The First World War 1914 - 1918
Go back to The 20th Century. See also The Second World War.
At the beginning of the 20th century Europe was split into two groups of countries:
- The Allies - the British Empire, France, Belgium, Russia and the United States of America.
- The Central Powers - Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey.
On 4 August 1914 Germany invaded Belgium, and so, standing by the promise to stick up for Belgium, Britain declared war on Germany. The world was at war . . .
When the war began, most people thought it would be over by Christmas. People believed that Britain was so powerful, that we could win quickly. In fact, the First World War lasted four terrible years, not four months. But eventually Germany was defeated.
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, World War 1 ended when Germany surrendered to the Allies. By the time the war was over 18 million people had been killed. It was hoped that The Great War for Civilisation would be the war to end all wars.
Comrades of the Great War
Even before the First World War ended, a national organisation called Comrades of the Great War was formed in 1917 to support soldiers who were wounded or sick. John Ward, the manager of the Barnstone Cement Works, formed a local branch which still continues today as the Granby, Barnstone & District Branch of the Royal British Legion.
John Ward also chaired a committee set up a memorial to the dead. Only one year after the War ended, £200 had been raised. Mrs Huskinson of Langar Hall gave a piece of land to extend the churchyard. And less than a year later, on Saturday 15 May 1920, the War Memorial was dedicated at a service led by the Rector, Rev Osmaston with the rectors of Plumtree and Cotgrave.
Langar War Memorial
The monument in the churchyard commemorates men from the parish of Langar cum Barnstone who died in the First World War. The names of three men who died in the Second World War have been added.
In the churchyard are the graves of 15 people who served in World War One.
(A Roll of Honour inside the church commemorates the men who served in the Second World War.)
To the honoured memory of those who gave their lives in the Great War 1914 - 1918
Alonzo Burrows Charles Fiddies Thomas William Garrett Sidney Charles Goodman
William Goodman George Edward Izzitt Francis Herbert Patrick Bertie Reeve
John Roworth George James Shephard Herbert Smith John Edwin Spencer
William Spencer Frank Lawrence Starbuck Arthur Bryan Turner Frederick Wright
GLORY, HONOUR AND PEACE
Weblinks
Nottinghamshire County Council has an online Roll of Honour. You can find details of the soldiers from Langar and Barnstone who died in the War.
The link takes you out of this website.
Above: citizens of Langar and Barnstone involved in the Great War.
Local historian, Nigel Wood has researched information about the men and women who served and died and who served and returned. Of those who died, many are buried abroad where they were killed; of those who survived, 15 are buried in Langar churchyard. Some of the survivors died of their injuries many years after the First World War was over.
Nigel Wood set up this Facebook group to remember the men and women of Langar and Barnstone who served in any way in World War One. Click the image.
The link takes you out of this website.
Sam Baxter MM
Sam was was born on 25 January 1892, the son of Thomas and Sarah Baxter of Barnstone - his father was a limestone quarryman. Sam was baptised at St Andrew’s church.
Leaving school at the age of 12, Sam worked for a farmer taking milk to Barnstone Railway Station. In 1911 he was working as a cow man for farmer George Wallwin and living at Barnstone Lodge Farm.
When the war broke out, Sam was 22 years old and working at Barnstone Cement Works. The following year, he joined Army, the Sherwood Foresters 15th Battalion and was sent to Yorkshire for training. His battalion landed in France on 1st February 1916.
Sam soon saw action when his battalion was heavily bombarded by the Germans. The British eventually drove the Germans off but with 10 British killed, 32 soldiers missing and 32 wounded. And Sam was one of the wounded - he had been hit in the throat.
He was taken back to England and treated at the Military Hospital in Southampton. Sam’s parents received a letter saying that that he was not likely to survive. But almost immediately they had a telegram saying “Baxter still alive.” Sam was soon passed fit for service and returned to France to rejoin the Sherwood Foresters.
The Battle of Cambrai
In November 1917 the British Army planned a major attack against the German army at Cambrai using infantry supported by tanks. They hoped to break the German Lines. The attack would begin at 0620 hours on 20 November.
Sam's battalion of the Sherwood Foresters were given the job of following the British tanks to attack the German Front Line.
They advanced quickly and at 0900 hours a message was received from C Company that they had captured a German officer, 20 prisoners and 5 machine guns. D Company then carried out a bayonet charge killing 12 Germans and capturing 12.
By the end of the day the battle was won, The battalion had captured 10 machine guns, 4 officers and 290 soldiers. The Sherwood Foresters had lost one officer and 8 soldiers killed with one officer and 30 soldiers wounded.
Sam Baxter's bravery
Some of the German prisoners were captured as a result of Sam Baxter’s bravery. He entered a German stronghold full of enemy soldiers and enabled the capture of one officer and 40 soldiers. It was for this that Sam was awarded the Military Medal.
But it was a short-lived victory.
The Sherwood Foresters stayed here for 3 weeks, but by this time most of the ground they had captured on the first day of the battle was taken back by the Germans.
As well as his wound in the throat, Sam suffered two more wounds - in his arm and thigh. He was promoted to Lance Corporal and then to Corporal. Unfortunately he celebrated his promotion with a drink or two and, being found under the influence of alcohol, he was demoted back to Lance Corporal before he had had time to sew on his extra stripe.
However, he was soon promoted back to Corporal again.
Back to work in Barnstone
After the war Sam returned to Barnstone to work at the Cement Works, where he became a foreman. When he retired, he had completed 47 years’ service at the works.
In 1921 Sam married Fanny Carlile. Sadly, during World War 2 the couple lost one of their sons. John Baxter was a wireless operator on board a landing ship. They were heading towards the beach at Anzio in Italy when his boat was hit by a torpedo fired from German submarine. He died instantly. John Baxter is commemorated on the Langar & Barnstone War Memorial.
Corporal Sam Baxter, Military Medal, died in 1960 at the age of 68
and is buried in St Andrew's churchyard.
Information from Langar & Barnstone in World War One Facebook group