Military History

Edgar is listed as being killed in action on 25th January 1917. The 9th Battalion war diary entries for the period 24th to 26th January are transcribed below.

Hai – 24 Jan 1917: Final arrangements made. Orders that a certain number of officers have to be retained in Reserve. Seven officers are detailed for this. Battalion takes up position in three fire and assembly trenches, Queens Trench, Kings Trench and Emperors Trench.

7^th Glosters take over L12 and L13 and S7. Battalion HQ move to advanced HQ in Queens Trench.

Hai – 25 Jan 1917: 9am Battalion reported ready

9.30am. Intense bombardment of enemy second line; 9.35am intense bombardment of enemy first line.

9.40: Infantry assault. The Battalion moved forward in quick time in four waves and when the first wave had reached a point 50 yds from enemy trench it halted - lay down – and waited for barrage to lift. The advancing line were subjected to a heavy Shrapnel and enfilade machine gun fire which caused about 100 casualties especially among the officers and bombing parties.

9.51am: Barrage lifted and the infantry swept in and occupied enemys trench P15 – P12 A disposing of the few enemy remaining up there.

Three officers reached the trench – Capt Myers V.C. Lt G W Callander and 2/Lt P S Beaucamp – the latter of whom was soon after killed. In the trench were many enemy dead, the trench mortar was captured; The left of the Worc line reached P12 A and there got in touch with the North Staffs on our left. In our portion of this line the work of blocking and consolidating was proceeded with. Telephonic communication from Battalion HQ in Queens Trench and Capt Styles V.C. was established and maintained throughout the day.

An attempt was made by 2/Lt F.D. Dewitt and one Platoon of “C” Company to dig in the open the communication trench from Queens Trench to P15 but when this party was reduced to 8 he was ordered to cease work.

10.55am: Small counter-attack was easily repulsed.

11.45am: Enemy bombing attack against Battalion on our left causing them to withdraw hinging back with them some of our men. Two companies of the 9^th Royal Warwickshires were immediately ordered forward and advancing with splendid steadiness reinforced the line which consequently became overcrowded in the Worcesteshire portion and consolidation was impeded

At the same time as the 9th Royal Warwickshires reinforced Lt Col W.F.O Faviell, rallying the North Staffs and the wire men who had come back to Queens Trench, personally led them and some of “C” Coy. And, when wounded died himself, escorted the line forward and witnessed the reinforcement of the line at this P15 –P12A.

The enemy still continued to press on the left Battalion and bombed along the fire trench and down to the communication trenches many of which led into the trench to the left of P12 A.

3.15pm: The left of the line began to retire and gradually the whole line before the line fell broke. The line fell back stubbornly and without disorder losing very heavily from enemy shrapnel and machine gun fire. No further effort was made to retake trench.

4pm: Queens Trench, Kings Trench and Emperors Trench were at once reorganised, the Worc holding the front line (Queens Trench).

11pm: Relieved by 14th Division and proceeded to “Worc City” at R19.
Casualties for the day: Officers – killed: Capt E.H. Hisock, Lt G.W. Callender, 2/Lt’s C.H. Taylor, W.H. Trattles, P.S. Beaucaup, J.W.H. Labbett.

Officers Wounded: Lt Col. W.F.O. Faviell, Capt E.K. Myles; Lt A.F. Alford, 2^nd Lt’s F.D. Drewitt, C.H. West E.P. Whitcombe.

Other Ranks killed 103, died of wounds 4, wounded 185, missing 35. Total casualties officers 12, O.R. 327.

Major W.D. Gibbon MC assumes command of the Battalion.

Hai – 26 Jan 1917: Nothing to report. Reorganisation. 14^th War Battalion captures with little opposition and hold line P15 – P12 A – P12 B.