Russell William Langford Smallbones
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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He was the son of William James, an insurance agent, and Emily Jane Smallbones of 19 Fanshaw Road, 20 Church Street and later the Old Vicarage, 20, Church Street, (all Dronfield, Sheffield). He was the brother of Olive Mabel Horner, Lawson Rowland Langley, Arnold Samuel Jonathan, Hilda Annie Thwaites and Ivy Emily Biigs (all Smallbones).
A former Sherwood Forester (43742), he was wounded during September 1916.
The Leicestershire Brigade spent the winter of 1917/18 in the Epehy area improving the defences, digging new trenches and emplacements and with concrete defences being built by the Royal Engineers. The German spring offensive is launched, on the 21st March 1918 at 2.30am with German shock troops following an intense artillery barrage. The men of the Leicestershire Regiment retired as planned. Despite support from two hidden tanks, the Brigade was forced back and ordered to abandon Epehy and Pezieres. The Brigade ended up in position on a ridge near the village of Hem, with the fighting almost over by 30th March. In this period the 110th Leicester Brigade had lost around 1200 men killed, wounded or taken prisoner. Research Simon Williams
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