Somme

The Battle of the Somme

(with the 50th Division)

The Somme offensive: FRIDAY THE 15^th SEPTEMBER 1916

buckleyhighwood3.jpg (40431 bytes)

15th Sept to 14th Nov 1916

Captain Francis Buckley of the 7th N.F. was working for Brigade as an observer, and did many drawings of the sections of front line. This particular one was published in Buckley's book Q6a and other places.

The scene is set:

The two battalions of the 50th Division, crossed the old British front line of the 1st July just east of Becourt; they then had to traverse between two hundred and fifty and three hundred yards of what had once been No Man's Land before passing over the old Bosche front line. So battered and blasted by our gun fire was the latter that it was hardly distinguishable; only the second and succeeding lines were in anything like their original form, though dug-outs had been wrecked and timber and other debris thrown about in all directions. Lozenge and Shelter Woods were two of a cluster north of Fricourt and Fricourt Wood. The Quadrangle was about five hundred yards south-west of Mametz Wood, the latter presenting a truly terrible appearance. Bitter fighting had taken place for the possession of the Wood and Contalmaison village west of it. Swept by an awful holocaust of shell fire, first by the British guns and then by the German artillery on the Wood passing into our hands, it had become a place of evil repute - worse even to live in; for beneath and among the broken and lacerated trees, men had their habitation in tents or had burrowed into the ground - anywhere as shelter from the enemy's guns, which still kept the place under furious bombardments.

From the Quadrangle the "way up" led through a valley between Contalmaison and Mametz Wood, thence on to the road which ran east and west, dividing the two Bazentins (le-Petit and le-Grand) and villages and woods. But "Wood" was a misnomer, for only the gaunt skeletons of what had been trees remained to show what they had passed through. the route now led across a shell-torn country, pock-marked and broken with countless craters and holes gaping from the battered earth. Tangles of barbed wire, tossed and flung about in endless confusion, where everywhere.

Bazentin-le-Petit stood on high ground, beyond which in a small valley were the trenches to be taken over. There was no mistaking them, for they were covered by wreaths of evil black smoke from bursting shells, punctured every second or so by sharp stabs of flame as explosion succeeded explosion and fountains of earth and debris shot up into the sky.

Such was the introduction the infantry of the 50th Division had to front-line trenches on the Somme.

High Wood had proved a difficult problem, and by the 12th of September only half of it was in our hands, for immediately in the rear of the Wood, extending on the right along the high ground north-east of Delville Wood and Ginchy and on the left south of Martinpuich, was the powerful German Switch Line, that portion in front of the 50th Division consisting of three lines of trenches, i.e. (1) Hook Trench, (2) Martin Trench, the Bow and the Starfish Line, and (3) continuation of the Starfish Line and Prue Trench, all running east and south-east from Martinpuich.

Calamity fell on the 149th Brigade early on the 11th. At 7.25 a.m. Brig.-General Clifford set out with his Staff-Captain (Capt. D. Hill) to reconnoitre the assembly trenches, and was shot dead by a sniper. An N.C.O. of his brigade (Lance Corporal R.H.Temple, 4th Northumberland Fusiliers) fully expressed the opinion of all ranks when he wrote in his private diary: "It is a very great blow to the Brigade as he was a splendid soldier, a fine gentleman, and very brave. The last little act performed by him was when we marched away from Henencourt Wood. He saluted each platoon of the Battalion and we all thought it was very kind of him. He was practically the first in the Brigade to give his life in the 'Great Push.' "

The Division was to attack with the 47th Division on the right and the 15th Division on the left; the assault, to be made in three bounds (first objective) Hook Trench from north-west of High Wood to just south-east of Martinpuich; (second objective) Martin trench, The Bow and a portion of the Starfish Line; (third objective) Prue Trench and the left of the Starfish Line; these three objectives, respectively, were the Brown, Green and Blue Lines.

