Current Information:

Age-22

Attached to 93rd Trench Mortar Battery

7, Wellesley Road, Wanstead

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 1916, 31st Division had only been in France since March and this was their first time in action. 93 Brigade was made up of the 15th, 16th and 18th West Yorkshire and 18th Durham Light Infantry battalions and took part in the attack made by 31st Division on the strongly fortified village of Serre. The wire had been destroyed on this sector but not the deep dug-outs.  At 7.20am as the first waves left their trenches to lie out in No Man’s Land they were met by machine gun and artillery fire which fell on their front line trench and 50 yards out into no-man’s-land. As the leading waves rose at 7.30am this fire intensified and German soldiers were seen standing on the parapet and moving out to shell holes to fire more effectively.

15th West Yorkshires led 93Brigade attack and were practically annihilated by frontal and enfilade fire.  All officers were cas within the 1st few minutes.  16th West Yorkshires and one company of 18th Durham Light Infantry advanced from the support trench and suffered many casualties before they had even reached the British front line.  Only a few of 93 Brigade made it across No Man’s Land but some of 18th Durham Light Infantry actually reached Pendant Copse.  18th West Yorkshires, in support, could make no headway and the rest of 18th Durham Light Infantry were kept back. No ground had been gained and the losses had been enormous. One of the casualties was Sidney Bobby who was attached to the brigade’s trench mortar battery.