Military History

Geoffrey is listed as being killed in action on 13 Nov 1916 during the later stages of the Battle of the Somme. It is clear from a letter sent to the Red Cross seeking his whereabouts on or about 15 Jan 1917 that Geoffrey was originally reported as missing in action. The 24th Battalion war diary entry for the 13th is transcribed below.

13-11-16 – Trenches Left Side of Redan Sector: The battalion formed up in our lines in accordance with orders. At 5:15 AMthe Coys in our frontline trenches went over and formed up in No Man's Land, about 50 yards clear of our trenches. At 5:45 AM the whole advanced according to orders. Owing to the uneven nature of the ground the various lines became mixed up and the whole advanced in one mass. The leading troops were within 20 yards of the barrage all along the front allotted to the battalion. A few casualties were caused by our own barrage but the advantages gained in getting into the enemies trench immediately the barrage lifted far outweigh the loss occasioned.

On the barraged lifting the line advanced at a walk into the enemy's frontline trench where the Germans were found to be emerging from their dugouts these men all surrendered. The enemies wire was found completely demolished and formed no obstacle. The advance proceeded in accordance with orders until the green line was taken.

At 6:15 AM the situation was as follows: Green Line from Crater Lane to about 70 yards S of Lager Alley, A&B Coys and a considerable number of 2^nd Oxf & Bucks LI. There was then a gap until Point K.35.c.9.5 where there was a post of 3 men of 13^th Essex Regt with a Lewis Gun. C&D Coys were cleaning up the first four lines of trenches, strong point being established by C Coy at the Junction of Serre Trench & Crater Lane. The Coy Commanders realised? at an early period that the assault on the left flank had not succeeded and took steps to block all the trenches leading N.

The block in the German front line was placed somewhat S of Point K.35.c.2.4 and the enemy re-occupied part of his front line.

The Battalion took part in the attack on the Germans lines between Serre and Beaumont Hamel. The Battn on our right 2^nd H.L.I Batt on our left 13^th Essex Regt. Objective allotted to the Battn, the German trenches from K.35.c.2.4½ then East to trench junction Q.5.a.5.7 thence a straight line to trench junction Q.5.a.9½.8.

The first wave consisted of 2 platoons A Coy and 2 platoons B Coy closely followed by D Coy. The second wave of 2 platoons A Coy & 2 platoons B Coy closely followed by C Coy. The following were the officers with the battalion [not transcribed here].

Orders were issued that the front line should be cleared & a bombing party advanced N along the trench but when seriously opposed the enemy would seem to have evacuated the trench and taken shelter in shell holes in the vicinity as nothing was seen of them. At the same time two Lewis Guns were mounted in our old front line trench near the Cat Tunnel with a view to dealing with any offensive movement which might develop against our left flank. Subsequently a block was formed near Ot K.35.c.2.4.

The remainder of the day was spent in consolidating the position and in beating off desultory bombing attacks from the N. END