Panel 1 - to the left of the entrance doors.
George Edwin Ayton************************************************************
Probably
Name: AYTON, GEORGE
Rank: Gunner
Regiment: Royal Field Artillery
Unit Text: "C" Bty. 55th Bde.
Date of Death: 16/12/1916
Service No: 123638
Memorial Reference: Panel 3 and 60. Memorial: BASRA MEMORIAL
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1655205
Gunner George Edwin Ayton of the Royal Field Artillery can be seen on Norlink here
norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleIn...
George is also remembered on the Norwich Boys Model School memorial in the Anglican cathedral
www.roll-of-honour.com/Norfolk/NorwichBoysModelSchool.html
The 1911 census lists a George Edwin born Norwich circa 1897 who recorded in the City on the night of the census. On the 1901 census, the same individual, listed as George E. and aged 4, was recorded at Wales Square, 7 Prince of Wales Road, Norwich. This was the household of his parents, George, (aged 46 and a Railway Relief Signalman from Besthorpe, Norfolk) and Mary A, (aged 39 and from Hockwold). Their other children are:-
Ivy………………aged 6.…………….born Norwich
William J……….aged 13.……………born Norwich
A feel for what the Brigade had been through, and the conditions in which the men were living can be gathered from this article about a Medical officer assigned to the unit while in served in first Gallipoli and then the subsequent campaign up the River Tigris towards Baghdad,
www.winkleighheroes.co.uk/soldiers/harveyaw.htm
Alfred Augustus Bingham****************************************************
No match on Norlink
The only Alfred A. listed on the CWGC database is an Alfred Albert. There is no obvious match on Military Genealogy.
A Google search for the full name reveal that the Australian National Roll of Honour records an Alfred Augustus, aka Alfred.
www.awm.gov.au/research/people/roll_of_honour/person.asp?...
This is the same individual on CWGC
Name: BINGHAM, ALFRED
Rank: Private
Regiment: Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
Unit Text: 28th Bn. Date of Death: between 03/11/1916 and 06/11/1916 Service No: 14 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Memorial: VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MEMORIAL
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1458071
Alfred Augustus also appears on the NORWICH CATHEDRAL - BOYS MODEL SCHOOL WAR MEMORIAL.
The Roll of Honour site for that memorial adds this information.
Died Age 36. Son of Frederick Bingham of 63 Ber Street, Norwich (this is where Alfred was born). Next of kin noted as Miss L. Bingham, his sister. Went to Australia aged 30. Worked as a carpenter and joiner before enlisting. His Australian War Memorial record shows that he attended the 'Model Endowed School'. Embarked with the 28th 1st March 1915.
www.roll-of-honour.com/Norfolk/NorwichBoysModelSchool.html
Alfred Augustus Bingham, aged 19, born Norwich, and already employed as a Carpenter when he was recorded on the 1901 census at 63 Ber Street. This was the household of his parents, Frederick, (aged 46 and a Butcher from Bocking, Essex) and Esther, (aged 46 and from Norwich). Their other children are;-
Albert Percival………………aged 16.………..born Norwich…….Carpenter
Ernest Richard………………aged 17.………..born Norwich…….Butchers Assistant
Lilian Ellie…………….…….aged 12.………..born Norwich
Sydney Roy…………………aged 10.……….. Born Norwich
Also living with them are Frederick and Esthers niece, Alice Mary Bingham, (aged 22 and a Dressmaker from London, Middlesex). The Binghams also have a live-in servant, Rose Watson, aged 15 and from Coltishall.
Alfred’s Australian Army Records can be seen on line here.
recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=3083673
He enlisted in the 28th Battalion at Perth, Western Australia on the 1st March 1915. He gave his birth place as Norwich, and looks like he tried to give his aged as 32 on the 21st March, but this looks to have been over-written as aged 31. His next of kin is given as his sister, Lily Bingham, of 63 Ber Street. His last civilian address was 469 Hay Street, East Perth. - (details sent in response to a query from the Christian Association of Perth)
His physical description was given as height 5 feet 5 inches, weight 128lbs, complexion - Red, eyes - Brown, hair - Reddish. His religion is given as Protestant.
