A Codling………………..Private
Name: CODLING, ALFRED
Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Norfolk Regiment Unit Text: "B" Coy. 8th Bn.
Age: 25 Date of Death: 21/10/1916 Service No: 43452
Additional information: Son of Alfred and Emma A. Codling, of 374, Unthank Rd., Norwich.
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. A. 23. Cemetery: REGINA TRENCH CEMETERY, GRANDCOURT
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=234635
Private Codling can be seen on the Norlink Archive here
norfolk.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/OPAC/BIBENQ/...
The accompanying notes read “Private Codling was born at Ashby Street, Norwich, 25th April 1891. He enlisted 6th October 1914 and was killed in action, 21st October 1916 “
The 1901 Census has the 9 year old Alfred living at the Woolpack Public House, 11 Golden Ball Street, Norwich. He lives at this address with his parents, Alfred, (a 36 year old Carpenter from Norwich), and Emma, (a 37 year old proprietor of a Grocer Shop) as well as brother Walter, (aged 8). The Codlings have one servant, however as neither parent are listed as a publican, I’m not sure if the Codlings were actually the licensees at this time or just living in part of the building..
On the day
From the Chronology of the battle of the Somme
October 21st: 45'-28' fine but very cold day. The British advance on a line between the Schwaben Redoubt and le Sars and take many prisoners.
www.ramsdale.org/timeline.htm
Saturday 21st October 1916.
Thiepval
Zero Hour was set for 12.06pm but the Germans set the ball rolling at 5am with an attack on Schwaben Redoubt, still occupied by 39th Div. 17th King’s Royal Rifle Cops and 14th Hampshires drove the Germans back with grenades.
18th Div attacked with two battalions of 53 Bde- 10th Essex and 8th Norfolks advancing in line with the Canadians on their right flank. The Norfolks were caught up in a bombing fight near the Grandcourt-Courcelette road which they won with the aid of the Lancashire Fusiliers of 25th Div.
forum.irishmilitaryonline.com/showthread.php?t=9058&p...
Appendix 3 to the Battalion War Diary for October 1916 is a Short History of the Regina Trench Operations 21st, 22nd and 23rd October
1. Orders from Brigade.
On the 20th October 1916 the Battalion was ordered to attack REGINA TRENCH on the following day.
The object of the Battalion’s attack, which was in conjunction with the 10th Essex Regiment, 53rd Infantry Brigade on the right, and 11th Lancashire Fusiliers, 74th Infantry Brigade on the left, ws to take and occupy the REGINA TRENCH from a point 150 yards S.W of the WEST MIRAUMONT ROAD to its junction with left trench and to establish strong points at:-
a) Junction of REGINA and COURCELETTE TRENCHES
b) Junction of REGINA TRENCH and TWENTY THREE ROAD
c) Junction of REGINA and LEFT TRENCHES
2. Attached Units
To the battalion were attached:-
a) 2 Guns, 53rd Machine Gun Company.
b) 2 Guns, 53rd Trench Mortar Battery
c) A few Sappers from 79th Field Company, R E, to be used in the construction and improvement of dug-outs in REGINA TRENCH.
3. Disposition of the Battalion.
a) “C” COMPANY.
The right attacking Company with objective from a point in REGINA TRENCH 150 yards S.W of the WEST MIRAUMONT ROAD to the junction of REGINA and KENORA TRENCHES (exclusive) and to include the strong point to be made there.
b) “B” COMPANY
The left attacking Company with objective from junction of REGINA and KENORA TRENCHES (exclusive), to the junction of REGINA and LEFT TRENCHES (inclusive)
c) “D” COMPANY
The support Company. To proceed to REGINA and help consolidate and to return, immediately REGINA has been deepened, to HESSIAN TRENCH via KENORA TRENCH, leaving one platoon in KENORA to open it up.
d) “A” COMPANY.
To act as Reserve Company.
4.FORMING UP OF THE BATTALION
“C” and “B” - HESSIAN TRENCH - 2 waves each
“C” and “B” - VANCOUVER - 1 wave each
“D” - SUDBURY TRENCH
“A” - ZOLLERN - to move up to VANCOUVER at zero hour.
1 gun 53rd Machine Gun Company, and 1 Stokes Mortar, 53rd Trench Mortar Battery, were allotted to both “B” and “C” Company.
Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Company - R.29.c.9.9
5. STRENGTH OF BATTALION
Strength of Battalion on proceeding into action:-
18 Officers…540 Men.
6. FIRST DAY….Zero to 2 p.m.
Punctually at Zero Hour (12.6pm), “C”, “B” and “D” Companies left our trenches and REGINA was entered at 12.121/2pm. Germans holding it adopted different attitudes. So far as can be gathered, those opposite “C” surrendered easily: those opposite “B”, especially in a gap about 100 yards left of “B” Company and the right of 11th Lancashire Fusiliers showed fight and put up a good resistance, but were finally either killed or taken prisoners. We lost four officers in taking the trench:-
2nd Lieut. J W Case……………..Killed
(John Wyatt Case, aged 19 and from Gorleston)
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1542617
2nd Lieut H V Marsh…………….Wounded. (Since Died of Wounds)
(Harry Victor Marsh, aged 22 and from Fulham, London)
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=81650
Captain C Shelton……………….Wounded.(This Officer has been with the Battn. Since September1914)
(Charles Shelton, MC from Tottenham, is listed as dieing on the 21st October 1916 on CWGC)
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1552367
2nd Lieut S Darrington………….Wounded
(Stanley Darrington)
About 90 other ranks were casualties.
One machine gun was knocked out on the way over.
Information was slow in coming back.(Due to the fact that a German Barrage opened on ZOLLERN, delaying the runners). The first intimation of things mentioned above was at 1.53pm, (1 hour.47 minutes after zero), when Captain F J MORGAN D.S.O Commanding “B” Company stated that the objective had been achieved and that he was in touch with 11th Lancashire Fusiliers, 74th Infantry Brigade on his left and the 10th Essex Regiment on his right.
Second Phase - 2pm to 6 pm, 21st October
A considerable amount of consolidation was necessary and “D” company remained in REGINA. Owing to the casualties and the amount of work to be done, I decided that “D” Company should remain in REGINA and not return. At the same time I issued orders to “A” Company to be in readiness to move into REGINA should Captain Morgan require them.(Message sent 2.43pm) At the same time 53rd Infantry Brigade allotted me two more machine guns, 53rd Machine Gun Company, which were situated in ZOLLERN, and informed me that 6th Royal Berkshire Regiment had been ordered to place a Company in VANCOUVER and HESSIAN should my “A” Company move up to REGINA. On receipt of my message, “A” Company moved into HESSIAN, and sent out a liaison Officer to get in touch with “B” Company. Capt.MORGAN informed this Officer, however, that he did not require more troops in REGINA, and “A” Company moved back into VANCOUVER.In the meantime, however, the 6th Royal Berkshire Regiment had commenced to move up a Company. This Company, finding HESSIAN empty - “A” Company having moved back to VANCOUVER - moved into it. (Message received from 6th Royal Berkshire Regiment to this effect 4.7pm.) I immediately got in touch with liaison Officer, 6th Royal Berkshire Regiment and arranged that this Company should be withdrawn. Orders to this effect were issued at 5.20 pm to the O C 6th Royal Berkshire Regiment and their Company in support to my Battalion moved back to Zollern.
The situation was, therefore, as follows at 6pm.
“B” “D” “C” Companies. REGINA TRENCH from a point 150 yards S W of the WEST MIRAUMONT ROAD to just east of the junction of REGINA and LEFT TRENCHES. “B” Company in contact with the Battalion on the left, “C” Company with the Battalion on the right.
3 machine guns, 53rd Machine Gun Company. (One had been put out of action) and 6 Lewis guns in the front line.
The approximate strength of Companies at this moment was:-
“B” - 50 OR’s………..”D” - 60 OR’s…………….”C” - 50 OR;s
“A” in VANCOUVER with two posts in HESSIAN. Approximate strength - 80OR’s.
Strong points had been established in REGINA at the junction of KENORA and REGINA TRENCHES and TWENTY THREE ROAD and REGINA TRENCH.
Third Phase - 6 pm 21st October to 6 am 22nd October.
The night was comparatively quiet, patrols sent out reported that the Germans did not appear to be closer than GRANDCOURT TRENCH. Two hostile patrols which approached were wiped out, every man being killed.
Fourth Phase. 6 a.m to 6 p.m 22nd October
The enemy shelled REGINA more or less steadily through-out the day, but did not put up a heavy barrage on it. He also shelled VANCOUVER and HESSIAN, generally with 5.9, most of the shells seemed to come from LOUPART WOOD. Consolidation was pushed on with throughout the day.
Fifth Phase 6 p.m 22nd October to 6 a.m 23rd October
At 6 pm I decided to make the following changes in my line:-
……………………………….......................................................................................................................
Company……………………..From………….To…………………………..Relieving
“A”…………………………VANCOUVER….REGINA…………………..”B” and “D”
“B”…………………………REGINA…………HESSIAN…………………Posts of “A”
“D”…………………………REGINA…………VANCOUVER……………”A”
“C”…Remained in Regina
*********************************************************************************
This relief was completed about 8 p.m and “D” Company immediately commenced work on KENORA TRENCH to open up communication between HESSIAN and REGINA. This company worked exceedingly well through-out the night and by 3 a.m KENORA was completely opened up, in spite of the fact that the Company was subjected to a very large amount of whiz bangs.
Between 5 am and 6 am 23rd, our guns opened a very heavy bombardment along the whole Army front. The Boche retaliation was conspicuously feeble.