The front allotted to the 50th Division was about 1,100 yards in extent, increasing to 1.800 yards at the final objective. On the right flank, the enemy held High Wood, and on the left flank Martinpuich. The 47th Division, on the right, had to start about 300 yards in rear of the right flank of the 50th Division, which was thus exposed to the enemy in High Wood. On the left the 15th Division had to start some 250 yards behind the left flank of the 50th, leaving that flank entirely exposed to fire from trenches south of Martinpuich and from Martinpuich itself.

"Both flanks of the 50th Division were, therefore, in a most dangerous position, and the Major-General commanding had to decide whether to delay his attack until the flank divisions came up level, or whether to take the risk of the losses and start at zero so as to help the other two divisions get forward, by threatening to envelop the enemy in High Wood and Martinpuich.

"The latter course was decided on."

The preliminary bombardment began on the 12th of September. For three days it never ceased, and the roar of the guns was continuous. From 6 a.m. until 6.30 p.m. the 4.5-in. howitzers pounded the enemy's defences, creating havoc in his trenches, blowing his parapets to bits and tearing great gaps in his wire. All through the nights the 18-pounders fired shrapnel for the purpose of causing as many casualties as possible among the enemy's working parties who, when darkness had fallen, would set to work to repair the damage done throughout the day by the howitzers. The latter guns at night fired P.S. gas shell.

Thus day by day, the unfortunate Bosche was forced to endure a merciless bombardment which often left him dazed and dumb by the time darkness had fallen.

12^th SEPTEMBER, 1916. Note by Major F. B. Cowan MC.

We were told that there would be a demonstration of the new "tanks" at Albert, but as we thought that this had something to do with the water supply we did not bother to go!

Map of 15th September attack by the 50th Division

(This map is published in "The Tanks at Flers" by kind permissin of the Author, Trevor Pidgeon)

Link to Neil Storey's excellent pages about this battle from the perspective of the 4th NF

At 6.10 a.m. there was a buzz of excitement in the front line. With a "whir-r-ing" sound two tanks were seen approaching in rear of the left of the 149th Brigade, and at 6.18 these gigantic monsters reached, and lifted themselves over, the assembly trenches of the 7th Northumberland Fusiliers and started off across No Mans Land towards the enemy's trenches.

The German soldiery had received warning of the use of these tanks; nevertheless, when the latter appeared they produced terror and consternation. S.O.S. signals went up from the enemy's front line, and numbers of his troops bolted from their trenches back towards their second line. Four minutes later the hostile barrage fell but, as the 7th Northumberland Fusiliers record, "our men got away before a heavy fire was opened on them."

At 6.20 a.m. the Divisional barrage fell, and the 4th and 7th Northumberland Fusiliers of the 149th Brigade, and the 4th East Yorkshires, 4th and 5th Green Howards of the 150th Brigade, advanced in good order close up to the screen of fire and quickly gained the first objective, i.e., Hook Trench.

At this stage the Divisional narrative states: "at once it became clear that the 47th Division would fail to get High Wood alone"!

On the high ground at the north-western corner of High Wood the enemy had a very strongly-defended position, part of his defence system which commanded the whole of the ground held by the 50th Division. (It was part of the German Switch Line which the enemy had begun during the first week in July) This strong point had been repeatedly attacked before the Division took over the line, but without success. It was known to contain large numbers of machine-guns.

No sooner had the 149th Brigade begun to dig in on the line of the first objective than galling machine-gun and rifle fire was opened on the 4th and 7th Northumberland Fusiliers. The advance to the second objective was timed to begin at 7.20 a.m., and until that hour battalions made every effort to take shelter from the devastating fire coming from their right. It was apparent that the 47th Division, on the right, had not taken High Wood, and that the left brigade of that division was held up. All the more urgent, therefore, was it for the 149th Brigade to push on and outflank the enemy in the Wood, thus compelling him to evacuate his position.

At zero plus one hour, i.e., 7.20 a.m., the 149th and 150th Brigades advanced and captured the second objective, consisting of the Starfish Line, The Bow and Martin Trench. But from both flanks the enemy's fire caused very heavy casualties amongst the attacking troops. The 4th Northumberland Fusiliers of the 149th Brigade, unsupported on their right by the 47th Division, were driven back to Hook Trench which, with Bethel Sap, was strengthened and made secure. Both the 5th and 6th Northumberland Fusiliers were by now involved in the battle.

