Current Information:

Age-17

90, Fernthorpe Road, Streatham

Born-Clapham

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 fifteen 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 7.30 am 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, 32nd Division attacked from assembly trenches on the lower slopes of the Thiepval spur from Authuille Wood to Thiepval Wood. 97 Brigade was  on the right and 96 Brigade on the left. 96 Brigade attacked with the 16th Northumberland Fusiliers and 15th Lancashire Fusiliers battalions with 16th Lancashire Fusiliers in support Straightway the leading waves met with disaster from the machine guns in Thiepval Fort. 16th Northumberland Fusiliers followed a football but got not much further than their own front trenches.  The Germans even stood on the parapet to get better aim and the remaining company of 16th Northumberland Fusiliers manned the fire step of the British line to give covering fire. One of the many casualties was Reginald Davies who was killed.