HISTORY OF 1/8th BATTALION
THE CAPTURE OF GOMMECOURT
October 29th, 1916.— March 17th, 1917.
Having spent the afternoon of October 29th in packing up, we left Bailleulval
about dusk, and late the same evening arrived at Warluzel, where we spent the
night in indifferent billets. We proceeded the following day to our old quarters
at Le Souich, where we rested for 24 hours, continuing the march on November 1st
to Neuvillette, and on November 3rd, to our final destination Maison Ponthieu,
in the Third Army (St. Riquier) training area, having completed a march of
something like 40 miles.
Considering that this area had been used for training for some considerable
time, we cannot say that we found the billets of the best or well provided with
those comforts, which one might reasonably expect for troops out of the line
preparing to take part in an offensive. Our energies at first were therefore
concentrated on trying to make ourselves comfortable, and a considerable time
was spent in carrying out improvements, making bathing arrangements, cookhouses,
canteen and reading rooms. Rightly or wrongly we were inclined to think that we
were unlucky with regard to billets, as we so often found ourselves scavenging
and cleaning up other people's refuse. Doubtless every other unit thought the
same. In the way of entertainments we had little or nothing, and Maison Ponthieu
itself boasted nothing more than one or two estaminets. Auxi-le-Château, the
home of the Third Army Training School, had a few shops and was rather more
lively, while, for those who could get there, St. Riquier was quite interesting,
and the battlefield of Crécy was not far off. Abbeville some distance away, was
patronised only by a few lucky ones.
We stayed in this area for nearly three weeks, and trained hard with a view to
taking part in the Somme offensive. The chief points were to make everyone fit,
and to practise formations for open warfare. For the former, recreation of every
kind and for all ranks was an essential part of the programme, though we were
inclined to think that perhaps a little too much compulsion was added to this
part of the scheme. Inter-platoon football matches were a prominent part of the
recreational training, and created a great deal of genuine interest and
amusement. There were also inter-battalion football matches in the Division, in
which we started well by beating the 7th Battalion, but were hopelessly defeated
by the 5th Battalion at Noyelle on November 18th, by eight goals to nil. One of
the most entertaining matches was that which took place at Maison Ponthieu,
between Divisional Headquarters and Brigade Headquarters. When the Divisional
goal was threatened S.O.S. rockets were sent up and smoke bombs let off, which
to the onlookers, seemed rather to baffle the defending goalkeeper, who was none
other than the Assistant Provost Marshal, Major Newbold! Preliminary contests
held to select representatives for the Divisional Boxing Championship, which
unfortunately did not materialise, were won by Sergt. Slater, Sergt.
Attenborough, Signaller Gearney, and Pvte. Hall.
For open warfare we practised mostly the attack, beginning with artillery
formation. Those who did know something of it had by now grown very rusty, after
so many months in trenches, whilst many Officers and men in the Battalion at
this time, had had practically no training at all in this kind of warfare, so
that much work was required in the simple practices of shaking out into
artillery formation, lines of companies, half-companies, platoons or sections,
and eventually extending for the final stages of the attack leading up to the
assault. The other main feature of the training, was practice in night marching
on a compass bearing and subsequent deployment for attack.
On the whole we must confess we felt that the training was rather overdone. We
had to put in many hours daily, and the march to the training ground at
Yvrencheux and back, some six miles in all, was to say the least of it somewhat
tedious. We were besides, most unfortunate with regard to weather, which was
very unpleasant most of the time, and we were hardly sorry when our time came to
leave the area. We were not, however, required to take part in the Somme
fighting, as this had by now more or less worn itself out. From what we read and
heard from troops, who came out of it, of the appalling condition of the ground
and the impossibility of making any further progress during the Winter, we were
not surprised or sorry that there was no need for us in that direction. Our lot
was to return once more to our old trenches at Foncquevillers.
Changes in personnel during this period were mostly in Officers. Major Ashwell
had rejoined and resumed his duties as Second-in-Command; Major Lane also
rejoined after nearly 18 months in England, as a result of his wound at Kemmel,
and took over A Company from Capt. E. M. Hacking. A further addition was Lieut.
