1st Battalion Middlesex Regiment

[johnaylett]

I have been trying to wring some information out of the casualty figures from the 1/Middlesex failed attack on the switch line north of Bazentin on 15th July 1916. Using the britishwargraves.org.uk database, which i assume is the same as the CWGC database I have arrived at the following -

69 men listed as missing on the Thiepval memorial (I assume the unknown graves of 1/middx 15/7/16 I have seen at the London Extension and other unknown graves from that date would be included here).

4 named men buried at the Flatiron Copse Cemetary

3 named men buried at the London Extension Cemetary

This gives a total of 76 killed or missing on that date. Of these 61 were privates, 6 lance corporals, 3 corporals, 1 lance serjeant and 5 serjeants. Age range 17-36.

My question is this: Why does this total (76) differ from the total stated for killed or missing in the war diary (113)? 37 men seem to be unaccounted for. Maybe 37 of the missing turned up after the diary was completed (seems doubtful to me). Maybe they were taken as POWs (also seems unlikely as they were pinned down in no mans land from my understanding of it).

Anyones thoughts on this would be gratefully recieved. If anyone has information on this action that is not covered in Hancocks Bazentin Ridge or any photos of the 1/Middlesex that too would be awesome.

[Howard]

I have been trying to wring some information out of the casualty figures from the 1/Middlesex failed attack on the switch line north of Bazentin on 15th July 1916. Using the britishwargraves.org.uk database, which i assume is the same as the CWGC database I have arrived at the following -

69 men listed as missing on the Thiepval memorial (I assume the unknown graves of 1/middx 15/7/16 I have seen at the London Extension and other unknown graves from that date would be included here).

4 named men buried at the Flatiron Copse Cemetary

3 named men buried at the London Extension Cemetary

This gives a total of 76 killed or missing on that date. Of these 61 were privates, 6 lance corporals, 3 corporals, 1 lance serjeant and 5 serjeants. Age range 17-36.

My question is this: Why does this total (76) differ from the total stated for killed or missing in the war diary (113)? 37 men seem to be unaccounted for. Maybe 37 of the missing turned up after the diary was completed (seems doubtful to me). Maybe they were taken as POWs (also seems unlikely as they were pinned down in no mans land from my understanding of it).

Anyones thoughts on this would be gratefully recieved. If anyone has information on this action that is not covered in Hancocks Bazentin Ridge or any photos of the 1/Middlesex that too would be awesome.

The "Die Hards in the Great War" gives this:- "The day's fighting had cost the 1st Battalion many brave lives. of the officers, 6 had been killed and 7 wounded; in other ranks the losses were 44 killed, 201 wounded, and 63 missing. The total casualties on 15th were 13 officers and 308 other ranks. The C.O. (Lieut.-Colonel H. Lloyd) and the second-in-command (Major G. 0. T. Bagley) were amongst the wounded."

Have a look at my website at freespace.virgin.net/howard.anderson/somme1916.htm

It is all about the 1st Middlesex. The entry from the war diary for that day is linked from the above.

I would be most grateful if you have any more information regarding this action as the reports are contradictory as you will see. The text does not make much sense and does not match the maps. When I have time I hope to look at the war diaries of the adjacent units to see if I can make sense of it, but if you have anything, that would be excellent.

Howard

[Terry Denham]

John

CWGC actually records 96 1/Middlesex dying on 15.07.16 plus two on attachment from other battalions. A total of 130 Middx Regt are listed by CWGC as having died that day from all battalions and in all locations.

They are buried/commemorated at...

Loos Memorial (1 attached from 5 Bn)

Serre Road Cemetery No.2 (1)

Caterpillar Valley Cemetery (3)

Dartmoor Cemetery (2)

Thiepval Memorial (85 plus 1 attached from 7 Bn)

London Cemetery & Extension (5)

The BWMP database online only shows those for which they have grave pics to date.

[johnaylett]

The BWMP database online only shows those for which they have grave pics to date.

Thanks Terry, that more or less clears up my question and thanks for the additional information.

Howard, I think the war diary version must be correct, if they were being fired at from High Wood into their left flank they would have been heading away from the German line.

The battalion diary refers to a road running N-S past the eastern end of the village. This can only refer to the track running north from the civilian cemetery or the track from the windmill, which doesn't make sense as they were meant to be attacking the switch line not High Wood. However the fact that the diary also refers to High Wood being to the south (it is very definately to the east or north-east) leads me to suspect that the officer writing the report didn't have his bearings quite right. If he thought High Wood was to the south, then it makes sense that he would refer to the E-W road at the north end of the village as running N-S at the eastern end of the village (also there is no eastern end to the village). If you rotate all his bearings round 90 degrees, things do seem a bit more logical.

So, my best understanding is that they lined up and moved off from the road running EAST-WEST along the North end of the village. The Germans were still in the northwest corner of Bazentin-le-Petit Wood and had a strongpoint a few hundred yards north of the wood, hence the fire into the left flank. The switch line, as far as I can tell, was over the crest of the field in a reverse slope position. So as soon as they reached the crest as well as being under fire from both sides they were now halted by fire from straight ahead.

but, yes, it is confusing If I can find out anything more definate I'll let you know.

[Howard]

So, my best understanding is that they lined up and moved off from the road running EAST-WEST

John

Thanks for that. When things don't match, it is never clear which item to assume is wrong. Accounts were written in or just after the heat of battle after all. This Official History map would support the idea of the east-west road.

The trouble is compounded by the lack of trench maps, after the successful 14th July attack, things were still rather fluid on the 15th.

Thanks again.

Howard

[Howard]

The battalion diary refers to a road running N-S past the eastern end of the village. This can only refer to the track running north from the civilian cemetery or the track from the windmill, which doesn't make sense as they were meant to be attacking the switch line not High Wood. However the fact that the diary also refers to High Wood being to the south (it is very definately to the east or north-east) leads me to suspect that the officer writing the report didn't have his bearings quite right. If he thought High Wood was to the south, then it makes sense that he would refer to the E-W road at the north end of the village as running N-S at the eastern end of the village (also there is no eastern end to the village). If you rotate all his bearings round 90 degrees, things do seem a bit more logical.

John

Thanks for the docs you sent, as a result I have changed the page on my website at freespace.virgin.net/howard.anderson/somme1916.htm to make it agree with the 1st Queen's war diary.

Howard

[johnaylett]

You're welcome, glad to be able to contribute in some way. Excellent site.