I'm currently trying to find out about my Great Grandfather Arthur Robert Brightman. It's believed that he joined the Sheffield Pals (he was a coal miner) but was tragically killed when going to the coal mine to say goodbye to his colleagues (a coal truck broke loose & killed him) This happened around March 1916. He was buried at Tinsley Park cemetry. Unfortunately I can find nothing to support this story........
I was born and grew up around Ecclesfield / Grenoside, and have for many years asked about a rumoured landing ground in the Ecclesfield area during WW1.
I think it was mentioned in a popular book a couple of decades ago called 'Action Stations' but i have not been able to find any reference to it in local forums since , and no local history groups can find any record either.
As a pilot (microlight) i want to re-kindle links with old airfield sites, especially from the WW1 era, when flying really was flying.
If ex-sites allow i want to consider visiting them with a microlight aircraft, CAA permitting of course.
Have either of you , or anyone else heard of an Ecclesfield landing ground ?
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Really interesting thread. I'm currently writing a history of Sheffield from the armisitice of 1918 through to the middle of the '20s - exploring how the peace and ensuing trade depression effected the city and how its population responded. The experiences of the ex-servicemen who returned from the conflict are fascinating, and how their ideas and perspectives were shaped by the sights which they had seen and the experiences they had endured.
The reason for this post is to emphasise how powerful the memorials around Serre are, and that anyone interested should take the opportunity to visit. We did so a few weeks ago. Many Sheffielders do visit. The landscape is so quiet and desolate you get the impression nobody has visited for years - the memorial books and comments from visiting Sheffielders show otherwise.
Part of the line is preserved as a memorial wood, which was one of the copses from which the Sheffield and Accrington Lads launched their ill-fated attack. The view towards Serre is a huge ploughed field with a small cemetary in the centre - part of the the no-mans land of the Battle of the Somme. Other cemetaries close by were the final resting places of the rest of the 'lads'. There are various memorials in the wood itself, including a wooden cross built in memory of Albert Bull (I think - I'm writing from memory) who was found in 1928.
Our city memorial in Serre is in need of urgent attention. It looks slightly grimy, the inscription is fading and a small chunk of it has broken away - it would be great if we could get something sorted out. I intend to write to the council etc. The cemetaries are in perfect condition, and much thanks should go to those responisble for their upkeep.
If you're off to France try to visit Serre - the experience will be unforgettable. If anybody would like me to send them digital photos please do not hesitate to pm me.
I have been trying to find a copy of the book
"Sheffield City Battalion" ISBN 0950789275
I have scoured the Internet and put out book searches - all to no avail.
Last week I contacted the publishers Wharncliffe Books. They told me that the book is now out of print - but they would consider reprinting it if enough interest was shown.
They say that 'enough interest' is for 200 people to contact them and register with them. I mailed them again this week to ask how many people had contacted them - only 34 have registered an interest.
Hopefully there are more people out there with an interest in the Sheffield Pals who will contact Pen and Sword at
Wharncliffe Books
47 Church Street
Barnsley
South Yorkshire
S70 2AS
My partner had a copy of this book, and we spent an hour today searching frantically for it ... sadly no luck. One more place to check, (inlaws garage) then we give up.
I've just sent another email to Wharncliffe Books (copy below).
************************************
After reading an article by Anna Smith that was published in the Sheffield
Star on the 89th anniversary of the battle of the Somme, I understand that
Wharncliffe Publishing have said that they hope to reprint the book if
enough interest is generated. According to the article a spokesman said " If
someone enquires about the book we mark it off. So far we've had 50 calls
but about 200 are needed before it is considered."
**************************************
Hello again Katie,
As you know I am very interested in buying a copy of the "Sheffield City Battalion" so I've been trawling around the Internet. The above quote is from a message posted on the ENG-SHEFF forum July 2005.
Can I presume this means that you had the 50 calls referred to in the article in the Sheffield Star PLUS the 34 calls confirmed in the message to me making a grand total of 84..... and counting. Obviously the number of calls can't have gone down between July and October.
Have e-mailed them and encouraged others to do so. You might find it worth mentioning:
- The 90th aniversary next year, which would make it a landmark republication
- The amount of digitalised photos which are now available through surrey st. which could make this a fantastic and visually v.impressive republication.
Hector, thanks for the e.mail address re the hopeful re-publication of Sheffield City Battalion, like others I have searched high and low, even military bookshops in Belgium and France,A re-print would be appropiate for the 90th anniversary next year of the start of the Battle of the Somme, and if anyone is interested the hotels etc and battlefield tour companies are being rapidly booked up for this remembrance occasion.
To walk these battlefields and sites and visit the CWGC cemeteries in the area is something very very special and humbling.
I've just e-mailed Wharncliffe Books again and suggested that they read this thread on the Sheffield Forum. Then they will see for themselves that the "Sheffield Pals" are NOT forgotten.
If anyone out there hasn't already registered with them - please do so soon - it only takes a few minutes but could mean so much.
Just a quick "THANK YOU" to the people who registered their interest in the book "Sheffield City Battalion" with Pen & Sword
I've just had a look on the Pen & Sword webpage. 'Manchester Pals' has been reprinted and 'Accrington Pals' has been re-released due to popular demand.
I wonder if 200 people had to register with Pen & Sword to get those books re-released?
Why did you publish in the Sheffield Star that you'd had 50 contacts back in July? How could the figure go down between July and October? Is somebody having difficulty counting? Or are you saying that the Sheffield Star published incorrect information? Also are you saying that only one person other than myself has registered an interest? I've had emails from more than one other saying that they'd contacted you.
----- Original Message -----
From: Katie
To: Joan Marsden
Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2005 9:00 AM
Subject: Re: Sheffield City Battalion
These fifty are old requests recorded manually on paper and will also be taken into consideration as to a re-print. However my director wants an additional 200 new responses as the old requests include people who have moved away, passed away and some are even been duplicated. The requests I spoke of are the ones stored on e-mail file, I had not opened all of my e-mails this morning when I responded to you and did not have all of the other responses open. We are not obliged to give out this information to anyone other than Mr Gibson. I have only been trying to help with your queries and would prefer in future if you contacted Mr Gibson to ask about responses.
I have just received an e.mail from Katie to say Pen and Sword books are to reprint The Sheffield Pals in slightly revised form, smaller hardback format in June 2006, to me that does not matter we shall be able to get this book,Cheers everybody!!!
