Stanley William Pinches, Private, 11th Border Regiment
Stanley Pinches was born in 1892 in Pembridge. He was the son of William and Emily Pinches.
The 1901 census states that he was residing in Bridge Street, Pembridge with his father and mother and an older brother and a much younger sister. His father who is described as a coal agent (worker) was born in Kington and his mother was born in Pembridge.
The 1911 census states that the family is living in a six-room dwelling (including kitchen) in Pembridge. The typescript of the census states that Stanley’s father is a farmer and crab merchant but that must surely be a mistake. It is more likely that he is still a farmer and coal merchant which would be consistent with Stanley’s father’s occupation in the 1901 census. Stanley, who is now 18 years old, is described as “farmer’s son working on farm”.
At some point, between late 1915 and early 1916, Stanley Pinches enlists in Leominster in the Herefordshire Regiment under the Derby Scheme.
“The Derby Scheme was launched in Autumn 1915 by the Earl of Derby, Kitchener's new Director General of Recruiting, to determine how many new recruits could be signed up, using appointed canvassers visiting eligible men at home to persuade them to 'volunteer' for war service. Many canvassers were experienced in politics though discharged veterans and the fathers of serving soldiers proved the most effective while some just used threats to persuade. Although women were not allowed to canvas, they did contribute by tracking men who had moved address.
Every man would be given a copy of a letter from the Earl of Derby explaining the programme and stating that they were in "a country fighting, as ours is, for its very existence" and had to state whether or not he was willing to attest to enlist. Those who did agree to attest had to promise to present themselves at their recruiting office within 48 hours, while some were accompanied there immediately.
The scheme announcement caused an initial rise in recruitment as some preferred to go to the recruiting office rather than wait for the inevitable.” (Wikipedia)
It is more than likely that, once he had enlisted, he found himself in the 2nd/1s or 3rd/1st Battalion of The Herefordshire Regiment. It was one of the smallest regiments in the country.
“The 2nd Battalion was formed on 22 August 1914, and at that time comprised the small Hereford Depot staff and the hundreds of volunteers that had enlisted. The battalion became an operational battalion allocated to UK Home Defence. It never served overseas.
The 3rd/1st Battalion was formed in Autumn 1914 again to handle the large number of volunteers. It became the Depot & Training Battalion for the Regiment, training new recruits and receiving soldiers returning to fitness after wounds and sickness before posting them to an operational unit.”
“As things settled down many of these men were transferred as reinforcements to the 1st Battalion, Herefordshire Regiment and other units to make up the numbers. (1)
Above photo: Troops of the Herefordshire Regiment on a training “route march” (2)
The operational unit that Stanley Pinches was transferred to was the 11th Border Regiment.
“The Somme Battle had been launched on 1 July 1916, and the slog through the mud of the Somme Valley against a determined enemy had taken its toll; casualties were high and many units were no longer ‘battle worthy’. Immediate reserves had been used up yet there was still a requirement for more manpower.” (3)
This was especially the case with the 11th Border Regiment.
On July 1st, 1916, the first day of the Battle of The Somme, the 11th Border Regiment, formed in 1914 by The Earl of Lonsdale (of Lonsdale Belt fame) and made up of volunteers from Cumberland and Westmoreland, had to advance from Autruille Wood up a slope towards the entrenched Germans. It was a suicidal mission and High Command had been informed by the CO of the battalion, Lt.Col Matchell, that this would be the case. However, Lt.Col. Matchell’s advice was ignored. Of the 28 officers and 800 men that took part, 25 officers (including Lt. Col. Matchell) and 490 men were killed, wounded or were dying of wounds throughout the course of the day.
“It was in this scenario that men of The Herefordshire Regiment were transferred to the 11th Battalion of The Border Regiment and fought on the Somme.
In September 1916, some 250 men (Herefordshire Regiment) were identified to reinforce units in France. The men formed a greater contingent with soldiers of The Kings Shropshire Light Infantry (KSLI) and set out for France. They sailed from Southampton to Rouen and probably spent several days at the infamous ‘Bull Ring’ training camp at Etaples before being ‘sent up the line’ to join the 11th Battalion, Border Regiment.
