30/12/1914 Further recruits for the 8th (Reserve) Battalion Around 20 men were enrolled into the 8th (Reserve) Battalion between Christmas and New Year 1914. Some of these men remained with this unit and served overseas from May 1916 onwards, others were posted to the 1/8th Battalion and became part of the first draft to this unit. These men included 3614 Pte James Langford. He was the son of Charles Langford and husband of Rose Langford (nee Allport) of 4 Raglan Street, Barbourne, Worcester. He served with the 1/8th Battalion from November 1915. He was gassed on 20th July 1916 on whilst repairing a section of the Albert-Pozieres Road. After recuperating at Cayeux on the French coast, he returned to the unit on 6th December 1916. The following year he was transferred to the Royal Engineers and spent the remainder of the war with 318 Road Construction Company. He was demobilised in April 1919. 3624 Thomas Bishop and 3625 Thomas Rea both remained with the 2/8th Battalion. Bishop was born in Worcester in 1895 and was the son of Frederick Henry and Annie Bishop of 33 McIntyre Road in the city. Thomas Rea was also born in Worcester, a year earlier in 1894, the son of Edwin and Louisa Rea of 7 Stevenson Road. Both men served with D Company, 2/8th Worcesters. On the night of 20-21st March 1918 these men were in positions behind the front line near St Quentin known as Squash Valley. (see map) These men were designed to launch a counter attack if the Germans attacked. However, when German forces opened the first day of their Spring Offensive on the morning of the 21st March, a heavy fog lay over the ground. Trained assault troops infiltrated the British line. On the left flank the scattered posts in the front line could not prevent the enemy from advancing direct into Fayet village. Two platoons of ‘D’ Company in Fayet village were likewise overwhelmed. The rest of ‘D’ Company were waiting in Squash Valley for orders to make a counter attack. But no such orders were possible in the mist and the general uncertainty. In the centre of the attacking enemy reached a position called Fig Wood. There a lookout post commanded by Corporal A V Wells met their advance. The brave corporal telephoned back a warning to the Battalion HQ at Ellis Redoubt before he was killed: one of his men escaped and reached the redoubt. From Fig Wood and Fayet village the enemy poured down into Squash Valley. In a few minutes ‘D’ Company was fighting desperately against attacks from all sides. The defence was continued until the two platoons were entirely surrounded. Then headed by Captain W Hall MC, the remnant of ‘D’ Company, charged with the bayonet down the valley, broke through the surrounding enemy and, aided by the mist, won their way through to Ellis Redoubt. Pte Bishop and L/Cpl Rea were taken prisoner and were held in Langensalza and Quedlinburg until the war was over. Many prisoners of war were put to work in harsh circumstances and returned sick. Possibly as a result of his captivity, Thomas Bishop died young in 1926 aged only 30. Thomas Rea died in Worcester in 1969, aged 74.
Posted on: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 17:50:00 +0000
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