Simonet, who had by some means managed to get the Hospital Authorities to pass
him fit again for general service. We also had a small draft of 32 men. On the
other hand we had to part with six Officers at extremely short notice to the
12th Rifle Brigade and King's Royal Rifle Corps which had lost very heavily in
the Somme fighting, and sent 2nd Lieuts. Ranson, Hall (who later won the M.C.),
Visser, H. G. Kirby, Byrne and Bailey (afterwards killed). Second Lieut. Cox
also left us to join the Signal Company of the 14th Division, his place as
Signalling Officer being taken by Lieut. Warner. For good work on a subsequent
occasion Cox was awarded the M.C. Lieut. Martelli was still Intelligence
Officer, Lieut. White, Grenade Officer, and Lieut. Tomlinson, Lewis Gun Officer.
We went by easy stages back to the line, leaving Maison Ponthieu on November
22nd, and proceeding to Bealcourt, and the following day to Neuvillette. The
chief item of interest in our two days' stay there, was a revolver shooting
match between teams of Officers from our own and the 7th Battalion, in which we
were badly beaten. On November 25th, we marched to Humbercourt on a pouring wet
morning, arriving there about mid-day drenched to the skin. Here we stayed for
nearly a fortnight, training and cutting wood in Lucheux Forest. The weather was
wet and cold, and as the village lay in a hollow, we got the full benefit of all
the rain, and consequent flooded streams. On November 30th, we took part in a
Divisional cross-country run, a part of the programme left over from the St.
Riquier area. The distance was two and three-quarter miles, and we felt quite
pleased to finish 6th out of the 13 Battalions running, our pleasure knowing no
bounds at seeing C. B. Johnstone and F. Torrance finish well within the time
limit, happy if breathless.
On December 2nd, a Brigade Ceremonial Parade was held at Sus-St. Leger, where we
were inspected by Major-General Thwaites. It was a bitterly cold day, but on the
whole the show passed off well. It was perhaps aided a little by the fog, which
covered one or two of our more intricate and unconventional movements rather
successfully.
On the following day we took part in what was probably one of the most
interesting football matches in the Battalion's history, when a team of Officers
played one from the 7th Battalion, and beat them one-nil after a great tussle.
It was at Humbercourt that Sergt. "Sammy" Foster played an important part in
trying to make us all "gas proof." With much success he made up a gas chamber in
the village out of the shed for the "Pompe à incendie," where all ranks of the
Battalion were fitted with the new small box respirator, which had just arrived.
This proved to be much the most satisfactory form of gas mask we ever had, and
continued in general use up to the end of the war.
We left Humbercourt on December 6th, and the same day went into Brigade Reserve,
in the Foncquevillers sector, the 46th Division having taken over this portion
of the line from the 49th Division. The sector was now fairly quiet, everyone
having more or less gone into winter quarters. Our rest billets and Transport
Lines were at Souastre, where, considering all things, we were fairly
comfortable. There were good baths under the control of one of those celebrated
Town Majors, of whom so much has been heard, a Y.M.C.A. hut, and a new form of
entertainment in the shape of a Cinema, which our Division had recently added to
its institutions. The Divisional "Whizz-bangs" were still showing, but were
rather under a cloud, although that great actor subaltern from the Battalion,
Moffat Johnston, gave them a helping hand for a short time. Being "out to
soldier," however, he preferred the front line, and very soon came back to us.
When in Divisional Reserve all companies were back at Souastre, and carried out
a little training in addition to the usual refitting and cleaning. Parties were
also generally provided for Town Major's fatigues. When in Brigade Reserve two
companies were at Souastre, and two at Foncquevillers, the latter finding
garrisons for posts on the Eastern edge of the village, and at "Fort Dick,"
between Foncquevillers and Hébuterne.
When in the line we held the left sub-sector, relieving with the 7th Battalion,
the right company front having its right on the Foncquevillers-Gommecourt Road,
the centre company being disposed about "Lincoln Lane," and the left company
front running from "Roberts Avenue" to the Brayelle Road. Companies holding the
line, had two or three platoons in the front line, and the remainder in support.
The support Company occupied the dug-outs in "Sniper's Square."
The trenches throughout this period were in an appalling state, though efforts
had been made to improve them by the 49th Division, who certainly left Roberts
Avenue well revetted, and with a good floor of trench grids. For the most part,
however, they were deep in mud, and in a deplorable condition, and "gumboots
thigh" were in great demand. Dug-outs were of the poorest, and life in the
trenches was not pleasant. Efforts were made to improve matters during our stay
and the Royal Engineers and Monmouths did a great deal of work, helped by large
parties from all Battalions, but improvement was very slow.