He reported to the depot at Blackboy Hills on the 2nd March 1915. He sailed from Fremantle on HMAT Ascanius on the 29th June 1915. After being shunted between “C” and “A” company, he was eventually transferred to the Depot at the start of September. He was then admitted to hospital on the 2nd at Heliopolis, so had already journeyed to the Mediterranean. On the 19th September he is attached for duty with what looks 1 A G.H.
The next entry on his service record is him proceeding overseas to join his unit on the 3rd August 1916 on the Arcadian, embarking at Alexandria. He travelled first to England, where he spent a brief stay at Rollerstone with 7th Training Battalion before moving on to France and the holding camp at Etaples. He was taken on the strength of his unit in France on the 29th. In just over two months he would be dead.
Sunday 5th November 1916. Day 128
Today marks the commencement of the Battle of the AncreHeights.
Gueudecourt
1st Australian Division attacked a salient north of Gueudecourt at 12.30am. 1 Bde assaulted with the bombers of 3rd Bn attacking the German line in conjunction with a frontal attack by 1st Bn. The attack failed despite two attempts on Hilt Trench.
Meanwhile 7 Bde attacked with three battalions- 28th, 25th and 27th Bn less one company. The 25th Bn was reinforced by the 27th Bn’s company and also by one from 26th Bn. 27th Bn captured parts of Bayonet Trench but withdrew at dusk. 28th Bn failed in it’s assault while the 25th entered and held parts of the Maze.
forum.irishmilitaryonline.com/showthread.php?t=9058&p...
Battalion War Diary. (Reproduction is very faint)
3rd/4th. Took over front line from 53rd Bn AIF. Trenches in very bad order +mud from 12 inches to 3 feet deep. Location M.24.A Guidecourt. Major(??).
4th. General work improving front trenches + preparing for attack on next day.
5th. The Bn in conjunction with 27th Bn + Coys of 23rd+26th Bns who were on our right and the British Division on our left made an attack on the German Line known as GIRD TRENCH. Owing to the inaccuracy of our artillery fire, through lack of observation, the enemy were not kept down in their trenches by our barrage and the advancing troops were subjected to very heavy rifle + machine gun fire which prevented them making the objective. Our losses in this attack were 1 Officer, (Lieut.W R Moore) killed, and two wounded, (2nd Lieut. F.Mullen,(??) Lieut.A.W Curran). Previous to the attack, four officers were wounded, Capt R C Phillipps, 2/Lieut. M G Hammond, 2/Lieut C C Flower, Lieut. R H Gill. The casualties of other ranks were as follows. 58 killed, 166 wounded, 50 missing. 27 other ranks were evacuated to hospital suffering from effects of wet ??regional??.
6th/7th. Relief by ?? Bn. Troops on relied marched back to MONTAUBAN Camp reaching there at intervals during the day. The journey out was most trying for tired troops + all were in a fatigued condition. Everyone very wet + covered in mud.
www.awm.gov.au/collection/records/awm4/23/45/awm4-23-45-2...
Hedley Goldsmith Browne***********************************
Name: BROWNE, HEDLEY GOLDSMITH
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Service: Royal Air Force
Secondary Regiment: Royal Engineers
Secondary Unit Text: formerly (Motor Cyclist Despatch Rider)
Age: 29
Date of Death: 08/04/1918
Additional information: Son of John Goldsmith Browne and Edith Annie Browne, of 26, York St., Norwich, Norfolk. Enlisted Aug., 1914. Served 3 years in France.
Grave/Memorial Reference: R. 71. Cemetery: CIRENCESTER CEMETERY
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=358510
2nd Lieutenant Hedley Goldsmith Browne of the Royal Air Force can be seen on Norlink here
norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleIn...
A picture of his headstone can be seen here
www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=327458...
The dedication reads:-
In Sweet Memory
Of our Beloved Eldest Son
Sec.Lieut. Hedley Goldsmith Browne
RAF
Who was suddenly summoned to “Higher Service”
While doing a solo flight near Cirencester
April 8th 1918.
After Active Service in France since August 1914
As a Despatch Rider
Born June 15th 1885 (Photo not clear - to be checked).
Memorial on the BBC Web-site.
