Ernest Ash

Ernest Ash

Born in 1898 in the village of Notgrove Gloucestershire Ernest's surname was registered as Ash, however, on 1st May that year he was baptised in St Bartholomew Parish Church, Notgrove and the recorder spelt the name Ashe. Ernest's father was a Slater's labourer and in 1901 the family were resident at Notgrove Cottages fourth from the Rectory. At that time there were six children of whom Ernest was second youngest aged three. By 1911 the family had moved to Salford Road, Bidford upon Avon Warwickshire, Ernest now aged 13 was still at school and his mother, Amelia, had successfully birthed eight children all who had survived to that date.

By 1916 Ernest had left school, was still living at home and was employed as a Grocers Aòssistant. He answered his call up on 10th May and gave his age as 18 and five months old, this places his birthday at the beginning of January 1898. Under the new Conscription legislation a pledge had been made not to send men under 19 years of age to the front and Ernest was sent home his service deferred.

Ernest was mobilised on 2nd December 1916 and was posted to the newly formed 92nd Training Battalion to complete basic training and given the number TR/666. The 92nd was formerly 17th (Reserve) Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment and was based at Chisledon, near Swindon, Salisbury within easy reach of all the training facilities buit up on Salisbury Plain. Recruits to these new training Battalions were not designated to a particular Regiment and in place of a cap badge wore a general service button, on completion of training they could be sent where the numbers were needed.

GS Button

On 21st January 1917 Ernest was hospitalised with Scabies, an itchy skin condition caused by tiny mites burrowing into the skin, for four days. Following completion of his basic training on 13th March he was posted to the Machine Gun Corps and given the number 88497.

The machine gun training centre for Infantry was at Belton Park near Grantham. There was a lot to learn from basic drill patterns specific to the role, laying the gun, cleaning, maintenence and repair of the gun, loading and unloading the general service wagons. In the classroom there were lessons on direct and indirect fire, barrage fire, range finding, rate of fire, target identification and ballistics. On the range all these skills were brought together and on completion of the course Ernest qualified as a machine gunner. For the first time Ernest recieved insignia which made him part of a Regiment.

                 MGC Cap Badge.                                             Machine Gunner Sleeve Badge

On 14th May 1917 Ernest embarked from Folkestone and landed at Boulogne the same day, his draft was taken to an Infantry Base Depot at Camiers from where he was posted to 11th Machine Gun Company serving with 4th Division.

11th Company was formed in December 1915 when the Machine Gun Corps was commenced. The Vickers and Maxim heavy machine guns were removed from Battalions and replaced with the lighter Lewis Gun and the Companies were allocated to Divisions. When Ernest joined them they were out of the line training having just been engaged in the Arras Offensive.

11th Company was made up of a CO Major or Captain, 2IC was a Captain or Lieutenant and four sections with two Subalterns per section the most senior being in charge. Each section was split into two subsections with a Sergeant as 2IC. Each section had four guns,, either Vickers or Maxim, the latter becoming obsolete were gradually replaced. Each gun had six men, all were trained in each others roles.

No. 1 - fired the gun and carried the tripod, responsible for cleaning and maintaining the gun, placing the tripod and assisting to mount the gun.

No. 2 - assists at the gun, carries the gun and mounts it. Secures the condensing tube and feeds the gun, carries the first aid kit and watches for commands.

No. 3 - responsible for the supply of ammunition, attaching the condenser can half full of water and carrying out minor repairs on the gun.

No 4 - assists 3, supplies ammunition and water and spare parts from the spares box.

No 5 and 6 - spare. But all men were trained to fulfill all the roles.

On 25th May a Brigade parade was held for the handing out of medal ribbons, 11th Coy recieved one - MC, one DCM and nine MM's, this brought their total since formation to three - MC's, one DCM, and nine MM's. An inspiring event for the new member Ernest, but, with reward in war there is always great danger. Machine gun positions were a prime target for artillery by both sides, of the 170,000 members of the Corps in the two years ten months of WW1 in which it existed, 62,000 men became casualties, 34.8%. A few days later a French Medaille Militaire was added to the Companies tally.

The days out of the line were spent on range practise, gun care, sports and competitions, lectures in new equipment such as the Barr and Stroud range finder care of animals and church parades. A typical day started at 7 a.m. (30.5.17) with a run, ablutions and breakfast, 9-10, lecture on the role of machine gun in an offensive, 10-12.30, gun placement construction, lunch, 2-4 football.