Fortunately the trenches were no great distance from the village, where Company
cooks had their cookers, whilst the Battalion was in the line, so that hot meals
were sent up regularly, and included a hot supper issued generally about
midnight, the meals being mostly carried up by the Support Company. During the
latter part of January and beginning of February, we had very hard frosts and
much snow, and the carrying parties had a difficult task in walking on the
slippery roads and trench grids, but this was overcome to a great extent by the
use of sandbags tied over the boots. It was perhaps a somewhat expensive method
to employ with sandbags costing something like a shilling each, but they served
the purpose very well, and were in great demand in consequence. A drying-room
was established at Battalion Headquarters in the village, in a large cellar,
fitted with double-tier wire beds, stoves, and braziers. A supply of blankets
was also available, so that the men who had been on patrol, or had got wet
through, could come down from the line and get their wet clothes dried and a
good rest and sleep in comfort. Inter-Battalion reliefs were carried out every
four days, whilst Companies were able to relieve their men in the front line
every 48 hours, or, when the weather was extremely bad, every 24 hours, by
taking up the men from the support line. By this means, the time any particular
man was actually in the front line was reduced to the lowest possible limit.
During December and January, reliefs were carried out by daylight, usually
beginning immediately after breakfast, and being completed by about noon. This
system not only enabled the incomers to settle down in the trenches before
night, but also gave the relieved Battalion four complete nights out, a system
which was very much appreciated. At the end of January we changed to night
reliefs. The main artery for traffic was the Foncquevillers-Souastre Road, and
although it was usually fairly quiet, we sometimes astonished ourselves at the
pace we made along it on relief nights, and most of us were glad when we got
over the crest into Souastre.
Martelli and his Scouts and many others did some very good patrols, but on some
nights when the moon was bright, and the ground covered with snow, this work was
not easy. Long white nightshirts complete with hoods were tried, but not
considered very suitable, as they looked quite dark against the white snow, and
on the whole were not a success.
Though normally quiet the sector was occasionally trench mortared and shelled
fairly heavily, most attention being paid to the front line about Roberts Avenue
and Lincoln Lane, the Gommecourt Road, the Orchard in front of the village,
where our heavy trench mortars, familiarly known as "Flying Pigs", had their
quarters, and the village itself. It was in connection with one of these
bombardments that the I-Tok machine professed to have some success. By some
means a Boche map had been secured shewing the areas into which our front was
divided for the purpose of "shoots", and if the I-Tok picked up messages from
which it was inferred that a shoot over a particular area was likely to take
place, the information was at once passed on to the Battalion concerned. On one
occasion when such information was received, no sooner were the men cleared of
the area than it was indeed shelled! It may have been an accident of course, but
the I-Tok personnel took the credit, which we hope was deserved.
One night, when the 7th Battalion were in the line, they were raided after a
very heavy bombardment, in which they suffered several casualties. The following
day the Officer Commanding that Battalion sent us a kind message of appreciation
of the prompt way in which Capt. Turner and B Company, who were in support in
Foncquevillers, had turned out and stood by ready to help. Fortunately their
services were not required.
The most unpleasant experience we ourselves had was on February 16th, when we
relieved the 7th Battalion for the last time in this sector. The relief itself
was carried out under difficulties, owing to a certain amount of gas shelling,
but later on the Hun sent over perfect showers of gas bombs, and absolutely
deluged the front and support lines, whilst he also fired a considerable number
of gas shells into the village. It is estimated that in all between 500 and 600
were put over, mostly filled with phosgene. It was our first experience of any
real gas shell bombardment, and partly owing to this and partly to the high
concentration of the gas used we suffered heavy casualties, four men being
killed and 24 wounded.
Christmas Day, 1916, was spent in the line, and passed off very peacefully
without anything untoward happening. We were not able to get our Christmas
dinners until early in the New Year, when we were back at Souastre, and made the
most of all the good things that had been sent out by kind friends at home. Each
Company enjoyed a most sumptuous dinner, followed by a splendid entertainment
provided by local talent, speeches, and so on.
The Battalion front remained unchanged until early in February, when we extended
Northwards to include the "Crawlboys Lane" area, then held by the 138th Brigade.