A keen gymnast who enjoyed motor cycle racing and coxed the Norwich Union Life Insurance Society rowing fours. Enlisted in 1914 as a motor cycle dispatch rider and also served in the Royal Engineers. Served three years in France. Fought at Mons, the Marne, the Somme.
Wrote to his father 30 October 1914: "have been stuck in a small stable all the day. They started shelling us this morning at dawn with high explosives and Jack Johnsons and have kept it up off and on ever since. Two houses within twenty yards have been blown to pieces and in the ground all around us the shells have made holes big enough to bury a horse. Four big shells have - My word! We've just had a fright, one got this roof and has made a large hole: one fellow wounded in the leg."
On 31 October he wrote again "They... are still popping shells around the place we left yesterday. Just got hold of a fine German bayonet complete: am fastening it on the bike... Did I tell you about the bullets coming through the roof in the last house when we were asleep, in one side and out the other? Don't worry I shall come through."
In May 1915 he wrote: "Since we Ianded in France I have been waiting for the opportunity of seeing what trench life is really like; also to have one pot at the Bosche. Well to-day the chance came, and a comrade and myself set out early. We entered the communication trench about one and a half miles from the actual firing line, the starting point being labelled Marble Arch - all the trenches hereabouts were named after London streets. Thus we proceeded along Harley Street to the Brickfields, which the Guards Brigade had captured from the Germans a month previously, turned down Coldstream Lane and arrived at the actual firing line. My first feeling was one of absolute security (as long as I refrained from popping my head over) the trench being so deep that it was necessary to stand on a step to see between the sand bags. A peep through the periscope showed dozens of Germans lying dead between the two lines, and the sight made me realise the horror of it all. I borrowed a rifle and was enabled to send a 'souvenir' or two to the enemy."
Killed in a flying accident.
www.bbc.co.uk/remembrance/wall/record/8920
The 12 year old Hedley G. born Norwich, was recorded on the 1901 census at 26 York Street., This is the household of his parents, John Goldsmith Browne, (aged 38 and an Insurance Clerk from Norwich) and Edith A. (aged 37 and from Norwich). Their other children are:-
Geoffrey P………….aged 11.………..born Norwich
Phyllis E……………aged 7.…………born Norwich
Thomas E.W……….aged 1.………….born Norwich
Sydney Brown**************************************************
Possibly
Name: BROWN, SYDNEY THOMAS
Rank: Rifleman
Regiment: Rifle Brigade
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 14/03/1915
Service No: 4594
Additional information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. William Philip Brown, of 33, Vincent Rd., Norwich.
Memorial Reference: Panel 44. Memorial: LE TOURET MEMORIAL
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=824674
No match on Norlink
Military Genealogy shows born and resident Thorpe Hamlet
I’ve recently done some research on the Thorpe Hamlet War Memorial and struggled to account for the various Browns listed there. I did not come across this individual, however.
www.flickr.com/photos/43688219@N00/6203810191/
A potential match on the 1901 census is a 6 year old Sidney, born Norwich, who was recorded at 3 Lollards Pit in the Parish of St Matthews, (which also covers Vincent Road). This is the household of this parents, William, (aged 35 and an Iron Plate Worker from Norwich) and Rosina, (aged 30 and from Norwich). Their other children are:-
Charles…………..aged 5.…………..born Norwich
Herbert…………..aged 3.…………..born Norwich
Reginald…………aged 3.…………..born Norwich
Rosina……………aged 1.…………..born Norwich
Walter……………aged 8.…………..born Norwich
William…………..aged 11.…………born Norwich
I couldn’t find a likely Sydney on either the 1901 or 1911 transcriptions of the census for England and Wales. There are no Sidney T’s listed with a Norwich connection on either census. The 6 year old Sidney shown above is the only one of the 9 on the 1901 census with a Norwich connection, (birth and or residence), who has a father called William. However I must qualify that - two live with widowed mothers, one appears to be the child of a single parent, and one is living with someone completely unrelated, so impossible to tell what the fathers name might have been.
