On the 16th December, my grandfather completed Army Form E.536 giving the necessary answers for someone wishing to be considered as a candidate for a commission. He had been recommended by his CO for a commission into the 3/5th Leicestershire Regt but before this could be considered various people had to certify that he was a suitable person.

On 19th December, the acting warden of Goldsmith's College at New Cross signed as head of his last educational establishment (he was training to become a teacher, which career he pursued after the war in Scotland and then London). On the 29th January, his CO in the 1/20th Londons counter-signed the form and four weeks later, on the 26th February, six days after interviewing my grandfather, Maj Gen Barter, GOC 47th Division, added his signature to the papers. On the 8th March, the CO of the 3/5th Leicestershire Regt wrote to his counterpart in the 1/20th saying that they were willing to nominate him for a commission if he was thought suitable. In the meantime, on 2nd March, he had been offered a commission into the 1/20th Londons which he had accepted and on the 5th March had seen the Brigadier General of the 141st Brigade to confirm the move.

There was then a delay during which time the battalion moved to Souchez and was involved in the action on 21st May which caused heavy casualties within the 47th Division and some concern at GHQ.

We believe that at some point in June he was returned to England for officer training. In the meantime, the 1/4th Londons were involved at Gommecourt on the 1st July 1916 losing many officers and, as a result, my grandfather was commissioned in this battalion to replace these casualties. On the 7th August he joined the battalion at Bayencourt along with five other subalterns, one of 29 new officers who joined the battalion in July and August. On the 21st August, the 56th Division was taken out of the line opposite Gommecourt and the 1/4th Londons went to an area near St Riquier where they trained, spending some time with the new war winning weapon, the tank.

At the beginning of September the division moved south to the Somme, taking over the front line from the 5th Division on the 5th September. The division was on the extreme right of the BEF's line adjoining the French Army. They were then involved in the big attack of the 9th September, being one of the lead battalions in an attack near Leuze Wood of which more tomorrow.