W. C. Niblett 1896-1947
Pte Wilfrid Charles Niblett.
2/5th (R) Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment.
1914-19
W. C. Niblett 1896-1947 |
Pte Wilfrid Charles Niblett.2/5th (R) Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment.1914-19 |
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A Chronical of his Service. |
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| 21/09/1914. | W. C. Niblett Photo enlisted at Gloucester into 2/5th (R) Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment (Number 3214) (Category A1) Age 17yrs 10mths and was billetted in the City. |
| 01/02/1915. | The Battalion left for Northampton which was the Division assembly point and where Divisional, Brigade and Battalion training was undertaken. View - The Battalion Parade 1915 |
| 01/04/1915. | The Battalion next moved to Chelmsford, and here further stages of training were carried out. While at Chelmsford the Battalion went to Epping for several weeks to dig a trench system, which formed part of the outer defences of London. On returning to Chelmsford the Division was inspected by Earl Kitchener. During this period the Battalion moved between Chelmsford and Epping until - |
| 19/02/1916. | The Division moved to Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire. for final stages of its training for active service overseas The Battalion reached Tidworth and it's quarters at Parkhouse Camp in wintery conditions with deep snow, and intensive training continued until - |
| 00/05/1916. | A party of 2/5th Gloucesters photographed on their last leave from the plain before proceeding to the Front View - 2/5th Gloucesters on Final Furlough 1916 |
| 24/05/1916. | The Battalion (34 Officers & 881 other ranks) left Tidworth by train enroute for France via Southampton and embarked at 6pm on H.M.T 861 Ship which departed at 9.25pm. |
| 25/05/1916. | H.M.T. 861 arrived at Le Havre 4.11am, and Battalion disembarked at 10am, and at 12.27pm marched through the town to rest camp No 2 on the hill. |
| 27/05/1916. | The Battalion again entrained and made a 24hr journey and detrained at the village of Berguette in Flanders only to find they had a seven mile march to reach the village of Le Sart where they were billetted for 2 to 3 days rest. |
| 29/05/1916. | Orders were received View - Front Line Map
for the Battalion to go into the trenches in front of Riez Bailleul. for instruction under the
London Welsh who were occupying that part of the line. Photo of Front Line Trench at Mauguissart looking toward Aubers Ridge |
| 01/06/1916. | From this day until the 7/6/1916 the Battalion were in the trenches for instruction
with 113th Infantry Brigade. Casualties - Killed 2 OR, Wounded 9 OR, Evacuated Sick 4 OR. |
| 08/06/1916. | At 2.30pm the Battalion reformed and marched to billets at Le Sart. |
| 10/06/1916. | At 9.30am the Battalion moved forward to Lavantie in reserve to the 2/1 Bucks until the 15/6/1916 from which the Battalion supplied working parties for the front line and also garrisoned the reserve posts Fort Esquin, Wangerie and Masselot. View - Front Line Map. |
| 15/06/1916. | On this day and until 21/06/1916 the first independent experience of trench duty in the front line was gained, when the 2/5th relieved the 2/1st Bucks in the right subsection Fauquissart-Laventie Section The 2/6th Glosters being on their right and 2/4th Oxfords on their left. |
| 17/06/1916. | Casualties-Wounded 1 OR |
| 19/06/1916. | Casualties-Killed 1 Officer. |
| 20/06/1916. | Casualties-Killed 1 OR |
| 20/06/1916. | 10.30pm A raiding party went out.