On 10th June the Company moved back to Arras, the following day at 4 p.m. they moved back into the line on the River Scarpe and relieved 36 Company MGC. The relief went without incident and was completed by 12 midnight, this first trench tour for Ernest lasted until 26th June. A programme of harassing fire was undertaken from positions in Rouex Wood, the target being enemy communication lines, each night 6-7000 rounds were expended. On relief the Company went to Fife Camp and the following day was spent cleaning equipment and taking baths. At this point the Company strength was ten officers and 184 other ranks.

Trench map showing gun positions and fields of harassing fire.

On 3rd July the Company CO, Major Westrop DSO, MC was posted to another Division, command was handed to the most senior officer Lieutenant Basil Corballis who was promoted to Captain. Whilst out of the line the training programme was adhered to and lasted until 12th July when they returned to the front. On 17th July 1917 at 7.05 a.m. a German aircraft flying at 400 feet was reconnoitering along the British front line, dropping alternate red and white flares and its machine gunner was firing into the trench, one of the Companies guns was able to engage it but unfortunately did not bring it down. The Germans were marking the line for their artillery no doubt. This tour lasted until 28th July when relieved they went to billets in Middlesex Camp. Returning to the training programme a day of levity was spent on Brigade swimming sport, the Company won two competitions and the 'Duck on the greasy pole' event.

At the beginning of September the Company moved to Pommier, standing orders included; walking out dress was belt and PH helmet (gas) plus no fruit to be picked in the area, no doubt the last following complaints by farmers.

Vickers Machine Gunners WW1 Wearing PH Helmets

Later in September 1917 the Company moved by train to the Poperinghe area where they were billeted at Pilch Camp. On the night of 1st/2nd October they moved back into the line in preparation for the attack scheduled for the 4th, the Battle of Broodseinde part of the 3rd Battle of Ypres otherwise known as Passchendaele. The gun positions were carefully located to give fields of fire to both sides of the assaulting Battalion and barrage fire up and over onto positions in front of them. With two days rations for 4th and 5th of October the gun teams waited in anticipation of zero hour scheduled for 6 a.m. on the 4th.

4th Division in the Langemark area

To disguise the timing of the attack British artillery had laid practise barrages down from 27th September which increased to two barrages per day from 1st October. The plan was to commence a Hurricane bombardment, (very quick and intense), at zero hour followed by a creeping barrage in front of the assaulting Infantry, on the second lift the machine guns were to commence firing. In antipation of the attack the German artillery commenced firing on the British lines at 5.30 a.m. and 15 minutes later the target areas encompassed 11th Companies positions. Ernest's section were located in White Trench near White House and had eight guns engaged in Barrage fire, they were subjected to a particularly intense bombardment at 6 a.m. three guns were destroyed, eight men killed and 16 wounded, Ernest was one of those killed.

Ernest's location on the battlefield

Of the eight men killed three of the men's bodies were not recovered, including Ernest, these men are commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial. He left £4.14.9 to his mother Amelia which was added to by the minimum war gratuity of £3, the British War, Victory Medals, Memorial Plaque and Scroll were sent to Amelia after the war.

In 2017 the Royal British Legion commissioned the design and manufacture of a special poppy pin to commemorate the Battle of Passchendaele. As with the Somme 100 pins the metal is formed from shell fuses and the red pigment from finely ground soil from the battlefield. Mine is dedicated to Ernest.

Passchendaele 100 pin

William Mathew Smart

 William Mathew Smart

William was born on 17th January 1892 in Aberdeen at 11 Baltic Street, father John was a foreman in a chemical works while his mother Isabella kept home. In 1901 the family lived at 39 Albion Street Aberdeen and consisted of four boys, of which William was the eldest, and four girls.

In 1913 William married Nancy Wood and the same year their daughter, Georgina, was born, the couple resided at 130 Sinclair Road, Torry, Aberdeen.

