COMPLETE THANK YOU ALL - Middlesex Regiment 7 Oct 1916

[NDRFT]

Hi all

I am going to visit this area in 2 weeks time and am trying to organize our short trip. I have little information on the person we are looking at and could do with some help please??

We have William Wooding's grand son coming with us.

William is on Thiepval and was LIA 7 Oct 1916 whilst serving in the Middlesex Regiment. He was in A company 1st / 7th Bn. His nos was TF/6361

Can anyone help me with a trench map /orientation / diary entry for the 6 and 7 Oct 1916 ?

Thanks in anticipation

Nigel

[sotonmate]

Nigel

These facts from the book "The Somme-a Day-by-Day Account by Chris McCarthy:

14 Sep 1916: Capture of Ginchy (167 Brigade in reserve whilst sister Brigades 168 and 169 were attacking).

15-22 Sep : Battle of Flers-Courcelette :167 in Leuze Wood about 1mile E of Guillemont,and Middle Copse,near to Bouleaux Wood.

25-28 Sep : Battle of Morval ; Capture of Combles through Bouleaux Wood.

28 Sep : 56 Div handed over line to French Army.

1-10 Oct : Battle of Ancre Heights. Sat 7th 56 Div covering front N (167 Bde) and E (168 Bde) of Lesboeufs on the Guedecourt road,and in front of the enemy's Rainbow Trench,which they took the southern part of on that day by a bombing exercise.

You should be able to make a hike around this area,certainly the last-mentioned,where your subject went missing in action. I will try to add some War Diary pages when I look next week.

Sotonmate

[jay dubaya]

Hi Nigel,

Have you checked your old threads? (clickety click)

Jon

[sotonmate]

NDRFT

I have two pages of the 1/7th War Diary WO95/2950 for early Oct 1916. If you need them let me have your e-mail address by PM.

Sotonmate

[Stebie9173]

From the Die-Hards in the Great War, by Everard Wyrall:

5th and 6th October 1916

Throughout the 5th October the 1/7th remained in Trones Wood resting, but at 6 p.m. on the 6th moved up to assembly positions, "C" and "D" Companies taking over the freshly-dug trenches linking up the posts, "A" Company in rear of " D," and " B " in reserve on the Sunken Road in rear of " C "

The Battalion's objective was Spectrum Trench, and the formation of a line of posts beyond. " C " and " D " Companies had been allotted the first objective, " A " Company the second. By 11.30 p.m. the 1/7th were in their assembly positions ready for the attack next day, which had been fixed for 1.45 p.m. All ranks were in the best of spirits and were determined to avenge the loss of many gallant comrades who had been killed in the attack on Bouleaux Wood. The Battalion was weak in officers and five were lent from the 10th London Regiment.*

7th October 1916,

Just before " Zero " on 7th a creeping barrage of shrapnel was placed on the enemy's trenches which were some 400 yards from the Middlesex men. On the barrage lifting the advance began " D " Company, on the right, went forward under Lieut. Groser; " C," on the left, was under 2/Lieut. Moss; " A," in support, was commanded by 2/Lieut. Williams; " B " was under Lieut. G. A King.

The Companies advanced with great steadiness and, indeed, they might have been moving forward on parade, so well did they keep their formation. A Staff Officer, who saw the 1/7th go forward, was so impressed that he wrote a special report on this advance.

The fight was sharp but decisive. Hornsey and Tottenham, on reaching the German front line, carried it almost at once. Some of the men jumped into the trenches and, with bomb and bayonet, fought the enemy and overpowered him. Other men remained on the parapet shooting down on the enemy whenever a target offered itself. The arrival, a few minutes later, of the Hampstead and Highgate men completed the discomfiture of the enemy and the line was cleared and consolidated. Heavy losses were inflicted on the enemy : 77 unwounded Germans, including 4 officers, were sent back as prisoners, as well as many who were wounded. Numbers of the enemy were killed.

It had been intended that the Hampstead and Highgate should pass through the line and establish a line of posts beyond, but this was found to be impossible. At 8.30 p.m. a strong counter-attack was made against the right of the 168th Brigade, most of the latter 1/7th being driven back to its original position, leaving the 1/7th Middlesex almost isolated in the German lines.

This attack was the most brilliant hitherto carried out by the 1/7th, but, alas! the cost was heavy. Lieut. A. G. Groser (O.C., " D " Company), 2/Lieut. H. A. Moss (O.C., " C " Company) and 2/Lieuts. W. B. Hawke and E. D. Binns were killed. The wounded included 2/Lieuts. V. S. M. Williams and H. R. Hewlett. Of the 5 officers lent by the 10th Londons, 2 were killed and 2 wounded. The total losses of the Battalion were 63 killed (including 7 officers), 130 wounded (including three officers) ; the 1/7th had gone into action 450 strong. Major L. R. King, who was in command during the operation, was severely injured by the burst of a H.E. shell, but " carried on " for four days.

No further attacks were made by the 1/7th in this Battle, though on the 8th the 3rd Londons made an unsuccessful attempt to capture the remainder of Spectrum Trench. During the bombardment which preceded this attack the 1/7th lost some 30 men from the fire of their own guns, for the Battalion was holding a portion of the German line that was being shelled, but the Middlesex men hung on grimly until relieved, when they marched back to the Flers line, and on the 9th moved back to the Citadel. On this day 2/Lieut. T. J. Webster was killed by a bullet from a hostile aeroplane.

* These five officers fought most gallantly, and only one (2/Lieut. Evans) was left 24 hours later.

Steve.

[NDRFT]

Steve

Lovely. Thank you for the extract, sets the scene

Nigel