About the same time we had Companies of the 2/5th, 2/8th, and 2/11th Battalions
London Regiment with us for instruction, and a fine lot of men they were. Our
difficulty was in knowing where to put them, for whereas we were about 80 per
Company, they came out with their full complement of 250. One dreaded on
occasions what might happen if the enemy suddenly decided to shell the trenches
they held, for in some parts they were almost like the proverbial sardines. They
came out fully equipped, with mobilisation stores made up to completion. Rumour
says that when they had finished their instruction with us they were wiser not
only in trench routine, but also in their Quarter-Master's Department!
This period saw several important changes in personnel. With great regret we had
to part with Major Ashwell, who left to take up the duties of Commandant of the
Divisional School. This post, however, he only held for a brief space, as his
excellent services throughout the war were very soon rewarded by his appointment
to command first the 5th, and shortly afterwards the 6th Battalion. He was
succeeded as Second-in-Command by Major Lane. Capt. E. M. Hacking, who commanded
A Company for a time, was appointed Railhead Disbursing Officer, and handed over
his duties to Lieut. Andrews. Capt. Turner stuck to B Company, but during
periods of absence of the Commanding Officer and Major Lane, acted as
Second-in-Command, leaving Lieut. G. Wright to look after his Company. Capt.
Piggford, after struggling on for some time, although very unfit, eventually had
to go down sick, and shortly afterwards was appointed Divisional Claims Officer,
to which he later added the duties of Divisional Burials Officer. When he left,
C Company was handed over to Lieut. Abrams. Capt. Hill, after a long and
successful period in command of D Company, also had to leave owing to sickness,
and was succeeded by Lieut. Simonet. In 2nd Lieut. King-Stephens we lost a very
gallant Officer, and a great favourite. He was killed one morning when returning
from wiring. The fog which had been so helpful for the purpose, cleared rather
suddenly and a Boche sniper picked him off just as he was getting back to the
trench. Reinforcement Officers who joined during the period were 2nd Lieuts. C.
H. S. Stephenson, A. E. Geary, and J. E. Mitchell. So far as other ranks were
concerned there were now no discharges as the Military Service Act, which was in
force, gave to very few the opportunity of getting home. We lost, however, two
excellent Comp. Sergt.-Majors, G. Powell and Hotson, who went to England to
train for commissions, and were shortly followed by Comp. Sergt.-Major T.
Powell. George Powell was destined one day to be awarded the D.S.O., whilst
Hotson unfortunately met his fate in Italy. Sergts. Slater and Rawding, and
Comp. Quarter-Master Sergt. Deverall, then became Comp. Sergt.-Majors of A, B,
and D Companies respectively. Our casualties in the line during this period were
not heavy, amounting to seven killed and 47 wounded. Reinforcements who joined
totalled 243, and included several men from the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry.
On February 19th, after handing over our portion of the front line to Battalions
of the 138th Brigade, we marched back to St. Amand.
We now entered upon what turned out to be one of the most interesting periods in
the history of the Battalion. The idea at the moment was that the 46th Division
should take part in an early offensive against Beaurains, just south of Arras,
and the immediate purpose of our relief was to withdraw to the Sus-St. Leger
area and dig a model of the front to be attacked, ready for one of the other
Brigades of the Division to practise over. With this object we moved back on
February 20th, to Ivergny, where we spent the first few days refitting and
reorganising. The latter was now becoming of great moment, for important changes
were taking place. To begin with the Battalion Grenade Platoon, that picked body
of specially trained Bombers, to which it was everyone's ambition to belong,
ceased to exist, and the personnel rejoined their Companies, in which from this
time onward each platoon had its own section of Bombers. This was only a
preliminary to the absolute reorganisation of the platoon, which was now rightly
coming into its own, and regarded as the most important tactical fighting unit.
We had already been lectured at Souastre by Lieut.-General Sir Ivor Maxse, our
Corps Commander, and later Director General of Training, also by Major-General
Thwaites, on the new organisation of the platoon, which was now to consist of
four specialist sections: (1) Riflemen, (2) Bombers, (3) Rifle Grenadiers, (4)
Lewis Gunners. We now began the preliminaries of this new organisation, which
was to remain practically unchanged for the rest of the war. The Signallers were
also reorganised under Lieut. Warner, and divided into "Battalion" and "Company"
Signallers.