On the left, the 150th Brigade had experienced similar opposition from Martinpuich, very heavy fire coming from the ruins of the village as the three attacking battalions advanced. Nevertheless, by 6.42 a.m. the East Yorkshires reported the first objective taken, and by 7.58 a.m. "B" and "D" Companies of that battalion report, "Second objective reached and taken with very few casualties."

The 7th Northumberland Fusiliers, on the right of the east Yorkshires, however, had not advanced in line with the latter and, although Martin Alley and Martin Trench were in the hands of the 150th Brigade, no further advance could take place to the Starfish Line until the 149th Brigade had advanced. The 7th Northumberland Fusiliers give very logical reasons why they were held up. Hook Trench lay along the top of a ridge, while the second and third objectives were in a valley beyond and nothing could be seen of them from the assembly trenches. The Battalion was therefore marching on compass bearings. Touch had been lost with the east Yorkshires between the first and second objectives, and when "near the second objective our lines had to halt as our barrage was holding them up. . . . Several attempts were made to get forward, but we lost so heavily from our own barrage that the remainder of the battalion was forced to wait until it lifted. We should have reached our second objective at 7.25 a.m., but it was 8.35 a.m. before we could move forward." There was another difficulty---- a very real one---- not mentioned in the Battalion Diary. the ground was dry and had already been pulverised by previous bombardments. So that now the Northumberland Fusiliers found themselves fronted by clouds of dust and smoke, which hung in a pall-like fog over the battlefield.

Eventually (by 8.30 a.m.) the 7th reached the sunken road just south of The Bow, where they captured about thirty men of a minnenwerfer battery and killed several others besides taking four trench mortars.

The Divisional narrative concludes with the following remarks: "Both Brigades lost very heavily and became considerably disorganised, especially the 149th Brigade.

"However, by their splendid dash and gallantry they enabled High Wood and Martinpuich to be subsequently occupied by the flank divisions. The 47th Division on our right, lost very heavily in front of High Wood before the enemy finally surrendered, but the 15th Division occupied Martinpuich without difficulty, thanks to the co-operation of the 50th Division."

Extracts from: The History of the 50th Division by: Everard Wyrall 1939

Over the top

15^th SEPTEMBER 1916    (By a Company Commander)

(from the 'History of the 7th Northumberland Fusiliers)

The battalion did not take part in the battle of the Somme until September. Previous to that they had spent some weeks at Henencourt, recuperating after their exertions in the Salient and at Kemmel. Under the able direction of Lieutenant-Colonel G.S. Jackson they had undergone a thorough course of training, and were not only up to strength for the first time since they came out, but in first class condition. On the 12th September the battalion left Henencourt, and marched to Mametz Wood, where they bivouacked till the night of the 14th. It was during this period that Major N. I. Wright, much to the regret of the ranks, was posted to the command of the 5th Battalion.

The plan of operations for the 15th September was briefly as follows. There were three objectives, none of which could be seen from our lines. The first, Hook Trench, (not to be confused with Hook Sap) was comparatively speaking simple, as it was well defined; it was the German front line, and it was near at hand. The second objective, called "the blue line," was aptly named, for it was literally "in the blue" except for a sunken road, some forty yards long, which was somewhere on the left flank. The final objective was the "Starfish Line." Our inability to see the objectives was a handicap, but what caused more anxiety were the facts that the battalion had to widen its front as it advanced, and that the whole operation had to be carried out at a right incline.

On the night of the 14th, favoured by pitch darkness, the delicate business of getting the men correctly place on the jumping off tapes was accomplished without casualty and without a hitch. Each company was drawn up in four lines; "A" commanded by Captain J.W. Merivale on the right, "B" commanded by Captain E. Fenwicke Clennell, "C" commanded by Captain "V" Merivale, M.C., and on the left "D" commanded by Captain G.F. Ball, M.C.