Before World War I started William had been a Territorial soldier, Gunner 4318, with 1st Highland Brigade Royal Field Artillery a Territorial Force unit. It was based in Silver Street Aberdeen and comprised of a headquarters, 1st, 2nd and 3rd City of Aberdeen Batteries (changed to 255, 255 and 258 (howitzer) batteries and an ammunition column. It had existed in this form since the Haldene reforms of 1908 at which time the newly formed Territorial Force units were renumbered, 2nd City of Aberdeen Battery were numbered from 1000 extending, but not initially using, to 3000. William's original number was 1087 which placed him not as an original member but somewhere not to distant, he was 18 in 1910 this is probably significant. On the outbreak of war the Brigade and its members were embodied into service and commenced training for war, William rejoined his old unit as a Gunner and was assigned the number 4318.

Courtesy Silver City Vault, Aberdeen history.

On 2nd May 1915 as part of 51st Highland Division (HD), William landed in France, within days they went into action near Lillers armed with obsolete 15 pounder guns. A number of these guns were withdrawn after a few days resulting in the issue of brand new 18 pounder field guns. During 1915 51st HD were in action in the Battles of Festubert and Givenchy before moving down to the Somme District where they were based near Hamel.

Australian 18 pounder in action IWM

18 pound Shrapnel shell

On 25th July 1916 255th Brigade commenced firing on the German front line as part of the artillery bombardment preceding the Somme Offensive, the main artillery action had started the previous day. Initially this was for four days and the 18 pounder field guns role was to cut the defensive wire in front of the German line and to help destroy the trenches. At the end of the four days the Infantry assault was postponed until 1st July and the guns continued to fire. Later in the month 255th were in action during the assaults of High Wood which continued until 15th September.

At the beginning of October 1916 the 255th moved to Hedauville and about this time William was involved in an accident where he sustained broken ribs, entering the casualty chain he was admitted to no 3 Casualty Clearing Station on 5th October. William died on 11th October, the cause of death recorded as resulting from broken ribs. This is a very rare occurrence, the usual causes of death from chest crush injuries are caused by broken ribs damaging organs and internal bleeding, more recent studies show a 0.5% fatality rate in William's age group.

William was buried in Puchevillers British cemetery which was serving the two CCS's based at this location and is the last resting place of 1765 men. He left £27.9.5 in back pay which was later added to by a war gratuity of 9.10.0, split between his wife and daughter. His 1914/15 Star, British War and Victory Medals along with a Memorial Plaque and Scroll were forwarded to Nancy after the war.

In 2016 the Royal British Legion commissioned the manufacture of a poppy pin to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. The metal used to form the flower is made from brass shell fuses, both Impact and Shrapnell, recovered from the battlefield by farmers, the red colour is made from finely ground soil from the area.

Brass 18 pounder fuse

 My Somme 100 pin

William and Samuel Byers

 William and Samuel Byers

Julia Barton was born in Ipswich in 1858 and married three times, firstly to John Byers a Cabinet Maker. The couple settled in London and had seven children; William Edward b. 9.7.83 and Samuel Frederick b. 17.3.86 were two of the three boys. John Senior died in December 1887 and between 1891 and 1901 Julia changed her name by marriage too Harman but was widowed by the time of the 1901 census. In 1904 she married Henry Deal.

Military files for William and Francis Byers were destroyed by fire but from surviving records its possible to determine that both brothers registered for military service under the Derby Scheme in December 1915 and chose the deferred service option. William enlisted at Bethnal Green, London and was called up in or about March 1916 and posted to the Northumberland Fusiliers (NF), 1/5 Battalion and given the number 5/5845. 1/5 Battalion was a Territorial formation embodied at the beginning of the war and had been serving in France since April 1915. Following succesful completion of basic training with a Reserve Battalion, William was sent to France with a draft of replacements, it is not possible to accurately state when. On 31st March 1917 the renumbering of the Territorial Force took place, William's number was changed to 241391.

On 27th May 1918 at 1 a.m. the Germans launched the third phase of their Spring Offensive, Operation Blücher-Yorck, this was a thrust towards Paris designed to divert Allied troops from Flanders to defend the capital and make their planned operations in that area easier. 4,000 artillery pieces commenced a bombardment on Allied lines followed by release of poison gas and an assault by 17 Stormtrooper led Divisions. The Storptroopers were fast moving infiltration troops who were followed by mopping up infantry, they were armed with Mauser rifles, stick grenades and the forerunner of the modern submachine gun the MP 18. The attack caught the defenders by surprise and created a 25 mile gap in the line smashing eight Allied Divisions and eventually came to within 35 miles of Paris. Before halting due to heavy casualties, exhausted troops, lack of supplies and reserves, the Germans had capted 50,000 prisoners and 800 guns.

