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"Ivor,
I am compiling a book about the Ballymena
men who served in the Great War.
I have come across this character mentioned
in an article published
in the Ballymena Observer in 1915 "
"His
many friends in Ballymena and elsewhere will be pleased to learn that Sgt. W. J.
Nesbitt, eldest son of Mr. Samuel Nesbitt, Flax Mill owner of Mount Street,
Ballymena, and of the 1st Btn. Irish Guards, has been recommended for a
commission and will in all probability be attached in future to the 4th
(Service) Gloucester Regiment and will, he expects, be proceeding to a new
sphere of operations on Friday after a few days¹ leave at home from Flanders
where he has been for almost the past 12 months.
He has seen during this
time, some very severe fighting and has himself been wounded by shell fire in
the legs and had to undergo several attacks from gas from which he is still
suffering and at times spitting up blood from the severe spasms of
coughing.
He was mentioned in dispatches by Sir John French for distinguished
bravery in holding a crater with a platoon of only 49 against outnumbering forces
of Germans.
The Guards bombed the Germans out of this crater and had the
distinction of holding it for 24 hours until reinforcements arrived.
Just as
they were going down a communicating trench, one of Sgt. Nesbitt¹s comrades was
killed by a shell. The Germans, unable to hold their position, withdrew and when
Sgt. Nesbitt¹s gallant little force returned to their quarters that night there
were only 11 to answer the roll call.
At the recent battle at Hulluch, they
were ordered to storm the line of enemy trenches which they did with all the
dash and gallanty associated with this historic regiment, but in a dug-out they
discovered 10 Germans in hiding and firing for all they were worth.
On seeing
them, Sgt. Nesbitt dashed upon them and fired ten rounds into their trench
killing every one of them. Fearing lest any of then might only be wounded and
escape, he jumped into the dug-out, rifle in hand and bayonetted the entire lot
amidst the cheers of the few comrades who witnessed his heroism.
Sgt. Nesbitt
who is come of a good old fighting stock, was through all the South African war
and his two brothers, Riflemen Tom and Robert Nesbitt are at present attached to
the 18th Btn. RIR". Ballymena Observer, October 29, 1915
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