Battle of Neuve Chappelle
2nd RB's Diary
13th & 14th
1. Work was continued on our line. The enemy's shelling was very heavy.
2. The total casualties from 10th to 14th were 12 officers and 365 other ranks killed and wounded. A draft of 1 officer & 95 other ranks arrived.
A letter written by Lieut. Charles Pennefather of "D" Company, 2nd Rifle Brigade, wrote to Lieut. Chan Hoskyns, recently departed from the same battalion, describing their part in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle and the wasteful destruction of the Rifle Brigade.
My Dear Chan,
So sorry I have not answered your letter before, but since the 10th March we have been passing through such stirring times that I have only just collected my thoughts.
Now if you behave yourself, I will give you a long and description of the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, since we were the first to boost through the village.
We left our trenches at Laventieon the 3rd March and went back to billets in the neighbourhood for a week, during this week we had to practice the attack every day. During this time we collected every gun we could find in the neighbourhood, we got 360 ranging from the 13lb to the 15 inch.
On the night of the 9th the whole brigade moved up to the trenches and hid behind some parapets which had taken us a fortnight to dig.
The attack was to start at 7.30 in the morning. So at 6.30 we all had a swig of rum and at 7.30 our guns started off a most unholy bombardment the Lord ever saw, this lasted for half an hour, it killed about 100 of the Berkshires and about 10 of ours. At 8.5 the guns lifted and off boosted the Berks and the Lincolns who captured the German trenches. Then away went the R.B. and the R.I.R. to capture the village. We simply boosted through the village capturing about 200 Deutschers. Byatt, Verney, Bulkley-Johnson were shot in this part.
We then arrived at the other side of the village and joined up with the Indians on our right, and our job was finished since we had broken a gap in the line and we could have gone to Berlin at least if there had been anyone behind, but as you know our brilliant staff had two men and a boy behind and also 20,000 Cavalry which they refused to let go because they said it was too foggy, all total balls as there was no fog. Meanwhile the unfortunate 24th Brigade got held up on our left and were unable to push on, so we remained in our position for the night.
The next morning, 11th, the Deutschers had the audacity to attack us, we polished off about 600, so they did not come anymore.
However we got the order to take the German position at any cost from some bloody sh1t sitting in boulogne, so away went A & B Companies, a most bloody fire from all corners of the earth broke out, it killed 130 of "A" Coy and 90 of "B" Coy, we then decided not to go on.
Never the less I am damned if another message did not come at 4.30 to take the German position regardless of cost, this time C & D Coys. Meanwhile Brockholes, Pilcher, Gilbey, Mason and Harrison had been killed. C were to lead followed closely by D, off went C and they lost 110 men, D were just off headed by Mansell and myself when the Colonel stopped us, Mansell got one in the head there, leaving me in command of "D" Company.
The higher authorities then decided that the attack was nothing else but murder, not a bad thought after seeing most of the R.B. stretched on the floor. That finished the days fighting.
During the night we wired and dug like the devil, the next day the Deutschers started to bombard us at 6 am and continued till 4.30pm the most bloody experience the Lord ever invented, it polished off about 50 of us and hundreds of people at the back.
I took a bullet through the hat, which took the hair of my head, I shot the blighter in the head.
That night was a bloody night as there were no stretcher bearers and all the wounded got left. Bridgeman got wounded by a shell in the evening, also Barton was wounded in the head and Carle in the finger.
The next day was quieter and gradually we quitened down. We stopped for fourteen days. Now we have been taken away for a weeks rest somewhere near Sailly and we are going into the trenches which the 7th Division had.
The Canadians are in Estaires, awful drunkards. There are 2 Territorial Divisions close by too.
Rawlinson bungled the whole show. Davis was alright, Lowry Cole was very brave and nearly got blown up by a shell. Stephens is quite well, Constable is acting Adjutant. Stopford went away as A.D.C. to Robertson before the show, Grey is M.G. Officer. Harding has gone to St. Omer to go through a course (M.G.)
We have 12 new officers and 400 men. The Berks had only 7 officers left, the R.I.R. had only 4 left, the Northamptons 1 Officer and 100 men left. The Scottish Rifles had all their officers killed. We lost 520 officers and 10000 men, hell of a bloody lot.
The new trench we dug came across rows and rows of dead, those killed in October.