On this first day, 27th May 1918, 1/5 Battalion NF were Corps reserve in Consevreax, the artillery bombardment targeting this town with high explosive and gas shells, the casualties incurred were high. At 2.20 a.m. orders were recieved to advance to Beaurepaire, on the road they were caught by more shell fire and sufferedmord casualties. The Battalion were held in open ground and two Companies were ordered forward, they met intense machine gun and artillery fire and could not progress. The Battalion started a fighting withdrawal which kept them in action until 31st May.

Battalion's positions on 27th May, (war diary)

The casualties on the 27th May 1918 were; three officers and ten other ranks killed - three officers and 99 other ranks wounded - 11 officers and 374 other ranks missing in which William was counted. Many of the missing were wounded dead or POWs, some stragglers probably rejoined their units in the days to follow but by July 1918 1/5 Battalion was reduced to cadre strength and spent the rest of the war confined to duties in the lines of communication.

Eventually the missing status was changed to presumed dead and with no known grave his name was placed on the Soissons Memorial with 3916 other UK soldiers who lost their lives in the Battles of the Aisne and Marne of 1918. William left £23.2s.5d along with a War Gratuity of £12 to his mother and brother John. He was awarded the British War and Victory Medals which with a Memorial Plaque and Scroll were forwarded to his mother.

Soissons Memorial (CWWGC)

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Samuel's details vary in records, he was baptised Samuel Frederick but other records show him as Samuel Frederick Francis or Francis Frederick Samuel Byers. He went to Pritchards Road School following which he was employed as a Porter in Covent Garden. He registered for military service in December 1915 at Stratford, London and deferred his service for call which came in or about June 1916. Initially Samuel was posted to 8th (Reserve) Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment number 24299 where he completed basic training following which he was posted to 3rd Battalion Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) and given the number G28191. 3rd Battalion was on Garrison duty in Cawnpore Indian when war broke out, it returned to the UK in December 1914 and landed in France on 19th January 1915. In October 1915 it left France for Egypt and from there went to Greece where it spent the rest of the war engaged in the Salonica Campaign. It is not possible to determine when Samuel joined 3rd Battalion in the field but if his basic training lasted three months with leave and travel time he would have been there about November 1916.

The records for the Battalion's engagements in Salonika are not at this time available but the XV1 Corps HQ had been based at Kirechkoi on the main Salonika-Hortakoi road. Three General hospitals were also based here and in June July and August 1918 more hospitals moved to this location, drawn to the high and healthy location no doubt in anticipation of the forthcoming Spanish Flu Pandemic. In September the disease ravaged the area for three months and the cemetery, Kirechkoi-Hortakoi Military, which served the hospitals became three quarters full.

Samuel became infected with sufficient severity to be hospitalised but on 2nd October 1918 succumbed and died. His mother now had to deal with the loss of a second son, the wound from May still being raw no doubt. Samuel left £7.19.11. with a war gratuity of £11 to his mother and brother john. He was awarded the British War and Victory Medals.

Kirechkoi-Hortakoi Military Cemetery (CWWGC)

Samuel's Grave

    

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George F L Crompton

 George Frederick Leonard Crompton

George was born on or near to 10th September in Ardwick Green, Manchester, Lancashire and baptised on 27th November the same year at St Mathew's Church, Ardwick. His father George, was a Grocer by profession and the family home was 10, Cranworth Street, Ardwick, George snr died in 1900. In the 1901 census his widow, Jane still had three of her children with her, George F.L. being the youngest at 22 was employed as a China Ware Salesman.

On 16th November 1901 George married Edith Saxon, a widow, at Moss side Parish Church, Edith had been married previously and had one son who lived with the couple. In 1911 they were still childless except for Edith's son William who was 15 and an Apprentice Draftsman, also living with them was Edith's mother, a midwife. George was working as a Travelling Salesman dealing in Jewelery and fancy goods.

In the initial months of WWI enthusiasm to join up was fuelled by a patriotic fervour to serve the country and the promise it would be all over by Christmas, the thousands flocking to the recruitment offices didn't want to miss out. By mid 1915 this was waning, most likely to do with the realisation that the war was to be a protracted affair and the realisation of what it entailed. Movement of casualty trains by night did not disguise the numbers coming home maimed and disfigured. The Director General  for recruitment, Lord Derby, devised a scheme to encourage eligible men to come forward and volunteer, all between 18 and 41 (except those starred in a protected occupation) had to make a public declaration, some did so at recruitment offices. Following this the individual had two options, immediate or deferred service, on 11th December 1915 George attended a recruitment facility at Stockport, attested and chose option B to defer his service to await call up. To show he had volunteered George was issued with a khaki brassard bearing a red crown.

