Military History

Walter is listed as being killed in action on 27th April 1917 during the Battle of Arras. The 5th Battalion war diary entries for the period 26th to 28th April 1917 along with an obiturary in Stratford Herald are transcribed below.

Trenches north of Monchy-le-Preux - 26 & 27th April 1917: Battalion held this line under continuous heavy shell fire. Casualties not severe.

Trenches north of Monchy-le-Preux - 28 April 1917: - 35^th Bde received orders to capture Bayonet Trench, that part of Rifle trench still occupied by the enemy and push out into a line of outposts in advance of new line. Capture of Bayonet and Rifle trenches allotted to 5^th R Berks Regt on left, 78^th Norfork on right, 7^th Suffolk being responsible for capturing 2^nd objective, 9^th Essex being in Brigade Reserve. Dividing line between the 5^th Bn and 7 Norfolk I.31.a.0.6, I.31.a.6.7, I.26.c.1.8.

The battalion attacked at 4.25am on a three company front, C on right, D in centre, A on left and B in reserve. All companies got up close under barrage and took their objective without difficulties. Consolidating Bayonet and Rifle trenches. The 7^th Norfolk was not successful and the 7^th Suffolk ?...  was met by heavy rifle and m.g. fire and could not get on.

The left company (A) of this battalion captured on Machine Gun, 1 officer and 16 other ranks prisoners. At 9am the situation was that the Bn held Bayonet and Rifle trench as far as I.31.a.55.75 where a bomb stop was made. The enemy occupied Rifle trench as far as the Harness Lane. Positions of 7^th Norfolk and 7^th Suffolk unchanged. One company of the Essex Regt was attached to this Bn and came under the Commanding Officers orders.

Stratford Herald Friday 18th May 1917 - LANCE CORPORAL W. E WOOD

The sympathy of many friends will be extended to Mrs. Wood of West Street on the death of her son who fell in action in France on April 24th. Shortly after the outbreak of the war Lance Corporal Wood entered upon work of a national character while retaining his status as a civilian. He then joined the Royal Berkshire Regiment and had scarcely crossed the Channel three weeks when on August 18th 1916 was wounded in the left side.

Military History

Cecil is listed as dying of wounds on 5th October 1917, having been wounded on the 4th. He would have to taken to one of the 4th, 47th or 61st Casualty Clearing Stations which used Dozinghem Cemetery. The 1st/7th Battalion war diary for the period 1st to 5th October is transcribed below. Those wishing to map the places indicated by the map references should click here and add 28. to the beginning of reference i.e. 28.V.25.c.9.3.

Military History

Military History

Harold is listed as dying of wounds at the 12th Casualty Clearing Station, Tincourt on 8th October 1918. We have not been able to identify on which day Harold was originally wounded. We do know that he was one of 171 men wounded during the month of October. The 1st/8th Battalion war diary entries for the period 1st to 8th October 1918 are transcribed below. 

Springbok Valley - 1 Oct 1918: Battalion (Bn) out of the line in trenches in Springbok Valley 1000 yards north of Canal Crossing at Bellenglise. Reorganisation carried out as far as possible.

Springbok Valley - 2 Oct 1918:  The Bn prepare to move to form a defensive flank for the 32^nd Division (Div) in the neighbourhood of Swiss Cottage. Orders for this operation were cancelled and at 11.30pm the unit left Springbok Valley to take in a major operation the following morning.

Ramicourt - 3 Oct 1918: The 139^th Brigade (Bde) attacked Ramicourt & Monutbrehain on the morning of Oct 3^rd at 6.50am. The 137^th Bde co-operated on the right and the Australians on our left. During this attack the prisoners captured by this Bn amounted to nearly 1000 together with many machine guns.

Magny La Fosse - 4 & 5 Oct 1918: For these two days the Bn was at Magny La Fosse in Bivouacs for rest & re-organisation. During this time 85 reinforcements arrived.

Sequehart - 6 Oct 1918: On the night of 5/6 Oct orders were received for the 139^th Inf Bde to take over the Sequehart front from the 97^th Bde who had suffered badly if the capture of the village. The 8^th Sherwoods took over the front held by 14^th Bde consisting of Dorsets, H.L.I and Royal Scots.

The Bn dispositions were: C Coy on the right, D Coy on the left, B Coy in close support, A Coy in Battalion Reserve. During this tour the Bn was the right of the British line establishing an International post with our allies the French.

Sequehart - 7 Oct 1918: The Bn occupied this sector till the evening of the 7^th when it was relieved by the Monmouth Pioneer Bn. This short tour was remarkable of the intense enemy artillery fire during the whole of the time.

Le Haucourt – 8 Oct 1918: On relief the Bn moved to Le Haucourt where the day was spent in reorganisation & cleaning up.