Above photo: Allied troops conducting bayonet practise in the infamous "Bull Ring" training camp on the dunes between Etpales and Camiers (Wikipedia)
They would have probably travelled by train, in the wagons known well to the First World War soldiers by the legend stencilled on them ’40 hommes/8 cheveaux’. The reinforcements moved forwards probably via Amiens to join the 11th Border Regiment who were out of the line. Here they would have been allocated to companies and platoons as required, and undertaken unit training.” (4)
Stanley Pinches’ journey to the Western Front and his involvement on this front would have begun here.
Above photo: Lancashire Fusiliers trench Beaumont-Hamel 1916 (Wikimedia)
In November, the Battalion moved back to the Somme; at 06.10hrs on 18th they were engaged in action in the Beaumont Hamel area and took part in an attack to capture the high ground of the Redan Ridge; the ridge dominated the lower ground, by capturing it a breakthrough was hoped for.
Above photo: Redan Ridge – now a cemetery (IWM)
The assault crossed the mud of no-man’s land and passed through the German Front Line (Munich Trench) and occupied the German reserve trench (Frankfort Trench), only to find that their flanks were ‘open’ and the Germans had closed the gap behind them and reoccupied the Munich trench and had encircled them and they were cut off. It was here that after an 8-day struggle, having run short of water, food and ammunition and reduced to fighting with clubs and bayonets that 7 officers and about 105 soldiers had no option but to surrender and were taken captive by the Germans. Several of these prisoners were in The Herefordshire Regiment.” (4)
A war diary describes the following -
“17/11/16, 10pm, Battalion left ENGLEBELMER at 11pm full fighting order for trenches. Marched through MAILLY MAILLET and passed through “White City” having formed into single file sometime before. The Battalion on the way to these trenches passed under shell fire & casualties were caused. The behaviour of the men was good & after some difficulty the relief which was commenced at 1am was completed at 6am. The C.O. having got all Companies into trenches. The ground was very bad with wire & much cut about by shell fire. (5)
18/11/16, 10pm
In the trench at approx 15.15 a bombing post was established & a little behind two Lewis guns were placed in position commanding both flanks. After dark several men, this is all who were left on the WAGON ROAD side of Munick Trench, returned after having held shell holes opposite the German line & in his wire to a position along WAGON ROAD. During the day & up till 10pm stretcher bearers were continuously over the top & about attending & bringing in wounded men.
These that were left of the Battalion were reorganised & WAGON ROAD placed in a state of defence by them. From accounts it is believed that several men got right through MUNICK Trench. Wounded men crawling back were continually sniped by enemy.” (6)
“Ninety two men of the Herefordshire Regiment who transferred to the 11th Border Regiment were killed in action or died of wounds on the Somme during the period 18th – 25th November. The impact to Herefordshire was immense, many lost friends and family; many towns and villages suffered a loss.” (7)
George Haines, another soldier commemorated on The Pembridge War Memorial was one of those who died of his wounds. Stanley Pinches was lucky that day, merely having his elbow grazed by a shell.
Both men, having transferred from The Herefordshire Regiment to The Border Regiment, might well have created strong bonds in the process, if they had not done so before. So, it is quite possible that Stanley Pinches and George Haines, at the very least, knew each other.
By the summer of 1917, the 11th Border Battalion were stationed in Belgium near the town of Niueport in the Lombardzyde sector.
“The armies of the German Empire had invaded Belgium on 4 August 1914, and by October, 1914, Antwerp had fallen to the Germans. British units did not return to this sector of the Western Front until June 1917, when the 32nd Division, which 1th Border Regiment were part of, relieved French troops stationed at Nieuport in preparation for planned Allied landings on German-held territory along the Belgian coast. It was here that German marines launched a pre-emptive attack against the British forces on the river Yser in July and the (British) landings, codenamed ‘Operation Hush’, never took place.
On the Belgian end of the front at Nieuport, the trench system ran right up to the beach, with that end of the Western Front literally petering out in the sand. For most of the war it was held by the Belgian Army but in 1917 British troops took over the sector in the lead-up to what was eventually an abandoned plan to make seaborne landings further up the coast. However, in July 1917 the Germans went on the offensive here and attacked the forward positions held by British units around the town of Nieuport.” (8)
Above photo: Overrun British trench following fighting in July1917, Nieuport (9)
The following are extracts of reports of the 11th Border Regiment on 10th July 1917 - the day that Stanley Pinches was killed in action at Lombardzyde.
