1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment, Killed in Action September 1914

Most of the Battalion's men killed in action during the Retreat from Mons have no known grave and are commemorated on the La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial, a small town 66 kilometres to the east of Paris.

This memorial contains the names of 3759 British soldiers who have no known grave - 45 of them from the 1st Battalion, including the name of one Officer - 'Lieutenant FROST, K. T.'.

'Although the retreat from Mons' says Crookenden 'was a disorganised movement, the complete absence of panic made it a not unworthy performance. Indeed if all factors are weighed, it was worthy of the place which it has on our Colours.'

"The History of the Cheshire Regiment in the Great War" - Col. A Crookenden (p. 19)

By the 5th September 1914 the Retreat from Mons was over. In a little orchard on the outskirts of Tournant, 18 kilometres from Paris, the 1st Battalion's depleted force came to a stop. The Battalion was in good spirits, despite their losses, as a result of the valuable few days of rest, and the turn back northwards, which had begun on 6th September was reported to be welcomed by all ranks.

The northward push involved three strongly disputed river crossings which collectively became know as the Battle of the Marne. The 1st Battalion was hardly involved in any of these river struggles and actually crossed the Marne at Saacy.

John CLARKE (A.R.)
Rank:	Private 7432 ("D" Coy.)
Age:	27
Date of Death:	2 September 1914 (Died)
Additional Information:	Born: at Sydney, Crewe, Cheshire. Enlisted: at Birkenhead, Cheshire. Husband of Mrs. M. Tierney (formerly Clarke), of 4 Austin St., Birkenhead.
Buried/Commemorated:	QUIEVRAIN COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Grave Number:	A. 36.

Charles Alfred KING (A.R.)
Rank:	Private 7926 ("C" Coy.)
Age:	29
Date of Death:	10 September 1914 (Died)
Additional Information:	Born: at Shavington, Cheshire. Enlisted: at Crewe, Cheshire. Son of the late Mrs. Margaret King; husband of Maud Houchin (formerly King), of 21, Lockitt St., Crewe.
Buried/Commemorated:	LA FERTE-SOUS-JOUARRE MEMORIAL
Grave Number:	Commemorated on wall

William McDEAN (A.R.)
Rank:	Private 7225 ("B" Coy.)
Age:	32
Date of Death:	15 September 1914 (Killed in Action)
Additional Information:	Born: at Over, Winsford, Cheshire. Enlisted: at Winsford, Cheshire. Probably: Son of Robert & Lizzie McDean
Buried/Commemorated:	LA FERTE-SOUS-JOUARRE MEMORIAL
Grave Number:	Commemorated on wall

William James SMITH
Rank:	Private 9991 ("B" Coy.)
Age:	n/k
Date of Death:	15 September 1914 (Killed in Action)
Additional Information:	Born: at Bearley, Warwick Enlisted: at Hyde, Cheshire.
Buried/Commemorated:	LA FERTE-SOUS-JOUARRE MEMORIAL
Grave Number:	Commemorated on wall

John WHITLOW (A.R.)
Rank:	Lance Corporal 8097 ("D" Coy.)
Age:	28
Date of Death:	15 September 1914 (Killed in Action)
Additional Information:	Born: at Runcorn, Cheshire Enlisted: at Runcorn, Cheshire. Probably: Son of Peter & Sarah Whitlow of Runcorn, Cheshire. (Grocer's shop Asst. before enlistment.)
Buried/Commemorated:	LA FERTE-SOUS-JOUARRE MEMORIAL
Grave Number:	Commemorated on wall

Ernest HADFIELD (A.R.)
Rank:	Private 7523 ("D" Coy.)
Age:	30
Date of Death:	17 September 1914 (Died of wounds)
Additional Information:	Born: at Castle Hall, Stalybridge, Cheshire. Enlisted: at Hyde, Cheshire. Son of John and Ann Hadfield, of Stalybridge; husband of Bertha Hadfield, of 1, Albert St., Stalybridge, Cheshire.
Buried/Commemorated:	MONS (BERGEN) COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Grave Number:	IX. E. 7.

George WIGLEY
Rank:	Private 10135
Age:	18
Date of Death:	25 September 1914 (Killed in Action)
Additional Information:	Born: at Hurdsfield, Cheshire Enlisted: at Macclesfield, Cheshire. Son of Edward & Emily Wigley of Macclesfield, Cheshire.
Buried/Commemorated:	LA FERTE-SOUS-JOUARRE MEMORIAL
Grave Number:	Commemorated on wall

James Alfred SMITH
Rank:	Private 7496 ("C" Coy.)
Age:	30
Date of Death:	26 September 1914 (Died of wounds)
Additional Information:	Born: at Edmonton, London. Enlisted: at Stratford, Essex. Son of George and Elizabeth Smith, of Tottenham; husband of Ellen Emily Dunt (formerly Smith), of 17, Dawlish Rd., Bruce Grove, Tottenham, London.
Buried/Commemorated:	MONS (BERGEN) COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Grave Number:	IX. E. 4.

The survivors of the 1st Battalion at Audregnies were amalgamated into the remnants of "B" Company, under Capt. Shore, and joined the remainder of 5 Division in retreat. As a result of this reorganisation and thanks to the dogged determination and hard work of their Commanding Officer, the retreat was an orderly one as far as the Battalion was concerned.

It was far too decimated a unit to take part in Smith-Dorrien's stand at Le Cateau, and so at the end of August the the 200 or so men were put in reserve near Troisvilles.

Lt Kingdon Tregosse Frost's grave was unknown for nearly 80 years until Alan Gregson deduced he was buried in Wiheries Graveyard. He then presented his evidence to the CWGC and persuaded them to recognise Lt Frost's resting place.