Military History

Theodore is listed as dying of wounds on 15th August 1916 and the 1st/4th Battalion war diary reveals that he was originally wounded on 23rd July 1916 during an attack on Pozieres, the war diary for the period 22nd to 24th July 1916 is transcribed below (Courtesy Lightbobs.com)

July 22nd: BM 103 received intimating that the attack would be resumed, and ordering an an officer to reconnoitre the new trenches being dug by the Sussex.

At 2.30 p.m. All C.O's in Brigade at Brigade H.Q. (Usna Redoubt). Orders for attack issued.

At 9 p.m. The Battalion moved up to get into position. The Australian Division, on our right, were attacking at about 10 p.m., and very heavy fighting appeared to be in progress.
 
July 23rd: 12.30 a.m. the Battalion attacked just east of Pozieres. A Company on the left, D on the right, B in support, C in reserve. The objective on the left was reached almost at once; that on the right after a hard struggle. At least two counter-attacks had to be repulsed.

At 4 a.m. we were reinforced by two companies of the 4th Berks. Heavy shelling all day, but no further attacks were delivered. In the afternoon it became evident that the Battalion had suffered heavily, and at night we were relieved by the 1/5th Warwicks. Relief complete by half an hour after midnight (23rd-24th).
 
July, 24th: On relief, the Battalion moved to bivouacs in a field outside Albert.

Casualties.- Captain B. B. B. Brooks, missing, believed killed; Captain J. E. Blake, killed; Captain Edmunds, 2nd Lieuts. T. N. Hall, G. M. Frieake, E. E. Smith, F. E. Jones, F. C. Lay, S. Smith, M. Hutchins (5th Middlesex), wounded. Other ranks: 73 killed, many wounded.

The Battalion remained in bivouacs until after dinners, and then returned to huts at Bouzincourt via the track crossing the Ancre between Albert and Aveluy.