Killed in action aged 21 in attack across the river
Father was a letterpress printer
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 October and November 1918.
Charles William J. Bugden was born in Ulcombe, Kent, in 1882 and baptised at All Saints Church, Ulcombe, on 26th November 1882. He was the son of William Bugden, a farm labourer, and his wife Mary Jane (known as ‘Polly’, née Price) who were married on 27th October 1877 at the Ebenezer Chapel, Sutton Valence, Kent.
Charles had three brothers William, James and Harry and two sisters Alice and Rosa. Another sister Grace died in infancy. In 1891 the family lived at Pie Corner Road, Ulcombe, but then moved to Baker’s Farm, Ulcombe. Charles’s parents later at Walnut Tree Cottage, East Sutton, Maidstone, Kent.
On 12th March 1901 Charles enlisted and joined the 3rd (Militia) Battalion of the East Kent Regiment (the Buffs) as Private 6239. He completed 49 days drill on enlistment and on 7th July 1902 was embodied (became full-time). On 28th July 1902, however, he purchased his discharge.
On 20th April 1905 he married Bessie Rose in Ulcombe and he and Bessie had three daughters Annie, Beatrice and Charlotte. In 1911 Charles was a farm labourer and was living with his wife and family at Hermitage Cottage, Barming, Kent.
By 1914 he had changed his occupation to ‘Engine driver’ and at some point between 1914 and 1918 Charles’ wife and daughters moved to 34 Moor Lane, Loughborough.
Charles, a Reservist, reenlisted at Maidstone on 10th August 1914. On 21st August 1914 he was posted as Private 9199 to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion of The Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). This was a depot/training unit which moved on mobilisation to Chatham.
On 29th November 1914 he was transferred to A Corps. On 10th March 1915 Charles was promoted to Lance Corporal and to Corporal on 25th May 1015. In October 1915 he was again promoted to Lance Sergeant and then Sergeant. In June 1916 Charles spent eleven days in Chiseldon Military Hospital near Swindon with an abrasion to his face.
On 20th December 1917 Charles was sent to France and on Christmas Day 1917 was posted to the 1/4th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment as Sergeant 41087. At the time the battalion was in the line near Beuvry.
Relieved on Boxing Day the battalion moved to Annequin and provided carrying and working parties.
The period from 1st to 18th-January 1918 included two trench tours in the Cambrin sector, rest and training at Beuvry, and working parties to clear the communication trenches at Annequin of snow and water.
On 19th January the battalion moved to billets in the tobacco factory at Béthune and from there, on the following day, marched to Mont-Bernanchon. Here training on any large scale was impossible as the ground was under cultivation or water but a certain amount of arms drill and musketry training was carried out. The battalion received orders to work on wiring for the Royal Engineers but this did not begin until 25th as the materials had not arrived. Wiring continued until 1st February when the battalion marched to Busnes.
Training and reorganisation took place at Busnes until 8th February when the battalion marched to Westrehem. The battalion was now ordered to seize the crossing of the River Lys between Delette and Dennebroeucq. This was done and the battalion moved to Coyecque to continue training until 1st March.
On 1st March the battalion began a four-day move via Flechin, Manqueville and Noeux-lesMines to the trenches in the Cambrin south sector.
On 7th March they shot down an enemy propaganda balloon which contained a copy of Gazette des Ardennes. Several days in Brigade support at Annequin and SaillyLabourse followed when the men provided working parties.
After this there was a return to the trenches in the Cambrin north sector where they were shelled by the enemy. Following a break at Beuvry the battalion went into the front line in the Hohenzollern sector. Here they were heavily trenchmortared by the enemy who endeavoured to break through the front. As the enemy was now expected to attack between Hill 70 and La Bassée the battalion was ordered to move to the Hill 70 sector. Relieved on 6th April the battalion moved to Les Brebis for a rest and to provide working parties. Returning to brigade support on 9th April the battalion suffered an enemy gas attack.
After a brief return to the front line the battalion was relieved on 12th April and began a three-day move to Bois de Froissart Camp, Hersin, where a large number of men were sent to hospital suffering from influenza.
On 26th April the battalion marched to Fouquières and into brigade support near Essars which was shelled on 29th and 30th April.
During the night of the 2nd/3rd May the battalion relieved the 5th Lincolnshires in the left sub-sector of Essars. On 4th May the enemy put down a heavy barrage and two Ordinary Ranks were killed and 120 wounded.
On 6th May the battalion was relieved and marched to Vaudricourt where the men attended a workshop for repairs to boots and clothing and their rifles and Lewis guns were inspected by the Armourer Sergeant.
