News - Volunteers needed to clean up Lenton War Memorial

Lenton's WW1 war memorial is located in a quiet back street in front of the Albert Ball memorial homes that were opened in 1923. Today the memorial grounds are in a poor state of repair. Overgrown shrub beds, weeds protruding through paving slabs, and a broken gate. A situation, which has really annoyed Nottingham Historian Mr Ray W Gale, who wanted to know why it was not being maintained.


He said today "Just look at the state of this land, its bad maintenance all around, and I think it is disrespectful to Nottingham's most famous fighter pilot Captain Albert Ball, and over 300 brave Lenton solders that lost their lives in the Great War.

"I think some local people in Lenton should volunteer a few hours of their time to help clean up the site and return it to good order. It would be a lovely tribute in memory of these brave soldiers", added.

Ray Gale who lives in East Leake is no stranger to Nottingham's war memorials having spent 15 months visiting every one, inside churches, and in the open where he has carefully counted the numbers of the city's fallen heroes. Then assisted by John Brydon, who helped raise £25,000, they got the money to restore St Mary's war memorial in the lace market to its former glory in 2008.

As we stood in front of the Lenton war memorial, I asked Ray about Captain Albert Ball:

"Albert Ball was born in Nottingham at 32 Lenton Boulevard on 16 August 1896. His childhood and youth were passed in a house called Sedgley at 43 Lenton Road," he said.

"In 1914 he enlisted in the British army with the 27th Battalion (Robin Hoods), of the Sherwood Foresters. By October of 1914, he had reached the rank of Sergeant and then in the same month was made a Second Lieutenant to his own battalion.

"On 16 May 1916 flying a Bristol Scout he opened his score, shooting down an Albatross C-type over Beaumont. On 29 May 1916, he shot down two LVG C-types, whilst flying his Nieuport plane, and he shot down many more enemy planes after that."

So what happened to Albert? I asked. Mr Gale walked around the war memorial studying the four plaques on view whilst in deep thought, before answering.

"Captain Albert Ball made his final flight on 7 May 1917 when he flew as part of an eleven-strong hunting patrol into action against Jagdstaffel 11. It was a very cloudy day. Albert was pursuing Lothar's Albatros Scout who crash-landed, wounded. Then Albert was seen by many observers to dive out of a cloud and crash. He died minutes later in the arms of a French girl, named Madame Cecille Deloffre. Captain Ball was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross on 8 June 1917.

"This is the main WW1 war memorial dedicated to the memory of Captain Albert Ball and the soldiers of Lenton who died in the Great War. I just feel so angry about the way it is being neglected," he said.

From: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Volunteers-needed-clean-Lenton-War-Memorial/story-16070121-detail/story.html

Event - Red jacket up a flagpole recalls heroism and horror of Badajoz 200 years on (Nottingham)

VISIT the Spanish town of Badajoz today and you can still walk the ramparts where a pivotal battle of the Peninsular War raged exactly 200 years ago.


On an April day in 1812, an army of 27,000 soldiers, led by the Earl of Wellington, ended their three-week siege of the town.

More than 5,000 French troops had been trapped behind its solid, imposing walls but reinforcements were on the way and Wellington could wait no longer.

In the worst spring weather Spain could throw at them, the British-led force had dug trenches and built gun emplacements.

Howitzers blasted away at the walls, attempting to force a breach through which Wellington's infantry could attack the town.

After three weeks of attrition, Wellington ordered his troops to attack.

With the so-called Forlorn Hope at the front – volunteers who knew their chances of survival were slim – Wellington's men charged into a maelstrom of French cannon and musket fire, grenade and shell.

Hundreds were cut down but the attack pressed on.

In just under two hours, some 2,000 men had been killed or badly wounded at the main breach, while countless more men of the 3rd Division were shot down as they made a diversionary assault.

But the tidal wave of bayonet-thrusting soldiers could not be halted.

