South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private 32988 Albert Charles WAYNE - 6th Battalion, Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry

Killed in action on Saturday 7th October 1916 aged 31


Military History

     
Theatre of War Campaign Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders British War & Victory Medals Thiepval Memorial
     
Arrived in Theatre Bravery & Conduct Medals SWFHS Area Memorials
After 1 January 1916 in France ~ Leamington Spa War Memorial
    Leamington St. Paul's Memorial
Action, Battle or Other Reason Died Date and Place Enlisted  
Battle of the Somme (Le Transloy)  After 7 October 1915 in Leamington Spa  
    Other War Memorials
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units Northampton War Memorial
E of Gueudecourt (see map below)  
     

Circumstances of Death

Albert is listed as being killed in action on 7 Oct 1916. The 6th Battalion History of the Attack and the war diary entries for the 8th and 9th Oct 1916 are transcribed below.

Report of the Actions of the 6th Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry - From the Battalion War Diary
By Major J. E. Osborne, Commanding the Battalion. [Ref. Map Sheet 57 c. S.W.] - Transcribed by The Lightbobs website
On the 7th October zero hour was 1.45 p.m., when, in accordance with 60th Brigade Operation Orders, the Battalion left its trenches and attacked Rainbow Trench their 1st Objective [Blue Pin Marker on map], which runs from about N.28.a.1.4 to about N.28.c.1 ½ .1 ½ [Red Line on map]. The leading waves moved out of the British line close up to our barrage, arrived at the German barbed wire (about 40 yards in front of our trench), and lay down.
 

Click for larger map
 
The enemy had manned his parapet some 60 yards to our front, and was delivering a very hot fire from 6 machine-guns and from rifles, to which our troops replied. Shortly afterwards the advance began again; some men were able to crawl through the wire; others were able to move round through the gaps; others, by placing their feet on the top strand of the wire, were able to get through. The wire obstacle was one single length of barbed concertina wire, extending along the whole of the frontage of the Battalion's left company. It was about 2 ½  feet high, and appeared more of an alarming ob­stacle than it actually was.
 
During the period zero to zero + 4 minutes the enemy's machine-gun fire was very intense, but at the latter time it was silenced. The enemy then left their trenches unarmed, and ran back towards their second line. During their retreat our Lewis-guns did con­siderable damage to them; large numbers were seen to fall, and few Germans got back, those remaining in their front line being bayoneted or captured.
 
The advance from the first German line to the second, a point about N.22.c.8.2. to N.28.b.7.1.[Green Line in Map] was accomplished with com­paratively little loss, although some casualties occurred from snipers on our extreme right, who took advantage of that flank being temporarily in the air. Shortly afterwards a portion of the Division on our right pushed forward their attack and commenced digging in; thus, by joining up with our troops, they made our extreme right secure. The consolidation of this position was at once commenced, our troops having reached their final objective.
 
This attack was launched in conjunction with the 56th Division on our right and the 12th Division attacking on our left. The Battalion lost most of its officers early in the attack; the Company 'Commanders of A, B, and C were killed, and D Company Commander was severely wounded. The casualties amounted to 13 officers and 230 other ranks.

8th October 1916: Consolidating new position captured the previous day.

9.00pm - Relived by 2nd Battn Yorks & Lancs Regt.

12 MN - Relief completed, on relief Battn marched to Bernafray Wood and halted for breakfast.


9th October 1916: 9am Battalion paraded and proceeded by Route march to Camp at Sandpits on the Bray-Albert Road point about E.24.d Sheet Albert. Distance about 6 miles.

2.15pm - Arrived at Camp.


 
 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Baptism Date/Place
06 May 1886 in Northampton 13 Jun 1886 at Northampton, St Edmund                                          
   
Parents Names Abode
Charles and Sophia Mary Wayne 4 Oswald Street, Leamington Spa
   
Wife  Marriage Details
Mary Florence Wayne nee Allen 8 May 1910 at Northampton St. Paul
   
Schools Colleges
St Giles' School, Northampton - 1894 ~
   
Address History Employment History
1886 - 21 Victoria Road, Northampton             1892 - School age
1891 - 21 Victoria Road, Northampton  1901 - Messenger for L&NE Railway
1901 - 21 Victoria Road, Northampton   1910 - French Polisher
1910 - 90 Baker Street, Northampton 1911 - French Polisher in Coach Trade
1911 - 37 Raglan Street, Coventry   1914 - French Polisher
1918 - 16 Upper Mounts, Northampton