I met Baby out here in Estaires (he is on the staff of 7th Division).
This is all the news. Write and let me know what you are doing.
Cheer Ho, yours ever
Charles P.
1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=113598
Albert Seymour Campbell***********************************
Probably - only match
Name: CAMPBELL, ALBERT SEYMOUR
Rank: Rifleman
Regiment: Rifle Brigade
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Date of Death: 01/07/1916
Service No: S/7002
Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 16 B and 16 C. Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=762941
The Ancestry.Com site has a couple of pictures of an Albert Seymour Campbell, including one in uniform, plus a post card. Unfortunately you have to be a subscriber to see anything more than thumbnails.
records.ancestry.com/Hamrose_Seymour_Campbell_Cookstown_O...
No match on Norlink
The 1911 census has an Albert Campbell born Harrow on the Hill, Middlesex circa 1896 who was recorded in the Aylsham District - otherwise no other matches in the whole of Norfolk. And none at all on the 1901 census.
There is an Albert of the right age on the 1901 census, but he was born Harrow Road, Paddington, London. There is nothing in the rest of the family details to suggest a Norfolk connection.
1st July 1916
The attack on the Quadrilateral
Part of 4th Division's task was to assist 31st Division on their left by taking out the Quadrilateral Redoubt - a remnant of the old trench system prior to the French attacks of 1915.
To accomplish the task they had been loaned two Battalions from 48th Division, made up of Birmingham Territorials.
In the first wave of the assault, 1/8th Bn Royal Warwickshires managed to advance 1500 metres into the German lines having passed the Quadrilateral, and reached as far as the Munich Trench and Ten Tree Alley.
They had in fact been unwittingly helped by the Germans who, it transpired, had never thought of the Quadrilateral as being tenable and had left it poorly defended with a mine primed and ready to destroy the position.
By error the mine was prematurely detonated, killing the machine gun crew (Whose gun had in any case jammed) and the engineers.
The Warwickshires were not, however, the only troops aiming for the Quadrilateral and the 1st Bn Rifle Brigade (11th Brigade) on their right also had some success in gaining and holding the position with them.
The initial waves from 11th Brigade had been met by a storm of fire from machine gun positions up on the Redan Ridge behind the German front lines. These had been putting down a constant barrage of fire even at the height of the British bombardment and were to continue throughout the day, reaping havoc in the lines of assaulting troops.
The second wave from 4th Division advanced as scheduled ten minutes after the first.
The 1/6th Bn Royal Warwickshires soon found itself in difficulties, as the German counter bombardment was by now ploughing up no-mans land. Those units that had managed to advance into the German trenches, now found that they were not only cut off from reinforcements to help push forwards but also hindered from going back.
On their right, the 1st Somerset Light Infantry suffered terribly but remnants managed to keep going for about another 400 metres past the Quadrilateral. There they were joined by parties from the two Royal Warwickshire battalions.
The Quadrilateral remained held by the British for the rest of the day by men from, for the most part, the 2nd Bn Lancashire Fusiliers and the 2nd Bn Seaforth Highlanders. These two units had formed part of a four and a half battalion strong, third advance by 4th Division.
A partial breakthrough had thus been achieved but in a situation similar to that of the 36th (Ulster) Division on the Schwaben Redoubt they were now cut off on both sides. Many of their dead were to result from German defenders who managed to infiltrate into the trenches behind the attackers from the flanks.
Brigadier General Prowse commanding 11th Brigade (an ex SLI man himself) was mortally wounded in the morning as he left his HQ to find out what was going on in the the Quadrilateral.
The following morning it was decided that the only gain that had been made - the Quadrilateral - could not be held in the face of a determined counter attack and the troops were withdrawn.
The offensive was over, indeed to all intents and purposes it had been over by noon on the 1st.
For his part, General Haig's initial view was that VIII Corps hadn't really put their backs into the fight, having made no gains at all.
