Both died from the same shell
THROUGHOUT the centenary of the First World War, we have been remembering the soldiers from the Loughborough area who lost their lives while serving their country.
Here, with the help of Marigold Cleeve and a small number of researchers from the Loughborough Carillon Tower and War Memorial Museum, we look back at more of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in August 1917.
Thomas Fergus Christopher Bonser.
Thomas Fergus Christopher Bonser, known as ‘Fergus’, was born in Rothley, Leicestershire, in 1893, the son of Alfred Bonser and his wife Annie Sarah (née Bishop).
Fergus’ parents were married at All Saints Church, Loughborough, on 19th September 1891.
Fergus’ father was an ironmonger when he married, but by 1901 had become a greengrocer and by 1911 was working as a carter for a brickmaker. Fergus had a younger sister Zillah and a younger brother Alfred. Another sister Annie died young.
The Bonser family firstly lived at 24 Albert Street, Loughborough, but later moved to 41 Paget Street.
Fergus attended the Emmanuel Church Bible Class and at the age of 17 was working as a brickyard labourer for Messrs. Tucker.
He was subsequently employed at the Falcon Works of the Brush Electrical Engineering Company.
Fergus joined the 1/5th Leicestershire Regiment as Private 3534 and was renumbered in 1917 as Private 241241.
His exact date of enlistment is not known as his service papers have not survived but it is likely to have been in late 1914 or early 1915.
He was sent to France on 30th June 1915 to join his battalion in the area of Zillebeke, south-east of Ypres.
From July to September 1915 the battalion remained in the area of Zillebeeke and Ouderdom, before moving to Hesdigneul-lès- Béthune in October, La Couture in November and Merville and Thienne in December.
In mid-February 1916 the 1/5th Battalion took over the line north of the River Ancre opposite Beaumont-Hamel.
On 29th February the battalion moved to the area of Doullens where the men worked on improving the trenches despite being subjected to a considerable bombardment from the enemy with mines and craters being blown. From 9th March 1916 the 1/5th Leicesters were in the area of Vimy Ridge, Pas de Calais, either in the front line, in support, in reserve or at rest.
On 4th June 1916 the battalion was moved up to trenches near Gommecourt. This was followed by further training at Warlincourt.
On 30th June the battalion assembled in a trench near Foncquevillers Church ready for the diversionary attack at Gommecourt on the first day of the Somme Offensive planned for 1st July. On 1st July 1916 the 46th Division of the Army, of which the 1/5th Leicesters were part, had 2,445 casualties at Gommecourt.
The battalion remained in the area of Monchy-auBois until 29th October, either in the trenches or resting at Bienvillers or Pommier.
On 17th March they moved into Gommecourt for road mending before moving to Bertrancourt, Raincheval and then Rainvillers not far from Amiens. On 28th March the battalion marched to Saleux, entrained for Lillers in the north, and marched to Laires.
On 29th April the battalion went into rest billets in cellars at Cité St. Pierre until 3rd May when they went into support trenches.
Further trench tours south-west of Lens followed until 26th May when the battalion went into billets at Marqueffles Farm for training in bayonet fighting and bombardment and to practise methods of attack.
On 6th June the battalion was back in the line and on 8th June went into the attack, suffering 96 casualties.
On 21st June C Coy was accidentally gassed by the Royal Engineers, resulting in 94 casualties of whom 22 died.
On 27th June the battalion moved up to the line ready to attack on the following day.
As they climbed out of the trenches on 28th June they met with the inevitable machine gun fire and over the next two days 60 Ordinary Ranks were killed.
Moving to Noyelles the battalion went into the trenches on 15th August.
On the way up to the trenches an enemy shell landed by one party of soldiers, killing 11 men instantly and wounding 14.
Fergus, aged 24, was one of those killed.
The news was sent in a letter from his Lieutenant, who wrote regretting the sad news, saying that ‘Fergus had been with the bat- talion a long time and was well liked by his comrades, and was a good and willing soldier, who died a soldier’s death.
“The whole company joined in offering their deepest sympathy with the family in their loss’.
Mr. and Mrs. Bonser also received a letter of sympathy from the Chaplain to the Battalion.
Fergus was buried in Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe, Grave I. U. 39. He is remembered on the memorial in Emmanuel Church, Loughborough, and on the Carillon.
The sole legatee to Fergus’ estate was Florence Kenton, whose identity is unknown.
Samuel Halford Hartland.
Samuel Halford Hartland was born in Aston, Birmingham in 1882.
He was the elder son of Samuel Hartland, a bricklayer, and his wife Sarah Ann (née Halford) who were married on 2nd July 1873 at the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Aston.