In 1916 George and Edith adopted Lucy Allard who had been born in 1911 the third child of Fred and Mary Arundel both of whom had now passed away.

On 28th August 1916 George responded to his call up and joined the 2/7 Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers at Henham Park, his medical examination at this time was B1. B category meant he was free from serious organic diseases, able to stand service on lines of communication in France, or in garrisons in the tropics. B1 meant in addition he was able to march five miles, see to shoot with glasses, and hear well. On 11th July 1917 he was transferred to 14th Battalion Prince of Wales's Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment). 14 South Lancs were stationed at this time at Palling on the Norfolk Coast and were formed in January 1917 from home service personel as part of the coastal defences.

Following a medical examination early in 1918 George was given an A classification, the need for more men in France made men fitter than they had previously been, on 8th April George embarked to France arriving the following day. After a few days in an Infantry Base Unit he was posted to 2nd Battalion South Lancashire Regiment and travelled with a draft of replacements to join them in the field.

2nd Battalion had been in France since August 1914, it had recently been caught up in the full force of the German Spring Offensive and suffered massive casualties. Between 21st to 26th March they had lost; two officers and 23 other ranks killed, four officers and 131 other ranks wounded, 7 officers and 193 other ranks missing. The ranks were made up with drafts of new recruits from the base but there was no time to train and shape the Battalion into an efficient fighting force.

On 15th April 1918, the Battalion were again seriously depleted by casualties, having been engaged in the Spring Offensive on the Somme and the second phase Operation Georgette on the Lys. They were withdrawn from the line at 1 a.m. and ordered to Mont des Cats where they went into billets and had the first hot meal for days. The weather had been cold wet and windy but despite this the men, though very tired, were cheerful. Further orders, however, put them back on the road to New Zealand Reinforcement Camp near Abeele arriving at 7 a.m. The following day the remains of 2nd Battalion met up with two other units similarly understrength, a composite Battalion was formed named 75th Battalion and sent under orders of 7th Infantry Brigade. This left 2nd Battalion with eight officers and 200 men, they recieved a draft of 90 replacements, including George who was posted to A Company, and 230 other ranks made up of stragglers who had become displaced from their units. Later that day they became the target of enemy artillery and dug in for protection, enemy aircraft had been busy and no doubt had reported their positions. On 18th April the 2nd withdrew to camp at Mont des Cats where they rested and cleaned up.

A few days rest enabled some organisation, Company Commanders were appointed, two of which were only Second Lieutenants, in charge of A Company was Lieutenant K. M. Bourne MC. On 17th April a tally of the casualties from the previous seven days was drawn up; all ranks - killed - 52, wounded - 386, missing - 208. On 20th April time was found to award 12 Military Medals and a bar to an MM for work during recent operations. The following day the Battalion moved from Mont Des Cats to a camp 2.5 miles north east of Poperinghe arriving at 6.30 p.m. they had been halted on the road for three hours due to heavy traffic, it did give an opportunity for a hot meal to be served though.

On 24th April the Battalion entered the front line half a mile east of the camp, subjected to artillery fire on a daily basis the caualty count continued to rise.

At 1 a.m. Saturday 27th April orders to move were recieved to support positions 1000 yards north of the crossroads in La Clytte, this was completed by 4 a.m., at 12.30 p.m. the Battalion moved to the front line. During this latest move A Company suffered six casualties caused by shell fire, George was one of them.

What happened to George after this is a mystery, initially he was reported slightly wounded and his wife notified accordingly, waiting for news but taking comfort from the minor nature of the report she recieved a second notification that George had been slightly wounded and believed to be a  prisoner of war. The weeks and months went by with no news, the Red Cross were contacted and a report lodged with their International counterparts for information from prisoner of war records, with no result, George was not in a camp. The letters written to the War Office have faded over time but show a family in anguish and frustration, eventually George's missing status was changed to Death Presumed.