For that no gain at all 31st Division had suffered 3 600 casualties - 1 349 of whom had been killed. Their neighbours in 4th Division (along with the two Battalions of Royal Warwickshires) a further 5 752 casualties - including 1 883 killed.
www.webmatters.net/france/ww1_serre_4.htm
(1st Battalion Rifle Brigade were part of 4th Division)
Edward Albert Churchyard**********************************
No match on Norlink
No match on CWGC
No match on Military Genealogy
There is no obvious match for this individual on the Genes Reunited transcription of the 1901 and 1911 censuses for England and Wales, nor can I find a birth registered of anyone with this combination of first names in the Norfolk area of a likely age to have served in the Great War.
The 1901 census does have an 8 year old Bertie, born Norwich, who was recorded at 107 Goldwell Road, but again I can find no birth registration details.
There is the death of an Edward A L Churchyard, aged 33, recorded in the Wandsworth district of London in the January to March 1917 quarter. I did a quick search, but there appears to have been only one German air raid on England in this quarter, with one raid in the last week of March targeting London, but the aircraft turned back without dropping their bombs due to bad weather. There were no Zeppelin raids.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeppelin
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_strategic_bombing_during_Wor...
Alfred Codling*************************************************
Name: CODLING, ALFRED
Rank: Private
Regiment: 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
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=234635
Private Alfred Codling of the 6th Norfolks, attached to the 8th Norfolks, can be seen on Norlink here
norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleIn...
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..
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...
21st October 1916
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
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
2nd Lieut H V Marsh…………….Wounded. (Since Died of Wounds)
Captain C Shelton……………….Wounded.(This Officer has been with the Battn. Since September1914)
2nd Lieut S Darrington………….Wounded
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,
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
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.
Alfred is also commemorated on the Eaton, Norwich, Roll of Honour.
www.flickr.com/photos/43688219@N00/3489939944/
Walter Codling*************************************************
Name: CODLING, WALTER STEPHEN
Rank: Private
Service: Royal Army Medical Corps
Unit Text: 54th (1st/1st East Anglian) Casualty Clearing Station
Age: 23
Date of Death: 13/08/1915
Service No: 95
Additional information: Son of Walter and Ellen Codling, of 67, Bishopgate St., Norwich.
Memorial Reference: Panel 199 and 200 or 236 to 239 and 328. Memorial: HELLES MEMORIAL
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=682585
Walter Codling, (Walter Stephen), 3rd Line Depot, 1st East Anglian Casualty Clearing Station, Royal Army Medical Corps can be seen on Norlink here
norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleIn...
The accompanying notes read
Private Codling was employed with Jarrolds. He became a member of a local detachment of the British Red Cross Society. He was lost on the "Royal Edward", which was torpedoed in the Aegean Sea, 13th August 1915
Confusingly - Alfred Codling referred to above also had a brother Walter who survived the War. His medals came up for auction and the accompanying notes read
1914-15 Star (GS-57585 Pte., R. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (GS-57585 Pte., R. Fus.)
<Walter Codling was born in the Parish of South Heigham, Norfolk, in 1893. A Clerk by occupation, he attested for the Royal Fusiliers at Norwich on 4 June 1915. He served in the 20th, 29th and 5th Battalions in the U.K. Entering the France/Flanders theatre of war on 24 December 1915, he was posted to the 20th Battalion Royal Fusiliers on 9 January 1916. The battalion formed part of the 19th Infantry Brigade, 33rd Division. On 20 July 1916 he was wounded in action, receiving a gunshot wound to the left leg. He was admitted to hospital at Rouen and was later invalided to England. Discharged for duty on 31 May 1917, he was posted to the 25th Battalion Royal Fusiliers and landed at Lindi, German East Africa, on 19 September 1917. Codling was wounded in action during the battle of Nyangao, 18 October 1917, suffering gunshot wounds to the face and left thigh. Admitted to a casualty clearing station, he contracted malaria on 25 October and was moved to the 2nd South African General Hospital in Dar-es-Salaam on 27 October. From there he was invalided to South Africa and the General Hospital at Wynberg, 19 November 1917, and thence to England, December 1917, being admitted to Mile End Military Hospital. Recovering somewhat, he was posted to the 5th Battalion Royal Fusiliers on 28 April 1918. Private Codling was demobilised and transferred to Class ‘Z’ Reserve on 11 March 1919.
www.dnw.co.uk/medals/auctionarchive/viewspecialcollection...
