Military History

Albert is listed as being killed in action on 17th Battalion 1916. The 11th Battalion war diary entry for that day is transcribed below.

Lesboeufs – 17 Sep 1916: Battalion moved HQ to T.8.a.3.5

2.30pm: Orders were received from Brigade to occupy the Blue Line T.3.a.1.8 to T.3.d.1.6½. Further details having been obtained, an attempt was made to carry out the following plan:-

The heavy artillery to bombard during the afternoon until 6.30pm at which hour there was to be an intense barrage of Field Guns on the portion of trench to be attacked, the infantry to crawl out under the barrage and assault. At the same time the 60^th Brigade were to bomb northwards from N.33.c.0.0.

After the attack the Battalion was to join up with 62^nd Brigade on the left and the 10^th Bn Rifle Brigade on the right.  The 10^th Bn R.B. were the centre of the attack, the 11^th Bn R.B. being on their right and the 10 Bn K.R.R.C in reserve.

In order to carry out these orders it was necessary for the Battalion to make a complete right form. At zero hour the intense bombardment was imperceptible. The right of the 62^nd Brigade was subsequently fought to ? at T.2.b.6.9, consequently they could not bomb down the blue line which was to be attacked, nor did the 60^th Brigade bomb down from the right.

However the Battalion attempted to right form in broad daylight and was in consequence met by intense machine gun fire which somewhat disorganised the attack. Nevertheless a party led by Sgt Vincent bombed down the communication trench to the point T.3.a5.3. when their bombs gave out and they were forced to withdraw, especially as the two battalions of the Rifle Brigade on the right had been unable to make any progress with their attack. The casualties were heavy and at the conclusion of the operations the Brigade was back in its original line.

The operations were originally undertaken with a view to obtaining a jumping off trench in the Blue Line for an attack on Lesboeufs which the Brigade had been ordered to make the following day.

2/Lt C.C. Deans joins the Battalion for duty.