Edith applied for a pension and having provided documentary proof of marriage and adoption of Lucy was granted a sum of 38 shillings 7 pence per week. Edith was also give £11.7s.0d. back pay owing to George, a war Gratuity of £9, a Memorial Plaque and Scroll and the British War and Victory Medals he was awarded. Both she and her son never gave up hope and still wrote asking for information in 1924, the only other news was the recovery of his wallet from the battlefield which was sent to her.

I doubt Edith ever heard anything else about George, she did not re-marry and died on 22nd May 1939 aged 63. Of the six casualties on 27th May 1918, three of them appear in Commonwealth War Graves Commision records, two buried in cemeteries nearby and George whose name is on the Tyne Cot Memorial. I believe the most likely explanation is that he was killed but in all the confusion following the events he was confused with one of the other men who was only wounded, so many replacements had joined the Battalion it was impossible to know all of them.

Samuel Dizzard Stewart

 Samuel Dizzard Stewart

Samuel was born on 18th May 1892 in Leith, Edinburgh, he was the fourth of five children born to Allan and Agnes Stewart, Allan was a Lithographic printer by trade. On a date before 3rd July 1899 Alan moved his family to London, on this date Samuel started at Great College School in St Pancras, the family home was nearby at 196 Clarence Road. On leaving school Samuel gained employment as an Organ Builder, he was still so employed when he joined up.

On 10th December 1915, Samuel attended an army recruitment office in St Pancras and attested under the Derby Scheme to join the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own). At this time Samuel was 23 years of age, 5' 5¾" tall with a dimple on his chin, he was living with his family at 21 Hartland Road, Chalk Farm. The following day he was posted to the army reserve to await call up, this followed in February 1916 and on the 11th he reported to the brigade depot at Winchester and was posted as Rifleman S16280 to 5th (Reserve) Battalion, this Battalion was stationed at Minster on Sea, Sheppey, Kent part of the coastal defences, the posting was probably purely administrative because on 6th March 1916 he was posted to 17th (Reserve) Battalion which in January had moved to Banbury. This change was at the request of the officer commanding 17th Battalion in whose ranks Samuel's brother Allan Robert was serving as Corporal P4282.

Samuel underwent basic training which involved learning how to care for and wear uniform and kit, much physical exercise, drill and long route marches. All designed to build fitness, character and mold the individual into a soldier who could work in a team, take and act on orders. On completion of training Samuel was posted to France to join the BEF embarking on 20th July. On 21th July 1916 Samuel arrived at an Infantry Base Depot (IBD) at Le Havre and from there was posted to 13th (Service) Battalion joining them in the field on 26th July in a draft of 231 other ranks, two days previously 223 officers and men had joined the Battalion.

13th Battalion had been formed at Winchester in September 1914 as part of Kitchener's New Armies and landed in France on 22nd July the previous year. They had been involved in the Somme offensive manning the front line and taking part in an attack on 10th July which was cancelled after they had advanced 200 yards, the casualties had been heavy losses of 20 officers and 380 other ranks. The losses included the CO, second in command, Adjudent and all four Company Commanders. When Samuel joined the Battalion they were out of the line at Bresle training, marching, drill and musketry on the range. On the night of 31st July the Battalion entered the trenches, initially a reserve line near Mametze Wood between Bottom Wood and Shelter Wood.

On the night of 6-7th August between 1.20 and 7 a.m. the Battalion's positions were bombarded by German artillery causing 43 casualties. They remained in the trenches until relieved on 14th August when they returned to billets at Bresle to continue training. At the end of August the Battalion moved to Verdrel from where they rotated in and out of the defensive line of Cité Calonne. This was a quiet sector the main action being to the South.

At the beginning of November the Battalion moved to Hedauville arriving their and going into billets on the 13th, that night they moved to the front to take part in an attack for the 63rd (RN) Division, on the way they suffered 40 casualties from artillery fire. 

The attack was launched at 6.15 a.m. from Railway Alley to a point in Beaucourt Trench 400 yards to the north west. An artillery barrage to cover the advance was to high and the attack was held up by rifle and machine gun fire until 7.15 a.m. a second barrage was corrected enabling a sussesful assault which captured the objective and captured 300 Germans who had lined up to surrender. The fighting continued all day and the positions were held until relieved on 21st November, during this period casualties continued to add up. On the first day Samuel had become a casualtyrsuffering a shrapnel wound to his right hip. Samuel's wound was dressed and he entered the casualty train arriving at 16 General Hospital at Le Treport on 15th November. Following treatment he was discharged back to the IBD and from there to rejoin his Battalion on 10th December 1916. During the operations on November 1916 the 13th Battalion had casualties if all ranks; 325, killed, wounded and missing.

