Military History

Frederick is listed as being killed in action on 18th August 1916 having initially been reported as missing in action, possibly one of those who were buried as mentioned below. The 8th Battalion war diary entries for the 18th, 19th and 20th August are transcribed below.

Mametz Wood – 17.8.1916: 2^nd Lt V.D.W Pitt was wounded whilst on fatigue.

Mametz Wood – 18.8.1916 – 4.15am: 1^st Battalion Black Watch again attempted to seize the enemy’s “Intermediate Line”, but although they reached it they were unable to hold it.

12 noon: Battalion relieved 1^st Battalion Black Watch in front line with Battalion HQ at S.8.b.1.5 with orders to attack the “Intermediate Line”.

Front Line N of Bazentine-le-Petit – 2.45pm: Battalion less one Coy attacked the “Intermediate Line” between the barricade at S.2.d.8.5 for 100 yards and “the angle” at S.2.c.8.4.

The objective of D Coy was the “Intermediate Line” from the point where it cut the road in S.2.d for 100 yards to the east of this point.

The objective of B Coy was the “Intermediate Line” from the point where it cuts the road in S.2.d for 100 yards to the west of this point.

The objective of C Coy was “the angle” at S.2.c.8.4

A Coy was in reserve and after the launching of the attack was distributed as strong posts along the front line from which the other three companies assaulted.

Should the “Intermediate Line” be taken with little resistance the second objective of the three Coys was a support trench which was believed to exist about 100 yards behind “Intermediate Line”. The 15^th Division on our left cooperated by throwing out smoke bombs.

2.45am: At 12 noon the heavy artillery commenced a bombardment of the “Intermediate Line” unfortunately one gun was firing short and its shells fell on our own front line just at the time when the relief was taking part. The effect of these shells was that many of our men were buried and trench was so badly blown in that inter communications between our portion of the trench and another was impossible. This caused a good deal of confusion and the Coys were scarcely in this position by the time they had to attack and the flank attack on “the angle” was impossible owing to the fact that the platoon detached for this was unable to get into position in 70^th Avenue.

At 2.45pm the frontal assault was made. At first there was little resistance but when the 1^st line had reached a point about 100 yards from the “Intermediate Line” they came under machine gun fire and a heavy barrage of shell fire was put up by the enemy. The remainder of our men dug in about 150 yards from the enemy’s line but about 4.0pm they were shelled  out of their position and were forced to retire to the original front line.

The Battalion lost heavily:

2^nd Lts. W.M. Conyers, C.G.B Harrison and W.A. Bissley were killed. Lt Stileman and 2^nd Lts. Goodship, Harvey and Prout were wounded. The casualties among the men amounted to 160.

5.0pm: The front line was reorganised and held by the remainder of the Battalion from Lancs Sap (inclusive) S.2.c.7.2 to S.2.d.9.2. During the night 1^st Cameron Highlanders established a strong point in the angle of the “Intermediate Line”. This strong point was taken over by us at dawn [19^th].

Front Line N of Bazentine-le-Petit – 19.8.16: Battalion remained in front line. 2^nd Lt E.S. Joy was killed whilst out on patrol.