Military History

Albert is listed as being killed in action on 15 Sep 1916 the first day of the Battle of Flers-Courcelette and was one of 66 men killed at High Wood during the capture of the villages of Courcelette, Martinpuich and Flers. The war diary for that day is transcribed below:

14.9.16 - Quadrangle 3pm: Battalion moved forward to the support trenches (Mill Street) at Bazentin-le-Grand, taking over from the 24th Lond Regt. Casualties NIL.

15.9.16 - High Wood 1.40am: Coys moved to assemble positions.

3.00am: - H.Q moved to position in High Wood, the 4 Battns in the Brigade using the same HQ.

6.15am: Tanks preceeded the advance. 2 of these on the Bde front which were put out of action before the Battn left their assembly trenches. One received a direct hit while the other was unable to surmount the difficulties of the ground.

6.20am Zero: 17th and 18th Batts advanced into NoMans Land but being held up by M.G fire was unable to proceed.

7.00am Zero +40: 19th & 20th Btta left their assembly trenches and pushing forward under heavy enfilade fire from left found that the preceeding Batts had been unable to gain ground, with the result that elements of all 4 battns congested in O.B 1 & 2 and in the communication trench.

At this point the commanding officer left his HQ to restore order. To do this he climbed out of the communication trench calling upon men to follow and was killed almost immediately by M.G bullet. Capt Trim assumed temporary command of the battalion since Capt Kershaw was missing. While the trenches we're being cleared of dead and wounded and the men in them being reorganized a second barrage, this time on O.G.1 was asked for. Bombing attacks were organised under 2/Lts Crump and Chandler to work up the flanks of the wood.

10.30am: These attacks were launched successfully, many Germans surrendering and the yeah vacating the position.

10.45am: A second frontal attack was launched without opposition and consolidation of O.G.1 was begun. A Signal Station at once opened in O.G.1 which with the exception are they short while during the night maintained communication while the Battn was in High Wood.

11am: By this time the world was reported clear of the enemy

12 noon: Major Fair sent forward from Bde HQ assumed command of the Battn. Parties were pushed forward from all units to consolidate on original 1^st objective. It was decided to organise the Brigade troops has one Battalion under Lt. Col Norman, 17^th Bn until time could be found to separate different units under their own officers. Each trench was placed under command of a separate officer and orders were issued through him to all troops in his trench (the same principle was adopted for rationing the troops during the ensuing 36 hours). Weather fine throughout. Reminder of day spent in consolidation and attempts at reorganisation and estimating casualties. The wood was heavily shelled throughout the night.

Casualties: 10 officers killed and 2 officers wounded.

Other Ranks. Killed 66, wounded 211 and missing 16. Of the above casualties 2/Lt Tyler and 5 O.R’s subsequently died of wounds. END