Military History

Frederick is listed as being killed in action on 3 Jul 1916 near Roclincourt, and it is most likely that he was killed overnight on 2nd/3rd July. The War Diary for the period 2nd/3rd July is transcribed below.

Roclincourt 2 Sunday July: "The whole description is taken from the memorandum on the subject of the crater sent to HQ 41st Inf Bde by Lt Col Green and it continues as follows - I consider that great credit is due to Capt Rixon who was in the front line trenchwews at the time of the explosion for his prompt action in immediately organising a counter attack under very difficult circumstances and to 2nd Lt Cooke and the bombers for seizing and holding the far lip of the crater under a heavy shell and machine gun fire. At 4.0am the enemy shelled the new crater with a large trench mortar.

Casualties were as follows: 2nd Lieut R.M. Rogers reported missing. 2nd Lt Rogers was in the crater before 3.00am and was then seen in Bogey Trench going towards C Coy HQ. He was seen after that, search parties were immediately arranged but were unable to discovery anything. At night the ground outside the trenches round the crater was thoroughly searched but nothing could be found.

2nd Lieut R.L. Hardy bullet wound in right shoulder - serious. 2nd Lieut M.T. Sampson wounded by trench mortar in head and back - not serious. 2nd Lieut C.E. Scott slightly wounded in left back, remains at duty. Eight O.R. killed and 25 O.R. wounded. 8 O.R. Missing. Sergeant Stone and Sergeant Richardson of C Compnay were both killed.

The mine did not go up where the Tunnelling Company had said it would, consequently one of our own posts was blown up with it, it was also a far larger crater than had been expected - 160 feet across, probably the largest mine ever blown up on the British front.

The 8th Bn Rifle Brigade and 7th Bn K.R. Rifles assisted by sending digging parties with sandbags, picks and shovels, wire etc. Two Vickers Machine Guns under the Bde Machine Gun Company were sent immediately to the flanks of the crater. Two shifts of 60 men each come up at night from 7th Bn KRR but are unable to do much work owing to continuous trench mortaring of the enemy. We had three killed and 8 wounded during the night of 2nd/3rd, all working near the crater.

Roclincourt 3 Monday July: Quiet fine day. 7 Bn K.R.R.C relieves the 8th Bn K.R.R.C which returns to Brigade Reserve.

Military History

Geoffrey is listed as being killed in action on 13 Nov 1916 during the later stages of the Battle of the Somme. It is clear from a letter sent to the Red Cross seeking his whereabouts on or about 15 Jan 1917 that Geoffrey was originally reported as missing in action. The 24th Battalion war diary entry for the 13th is transcribed below.

13-11-16 – Trenches Left Side of Redan Sector: The battalion formed up in our lines in accordance with orders. At 5:15 AMthe Coys in our frontline trenches went over and formed up in No Man's Land, about 50 yards clear of our trenches. At 5:45 AM the whole advanced according to orders. Owing to the uneven nature of the ground the various lines became mixed up and the whole advanced in one mass. The leading troops were within 20 yards of the barrage all along the front allotted to the battalion. A few casualties were caused by our own barrage but the advantages gained in getting into the enemies trench immediately the barrage lifted far outweigh the loss occasioned.

On the barraged lifting the line advanced at a walk into the enemy's frontline trench where the Germans were found to be emerging from their dugouts these men all surrendered. The enemies wire was found completely demolished and formed no obstacle. The advance proceeded in accordance with orders until the green line was taken.

At 6:15 AM the situation was as follows: Green Line from Crater Lane to about 70 yards S of Lager Alley, A&B Coys and a considerable number of 2^nd Oxf & Bucks LI. There was then a gap until Point K.35.c.9.5 where there was a post of 3 men of 13^th Essex Regt with a Lewis Gun. C&D Coys were cleaning up the first four lines of trenches, strong point being established by C Coy at the Junction of Serre Trench & Crater Lane. The Coy Commanders realised? at an early period that the assault on the left flank had not succeeded and took steps to block all the trenches leading N.

