Current Information:

Age-33

Born-Lewisham

The opening day of the Battle of the Somme 1st July 1916

This was a disastrous day for the British Army in France. Eleven divisions of Fourth Army attacked along a 15 mile front from Maricourt to Serre. Two further divisions of Third Army launched a diversionary attack just to the north of Serre at Gommecourt. For a week beforehand the British artillery pounded the German trenches but the Germans had been there for a long time and they had constructed deep, concrete reinforced shelters beneath their trenches and many survived the bombardment. The troops went over the top at 7.30am but even before they had left their overcrowded trenches, many had been killed or maimed by German artillery. The Germans knew that they were coming. Once in No-Man’s-Land the artillery continued to take its toll and then the machine guns opened up on the advancing British infantry. They fell in their thousands and the attack came to a standstill almost everywhere. Survivors sought cover wherever they could find it and at night they crawled back to their own lines, often dragging a wounded soldier with them. Only in the south were any advances made with the attack on Fricourt and Mametz. Over 19,000 British soldiers were killed on this day, including 2,500 from London.

On 1st July, 18th Division took part in one of the few successful operations of the day when they attacked at the southern end of the British front towards the village of Montauban. 53 Brigade were in front with the 8th Norfolk and 6th Royal Berkshire battalions leading the brigade attack.  As they moved forward the Casino mine was blown and some men were hit by the falling debris of this explosion. However, they were able to make progress because the use of a flame thrower had dealt with the Germans on the west side of the cratered area and the actual mine itself had destroyed their flanks as well as demoralising them. Many of them surrendered. The German wire had been well cut and 8th Norfolk advanced against weak opposition until they neared Pommiers Trench, on the high ground of Montauban Ridge, where three machine guns opened up on them.  A bombing party worked up Popoff Lane, a communication trench, and rushed one of these machine guns and this caused the other two to withdraw.  By 7.50am, Pommiers Trench had been occupied.  A strong point called ‘The Loop’ inflicted heavy casualties on 6th Royal Berkshire but blocked trenches prevented any attempt to attack it until 8th Norfolk moved forward and at 10.20am and ‘The Loop’ fell to them. By the evening both 6th Royal Berkshire and 8th Norfolk had established advanced parties in the 3rd objective and in contact with both flanks. The casualties for 8th Norfolk amounted to nearly 300 and included Francis Hill who was killed.