Military History

Reginald is listed as being killed in action on 12 Apr 1918. The following is an extract of the book "With The Cornwall Territorials on the Western Front - Being the history of the Fifth Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry in the Great War" by Lieut E.C. Matthews published by Naval and Military Press. Lieut Matthews took part in the actions described below. Reginald is mentioned a number of times in the book for acts of courage and initiative.

At 6 p.m. this line from Bouzateaux Farm northwards to the Lys Canal was strongly attacked, and the left flank of the 1/5th Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry was turned; there being at this time no touch with any troops south of the canal. The timely arrival of the 3rd Company (“C” Coy.), together with the elements of the 5th Gordon Highlanders, enabled the line to be reformed, with its left flank resting on the river Ancienne-Lys, immediately west of Grand Pacout. This line was maintained throughout the night.

Early on the morning of April 12th a general attack developed along the whole front, and by 5.30 a.m. the enemy had worked round the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry right flank at Vertbois Farm, and had penetrated the line at several points, entering Pacout and taking our troops in enfilade with his machine-guns. A stand was made by the 1/5th Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry in front of Calonne, with the aid of some elements of the 51st Division, but their right flank soon came under severe machine-gun fire from the direction of L’Etang Farm. Considerable casualties were inflicted on the enemy, who showed great boldness in pushing forward his machine-gun detachments.

Successive stands were made along the railway S.E. of La Hennerie, and on the bank of the Lys Canal south of Sarc, but the enemy had by this time come through Calonne in considerable numbers, and, working forward, had got through the junction of the forward companies of the 5th Gordons and the 9th Royal Scots, leaving no alternative but for the Gordons and the 1/5th Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry to withdraw across the canal. This crossing was effected at noon, under heavy and accurate machine-gun fire from the north bank of the Lys in the direction of Merville. The casualties to the 1/5th Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry in this action were 16 Officers and 467 other ranks.”

During the following day, April 13th, the remainder of the Battalion joined Trehane’s men outside St. Venant, and the appearance of the C.O., and Lieut. F. Soward, caused much surprise, as they had both been seen quite dead the day before! After the usual washing and cleaning, a thorough reorganisation was necessary. Capain Trehane was appointed Acting Adjutant; Lieut. E. C. Davies, O.C. “A” Company; Lieut. T. W. R. Pengelly, O.C. “B” Company; and Lieut. J. C. Johnson, O.C. “C” Company. Severe Casualties.

The casualties during the two days were 16 Officers and 467 other ranks, killed, wounded and missing.

The Officers casualties were as follows:-

Killed.

“A” Coy. Lieut. T. Goldsworthy, Lieut, L. W. Smith, and Lieut. P. J. Morcom.

“B” Coy. None.

“C” Coy. 2nd Lieut. R. Chapple.

Wounded.

“A” Coy. 2nd Lieut. Aedy.

“B” Coy. Captain E. M. Hodson, Lieut. H. R. Trelawny, Lieut. G. G. O’Carrell,2nd Lieut. C. E. C. Hughes, 2nd Lieut. Green, 2nd Lieut. W. F. Smith, 2nd Lieut. W. G. Hunt, and 2nd Lieut. Drewitt.

“C” Coy. Captain B. S. Hodge.

Missing. “A” Coy. 2nd Lieut. H. Blacklock.

“B” and “C” Coys. None