Lieut. J. H. Swinney

                         Capt. J.W. Merivale (K.I.A.)

                                                                                                          Capt. G. F. Ball., M.C. (wounded)

The day itself certainly started well. The preliminary bombardment sounded satisfactory, and the tank (used for the first time) on "D" company's left flank looked inspiring. The companies swept forward in their four lines over the slightly rising ground which hid Hook Trench. The first objective was taken without much difficulty, though we suffered casualties; the centre companies were held up for a time by machine-guns until they were put out of action by the flanking companies. The intention had been that the battalion would stay some ten minutes in Hook Trench reorganizing and fortifying the position, and they would then advance to the Blue Line in conformity with the barrage time-table. Unfortunately the movement at the right incline on an unseen objective had already had a disastrous effect on the formation of the attack. Units on the flanks had either inclined themselves away or bumped into each other, and the same applied to companies and platoons. As it seemed hopeless to unravel things in the short time available, the men were quickly told off and handed over to officers and N.C.O.'s as they stood. When the ten minutes was up the artillery bombardment from both sides was terrific. The result was disconcerting in more ways than one. The ground was dry and had been pulverized by previous bombardments, so that a cloud of dust and smoke like a London fog now appeared and hid all landmarks; and the right incline to the Blue Line became more problematical than ever. As the men advanced, direction and cohesion were lost; and after struggling on some few hundred yards the senior Company Commander called a halt. The two surviving Company Commanders (Ball and Clennell) were found, and a council of war was held. A map was got out and set with compass - an operation costing the lives of Second - Lieutenant J. Robinson and C.S.M. Foster - and a guess was made as to the direction of the sunken road in the Blue Line. About forty men were collected and the advance was resumed; and eventually, more by good luck than anything else, the sunken road was located. Captain Ball on the left flank was the first to spot it, and he was immediately afterwards wounded in the ankle. The troops were by this time fatigued, but they carried the sunken road with considerable dash. It is amusing now to recollect how the men rushed to the edge of the cutting, and then lost their balance and fell headlong down the steep sides, clinging on to and carrying down with them the amazed German garrison. We dealt with those of them that wished to resist, and accepted souvenirs from the rest, and then started the business of consolidation in ernest. Patrols were sent out to left and right, but they failed to get in touch with anyone. Captain Thomas (Trench Mortar Battery) dug his Stokes Mortar in so as to cover Pioneer Alley, and promised to annihilate anyone who attempted to come down it. Captain Fenwicke Clennell rescued Captain Ball at considerable risk and brought him into safety. Screened by the smoke and dust we sited small fire trenches in front on ground slightly higher than the top of the road; and these were rapidly dug. The prisoners, more numerous than ourselves, were sent to the rear in charge of Private Martin, a diminutive signaller. He caused much consternation among his flock by deftly severing their trouser buttons before the journey began. It made an imposing procession- the prisoners with their hands deep in their trouser pockets, followed by Private Martin smoking an enormous souvenir cigar and mumbling, "Ha' way, you blinking beggars."

A succession of runners were grudgingly withdrawn from our little garrison and sent to the rear with messages to Battalion Headquarters reporting our position and asking for support. But it was some time before one of them managed to get there and back intact.

By this time the artillery fire had abated and the smoke and dust were rapidly clearing. An almost oppressive silence followed. The men rested, smoking cigars and eating "Hindenberg Cake." To the rear nothing could be seen, for it was rising ground. To the flanks as far as we could see the battalion had the world to themselves. In front, Starfish, Eaucourt L' Abbeye, Hexham Road and the Butte de Warlencourt looked peaceful and pleasant in the sunshine. The sunken road itself had been a trench mortar emplacement, and was handsomely equipped with 11-inch, 10-inch, 9-inch and 7-inch mortars, also shells and a hand-book on how to load and fire the "Minnenwerfer System Einhart." The hand-book, however, was relentless, and would not reveal its valuable contents, so all idea of supporting this isolated position with devastating trench mortar fire had to be abandoned. Later on in the afternoon preparations were made by the Boches for the inevitable counter-attack; and they appeared to be massing behind the Starfish Line. That they meant to do things in ernest we judged by the number of men starting forward in little groups and by the thoroughness of the bombardment. While the Boches were still assembling, the first message from Battalion Headquarters arrived. This communication was hopeful, and also rather ambitious, as it suggested that the "battalion" might possibly advance and take the Starfish Line. What was more hopeful was the news that the whole brigade of Durhams was advancing and would not only reinforce the sunken road garrison but also advance beyond it, and doubtless annihilate the distressingly large numbers of Boches massing in front. There appeared then to us to be three alternatives. Either the Boches would arrive first - in which case our tenure of the sunken road (isolated and unprotected by wire) would be unpleasant and short - or the Durhams would arrive first, or else the Boches and the Durhams would come tumbling down the sides of the cutting at the same time. Our speculations were, however, interrupted by the Boche attack suddenly beginning.

