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Albert is listed as being killed in action on 6 Jul 1916. The Battalion war diary shows that the Battalion were engaged in fighting at Leipzig Salient btwn the 4th & 8th July during which Albert was killed. The war diary entries for the 5th and 6th July are transcribed below along with a newspaper report from the Stratford Herald
War Diary - 5 Jul 1916
Leipzig Salient – 5th: For half min before the start time, there was an intense artillery bombardment assisted by Stokes Mortars, punctually at 7p.m. our 1st wave advanced to the attack under heavy rifle and machine gun fire. D Coy on the left under Capt R L Knubley reached their objective without heavy casualties, but D Coy on the left were badly cut up by machine gunfire and though they reached their objective were insufficient in numbers to withstand the heavy German Counter attack which followed immediately, and were compelled to withdraw temporarily. The second wave of each Coy consisting of 1 platoon had followed on the first wave at an interval of about 30-40 yards. C Coy on the right were followed by the carrying party of 1 platoon of B Coy.
After the trench had been cleared of Germans, all dugouts were bombed immediately and then took in hand the consolidation of the position gained. Barricades were erected in all the communication trenches leading to the German 3rd line and bombing parties posted. In the case of 1 Communications Trench the Germans had erected a strong barricade prior to the attack. Two blocks were also built on the left of the captured trench, the second about thirty yards behind the first as a precautionary measure in case retirement became necessary. The men in this attack were magnificent, all showing the greatest coolness and initiative.
Approx Casualties Killed 20. Missing 22. Wounded 158. Missing believed killed 2.
War Diary - 6 Jul 1916
Leipzig Salient – 6th – Morning: On the extreme right of the captured trench, communication was now opened via an old CT [Communication Trench] with A Company who were holding the line behind.
C & D Companies were relieved about 5am & went back to Tobermory Street reaching there at 7.30am. Two companies of the 3rd Worcestershire Regiment took their place in the captured trench & carried on the work of consolidation.
In this first attack [on the 5th] the casualties were roughly as follows:
Killed: Col. W.S. Brown Capt A.H Hales
Missing: Lt Starkey
Wounded: Lt Holman; 2/Lt Holman; 2/Lt Taylor JR; 2/Lt Stockbridge; Lt Pewa?; 2/Lt Troughton
Throughout the day the enemy carried on with intermittent bombing; trench mortars & rifle grenades. Shelling was continuous the whole day but was not of the same intense nature as during the attack.
In the evening C & D Companies were again brought up into the Leipzig Salient, C Coy taking over from the line they had captured on the night of 5th July. A Company were placed in the Quarries to relieve the other Company of 3rd Worcestershire Regt. D Company taking the place of A Coy in Support. The 2 Companies of the 3rd Worcestershire Regt relieved returned to Reserve in the 2nd line of old British Trenches.
Newspaper Report/Obituary
Stratford Herald Friday September 8th 1916
Shipston-on-Stour
ANOTHER SHIPSTON SOLIDER KILLED - Mr Charles Sturch of Watery Lane, Shipston has just received news of the death of his nephew Pte Albert Sturch (fiddler) who was killed by a bayonet charge in the fighting on the Somme on July 6th. He joined the army on the outbreak of war. He had been in the thickest of the fighting and had been previously wounded 4 times. He was once invalided home suffering from shell shock after being buried by a shell near Ypres. On that occasion he wandered about between the opposing lines for 6 days before he ran into one of our patrols and was brought in with his reason for the time completely gone. He had only rejoined his Regiment after being discharged from hospital 2 or 3 days before he met his death. Pte Sturch was a native of Shipston and a grandson of the late Mr Harry Sturch, a fiddler, with a very wide reputation. He was in the regimental string band during his previous service in the army.
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