The 45th Regiment of Foot (1st Nottinghamshire), which later combined with the 95th Derbyshire Regiment to form the Sherwood Foresters, was in the thick of the action, attempting to find a way on to the ramparts by using scaling ladders.

First up was Lieutenant James Macpherson – but his ladder was three feet too short.

He urged the men below to lift him to the parapet but he was shot by a French soldier and suffered two broken ribs as he fell into the ditch below.

The attack pressed on and the first man who sprang down from the ramparts into the castle was Corporal Kelly, of the fighting 45th.

The castle was won and Macpherson, despite being wounded and bleeding, re-climbed one of the ladders into the castle and made his way to the keep where the French flag was flying.

He seized the sentry and, making his way to the flagstaff, hauled down the flag and hoisted his own jacket in its place, which, fluttering in the breeze at daylight, testified to the gallant part the 45th had taken in the assault.

Every year, on April 6, a simple ceremony is held on Nottingham Castle Green, commemorating Macpherson's symbolic act.

This year, because it is the 200th anniversary, a full military turn-out will support Lord Mayor Michael Wildgust when, at 11am, he raises a red jacket up the flagpole.

At the same time, a party representing the Sherwood Foresters Association will be in Badajoz to pay their respects at the site of the victory.

It had been a brave and costly triumph but what followed cast a stain on the history of the British army as Wellington's men took the old adage of 'to the victor the spoils' beyond civilised limits. For two days, lawlessness and anarchy ruled the streets of Badajoz as Wellington's soldiers went on an orgy of drunkenness, looting, rape and murder.

History was to repeat itself in 1936, when Badajoz was again at the centre of battle, during the Spanish Civil War.

The town fell to the Nationalists and once again the civilian population paid a heavy price. In a four-day rampage of rape and executions, it was estimated that between 1,800 and 4,000 civilians were massacred by Nationalist forces.
 
From: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Red-jacket-flagpole-recalls-heroism-horror/story-15644097-detail/story.html

News - Family's pride as hero's medals go to museum (Nottingham)

THE war medals of a heroic Sherwood Forester have been presented to the regiment's museum at Nottingham Castle.

Brigadier Charles Edward Hudson was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC), the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the Croix-de-Guerre among other medals during the First and Second World Wars.
Six of his medals are for gallantry.

Mr Hudson was born in 1892 and was commissioned into The Sherwood Foresters on November 17, 1917, to serve with the 11th Battalion which was recruited from the miners of Notts.

His VC was presented to the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters regimental museum (Sherwood Foresters Collection) of the Mercian Regiment by his son Miles Hudson OBE at a ceremony in Nottingham castle in May 2003.

The rest of his medals were added to the collection yesterday following a presentation by his grandsons Mark and Peter Hudson and his great-granddaughter Ruby Hudson.

Mark Hudson said: "I met my grandfather very briefly because I was two when he died. He was a very kind gentleman. Today we are reuniting the rest of his medals with his Victoria Cross and we are proud to do so.
"My grandfather was known for his ability to think calmly when everyone around him was panicking."

Major John Cotterill of the Sherwood Foresters said: "This is a tremendous honour for us and a truly remarkable collection of medals. There are no other medal collections in this museum with as many medals. And when six of these medals are for gallantry, it is the most significant set of medals the regiment has.

"Hudson has always been a hero of mine. He was a remarkable man in that he had two conflicting qualities. 

He was a natural warrior but a very sensitive poet and he abhorred violence – he couldn't stand the sight of a dead body.

"These medals are a history of the regiment in the 20th century and we are deeply grateful that we can now put them where everyone can see them."

From: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Family-s-pride-hero-s-medals-museum/story-15542617-detail/story.html

News - War hero’s plaque set to be replaced (Worksop)

A PLAQUE honouring the bravery of a Worksop war hero will be replaced after it was stolen last week.

The brass plaque, which honours Victoria Cross medal-winner William Henry Johnson, was fixed to a stone in Worksop Memorial Park.