The Germans counter attacked in force

The only S.O.S. rocket we possessed had been jealously guarded, and it was now discharged, with satisfactory results. Our supply of Small Arms Ammunition was very limited, so that the picked shots were detailed to open the defence, leaving the remainder to come in with battle sights later. The Lewis guns which were pushed out on either flank, did good execution; but the attack appeared, from the German point of view, to be making very satisfactory progress, and the Boches were within a short distance of us, when they suddenly began to waver and halt, and then they broke up in confusion. Those crest fallen individuals on our side, who had had their ammunition taken from them and been told not to fire a single shot over two hundred yards, naturally took the credit of the German debacle entirely to themselves.

The rest of the day was uneventful, except for intermittent shell-fire and for the sudden arrival of the Durhams, who at first seemed to regard us as part of the enemy. We were relieved by two platoons of the 6th Durhams that night, and we retraced our steps wearily to Mametz Wood, where we received a right royal welcome from Captain Neville and his capable and sympathetic staff.

Thus ended our introduction to the battle of the Somme.

15th September by Lieutenant-Colonel G. Scott Jackson C.B.E., D.S.O.

We have had another very terrible fight, and the battalion, as I was sure it would, has added further to its reputation. Corps Commander, Divisional General and our new Brigadier have all alike complimented us. General Wilkinson, who is anything but demonstrative, used the word "magnificent." We have paid a heavy price for it, about three hundred ordinary ratings and nine officers. Our Divisional line had High Wood, One hundred yards away on our right and Martinpuich on our left; the 47th Division on our right to take High Wood, the 15th Division on our left to take Martinpuich. we were not allowed to take more than twenty officers inclusive of headquarters into action. We were given a most difficult military objective. Starting with a five hundred yards frontage to the battalion, we could only see our first objective, two hundred yards away; then we crossed the sky-line and had to take a direction roughly half-right and open out to a second objective with a frontage of about seven hundred yards. This objective too was absolutely ill-defined, and consisted of a line on the map about five hundred yards ahead of our first objective. The 4th Northumberland Fusiliers and ourselves were in the front line, the 6th Northumberland Fusiliers in support, and the 5th Northumberland Fusiliers in reserve. the 150th Brigade were on our left, coupling up with the 15th Division. The 151st Brigade were in Divisional Reserve.

We started at 6.20 a.m. on Friday morning, and hoped to take the first objective by surprise. The new "Tanks," however, were spotted, and the Boches were frantically sending up S.O.S. rockets at 6.15 a.m. It was a magnificent sight to see the Division move forward close up to our two-minute barrage to the first objective. Our fellows were over and in without a falter, and certainly got their fill of Boche blood, in spite of the cries of "Kamerad," "Pardon," etc., and the offers of anything from money and trinkets to rifles and bayonets which the enemy presented to them. I was rather astonished at the small number of prisoners that came in from the first objective, but a visit paid to it and the number of dead Germans counted gave an adequate explanation. We were instructed to remain in this trench for an hour, presumably to give the 47th Division time to clear out High Wood. This, unfortunately, they were unable to do, yet our fellows went on undaunted; and it was here that we suffered most. The 4th Northumberland Fusiliers were in a worse position, and yet some of them got right through to the second objective on the right; and about one hundred of ours got through in the centre to a sunken road, where they captured a Minnenwerfer battery, taking their guns and a lot of stores and twenty prisoners.