On 9th May the battalion, now in Divisional reserve, was ordered to move into position north of the Béthune-Beuvry road as an attack was expected.
When the attack did not happen the battalion returned briefly to Vaudricourt before going into the front and support line trenches in the Gorre left sub-sector. While they were there the battalion headquarters was hit by enemy gas bombs and all the Officers and men there were affected. On 18th May the battalion returned to Vaudricourt. Men who had been in contact with gas went to the Field Ambulance to have their clothes disinfected in a Thresh disinfector and some men were sent to hospital. Back at Vaudricourt there were lectures on gas and tests in a gas chamber.
The battalion returned to the support trenches in the Gorre sector on 24th May and on the following day at one point enemy gas shells fell every two or three minutes, forcing the men to wear their gas masks. The trench tour ended on 30th May after some heavy enemy trench mortaring and machine gun fire.
During June the battalion completed trench tours in the front and support lines at Essars where they experienced further enemy gas shell attacks.
When the front was quieter they provided working, salvage and carrying parties, repaired a light railway, improved their positions and sent out patrols. While resting at Vaudricourt all their gas respirators were tested at the Gas Hut, Verquin, and a sports and horse show took place.
On 11th July the battalion was back in the trenches in support in the Gorre left sub-sector, providing working and carrying parties for the forward area. On 17th July they moved to the Gorre right sub-sector. Relieved on 21st the battalion went to Vaudricourt for a week’s training and sports before returning to the Gorre right subsector until 4th August.
From 4th-8th August the battalion provided salvage parties during the day and working parties at night and from 9th-14th August was at Vaudricourt for training and sports.
Two more trench tours took place towards the end of August, during which there were signs that the enemy was retiring and the battalion pushed forward. The month ended with four days training.
Following another trench tour and five days training the battalion entrained on 12th September for Méricourt l’Abbé where a tactical scheme was practised.
On 18th September the battalion marched to Ribemont, travelled by bus to Estrées and marched to Tertry. While moving to the line near Tertry the battalion was badly bombed by enemy planes. At the front line they were shelled and on the receiving end of harassing enemy fire.
The battalion then took part in a series of attacks – on Pontruet on 24th September, on Pike Wood on 27th September, and on Bellenglise and Magny-laFosse on 29th September.
On 1st and 2nd October they held the line before Magny-la-Fosse and on 3rd October took part in a Divisional attack on the Fonsomme line, Ramicourt and Montbrehain.
During the attack on 3rd October Charles was shot in the head. He was taken to No. 53 Casualty Clearing Station at Roisel and then to No. 6 General Hospital at Rouen.
He died of his wounds on 28th October 1918, aged 36.
He was buried in St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, Grave S. III. C. 6.
Charles is remembered on the Ulcombe War Memorial, Kent, as of the Royal West Kent Regiment.
After Charles died his widow and daughters left Loughborough and returned to Ulcombe.
George Rue.
George Rue was born in Loughborough in 1899 and baptised on 10th May 1899 at All Saints Church, Loughborough.
He was the natural son of Sarah Rue. In 1901 George was living with his mother and grandparents George and Annie Rue at 76 Wood Gate, Loughborough, and his mother was working at home as a maker up of military pants.
After George’s grandfather died in January 1910 his mother and grandmother moved with George to 79 Wood Gate and took in a lodger George Edward Johnson, a fruit and potato salesman.
In 1911 George’s mother was working as a fruiterer and florist. George’s grandmother Annie died in early 1917.
George’s service record has not survived but it is known that he joined the Yorkshire Regiment as Private 43628, probably in the spring of 1917. He then transferred to the Machine Gun Corps as Private 144841 and joined their 32nd Battalion.
The date when George was sent abroad is unknown.
In February 1918 the 14th, 96th, 97th and 219th Machine Gun Companies were withdrawn from the Infantry and reorganised into the 32nd Battalion of the Machine Gun Corps.
The movements of this new 32nd Battalion are documented in the battalion’s war diary which runs from February 21st 1918 onwards. The reorganisation took place at Boesinghe Camp, West Flanders.
The new battalion had 45 Officers and 793 Other Ranks. Between 21st and 25th February organisation of the companies and guns took place before the battalion moved to Dekort Camp (afterwards renamed Richmond Camp) on 26th February.
