Military History

Military History

Arthur is listed as being killed in action 1st July 1916 during the attack on Beaumont Hamel on the 1st day of the Battle of the Somme. The 2nd Battalion war diary entry for that day is transcribed below.

Firing Line – 1 Jul 1916 – 05.00: During the night Coys moved up to their positions ready for assault in Firing & Support lines. Our artillery was active all night. Morning fine but misty. Men were given hot tea at 11pm last night and again at 5am.

06.30: Our artillery commenced steady bombardment of enemy’s front line trenches increasing to heavy bombardment & at 07.00 field artillery commenced a barrage on enemy’s front line.

07.20: Mine under Hawthorn Redoubt fired & Coys immediately commenced getting out of the trenches & through our wire. (Bn HQ moved to Bomb T in B Street at 07.10). As the leaving companies reached the outer edge of our wire machine gun fire was opened on them which rapidly increased in intensity, enemy also opened percussion shrapnel on the advancing lines. By about 07.30am the leading companies had lost nearly all officers & about 70% of the men.

A Coy reached a point about 20 yards of enemy’s front line just south of the nose of the salient where they were held up by M G fire & bombs from the trench. C Coy crossed the hollow by sunken road & reached a point about 60 yards from enemy’s wire where they were under M G fire from their right flank. D Coy reached a point about 300 yards from our wire. Position of Coys was roughly as follows.

Reserve Coy B Coy left support trench as 07.30 moving over the top and across the fire trench by bridges. This Coy came under enemy machine gun fire while passing through our wire. They advanced steadily across the open till practically all men were hit. Capt Hughes was last seen about 50 yards from the enemy wire leading 6 or 7 men forward, all these men were knocked out a few yards further on. HQ moved forward with B Coy.

According to original arrangements our artillery barrage lifted off enemy’s front line at 7.30am. Enemy at once lined his parapet & M.Gs fired immediately.

1/Border Regt advance from our support trenches (Fethard Street) to support the Bn were caught by machine guns before reaching our front line, this Bn lost very heavily & only a few men got up near our forward line & none actually reached the front line.

During the remainder of the day no further attempt to advance was made, the enemy fired heavy shrapnel over the wounded & men laying out in the open also intermittent M G fire. Prior to the attack it was arranged that Coys on reaching enemy’s trenches should fire very lights to let the Brigade know, but shortly after we advanced the enemy put up lights & for some time it was thought that we had taken the front line & also pushed on, consequently our barrage was not put back on to enemy’s front line.

09.30: The 10% of Officers and men left behind at Englebelmer moved up to the front line and afterwards went to St. Johns Road.

The actual strength of the Battalion as it moved forward to the attack was Officers 21 & OR 578. Casualties were as follows:

None reached the enemy’s trench and it was impossible to bring the bodies in, practically all those reported missed were probably killed. A few wounded & others managed to get back to our trenches during the day and several returned after dark.

Military History

Herbert is listed as being killed in action on 27th March 1918 during an enemy attack in the Battlion's positions. The 2nd/4th Battalion war diary entry for the 27th March is transcribed below.

Near Hebuterne – 27 Mar 1918: The night 26/27^th passed quietly except for sniping. Patrols were sent out but no encounters took place. C Coy got into touch with the 4^th Australian Brigade on its right.

9am: Large masses of the enemy were observed deploying K.22 & 23. O.C Boy Coy reported enemy massing in Sunken Road in K.17 & 18. Bombs were applied for but none were available. The enemy attacked B & A Coys, working up old communication trenches. These attacks went on throughout the day, B Coy being twice driven back each time regaining their position. Whenever enemy showed himself in the open heavy casualties were inflicted on him, but when bombing up the C.T’s there were nothing to oppose him with.

4pm: About 4pm the position was shelled by 77mm guns and trench mortars.

5.15pm: Bombed by Aeroplanes. About 5.15pm a heavy attack drove A & B Coys from their positions.

5.35pm: D Coy, which had been moved forward was relieved to counter attack & rescue the situation but it was too late & a defensive line was formed in in K.12.a. One Coy of the 5^th K.O.Y.L.I was sent to support the Battalion. This and a second Coy of the same battalion sent up were employed to extend the line to the right where a gap existed.

10pm: Six tanks followed by a Coy of the 5^th K.O.Y.L.I attacked the wood & returned reporting it empty. Orders received to counter attack & regain original line. Two Coys 5^th K.O.Y.L.I & 2/4^th Y & L [York & Lancaster] placed at disposal for this operation which was to be carried out before dawn [on the 28^th].

Casualties during the day amounted to 2/Lt Drake killed; 2/Lt J. Rainford & 2/Lt wounded; Capt A.E. Pilley, 2/Lt’s Maggs & Spink missing. Casualties to other ranks estimated at 160.

Military History

Joseph died of a gunshot wound & fractured pelvis at the 1st Southern General Hospital in Stourbridge on 6th May 1918. We believe that he was originally wounded on or about 26th November 1917 when the Battalion were in the Zuytpeene area of Ypres and he was admitted to the 10th Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Siding near Lijssenthoek, see record fragment below.