On this date, 10th December 1916, the Battalion were based at Authieule they commenced a move by march to arrive at Croix Barbee on 22nd December. On 28th they went into the left sector trenches at Neuve Chapelle. The frontline was bombarded for two days by medium and heavy calibre  Minenwerfer (trench mortar) but by moving the men into communication trenches and the flanks they avoided large losses with only four men being injured. The front line was not now a continuous line but a series of outposts, the gaps between covered by machine guns and 15 pounder field guns, ironically the latter being purchased from Germany in 1900. The ground in this area was broken by shellfish and a quagmire of wet mud, everything sank into the ooze even the barbed wire.

Trench routine continued until March 1917 which was spent marching and training for the forthcoming offensive of the Battle of Arras. The latest tactic was independent action at a Platoon level, teams of Riflemen, Snipers, Lewis Gunners and bombers working together to take given objectives, the days of a cohesive line walking towards enemy guns was over. The battle started on 9th April and for the first two days 13th Battalion were in the front line in reserve, on the 11th they were involved in the successful attack on the village of Monchy le Preux. On 23rd April, following a generous rum ration and meal of bully beef, they were the second wave attacking in artillery formation, 200 yards between sections, when they were subjected to an intense bombardment causing heavy losses, including the CO. On reaching the first German line they found it full of the first wave whose officers were all casualties, pushing through the attack continued, the next objective being the village of Gavrelle. By this time the Battalions losses were so high only four officers and 120 other ranks were present, but they continued to fight on. Gavrelle was taken and 13th Battalion took and consolidated a length of line to the right of the village.

Counter attacks and heavy artillery bombardment, including gas, failed to dislodge the British forces holding the line, it had snowed heavily making recovery of the wounded difficult. The Battalion remained holding this captured line until the night of 29th April when they were relieved and retired to Battery Valley arriving there, filthy and exhausted, at 5 a.m. The survivors were joined by stragglers who had become displaced during the fighting and some fresh food arrived including eggs. Men bedded down in gun emplacements for a well earned rest before moving back to Arras. Trophies were exchanged including a batch of 50 Iron Crosses found in a HQ in Gavrelle.

Awards for the action during this battle were; immediately, two MCs and 17 MMs which were later followed by three DSO' (two to the same officer), one MC, one DCM and 11 MMs. The casualty lists are incomplete but on 23rd April alone 120 men were wounded. The Battalion moved to a quiet sector where they trained and manned the line.

During June 1917 the Battalion were engaged in the Battle to capture Whtschaette a fortified Village on the plateau of the Messines Ridge, during the fighting they had again suffered heavy casualties and in the aftermath were rotating in and out of the line in this sector. At the beginning of August they moved into the Ridge Defence Line and on the night of the 6th they moved forward to establish posts at Rifle and North Farms which gave important views over German lines. During this day ten men were wounded, seven of them from gas shells, Samuel's luck ran out and he was overcome by gas. Initially Samuel was treated at 50 Field Ambulance, transferred to 1st Canadian General Hospital at Étaples-sur-Mer and on 12th August he was sent for treatment in England.

Samuel was in hospital for 31 days suffering from burns to his neck and back, this was the effects of Mustard Gas which the Germans used in large quantities during the summer of 1917. In its purest form this gas is colourless but a mustrad colorant was added to observe where the gas was flowing. On contact with the skin no symptons are obvious but untreated, burn blisters oozing yellow fluid were caused, the mortality rate was low but long periods of hospitalisation and treatment were needed, logistically a better result than death. The long term effects of this gas were burns and respiratory problems with a higher chance of cancer later in life.

On 7th November 1917, following a period of recuperation and leave, Samuel landed back in France and from an IBD was posted to 10th Battalion Rifle Brigade. On 13th December Samuel joined the Battalion in a draft of 90 men, a note in the diary notes that 46 of these were untrained as Infantry having been transferred from the ASC or AOC. At this time the 10th were training at La Sablonnière, South East of Paris. On Christmas eve a barn being used caught fire and despite the efforts of a great number of men it was lost, the other buildings however were saved. The following day was declared a holiday, in the morning a football match was held in very muddy conditions between officers and Sergeants, the game was drawn, both sides scoring a goal and was followed by a good Christmas dinner being served. Recent casualty losses had left the Battalion understrength, despite six officers and 184 other ranks joining during December the ration strength was 20 officers and 540 men.