On 27th February the battalion’s guns cooperated with the infantry in a very successful raid on Houthulst Forest. The battalion remained based at Richmond Camp until 27th March, taking part in Divisional action as required. On 26th March A Coy entrained at Elverd-
inghe for Aubigny and marched to Wanqueten and on 28th March the rest of the battalion entrained for Lattre St. Quentin, while A Coy moved to Ransart before going into reserve at Adinfer. The battalion went into the front line on 31st March, with the battalion HQ at Humbercamps.
At 2.00am on 3rd April the battalion supported the infantry in the capture of Ayette, firing 31,000 rounds and at 9.30pm opened fire again in support of the infantry holding Ayette.
From 5th to 24th April the battalion was continuously in action firing on enemy aircraft and delivering harassing fire. On 26th April the battalion moved to billets at Saulty and Bienvillers.
Training then took place at Saulty until 11th May when the battalion went into action on the front line near Bretencourt and was in action every day.
On 23rd May the battalion HQ moved to Gastineau and regular firing continued until the end of June. There were one or two casualties in the battalion nearly every day.
At the beginning of July battalion headquarters moved to Berles-au-Bois. On 6th and 7th July all companies were relieved and moved to billets in Saulty until 7th July.
On 18th July the battalion moved by train to Proven into GHQ Reserve and continued training until 5th August. On 7th August the battalion entrained at Proven for Hengist and proceeded by bus to Gentelle Wood and on 10th and 11th August supported a major attack in the Battle of Amiens.
After several days rest the battalion moved on 18th August to the area of Villers-Brettoneaux and returned to action. On 23rd August the battalion took part in the Battle of Albert and remained in action until 27th August when the enemy began to retreat. At the beginning of September the battalion continued in action as the infantry made attempts to bridge the Somme but were held back by enemy fire.
At the beginning of September the Allied infantry persisted in their push forward to a line east of Mancourt and Vraignes, west of Tertry and east of Monchy-Lagache. On 10th September the battalion supported the 97th Brigade in an attack on Marteville and Attily. On 14th and 15th September the battalion was relieved and proceeded to La Neuville. Training took place there and at Valley Woods, near Estrées, until 27th September.
On 28th September the battalion marched to Le Verguier trench to cover an attack on the Hindenburg line on the following day, after which the battalion HQ moved to Magny-la-Fosse.
On 3rd October the battalion was involved in an attack on Mannequin Hill and in operations at Chataignes Wood and Sequehart. On 6th and 7th October the battalion moved via Vendelles to Bouvincourt for training until 17th October.
After two days at Bellenglise the battalion moved to Bohain.
On 22nd and 23rd October A and C Coys carried out barrages from St. Souplet while B and D Coys practised tactics and built emplacements. Until 30th October all Coys then carried out emplacement building and gun and arms drill.
On 30th October D Coy moved forward to St. Souplet and A Coy moved up to the front line. On 31st October the battalion HQ moved to Bazuel, B Coy moved to St. Souplet and C Coy joined A Coy in the front line.
On 1st November B Coy moved to a barrage position at Bazuel and George, aged 19, was killed in action on this day.
He was buried in St. Souplet British Cemetery, Grave I. C. 4.
On 24th April 1920 George’s mother married George Edward Johnson at Emmanuel Church, Loughborough.
Both bride and groom were living at 5 Victoria Street, Loughborough.
George Archie Turner
George Archie Turner was born in 1897 in Loughborough and baptised at All Saints Church, Loughborough, on 8th December 1897. He was the son of Edmund Turner and his wife Elizabeth (née Gretton) who were married in Loughborough in 1895.
When George was born his parents were living with his grandmother Emily Coltman (formerly Turner, née Fisher) and her second husband Alfred Coltman at 38 Cambridge Street and George’s father was a letterpress printer.
By 1901 George’s father was an electrical store keeper, but by 1911 he had returned to printing and he and Elizabeth had moved with their children to 12 Waxholme Road, Withernsea, Yorkshire.
They later moved to 56 Charles Street, Crosland Cove, Huddersfield, and then to 15 Harriet Street, Derby. George had two brothers William and Percy.
George attended Church Gate School in Loughborough and after he moved with his parents to Huddersfield he became a wool fettler. He enlisted on 10th July 1916 in Huddersfield and joined the Duke of Wellington’s ( West Riding) Regiment as Private 5859 (later renumbered as 267615).
After initial training he was sent to France on 24th October 1916 to join the 1/6th Battalion of the regiment.
When George joined the battalion it was in the trenches near Fonquevillers. Relieved on 30th October, half the battalion went to huts in Souastre to provide working parties and half remained in billets in Fonquevillers.