The failure of the 47th Division on our right, exposed our right flank, and the Boches started bombing attacks against us. Colonel Gibson quickly realised the position, and I made over to him my companies of the 6th Northumberland Fusiliers, sent up in support, to establish a defensive position on this flank. This was accomplished, and as the wood was now nearly surrounded, and there was in fact a strong line held far forward, a second attempt by the 47th Division succeeded. And by 2 p.m. the wood was ours. Up till this time communication had been very difficult, and our men in the sunken road were quite isolated with no connection on either flank, and the Boche snipers in High Wood were able to kill all our runners. After communication was established I had no reinforcements left, otherwise we could have got further forward, as the Boches were stone cold.

We are probably in for another fight to-night, but the men are quite fit, and I fancy the enemy are beginning to weary. Unfortunately it is very wet, and everything most uncomfortable.

The losses sustained by each battalion of the brigade from the 14th to the 16th September 1916, were as follows:

4th N. F.    17 officers killed or wounded; other ranks, 110 killed, 229 wounded, 143 missing.

5th N. F.    5 officers wounded; other ranks, 10 killed, 54 wounded, 8 missing.

6th N. F.    1 officer killed, 8 officers wounded; other ranks, 279 killed, wounded or missing.

7th N. F.    3 officers killed, 9 officers wounded; other ranks, 40 killed, 219 wounded and 74 missing.

Total: 43 officers and 1,164 other ranks.

Source: 50 Division History

Some lads from the 7th NF. This picture was sent to me by John Ievers who writes;

I have just come across this picture that includes my grandfather Pte Edwin Ievers of 1st/7th Bn. He was killed in October 1917 at Ypres. My guess that this picture was from 1916 - but where??? Edwin is standing third from right.

Francis Buckley Wrote in Q6a and other places:

Download Here: http://www.archive.org/details/q6aandotherplaces00buckuoft

On Sunday September 14 we first saw the mysterious tanks, which had arrived behind the quarry to take part in the great attack next day. We had two allotted to our Division. That night we moved from Mametz Wood to the chalk Quarry at Bazentin-le-Petit. Here one of the Divisional Field Co. R. E. had prepared for us an excellent H.Q. in the side of the Quarry. The offices were well down in the side of the Quarry, the mess room was a large shelter covered with sandbags a little higher up. We were fairly crowded that night, for a large number of 'liaison' officers arrived for duty next day.

For the last four or five days our artillery had kept up an almost continual fire on the enemy's lines. Now at the last moment the guns of the Field Artillery were taken out of their hiding places, and brought forward into the open. Our chalk pit was practically under the muzzles of about a dozen field guns.

Later on that night, we heard a curious whistling, puffing sound, it was the two tanks clambering up the hill to get into position near the front line.

THE 15th SEPTEMBER 1916

We were all up early, and got some breakfast well before dawn. The air outside had a regular autumn chill. At first only an occasional gun fired in the distance. But about twenty minutes before dawn, our heavy guns opened their bombardment. To one standing in the quarry, below the level of the ground, they had the most weird of sounds. A dull rumbling in the rear and a continual whizz and hiss overhead. Hardly a sound of the guns firing, and no sound of the shells bursting. Only that terrible grinding swish in the air above. Twenty minutes of that, and then, with a terrific roar, all our field guns opened, and we knew that our comrades in front, the 4th N. F. on the right and the 7th N. F. on the left, had 'gone over the top.' The noise in front of the field batteries was pandemonium, excruciating to the nerves. The air shook and quivered with the sound, the quarry seemed to shake. You could only hear when the speaker shouted in your ear. And so it went on hour by hour all day. The rate of fire subsided, but the guns went on all day. I was standing with the Staff-Captain in the Quarry, when I got what felt like a stone in the face. It proved to be a piece of shell, but happily for me it struck the ground first and caught me on the rebound. A small cut above the nose and chin, but I had to go and have it dressed. I got well chaffed afterwards on my rather comical appearance. It was an anxious time before the first news got back, but when it did it was good. Our men had taken the first German trench, and were waiting to go ahead again. Unfortunately High Wood was not taken by the 47th Division on our right until midday, and meanwhile we lost numerous casualties from having our right flank exposed to machine-gun fire. A report came in that a large party of Germans were starting a bombing attack on our right, so it was decided to send up a supply of grenades. I went therefore and found Lieut. Mackenzie, who was in charge of 100 men acting as carriers, and handed over 2400 grenades. This party went up to the front line and back without mishap. But shortly afterwards Lieut. Mackenzie was badly wounded by one of our own shells bursting prematurely. We had fifty casualties at the Quarry from premature bursts. It was not the fault of the gunners, but either the guns were worn or the shells defective.