Police believe the plaque, worth £10 in scrap value, was taken between 4pm on 19th January and 9am on Friday 20th January.

County councillor for Worksop East Glynn Gilfoyle said he was more than happy to stump up the cash to replace the plaque.

“Anyone who would stoop to the depths of stealing something like that for me, I think, its as bad as grave robbing,” he said.

“I would hope that they are caught and get a strong sentence for it. It’s disgusting.”

“I cannot understand the mentality of some people.”

Sgt Johnson was born in Worksop on 15th October 1890.

A married man with three children, he enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters and served mainly in France.

On 3rd October 1918 at Ramicourt in France, he single-handedly charged a machine gun emplacement, capturing two machine guns.

Despite being severely wounded during the attack, he went on another solo run, silencing more enemy machine guns.

Worksop’s Royal British Legion secretary Brian Madden said the theft was ‘despicable’.

“I do not know how they have the cheek,” he said. “But it’s an unfortunate trend throughout the whole country. The people who’ve done this are lower than the low.”

“He was Worksop born and bred, who later was awarded with a Victoria Cross. That in itself has got to be remembered.”

Mr Madden added: “He is part of Worksop’s heritage and it’s important not to forget that.”

Sgt Johnson is one of ten Sherwood Foresters to be honoured in the Great War. He was presented with the Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace on the 29th March 1919.

A year later he was awarded the French Medaille Militaire and founded the Worksop branch of the RBL in 1922.

He died in Arnold in April 1945 and is buried at Redhill cemetery.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Sherwood Foresters Museum at Nottingham Castle. A duplicate is held at Bassetlaw Council offices on Potter Street.

There is also a picture of him in the new Worksop Library, on Memorial Avenue.

The cost of replacing the plaque is expected to cost up to £70. Coun Gilfoyle said he would use some of the money left in his EDI fund.

From: http://www.worksopguardian.co.uk/news/local-news/war_hero_s_plaque_set_to_be_replaced_1_4211921

News - Memorabilia gift to museum sheds light on war hero Collie

COLLIE Sallmayer was the sort of officer his men would die for.

Just after the end of the First World War one of his soldiers, Sherwood Foresters Lance Corporal J Freeman, of 15 Wordsworth Road, West Bridgford, wrote to Sallmayer at the regimental barracks in Kilworth Camp, County Cork.

"I am proud of having served with you and, also the platoon, would go through fire and water for you. Perhaps you already know that, Sir."

LCpl Freeman was probably referring to a day of bitter fighting on the San Sisto Ridge in northern Italy when 2nd Lieutenant Coleman Leonard James Maurice Sallmayer of the 1/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters won the Military Cross.

The Foresters were holding a 1,000m line against a massed attack by the Austrian army.

Casualties were heavy, officers falling at the head of their troops. Sallmayer was the only one left to command a hard-pressed company of men. Under heavy fire, he organised an orderly withdrawal, never leaving his men ... even though he was in agony, his leg having been splintered by shrapnel from an exploding shell.

It was during the same battle that Foresters senior officer, Lt Colonel Charles Hudson, won the Victoria Cross.

This week, more than 90 years after Sallmayer's heroism saved the company, the medal he won that day was handed over to the Sherwood Foresters museum. It came with a few pieces of the shrapnel that was embedded in his leg, all part of a remarkable collection of memorabilia passed on by his family.

Collie Sallmayer's Military Cross is all the more valuable to the Sherwood Foresters museum, housed in Nottingham Castle, because he won it twice.

In the final weeks of the war, having been returned to active duty after the wounds suffered at San Sisto Ridge, Sallmayer was leading an attack in northern France to take ground the Germans had held since 1914.

They put up fierce resistance, heavy machine-gun fire forcing the attack to waver. Sallmayer rallied his troops and urged them forward until they had reached and captured their objective. He was later awarded a bar to his MC.

