. He later commented that they were thankful for training which changed them from farm boys into soldiers, and were grateful to be taught bayonetting! Much to his surprise they ate unpeeled potatoes ‘sprits and all’ boiled in metal containers on the beach. On one occasion they had a visit from a dentist, who seemed determined to extract teeth from everyone, whether they needed it or not.
His posting to France, arriving on 11 October and now for the 1/6 North Staffs, was delayed by two weeks because of flu, a factor which probably saved his life as many comrades who left ahead of him were killed. That was probably at the Battle of St Quentin Canal when capturing the Riqueval Bridge on 29 September. The regiment was involved in further heavy fighting at the beginning of October during which the Allied forces forced a breach in the Hindenberg Line. The 1/6 North Staffs were relieved in mid-October and moved to billets in Fresnoy-le-Grand. After more, brief, action in early November the regiment returned to billets in Fresnoy again where they stayed till the beginning of March 1919 when they moved to Troisvilles.
William was transferred to the South Staffs Regiment in February 1919 and in May he volunteered to join the Cycle Corps – 9th Battalion - and served in the Rhine Army of occupation. He was finally demobilised in November 1919, returning to his parents’ farm (Hazels) in Wincle.
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Unlike many ex-soldiers after the war he told his family and friends about some of what he had experienced. He mentioned pursuing German troops through heavily wooded areas and once hiding out in a farm building with enemy troops downstairs – they had to keep quiet for three days. On another occasion they were sleeping in corn fields and some of his fellow soldiers forgot to replace the lid on their tins so the rats ate their ‘bully beef’ ration from the kit bag beneath their heads. He was sent to Lessenich on the outskirts of Cologne in the army of occupation. One of his duties was to escort prisoners. On 23rd April 1919 he had to take a German prisoner of war to Cologne on so he requested some leave to look around; the pass request being “Sir, I beg you to grant me leave for 6 hours 23/4/19 ‘til 21.15 hrs for the purpose of proceeding to Cologne. I remain your obedient servant Pte W Brown”. He found the visit to Cologne was very interesting – particularly the shops in the warren of streets surrounding Cologne Cathedral.
He told no bad stories about the enemy – he even mentioned the kindness of a German farmer’s wife who warned them not to drink water from the farm well (she thought the recently departed German troops had poisoned it). They tried to communicate with each other despite the language barrier. He also reflected on the horror of the firing squad which played on his mind, as did the spectacle of seeing dead comrades and the state of the horses. He was saddened by the lack of understanding of ‘shell shock’ by people back in England and the distress of those suffering from it.
After the war he moved with his parents to Wildboarclough (Dry Knowl, then Higher Barn Farm), before marrying Francis Annie Bailey in 1925. He farmed in Rainow (Slack o’th Moor and Higher Lane) for many years before moving to Macclesfield. He died in 1985.
Credits
Thelma Rutherford and family
He told no bad stories about the enemy – he even mentioned the kindness of a German farmer’s wife who warned them not to drink water from the farm well (she thought the recently departed German troops had poisoned it). They tried to communicate with each other despite the language barrier. He also reflected on the horror of the firing squad which played on his mind, as did the spectacle of seeing dead comrades and the state of the horses. He was saddened by the lack of understanding of ‘shell shock’ by people back in England and the distress of those suffering from it.
After the war he moved with his parents to Wildboarclough (Dry Knowl, then Higher Barn Farm), before marrying Francis Annie Bailey in 1925. He farmed in Rainow (Slack o’th Moor and Higher Lane) for many years before moving to Macclesfield. He died in 1985.
Credits
Thelma Rutherford and family