During November the battalion completed three trench tours near the Gommecourt road-La Bravelle road with training breaks at Souastre. On 6th and 7th December they moved via Warlincourt to Halloy.
At Halloy the battalion practised drill and bayonet fighting, was fitted with new box respirators, and worked for the Royal Engineers at Mondicourt.
They also played football. Christmas dinner included ham, beans and potatoes and Xmas pudding with rum sauce, as well as a bottle of English beer, chocolate, and a cigar for each soldier.
Training resumed on Boxing Day and continued until 6th January 1917 when the battalion moved into Brigade reserve at Humbercamps.
During January the battalion did three more trench tours amid heavy snow, with breaks at Berles-au-Bois and Humbercamps. Men also saw a performance by ‘ The Tykes’ at Bavincourt.
On 1st and 2nd February the battalion moved to Rivière to go into nearby trenches. Two periods in Divisional reserve at Bailleulval and Simencourt for training and two more trench tours followed.
Between 27th February and 8th March the battalion moved via St. Amand, Halloy, Bouquemaison to Doullens where they entrained for Merville and marched to Bout de Ville.
On 9th March they went into the trenches in the Bois sector, not far from Neuve Chapelle. Here they suffered two days of heavy enemy bombardment before moving into support at Croix Barbée. While in support they practised attack formation and provided working parties.
At the end of March the battalion wired the front line.
During April, while on trench tours, the battalion was on the receiving end of enemy artillery and aeroplane activity, including trench mortars, gas shells and Minenwerfers. Breaks included training in warfare tactics and gas drill.
On 20th April the battalion commemorated its two years in France with sports at Croix Barbée and special food, each man being given two eggs, a tin of potted meat and French bread bought out of Regimental funds.
During May there were more trench tours interspersed with training.
Between 29th May and 12th June the battalion was at Le Paradis for open warfare practice, drill, bayonet fighting and sessions on a rifle range.
A two-day trench tour near Laventie followed, after which the battalion marched via Béthune and Sailly-Labourse to the trenches in the St. Elie right sub-sector. Here an elaborate system of tunnels afforded excellent protection from the bombs, trench mortars, Minenwerfers and shells which fell each day. Relieved on 26th June the battalion moved to Philosophe in Brigade reserve for working parties, training and inspections.
On 30th June the battalion began a move to Le Grand Pacquot, near Merville, where training continued until 12th July. They then entrained at Merville for Dunkerque and marched to a camp on the dunes between Fort Mardick and St. Pol. Training in a tactical scheme took place on the dunes and sands.
On 18th July they marched to Bray-Dunes and then moved to Ghyvelde. The battalion was then employed on tunnelling work at Oost-Dunkerque and Nieuport and on working parties at railheads and dumps.
On 3rd August one group from the battalion moved to Brigade reserve in the Lombartzyde sector with two platoons in trenches on the canal bank near Nieuport while the rest of the battalion moved into Nieuport amid artillery fire and mustard gas shells.
On 6th August 39 men were sent to hospital suffering from gas poisoning. Raiding parties across the canal caused another 33 casualties and attempts to cut the enemy’s wires were unsuccessful.
After the enemy released more gas shells and shelled Redan and the canal bridges the battalion was withdrawn to Croxyde-les-Bains to work on coastal defences.
At the end of August the battalion moved to La Panne for operations in the dunes, training, musketry competitions and football.
On 23rd September the battalion began a twelveday march via Wormhoudt, Broxelle, Ebblinghem and Poperinghe to Warrington Camp near Vlamertinghe.
On 5th October they moved to the front line where waterlogged shell-holes were the only accommodation. Here they cleared the battlefield and buried the dead.
On 9th October they took part in the Battle of Poelcappelle, incurring 51 casualties. Relieved on the night of 10th/11th they moved to X Camp, St. Jean, only to be sent back to the battlefield on 13th to bring in the wounded.
After X Camp was shelled the battalion moved firstly to Vlamertinghe and then to Steenvoorde and finally to Zillebeke to provide working parties and undergo training until 18th November.
On 19th November the battalion returned to the line (which consisted of posts and shell-holes) at Molenaarelsthoek, just over the Brodseinde Ridge.
On 23rd, when they moved into support at Polygonveld the whole area was heavily shelled. Relieved on 28th November they marched to Devonshire Camp near Reninghelst. From here they provided working parties for the 9th Tramway Company near Vlamertinghe and for the Royal Engineers.
On 7th December the battalion moved to Hussar Camp, Potijze, before beginning a lengthy trench tour at Niewemolen, where they were constantly shelled.