Now his medals and letters, including the one from a grateful L Cpl Freeman, together with a silver-plated knife, fork and spoon stamped with the Foresters' badge, have been handed to the museum.

The articles had been passed down to cousins Colleen Howells, stepdaughter of Lt Sallmayer, and Elizabeth Rees who decided that now was the right time for them to go to the museum.

Colleen's mother Daisy married Coleman (Collie) Sallmayer in 1938, just a few months before he died of TB. Daisy then remarried and had Colleen.

When Daisy passed away Coleman Sallmayer's effects were split between Colleen and her cousin Elizabeth Rees. As both are suffering from failing health, they have chosen to donate the items to the museum.They were delivered from Mrs Howell's home in Wales by family friend William O'Brien who explained: "Colleen is not in good health and she felt the collection should be given to the museum to ensure its safety. She feels it is the most appropriate place.

"They are very proud of their association with Collie Sallmayer and the Sherwood Foresters."

The items were received by Cindy Baines, curator and assistant regimental secretary, and museum trustee Cliff Housley, who said: "It is an absolutely wonderful collection. To have so many items from one man is fantastic."

Documents will be preserved and the medals will go on show.

Sallmayer's home was in the heart of London's Mayfair.

"He had studied in Heidelberg before the war and later was a teacher. He was a true academic," said Mr O'Brien.

From: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Memorabilia-gift-museum-sheds-light-war-hero/story-13436916-detail/story.html

News - Pictorial project to honour war dead (Newarl/Balderton)

A project has been launched to match photographs to all the names on the Newark and Balderton war memorials.

It is hoped it will be completed in time for the 100th anniversary of the start of the first world war in 2014.

The project mirrors a much bigger one to find photographs of as many of the 72,000 British and Commonwealth casualties of the Battle of The Somme who have no known resting place and whose names are commemorated on the French Thiepval memorial to the missing.

There are 603 names on Newark’s Memorial To The Fallen at Newark Cemetery, of whom 456 are first world war casualties.

Another 144 are from the second world war, one died in West Africa in 1961, one in Malaya in 1952 and one in Afghanistan in 2007.

There are 45 names from the first world war on the memorial in St Giles’ Church, Balderton, and a further 13 from the second world war.

Mr Pete Stevens, a Commonwealth War Graves Commission stonemason, is behind the idea to match photographs with the names.

He suggested it at a meeting in Leicester about restoring war memorials there.

Mr Stevens, of Coleman Avenue, Balderton, said completing the project in time for 2014 would be a fitting testament to the memory of those who died.

He said: “If we could achieve this it would fantastic.

“It would be the perfect way to ensure that the memory of these men lives on for the next generation, and wonderful to have a gallery completed in time for August 4, 2014, which is the 100th anniversary of the declaration of war by Great Britain on Germany and her allies.

“A number of very special events are being planned nationally and this one I hope will capture the imagination.”

Mr Stevens plans to create a website where people can upload pictures of their relatives, along with items such as letters from the Front to create a more detailed insight into their lives.

Mr Stevens has already found some photographs of the dead through his work and through genealogy websites.

He has discovered the name of Private Levi Sibcy from 2/8th Sherwood Foresters, who was killed on January 15, 1915, aged 16, and is the youngest soldier recorded on either memorial.

He wants to know more about the six soldiers, also from 2/8th, who died of wounds sustained in the Irish uprising of 1916 and are on the Balderton memorial.

Mr Stevens wants people to trawl though family archives for pictures.

He plans to contact schools in the hope teachers will make research part of history lessons, and pupils will take news of the project home to their parents.

He hopes a home can be found for the gallery, possibly in Newark’s planned new museum which, subject to Lottery funding, would be created at the Old Magnus Buildings, Appletongate.

Any relative of one of the fallen featured on either memorial and who has a photograph of them or who can help in any kind of way can contact Mr Stevens via Petejstevens@hotmail.co.uk or contact the Advertiser newsdesk on 01636 681234.

From: http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/Pictorial-project-to-honour-war-dead