Military History

Bernard is listed as being killed in action on 24th October 1918. The 2nd/7th Battalion war diary entry for that day is transcribed below. Bernard was part of a Lewis Gun team.

Sommaing - 24 Oct 1918: Assembly reported complete at 03.15. At 0.400 Battalion advance towards village of Sommaing – left Battalion boundary P.18.a.6.6-Q.7.a.6.5-Q.2.b.8.8. Right battalion boundary Q.13.c.9.6 – Q.13.b.9.2 -Q.14.a.3.7-Q.8.d.3.2. Q.8.b.7.2-Q.9.a.1.9-Q.4.a.2.1 Inter Company boundary.  10^th Brigade (4^th Division) on our left, 2/6^th R War R on our right.

Attack was preceded by artillery barrage. Z Coy on left got across River Ecaillon quite well but met with M.G fire and also a good deal of mine defense but pushed forward & reached a further defense system in Q.7.b which was very strong with front and support trenches & communication trenches.

X Coy on right came up against much greater resistance, River being wired heavily on both banks & on the enemy side were a considerable number of machine gun post. They managed to cross river to the strength of a platoon but were counter attacked & withdrew to a line in Q.13.b on the rear slope of ridge with two forward posts at Q.13.b.9.2.

W Coy advances in support of Z Coy on left & established three posts in front of village but owing to a misunderstanding Z Coy had withdrawn across river & information of these three posts did not come through in time to be of any use.

Y Coy had advanced in support of X but without any successs.

10.00: Z, W & Y now reorganized & pushed forward from P.18.b.9.4 towards the village. Position remained like this till 16.45.

16.45: At this time the 2/8 Worcesters passed through us & reached Mur Copse Q.7.a which had been cleared earlier by the 4^th Division. From line they advanced from NW to SE direction. The 184^th Bde at the same time pushing  up from SE of Vendegies. All Coys now pushed forward in support of Worcesters.