The block in the German front line was placed somewhat S of Point K.35.c.2.4 and the enemy re-occupied part of his front line.

The Battalion took part in the attack on the Germans lines between Serre and Beaumont Hamel. The Battn on our right 2^nd H.L.I Batt on our left 13^th Essex Regt. Objective allotted to the Battn, the German trenches from K.35.c.2.4½ then East to trench junction Q.5.a.5.7 thence a straight line to trench junction Q.5.a.9½.8.

The first wave consisted of 2 platoons A Coy and 2 platoons B Coy closely followed by D Coy. The second wave of 2 platoons A Coy & 2 platoons B Coy closely followed by C Coy. The following were the officers with the battalion [not transcribed here].

Orders were issued that the front line should be cleared & a bombing party advanced N along the trench but when seriously opposed the enemy would seem to have evacuated the trench and taken shelter in shell holes in the vicinity as nothing was seen of them. At the same time two Lewis Guns were mounted in our old front line trench near the Cat Tunnel with a view to dealing with any offensive movement which might develop against our left flank. Subsequently a block was formed near Ot K.35.c.2.4.

The remainder of the day was spent in consolidating the position and in beating off desultory bombing attacks from the N. END

Military History

John is listed as dying of wounds on 2 Oct 1918 and his Register of Effects shows he died of wounds at Le Treport, most likely in the 3rd General Hospital as it was the only British Hospital based there at that time along with 2 American and 1 Canadian Hospital. He would have been evacutated there by train from the front lines. (See The Chain of Evacuation)

At the time of his death the battalion were based near the Hindenburg Line at various places including Ytres, Neuville Favereville and Haplincourt which were well over 100km's from Le Treport. John is not mentioned by name in the War Diary, we cannot find any newspaper reports about him, except one very brief mention that he had died, and therefore we cannot say when or where he was wounded.

Military History

Stanley is listed as being killed in action on 4 June 1916 near Arras. The 15th Battalion war diary for that day is self-explanatory and transcribed below.

Arras – 4/6/16: In trenches K1 front line: Situation normal during morning.

4pm: enemy commenced intense bombardment on front line and supports. Special marks being made of certain points in our trenches, with the result of completely isolating that portion of the front line held by B Coy, i.e. central section of K1 sub-section. Telephone communication was entirely cut off between our front line & Battn HQ. Bombardment ceased shortly before 7pm.

B Coy, HQ & other dug outs were reported smashed in & the Officers (subsequently found to be Capt A.h. Tatlow, Lt J.C. Clarkins & Lt Maddocks) and a good number of NCO’s & men (number unknown) were buried beneath the debris. Working parties commenced clearing the trenches etc & about 9pm a fresh bombardment commenced with the same intensity as before. Telephone communications, although attempted, had not been restored.

Our artillery, which had only engaged the heavies during the afternoon now replied very effectively on the enemy trenches, subsequently it appeared that between 500 & 600 of the enemy were engaged in a raid on a large scale. The number that actually entered the remnants of our trenches (the section occupied by B Coy) is unknown, but owing to our weak defences caused by casualties earlier in the day & quantities of arms & equipment that had been buried, the enemy succeeded in entering this portion of the trench and bombed the sentries and remaining dug-outs.

A & C Coy’s kept up a very heavy rifle fire & no footing was gained in their section. The enemy retired but must have suffered very heavy casualties owing to our artillery barrage.

Shortly before 11pm the artillery of both sides ceased and runners were dispatched with instructions and for information. Capt R.I. Gough as 2^nd in Command made a tour of the trenches as far as possible.

Relief of Battalion in front line by 2/KOSB’s. The relief was considerably delayed owing to casualties received by 2/KOSB on the St Pol Road and later the difficultly of approaching the front line owing to the artillery fire and the obstructed trenches.

Officer Casualties: 3 killed and 2 wounded. Other ranks not given.

Arras – 5/6/1916 – 4am: relief completed, battalion marched back into Arras where it was billeted for the day.