The wounded and prisoners began to stream back past the Quarry. And as they came we began to get news of our friends in front. Though successful, the Brigade had to pay a heavy price. The 4th N. F. were literally cut to pieces. I lost many friends killed, including Capt. J. W. Merrivale, 2nd Lieut. J Robinson, and Sergt. Austin, and many more wounded, including Capt. G. F. Ball. During the attack thirty seven of the eighty bombers of the 7th N. F. were killed or wounded, and the bombers of the 4th N. F. paid a still heavier price, including their gallant officer killed.

At 4 p.m. the 151st Infantry Brigade took over the operations on our front and continued the attack at night.

Officer losses: (Killed)
4th N.F.
    2nd/Lieutenant John Angus Bagnall ADANAC MILITARY CEMETERY, MIRAUMONT S omme Link to CWGC
    Captain John Thomas Henderson ADANAC MILITARY CEMETERY, MIRAUMONT S omme Link to CWGC
    2nd/Lieutenant Henry Archibald Long (Thiepval Memorial to the missing) Link to CWGC
    Captain Lionel Davey Plummer   ADANAC MILITARY CEMETERY, MIRAUMONT Somme Link to CWGC
    Lieutenant Arnold Stroud (Thiepval Memorial to the missing) Link to CWGC
6th N.F.
    Captain Trevor Carlyon Tweedy (DELVILLE WOOD CEMETERY, LONGUEVAL Somme, France) Link to CWGC
7th N.F.
    2nd/Lieutenant Baron Brooke Booth (Thiepval Memorial to the missing) Link to CWGC
    2nd/Lieutenant John Ivor Grey (BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT COMMUNAL CEMETERY) Link to CWGC
    Captain John William Merivale (see below) (BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT COMMUNAL CEMETERY) Link to CWGC
    2nd/Lieutenant Joseph Robinson (Died of wounds 11/10/1916) (ST. SEVER CEMETARY, ROUEN) Link to CWGC

    http://www.4thbnnf.com Link to Neil Storey's excellent web site on the 4th NF

The Brooke Booth Brothers

Note: 2nd/Lieutenant Baron Brooke Booth (Thiepval Memorial to the missing) Link to CWGC, and A/Captain Septimus Paul Brooke Booth were two brothers in the 7th NF.

Their parents are recorded as: John Brooke Booth and Clara Elisabeth Booth, of Barclays Bank House, Esher, Surrey.

2nd- Lieutenant Baron Brooke Booth

2nd- Lieutenant Baron Brooke Booth, Missing in action on the 15th September 1916. (Thiepval Memorial to the missing) Link to CWGC)

My grateful thanks go to Graham Stewart for this photograph

His Brother:

A/Captain Septimus Paul Brooke Booth was mentioned in The London Gazette on the 26th July, 1918:

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty throughout a long period of intense fighting. He invariably displayed the greatest courage and energy under hazardous and frequently almost impossible conditions, and the success of the battalion acheived was to a large extent due to his untiring efforts.

Septimus Paul Brooke Booth was born on the 4th June 1896, in Holt, Norfolk, and was 5ft 6 1/2" tall. He was educated at Christ's Hospital.