“11th Border Regiment are in the line S.W. of Lombardzyde. A heavy bombardment of our sector commenced about 6am. The 1st and 2nd lines were heavily strafed with minnenwerfer also” (10)
“At 8am the following message was received from O.C. C Coy (Coy holding 1st and 2nd lines right half of Battalion Front i.e. Nose Trench and Nose Support) "I have been endeavouring to to get a message through from here since 6.05am. The wires are all down and signallers are using the lamp but no reply from our Artillery yet. We have been continually strafed since before 6am. this morning with Heavies etc. Please put Punishment Scheme X into operation at once." (Sd) J. Ross Capt. O.C. C Coy 7.05am.” (11)
“The bombardment increased in intensity about 10 a.m. All communication with Brigade and O.P.’s (observation post) was broken. 2Lt Coke R.F.A. went out to O.P. to try and get line through, but was unsuccessful.”(12)
“Following message sent to Brigade at 11.50am. Begins "Cannot get any information as to 1st and 2nd line. They are all being very heavily strafed. Hostile fire slackening. Will send off runners and report as soon as possible." (13)
“1.05pm. Enemy fire slackened & plane flew over very low (200ft) apparently to examine extent of damage. This machine was engaged by our M.G’s and Lewis Guns. During this lull a new kind of gas shell was used causing everyone to sneeze, it also affected the eyes and throat and in some cases was followed by violent sickness.” (14)
“1.25pm Bombardment increased to original intensity.” (15)
“4.05pm. Following mess rec’d from O C C Coy. "Front line very badly smashed now. Right half completely wiped out. Second line very badly knocked about. From C HQ to Nose Avenue non-existent. Third line receiving particular attention and badly knocked about. Communication trenches many blown in and always shelled. Approx. casualties about 40. The shelling is very heavy throughout and continually on 1st 2nd and 3rd lines and communication trenche.” (16)
“5pm. 2Lt Smythe reports "He has only about 15 men left out of the two Platoons which went forward. During the lull an enemy aeroplane came over to observe. The 1st 2nd and 3rd lines are being very heavily shelled especially the left of the 3rd. The fire is enfilade and there is very little shelter of any kind. He is keeping his men in the 3rd line at present. The 1st and 2nd lines are perfectly flattened. He does not think it advisable to send more men forward yet." (17)
“7.50pm. Enemy reported as having gained a footing in 2nd line and part of 3rd.” (18)
“10.25pm. Message sent to Lt Smythe "Lt Smythe will be in command of all troops in Grand Redan. No one to leave Grand Redan without distinct order writing from me except to make report at H.Q. Inform all Officers." (19)
Stanley Pinches’ body was never recovered.
He is commemorated at The Nieuport Memorial.
Above photo: The Niueport Memorial (CWGC)
“The Nieuport Memorial commemorates 552 British officers and men who were killed in Allied operations on the Belgian coast during the First World War and have no known grave.
Twenty of those commemorated served with the Royal Naval Division and were killed or mortally wounded during the siege of Antwerp in October 1914. Almost all of the remainder fell in heavy fighting in the region of Nieuport in the summer of 1917.
Over 260 men commemorated on the Nieuport Memorial were killed or mortally wounded during heavy fighting with units of the German Marine-Korps Flandern on July 10 1917” (CWGC) – the day Stanley Pinches was killed
In the “UK Army Registers of Soldiers Effects”, Stanley Pinches left the sum of £10 16s 4d (back pay) and also a war gratuity of £5 to his brother William.
At the time of his death, Stanley Pinches’s parents, William and Emily Pinches, were living at Townsend Farm, Pembridge.
Rory MacColl
Sources
1/ https://herefordshirelightinfantrymuseum.com/wars/wwi/
2/ https://herefordshirelightinfantrymuseum.com/uploads/redan-ridge.pdf
3/ https://herefordshirelightinfantrymuseum.com/uploads/1914-sep-regtl-history.pdf
4/ https://herefordshirelightinfantrymuseum.com/uploads/redan-ridge.pdf
5/ https://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=1277
6/ https://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=1277
7/ https://herefordshirelightinfantrymuseum.com/uploads/redan-ridge.pdf
8/ https://www.ww1cemeteries.com/nieuport-memorial.html
9/ https://greatwarphotos.com/2013/02/27/trenches-in-the-sand-one-end-of-the-western-front/
10/ https://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=1277
11/ https://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=1277
12/ https://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=1277
13/ https://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=1277
14/ https://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=1277
15/ https://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=1277
16/ https://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=1277
17/ https://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=1277
18/ https://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=1277
19/ https://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=1277