Samuel Junior had one brother William and one sister Martha. Between 1891 and 1901 the family lived at 52 Francis Street, Aston.
After Samuel’s mother died in 1908 his father moved to ‘Hartville’, Hewlett Road, Cheltenham.
Samuel Junior, a bricklayer like his father, came to work in Loughborough and lived in the Leicester Road, Shepshed.
On 11th September 1905 Samuel Junior married Rose Hannah Price at St. Botolph’s Church, Shepshed. Samuel and Rose set up home at 10 Rosebery Street, Loughborough, and soon had three daughters Esther, Edith and Beatrice.
Samuel secured employment as a labourer at the Falcon Works and became well known as a pianist and humourist in the town.
Between 1911 and 1914 Samuel’s younger brother William obtained employment at the Empress Works and came to live with Samuel and his family in Rosebery Street.
Samuel was a member of the local Territorials and was mobilised on the outbreak of war.
As Private 2026 (later renumbered as 240344) in the 1/5th Leicestershire Regiment he was sent to Bishop’s Stortford and then Luton for training. On 25th February 1915 the battalion was ordered to entrain at Harlow for Southampton.
They landed at Le Havre three days later, having encountered very rough seas.
For the whole of April they were in trenches near Wulverghem and subjected to continual sniping by the enemy.
January 1916 was taken up with a potential move of Samuel’s battalion to Egypt which was aborted at Marseilles, the battalion being returned to Candas, and the area of Vimy Ridge.
In mid-February 1916 the 1/5th Battalion took over the line north of the River Ancre opposite Beaumont-Hamel.
From 9th March 1916 the 1/5th Leicesters were in the area of Vimy Ridge, Pas de Calais, either in the front line, in support, in reserve or at rest.
On 4th June 1916 the battalion was moved up to trenches near Gommecourt. This was followed by further training at Warlincourt.
During this time Samuel was allowed some home leave.
On 30th June the battalion assembled in a trench near Foncquevillers Church ready for the diversionary attack at Gommecourt on the first day of the Somme Offensive planned for 1st July.
On 1st July 1916 the 46th Division of the Army, of which the 1/5th Leicesters were part, had 2,445 casualties at Gommecourt.
The battalion remained in the area of Monchy-auBois until 29th October. Its next move was to Millencourt for intensive battle training, returning to Halloy and then Souastre at the beginning of December.
Further trench tours south-west of Lens followed until 26th May when the battalion went into billets at Marqueffles Farm for training in bayonet fighting and bombardment and to practise methods of attack.
On 6th June the battalion was back in the line and on 8th June went into the attack, suffering 96 casualties.
Apart from two breaks at Red Mill from 9th-13th and 18th-20th June the battalion was in the trenches until 22nd June.
On 21st June C Coy was accidentally gassed by the Royal Engineers, resulting in 94 casualties of whom 22 died.
Back at Marqueffles Farm from 22nd the battalion had Lewis gun and signalling classes as well as attack training over a flagged course. On 27th June the battalion moved up to the line ready to attack on the following day.
As they climbed out of the trenches on 28th June they met with the inevita- ble machine gun fire and over the next two days 60 Ordinary Ranks were killed.
Moving to Noyelles the battalion went into the trenches on 15th August.
On the way up to the trenches an enemy shell landed by one party of soldiers, killing 11 men instantly and wounding 14.
Samuel, aged 35, was one of those wounded.
He died the same day and was buried in Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe, Grave I. U. 50.
Samuel had been due to come home on his second leave the day after he died.
His widow first received intimation in a letter from a comrade, who sent home a photograph of his wife and three children, which Pte. Hartland was carrying at the time.
The Captain of Samuel’s company wrote to his wife as follows: ‘It is with great distress that I have to tell you of the death of your husband, Pte. Hartland, while in action.
“Over a week our battalion was in action and your husband was hit. I saw him when he was being carried down to the dressing station on a stretcher, and he spoke to me. I asked him if he was badly hit, and he said no, only it was difficult to breathe freely.
“Later in the dressing station he held up bravely, telling the doctors not to attend to him as there were others more badly hit than he.
“Personally I was struck by his coolness and courage, I think he was perfectly fine. Very soon afterwards he passed away.
“I have known him ever since he has been in my company, and have always found him a most reliable and excellent fellow.
“He was one of those men that one cannot spare. Please accept my deepest sympathy in your great trouble’.
Samuel is remembered on the memorial in the former St. Peter’s Church building, Loughborough, as well as on the Carillon.
His only brother William had been killed in action four months previously.