His address in 1914 was given as "Disborough", Amyand Park Gardens, St Margarets-on-Thames, Twickenham, and his occupation: Brokers Clerk. Serving prior to his commission in the 5th Bn. London Rifle Brigade, at the rank of Lance Corporal, or Squad Commander. He had been a member of the Christ's Hospital , Officer Training Corps (in 1914) for two years.

He was single, and he applied for a commission as a 2nd Lieut, on the 6th October 1914 in the 5th Bn. London Rifle Brigade.

At some point he was transferred to the 1/7th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers.

He received a wound to the Thigh, on the 15th May 1915 near Ypres. He embarked for England on the 20th May on the ship, 'St. David', arriving the same day.

He was examined by a medical board on the 16th June 1915 at Cuxton Hall, SW. and they reported that he had received a revolver bullet wound through the right thigh, which remained embedded in the head of the right Tibia, causing stiffness of the joint, and some swelling. The injury was classified as 'severe' and that he would be away from duty, for aproximately 2 3/4 months.

It would appear that S.P. was out of action for a great deal longer, as his surviving papers show a medical board report, from the Musketry Camp, Strensall, that accepts him as fit for duty on the 15th May 1916, almost a year. He then returned to France, just in time for the Somme offensive, and to be present at the loss of his brother.

It is interesting to note that, S.P. was the officer who compiled the 7th N.F. War Diaries for September 1916 period.

He was again returned to England for a further medical board in March 1917, and was asked to report to the 4th Reserve Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, at Scotton Camp, Catterick.

It is clear that he returned to the 7th N.F. again, and received the above London Gazette entry for Gallantry, and finished the War at Charleroi, along with the rest of the 1/7th Bn, on the 26th April 1919.

His address is shown as:

Cher M. Tirou Diricq, Rue Cayanderie, Charleroi.

And his occupation is shown as: Agent, Belgian Tobacco importers.

Sadly I have no picture of Septimus Paul Brooke Booth as yet.

2nd/Lieutenant John Ivor Grey

2nd/Lieutenant John Ivor Grey (BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT COMMUNAL CEMETERY) Link to CWGC

My grateful thanks go to Graham Stewart for this photograph

The following extract was printed in the Northumberland Gazette in 1916.

Broomhill
Lieut. Ivor, Grey - The death of Lieut. Ivor Grey, who was killed in action on the Somme Front, came as a terrible shock to his parents. Mr and Mrs grey of Manor House, Broomhill, and his many friends throughout the district. Lieut Grey was a capable officer, and a young man with a promising career before him. He was just entering on the threshold of business life, he having attained his majority the day before the necessities of war claimed him for its victim. He was educated at the Morpeth Grammar School, under Mr J.T. Day Pyus, M.A. who pays a warm tribute to deceased's high character and attainments.He afterwards took a special course at the Armstrong College. During his scholastic career, he gained several scholarships by his close attention to work, and steady performance. Lieut grey joined the Northumberland Fusiliers in August last, after repeated attempts to join the army, his somewhat defective eyesight, militating against him at that time. After training in several military camps he got his commission. This was in the latter part of 1915. He went out to France in the first week of May, this year. While at Alnwyck, his record was an excellent one, and his commanding officer there, spoke of his keenness in his work, and his interest and ernest attention to his duty, which gained him the high regard of all ranks. Captain V Merivale, his superior officer at the front in a letter, after expressing deep sympathy with his parents, says that he was struck down while leading his platoon. As an officer he was quite fearless, absolutely sound in his military work, and a good leader of men. At his own request, Lieut. Grey was given a responsible position of leading his platoon in the first wave of attack on the enemy trenches, and it was here he gave up his life. As in army, so he was with everyone he came in contact with. He was good natured, cheerful and generous, and was more than popular with his men. Deep sympathy is manifested with Mr and Mrs Grey in their bereavement.

This is a picture of Broomhill Colliery, and on the left is clearly shown the house of John Ivor Grey. Slightly out of shot on the right is Togston Hall, home of the Merivale's.

( Thanks go to John Hardy for these photos and text) Guy Smith