After only a few days training in Lucheux Wood, and digging model trenches near
by, we were ordered to move to Simencourt, preparatory to taking over the line
near Beaurains. Just about the same time, however, the Boche began his great
Somme retirement, and on February 27th, the news came through that he was
evacuating the Gommecourt salient. This of course entailed a complete change in
our plans, and instead of moving North, we marched back towards Foncquevillers,
reaching Grenas on February 28th. There we stayed for one night, proceeding the
following morning to St. Amand, where hurried preparations were made to relieve
the 138th Brigade, who were busy following up the retreating enemy. We left St.
Amand early on the morning of March 3rd, for Gommecourt, where we took over the
old Boche lines from the 5th Leicesters. The enemy were still in the Northern
and Eastern outskirts of the village, and the line was in a more or less "fluid"
state. The enemy's retirement continued slowly during the day, and our troops
kept moving on in close touch. The 7th Battalion were working in conjunction
with us on the left, and the 31st Division on our right. On March 4th, the
withdrawal was more rapid, and it became somewhat difficult to keep touch. The
few dug-outs that were not set on fire or otherwise destroyed, were found to
contain quantities of stores and rations, and shewed evident signs of having
been evacuated very hurriedly. A neat souvenir in the shape of a Boche bugle was
got from one of these dug-outs, and is now treasured with the Battalion plate at
Newark. One was rather nervous of "booby traps" in some of them, but so far as
our experience went at this time there were none. "Pigeon Wood" was captured
during the afternoon, after some fighting and an unpleasant sort of game of hide
and seek, and we also occupied Rettemoy Farm, and "The Z."
Evidently thinking that we were too close on his heels, the enemy delivered a
determined counter-attack about 6 p.m. against C Company, who were holding the
trench line in front of La Brayelle Farm, forcing them to withdraw slightly.
During this attack Lieut. Duff did magnificent work in holding off a bombing
attack, and L.-Sergt. Sansom gallantly held on to a bombing post which was cut
off, until he was rescued by a party ably led by Corpl. Street, who went forward
under heavy fire, and opening fire on the attacking enemy, enabled the post to
withdraw. Sergt. Henley also did splendid work in holding his post against a
strong bombing attack, until he was eventually wounded in the head, dying the
next day.
The Battalion suffered a great loss the same day by the death of Lieut. Abrams,
who was killed during the afternoon whilst reconnoitring near La Brayelle Farm.
Thinking, apparently, that the coast was clear, he was walking across the open
with his batman when a Boche machine gun suddenly opened fire on them at close
range, killing them both instantaneously. C Company then came under the command
of Lieut. A. Bedford. The casualties that day in other ranks, were seven killed
and 17 wounded.
Very little happened on March 5th, except a certain number of bombing
encounters, and at night the 5th Battalion took over the right portion of our
front from Rettemoy Farm to "Brayelle Graben". On March 6th, we were relieved by
the 6th Battalion, commanded by Major Ashwell, and moved back to dug-outs in and
around Gommecourt. It was with much regret that we heard on the 9th that Major
Ashwell had been badly wounded the previous night in an attack on "Kite Copse."
The line had not altered appreciably when we relieved the 6th Battalion again on
March 10th. The weather was cold, and the trenches were deep in mud and water,
and movement was extremely exhausting. The object now was to force the enemy to
retire more rapidly, and orders were received that we were to seize "Hedge
Trench" and "Kite Copse" as soon as possible, and form a line across to "Rettemoy
Graben" on the right, which was to be captured by the 5th Battalion. As a
preliminary during the night of March 11/12th, a party from C Company under
Corpl. Kirk successfully cut gaps in the wire in front of Hedge Trench.
At 1.10 a.m. on March 13th—a wet, pitch dark night—the 5th Battalion attempted
to seize Rettemoy Graben in conjunction with a hastily planned attack by the
Staffords on their right. In spite of the most gallant efforts, these attacks
were dismal failures, and attended with a large number of casualties. At the
same time strong parties of A, C and D Companies made demonstrations along
communication trenches towards Hedge Trench. At 7 a.m. on the same day Capt. A.
Hacking, who had now rejoined the Battalion and taken command of A Company,
ordered Lieut. A. H. Michie with his platoon to seize Kite Copse. Michie made a
rapid reconnaissance, and in a very short time found himself in possession of
this important point, the enemy garrison having nearly all left to fetch their
rations. The water was boiling in the dug-outs, and a supply of coffee was
found, which enabled Michie's platoon to get breakfast as soon as the position
was consolidated. During the evening the enemy made two determined
counter-attacks against the position, but these were both driven off with heavy
loss by the excellent work of Pvte. Teare with his Lewis gun, Sergt. King and
Corpl. Scrimshaw.
