Military History

Bertram is listed as being killed in action on 21 Aug 1916. A newspaper report revealed that he was leading C Company on a working party in Dummy Trench, Delville Wood when they were fired on shelled and Bertram died from a bullet wound. The 12th Battalion war diary entry for that day is transcribed below.

Map Ref 62D.F.12.a.10.4 – 21 Aug 1916: C Coy went out at 12.30pm to Dummy Trench to await orders from B.G.C 17^th Inf Bde. At 7.45pm they moved up to dig a sinuous? Fire trench from the Station to a point due south about S.24.6.7.6.

300yrds of trench dug at depth 3’ 6” – parapet of 1’ 6” width with 3’ at top & 2’ at bottom. 150 other ranks employed & a covering party found & a garrison left behind to occupy trench until relieved by 12^th Royal Fusiliers.

Casualties 2/Lt B S Carty killed by bullet, 2 other ranks wounded by bullets, 12 other ranks wounded by shell of which 6 are still at duty.

A Coy received orders to report to HQ 17^th Inf Bde at junction of Dummy Trench and Longueval Alley at 8.35pm. On arrival they were informed that as the attack on Guillemont had not been wholly successful they would not be required & so were to return to Camp.

B Coy moved up also to report to B.G.C. 17^th Inf Bde arriving at 9pm & were then sent on for work under B.G.C 72^nd Inf Bde and arrived at Briqueterie at 11pm, they were then sent on to report to O.C. 8^th Queens Regt but as they had orders to be clear by daylight there was no possibility of marking out the work or getting any done. Coy arrived back in Camp at 4.30am.

D Coy moved to Crater area A.8.a at 4.40pm & received orders at 9pm to move up to Briqueterie and then go on to O.C. 8^th Queens Regt for work but owing to reliefs trenches were very crowded & also a large number of wounded were being brought down so that is was found impossible to get to the job and do any work, the men being absolutely played out.

There were no other casualties besides those in C Coy.