View - Raid Secret Orders Unfortunately after the
raiding party had gone over the top it was held up by the wire which was found to have been
insufficiently cut. The party was thus exposed to ruthless machine-gun fire from the enemy and was
eventually compelled to return to its own trenches. they suffered heavy casualties. Killed 5 OR, Died of Wounds 1 OR, Wounded 3 Officers, 13 OR. and Missing 4 OR. |
| 21/06/1916. | The Battalion was relieved by the 2/1st Bucks and returned to billets in Laventie. |
| 26/06/1916. | The Battalion was Inspected by Brigadier-General C H P Carter 184th Inf Bde and read a message from Corps Commander. |
| 27/06/1916. | The Battalion was again in the
trenches and relieved the 2/1 Bucks. Casualties-Killed 1 OR. |
| 28/06/1916. | This was the day Pte W C Niblett
was wounded. Casualties-Killed 1 OR, Wounded 4 OR. |
| 29/06/1916. | He was admitted to casualty clearing station with Face, Back & Leg wounds. |
| 01/07/1916. | Was admitted to 9RC Hospital at Calais, France. |
| 09/07/1916. | Was transported back to England via Calais aboard the SS Newhaven. |
| 10/07/1916. | Was admitted into 2nd Northern General Hospital, Leicester. |
| 29/08/1917. | Discharged from hospital after 396 days treatment. |
| 09/09/1917. | He rejoined his unit at Perham Down Camp, Andover, Hampshire. |
| 11/10/1917. | Was admitted to Butteraut Military Hospital with Septic Face Wound. |
| 27/10/1917. | Discharged after 19 days treatment. |
| 18/03/1918. | Posted to 4th (R) Gloster Regiment at Hartley. (Category A3). new number 241044 |
| 28/03/1918. | He was posted back to France via Southampton, Folkstone and Boulogne. |
| 31/03/1918. | Was transferred to the Worcestershire Regiment and posted to the 3rd Battalion and allotted New Number 235386. |
| 01/04/1918. | He joined the 3rd Battalion at "Aldershot Camp" Nr Neuve Eglise, Flanders, Belgium. |
| 02/04/1918. | On this day the 74th Brigade moved forward to the front line and took over the Le Touquet trenches facing Warneton, the 3rd Worcesters relieving the Australian 27th Battalion. |
| 05/04/1918. | The Battalion was relieved by the 8th Border Regiment and returned to "Aldershot Camp" for resting and refitting for the next three nights and days. |
| 09/04/1918. | The Battle of the Lys.
began and at 12.45pm orders were received to move at once to a concentration area at Steenwerck. 3.45pm The Battalion was ordered to a position on the north bank of River Lys with its right at H2c1.9.(map sheet 85 ref) & left on Erquinghem-Lys bridge. 4.30pm The Battalion moved off, and first came under machine gun fire at L'Hallobeau. Few casualties resulted owing to fire being high. The Battalion got into position about 6pm with A, B & C Companies in the front line & D Company in reserve. Elements of the 34th Division were in front on the left but they failed to get in touch on the right owing to the 11th Lancashire Fusiliers being held up at Croix Du Bac. 6.30pm D company was sent to support 11th Lancashire Fusiliers who were attacking Croix Du Bac. |
| 10/04/1918. | 2am in conjunction with the
11th Lancashire Fusiliers who were attacking Croix Du Bac, the battalion made good Berkshire,
Sussex & Lancashire Posts. During the night 2 prisoners were captured. 10.35am The right flank of the battalion had to be drawn back from Berkshire & Sussex Posts owing to the enemy working their way round the right flank. Thus owing to the enemy advancing in force round the right flank the battalion had to withdraw & took up new position with left on L'Hallobeau. From this position severe casualties were inflicted on the enemy by Lewis gun & rifle fire. 2.30pm The battalion again had to withdraw & took up position on the Steenwerck - Armentieres railway, with right on Steenwerck Station. 6pm the enemy came along the railway from Trois Arbres and attacked the left flank capturing Lt H V Richards the battalion Lewis Gun Officer. The position now became untenable owing to enfilade machine gun fire. The battalion withdrew about 300yds and took up position on the right of the 88th Brigade and got in touch with the 4th Worcestershire Regiment. The Battalion then became support to the 74th Brigade following Officer casualties which occurred during the day. |
| 11/04/1918. | During the night the pressure
had ceased and the machine gun fire had become less. 8.30am The battalion advanced to attack Steenwerck. Very heavy machine gun fire was encountered & owing to both flanks of the Brigade being attacked, the battalion at 2pm, had to withdraw to a line of a light railway astride the Stilbecque and the battalion held this line for the rest of the day. |
| 12/04/1918. | The battalion held the line of the light railway all day dispersing the enemy patrols by Lewis gun & rifle fire. |
| 13/04/1918. | Precautionary orders were received
from Brigade to the effect that in the case of withdrawal the Brigade would rendez-vous at Mont De
Lille At 12noon The battalion evacuated its position owing to critical situation on the flanks, and commenced marching to Mont De Lille. This was when Pte. W. C. Niblett was admitted to the 64th casualty clearing station with a face wound again, and was then admitted to a Base General Hospital. |
| 19/04/1918. | He was transfered from Base General Hospital to England via Rouen aboard the Army Transport ferry Carrisbrook Castle to Southampton. |
| 20/04/1918. | He was admitted into the Casualty Clearing Station at Eastleigh Hampshire and was transported after 19 days to the 2nd Southern General Hospital at Bristol and received treatment for 79 days. |
| 21/08/1918. | He rejoined his unit at the Command depot Sutton Coldfield. |
| 15/11/1918. | He was Posted to the 7th Reserve Battalion. (Category A3) |
| 02/03/1919. | He was discharged from the Army, because his Battalion was disembodied. |
| He was awarded the Great War, and Victory Medals. |
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