At the end of December the Battalion moved to Dickebusch billeted in Mic Mac Camp and moved early in January to Chippewa Camp near to La Clytte, South west of Ypres, from where they returned to trench duty, manning the line and forming carrying parties for the front lines. On 3rd February 1918 orders were recieved for the 10th Battalion to be disbanded, it had been formed in September 1914 and been fighting in France since July 1915. No senior officer would come and explain the decision accordingly the men were sent to base camps and distributed, Samuel was posted to 8th Battalion but then spent some time in hospital with Trench Foot.

On 17th June 1918 he was posted to 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade joining his new unit the following day with a draft of 637 other ranks. The Battalion had been in the front line when the German army launched phase three, Operation Blücher–Yorck, of their Spring Offensive on 27th May 1918, their positions were pounder by artillery from 1 a.m., at 4 a.m. Trench mortars and gas commenced followed by an Infantry assault with tanks. That day the Battalion lost 27 officers and 680 other ranks, no doubt the disbandment of 10th Battalion was due to the huge losses of men during this offensive. Samuel joined the Battalion whilst it was out of the line and training, this situation continued until 4th August when they went into the support line in Vimy Village. During this period Samuel had his only run in with military discipline, on 3rd July he was caught smoking in the Barracks against orders and was confined to Barracks for five days. Between spells in the trenches the Battalion trained and formed working parties bringing SAA, bombs and trench mortar ammunition up to create dumps to support future operations.

On 26th November 1918 Samuel went on leave to England returning to join his unit on 9th November. On this day the Battalion commenced a march from Baudour to Pommeroeul arriving at 4 p.m. on the 10th to the great delight and applause of the locals. The following morning at 10.30 a.m. the news of the Armistice was recieved, Samuel hard fired his last shot in anger. The Battalion rested and cleaned for a few days then continued training, marching, holding sporting events and concerts, on 7th December the Battalion took part in a parade through Tournai for King George V. On Christmas Day 1918 a Brigade church parade was held at 10.30, dinner at 12.30 during which the Brigadier went round he was greeted with much enthusiasm by the men. In the afternoon the officers played the Sergeants at football, the latter winning 10-0 obviously no fix in with the ref this time, in the evening a concert party entertained everyone.

On 1st March 1919 Samuel with two second Lieutenants and 59 other ranks left 2nd Battalion and proceeded to Dunkirk to join 25th (Service) Battalion (Pioneers) King's Royal Rifle Corps on transfer, the 8th Division was being dismantled and this transfer was followed by others reducing 2nd Battalion to Cadre strength. 25th KRRC was formed from the 2nd Garrison Guard Battalion of the Labour Corps based in Dunkirk and as its ranks swelled the men were put to work building huts and camps for demobilisation, after which they were used for guard and escort duty for POWs at Beau Marias near Calais and guard duties on ammunition dumps. On 20th May 1919 Samuel proceeded to England on leave returning on 3rd June and then on 6th September he embarked to England for the last time.

On arrival in England Samuel attended Crystal Palace Dispersal Unit where he underwent the demobilisation medical and administration process and on 5th October 1919 was demobilised and placed on the Z Reserve list until 31st March 1920 when he was finally discharged.

Back in civvy Street Samuel had a change of career and became a bus conductor. On 6th September 1924 he married Elizabeth Blackburn at Kentish Town Parish church, the couple set their home at 20 Peckwater Street. The house number written in the Register may have been misheard as in the 1939 England and Wales register the house number is 22. Samuel was employed by the London Passenger Transport Board as a bus conductor and living with the couple was their daughter Pamela Rosina who had been born in 1925 and was at that time a schoolgirl.

Samuel's military career had spanned four years, incurring two wounds involving painful treatment and no doubt scarring for life and for all was rewarded with the award of the British War and Victory Medals. In contrast his elder brother Alan served in England and although attaining at least Corporal Rank did not earn him any Medals, if the two were typical brothers I'm sure the issue was raised!

Samuel died in July 1968 aged 76, there is no record of his daughter marrying or having children, when she passed or before, Samuel's Medals were sold and now form part of my collection.