WORLD WAR I

Frederick landed in France on 23rd December 1915, and so saw action on a regular basis until March 1918. The battalion arrived at Le Havre on 7th March 1916; If Fred’s embarkation date is correct, we need to establish what he did before the Sherwoods arrived!. We have no army records to help.

In February the battalion was at HEDDECOURT in the trenches and the diary for 18th to 20th records “This sector proved an even quieter one than VAUGELETTE FARM sector. Except for slight machine gun activity at nights the enemy troubled the garrison but very little. Here much work was needed raising parapets, laying duckboards and making general improvements. Three companies were in the front line and one in support as it was decided to have no extra company relief during the eight days tour.” On the 21st “at 4.45am the enemy bombarded the battalions on our right. SOS was sent up and the Battalion STOOD TO ARMS but no further raid or attack developed. 2nd Lieut SURIDGE proceeded on leave to England”. Importantly for our story, no casualties were recoded for that day, which leads one to suspect that L/Cpl States died in March, not February and the record card is in error.

The Battalion spent the early part of March 1918 at DESSART WOOD CAMP. There were inter-battalion football matches, which the Foresters generally won, tug-o-war contests, boxing matches and shooting competitions. Working parties were found for various tasks helping the Royal Engineers, such as laying cables. Time was spent on the firing ranges.
On the 21st March the battalion was at SOREL LE GRAND. The diary records:
“Heavy high explosive and Gas Bombardments at 4.30 am, a few shells dropping on the camp. The battalion left the camp at 7.30am and marched to SOREL WOOD in dense fog and heavy gas. Box respirators being worn. 23 gas casualties. About 8pm Major HR Stevens MC and Capt JWJ Millar DCO DSM and 110 DETAILS moved to HAUTE ALLAINS.At 9pm orders were received for the battalion to proceed and dig a switch line at LANGUEVAL. On completion the line was garrisoned.”
It seems likely that Fred States was one of the gas casualties. He would have been amongst the 14 Other Ranks recorded in the diary as killed between 21st and 31st March.
On the 22nd the battalion was forced to withdraw by airborne machine gun fire.