After a break at Vancouver Camp the battalion returned to the trenches for Christmas, during which enemy artillery and aeroplanes were very active.
The New Year of 1918 was spent in Dragoon Camp and the rest of January partly in the Canal area and partly at Devonshire and Horseshoe Camps for working parties on the Corps line.
At the end of the month the battalion marched to Brandhoek, entrained for Caëstre and proceeded to Hondeghem. Three weeks were spent there and at Moulle for training, lectures and demonstrations.
On 21st February the battalion marched to Caëstre, entrained for Ypres and moved into the trenches in the Judge sector.
March and early April included two more trench tours in the Judge sector where the battalion was heavily shelled and the enemy attempted to enter the battalion’s trenches but were repulsed.
A break between tours was taken at Maui Camp. After three days in the Reserve area of the Polderhoek sub-sector the battalion transferred on 5th April to Otago Camp near Lille Gate, Ypres, for rapid firing practice and work for the Royal Engineers.
On 10th April the battalion moved by bus to Le Veau and took up an assembly position at L’Epinette crossroads. After the whole area was heavily shelled the battalion moved across to the Nieppe defences but was attacked by machine guns and the battalion’s trenches were invaded by the enemy.
After eventually driving the enemy off the battalion was ordered to a position south of Bailleul. On 12th April the battalion made another spirited attack on the enemy before being relieved and moving to a farm near Saint-Jans-Cappel. A new line was dug but the enemy continued to shell the entire area for several days.
The battalion was then withdrawn to west of Mont Noir and then to Poperinghe, which the enemy also then shelled.
On 25th April the battalion was taken by bus to Ouderdom and ordered to take over the line near Millekruisse crossroads.
After two days of heavy bombardments the enemy attacked in the Kemmel Hill area but was repulsed.
Casualties in April numbered 455 men.
During the first three weeks of May the battalion was in a road camp at St. Jan-ter-Biezen for training, with three days near St. Omer for firing practice.
On 22nd May they marched to Peterborough and Pekin Camps, Proven, for four days’ digging on the Poperinghe line.
Training at Hooge Cabaret was halted on 1st June when the area was shelled and on 3rd June the battalion entrained at Pugwash Siding, near Proven, for Mission Siding near Vlamertinghe Chateau.
They then proceeded through heavy gas shell fire to the trenches near Menin Gate, Ypres. The battalion was then hit by an outbreak of influenza with a number of men being sent to hospital. From 20th-30th June the battalion was at Orillia Camp to carry out work on the lines at Vlamertinghe and for training.
In July the battalion was in Reserve in the Ypres sector and worked on the Kaaie defences and Bellewaarde Beek. Three trench tours followed, one in the Potijze sector and two in the Brielen line, south of Zillebeeke, in the Ypres sector, with breaks at Orillia Camp. In mid-August they moved to trenches north of the Zonnebeke road and then to Border Camp. On 23rd August the battalion began a six-day move to Pierremont, partly by train and via Mendinghem, Audruicq, Louches, Nortkerque, and Wavranssur-Ternoise. Here they attended a tank demonstration.
On 1st September the battalion travelled by bus to Villers-Cambligneul and marched to L’Estrée-Cauchy for practice in tactics, open and trench to trench attacks and firing of new light signals and smoke grenades. Training continued during September and early October at Duff Camp, at Bois de Berthonval and at Tilloy-lez-Mafflaines.
On 6th October the battalion went by bus to Cagnicourt and marched to the switch of the DrocourtQueant line, where they bivouacked.
Between 9th and 11th October they marched via Sailly and Escaudoeuvres and across country to take up a position in the line east of Naves. Here, on 11th October, they took part in a successful attack on Villers-en-Cauchies but suffered heavy casualties.
As the enemy now began to withdraw the battalion moved to high ground west of Saulzoir before pushing forward to establish bridgehead posts on the River Selle.
On 17th October they were in action again near Saulzoir before being relieved and moving via Naves to Hordain for training. On 27th October they marched to Douchy and proceeded to the line at Famars.
On 1st November 1918 the battalion entered the battle for Valenciennes, attacking across the River Rhonelle. George, aged just 21, who had attained the rank of Lance Corporal and survived so much, was killed in action on this day. He was buried in Maing Communal Cemetery Extension, near Valenciennes, Grave C. 1.
George is commemorated on the Roll of Honour at St. Barnabas’ Church, Crosland Moor, Yorkshire.
George’s brother William, who served with the Royal Artillery, survived the war. His brother Percy was too young to serve.