In the afternoon of the same day Lieut. Hopkinson attempted to push through the
"Burg Graben" to Hedge Trench, but was met by strong opposition. He, however,
withdrew his party without casualties, after inflicting several on the enemy.
For his gallantry here and splendid work on other occasions "Hoppy" was awarded
the M.C. On this occasion Corpl. Kirk again did splendid work. Many other
gallant deeds were performed during these strenuous days, special credit being
due to Sergt. Edis for good work in charge of a platoon, Corpl. J. Wilson, who
worked unceasingly for 36 hours, when in charge of an advanced bombing post,
Corpls. Blythe and Marvill for good patrol work, and L.-Corpls. Fern, Martin and
Leonard, and Pvtes. Simpson, Crane, Peplow, W. Barwise, and Bacon. Invaluable
work was also done by the Transport Section, who had a very hard time in getting
supplies up to Gommecourt. The roads were in an appalling state, and every night
were thronged with horses and vehicles, whilst the enemy had ample ammunition to
loose off before retiring, both high explosive and gas, most of which he sent
over to Foncquevillers or Gommecourt, or the road in between. It was on one of
these nights that Pvte. Chapman did excellent work in clearing a block in the
road, in the midst of heavy shell fire, and enabling the masses of transport to
pass.
In this miniature moving warfare, the Signallers found their task more
entertaining than it had hitherto been. Warner one day went so far as to try
flag-wagging, until he found that his performance was in full view of the enemy.
On another occasion he established a Trench Wireless set to Brigade, which he
maintained successfully for an hour, but at the end of that period the whole
apparatus was dissipated in the explosion of a German shell. A second effort
with new apparatus met with a precisely similar fate.
As evidence of the closeness with which we had followed up the retreating enemy
it is interesting to note that at one time Capt. Hacking reported that from his
front line, he could hear perfectly plainly both our own Gunners and those of
the Boche giving their fire orders.
An incident in the Quarter-Master's Department that was not without interest,
was a great ride by our great Quarter-Master. In his anxiety to see that all our
wants were provided for (or was it for a heavy wager?), long before horses were
allowed so far forward "Harry" Torrance arrived one night at Pigeon Wood mounted
on "Buster," having defied the Military Police and all other Traffic Controls.
Another unique experience was that of Lieut. Whitton, who for a brief space held
the appointment of Town Major of Gommecourt, and was we believe, the one and
only person ever to occupy that post of honour. As Officer Commanding 300 dozen
Boche mineral waters found in the village, he was a very useful person to know.
On March 14th, we moved back to Gommecourt, where we were finally relieved by
the 4th Leicesters three days later. The enemy were retiring very rapidly, and
on the same day evacuated Essarts and Bucquoy. Being squeezed out owing to the
shortening of the line, the 46th Division began to follow several other
Divisions to the back areas, preparatory to taking part in operations in other
spheres. Never again did we go to Gommecourt, which we believe is being retained
by the French untouched. It will thus ever remain a type of a completely
destroyed village, for it is probably one of the worst treated in the whole of
France. There were certainly one or two spots where the remains of buildings
were still standing, but practically every sign of a once prosperous village had
been obliterated. As a type of German fortification it was probably one of the
best, containing the deepest and best constructed trenches we ever saw. The wire
in front was almost impossible to break through; each line of trenches was
protected in much the same way; the dug-outs were deep and proof against all
except the very heaviest of shells, and there was a long subterranean passage
built by the Boche from behind Gommecourt Wood to his second line, along which
reinforcements could be brought in safety to counter-attack any troops that
might have gained a footing in the front line. It was sad to find magnificent
tapestries and valuable pieces of furniture, evidently taken from the château,
which once existed there, adorning the German dug-outs or ruthlessly cut and
knocked about, but sadder still to find the bodies of our own Officers and men
lying unburied exactly as they had fallen on that fated 1st of July, 1916. It is
pleasing, however, to record that the grave of an Officer of the Brigade was
found in Essarts with the inscription in English on the Cross: "To the memory of
a very gallant British Officer and Gentleman, killed July 1st, 1916."