8th Bn. East Yorkshire - 14/07/1916

[Chris_B]

By 14/07/1916, the 8th Bn. East Yorshire Regiment was part of 8th Brigade, 3rd Division and took part in the assualt towards Bazentin le Grand on the first day of the "Battle of Bazentin Ridge".

SDGW lists about 150 KIA on that day (real figures could be higher). Most are probably commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial (I checked a sample). But one man, 9449 W.Riley, is buried at London Cemetery Longeuval. In fact, he appears to be the only man from this battalion to be buried there. It's not possible to say if any other battalion members KIA on this day have known graves - there's no simple/effcient way to query the CWGC register for this.

What's their story?

Chris.

[joseph]

Chris

From Wyrall EYR 1914-1918

[joseph]

Chris

Regards Charles

[Chris_B]

Chris

Regards Charles

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Charles,

Many thanks for posting the extracts from the regimental history.

Chris.

[Alan Seymour]

To following on from the Regimental History, a copy of what the actual 8th (Service) Battalion’s East Yorkshire Regiment’s War Diary said, I’ve covered the period from 13th to 28th July 1916.

Night 13th/14th

9.20 pm.

Bn left CARNOY and marched along MONTAUBAN ROAD.

10.15 pm.

Passed MONTAUBAN.

ATTACK ON GERMAN POSITIONS.

14th

2.0 am.

Reached point of deployment.

Artillery preparation bombardment.

3.25 am to 6.45 am.

Artillery lifted & assault on enemy trenches was made. Bn held up by uncut wire. Enemy sent up many flare lights. Machine Gun & Rapid Rifle Fire opened on our men by enemy. Men returned to place of assembly under a bank & dug in. Some remained taking cover in shell holes. Commanding Officer wounded whilst in enemy wire.

6.45 am.

Second-in-Command (Major F. B. Brewis) arrived & relieved Commanding Officer (Lt. Col. B. I. Way) who was wounded in the leg & arm.

7.0 am.

Machine Guns mounted. Stokes Mortars got going. Men of 1st Royal Scots Fusiliers joined the Battalion behind the bank.

7.40 am.

Enemy shelling commenced (small calibre).

7.45 am.

Report received that BAZENTIN was in possession of 9th Bde. & our troops preparing to Bomb inwards.

7.50 am.

Two guns of 8.Bde. Machine Gun Company retired back and covered the right flank.

7.55am.

Intelligence received that two Companies of 2nd Royal Scots were going to attack right flank of objective.

8.0 am.

Patrol sent out from the right flank to enemy’s wire, to see if any of our men were in the enemy trenches & holding their own.

8.40 am.

Colonel Forbes, 1st Royal Scots Fus. arrived with reinforcement & took over Command.

9.6 am.

Another Patrol sent out.

9.30 am.

Patrols returned. Certain that enemy’s front line was strongly held & could hear none of our men in the trench.

9.45 am.

Stokes guns fired several rounds.

10.15am.

Patrol reported heavy fighting in enemy trenches.

10.20 am.

Decided to send Bombers & 2 platoons Royal Scots Fus. to try & join heavy fighting in trenches on right flank.

10.30 am.

Message received from 2nd Bn. The Royal Scots stating “Bombing to start from BAZENTIN.”

11.15 AM.

Wire received from Bde:- “ Indian Cavalry is to go through”.

11.50 am.

Orders received that the position was to be taken at once at all costs.

12.15 pm.

Bombing party of 2nd Royal Scots appeared on the left. They advanced quickly & carried all before them as they advanced our men joined in & the fight was over at once.

1 p.m.

Received orders to consolidate the position as soon as possible.

2 p.m.

Reorganised the Battalion & found strength to be 3 Officers, 100 Other Ranks and 1 Lewis Gun. On checking the Battalion the following were the known casualties:-

Officers:

Killed 8

Wounded 11

Other Ranks:

Killed 81

Wounded 218

Missing 141

Total 19 Officers & 440 Other Ranks.

14th to 20th

Holding our new position. Heavy bombardment by enemy of our trenches & back area. Gas & Lachrymatory Shells. Many casualties. Special attention paid by enemy to QUARRY, roads leading from the QUARRY, & MONTAUBAN.

Night 20th / 21st

Relieved from front line by K.O.S.B.’s. & went back to trenches just NORTH of the QUARRY.

22nd

Moved into BERNAFAY WOOD

23rd

Two companies were sent to hold the N.E. edge of TRONES WOOD.

Reinforcement:-

Draft of 342 O. Ranks from Yorkshire & YORK & LANCS Regiments.

24th & 25th

BERNAFAY WOOD. Continual shelling by enemy. The weather throughout the operations was perfect.

Night of 25 /26th

Relieved by Royal Fusiliers. Bn. proceeded to Bivouac at HAPPY VALLEY.

TOAL CASULATIES during Operations 20 Officers & 570 Other Ranks.

HAPPY VALLEY

26th 4p.m.

Left HAPPY VALLEY & proceeded to Billets at MEAULTE. Draft of 27 Other Ranks Northumberland Fusiliers & 2 Officers as reinforcements.

MEAULTE.

27th

Cleaning up. Company Inspections. Re-organisation of Companies, Specialists, etc. 5 Officer Reinforcements.

28th

Company Route Marches in morning. Afternoon:- Inspection of the Battalion by Brigadier-General. In the course of his speech he expressed the thanks and congratulations of the Divisional & Army Commanders. He said “You are a portion of what is called the New Army. I belong to the old Army, but if this is the New Army, then it is good enough. It is you men in the ranks who have brought about this victory, and it is you whom we thank. In the advance you were held up by the wire, but you hung on. You have been in this advance, only a small portion of the troops engaged but a very important portion & you performed you task successfully.”

[Chris_B]

Alan,

Many thanks for taking the time to type out the relevant section of the War Diary. It interesting to compare the emotionless tones of the diary to the account in the regimental history. Either way, their experience in those few days seems to epitomise the Somme.

Chris.