Military History

Edwin is listed as being killed in action during the attack on Mouquet Farm near Ovillers during the Battle of Thiepval, part of the Battle of the Somme. The 5th Battalion war diary entries for the period 25th to 27th September are transcribed below.

Engelbelmer - 25-9-1916: Battalion moved up to Ovillers into dugouts

Ovillers - 26.9.1916: 11^th Division had orders to attack right of 34^th Brigade on R.28.c.2.1, left on R.33.a.5.4. 9^th Lancashire Fusiliers and 8^th Northumberland Fusiliers were in front line, latter on the right, former on left. 5^th Dorset Regt were in support. 11^th Manchester in reserve.

10.45am: 5 Dorset Regt moved from Ovillers 10.45am and took up position in support trenches from right to left B,D,A,C Coys.

12.35pm: Attack started at 12.35pm. 5^th Dorset followed the front line at about 500 yards distance. Battalion started off well. From information received later the Battalion suffered heavily from enemy’s barrage before reaching the objectives, also suffered heavily from bombs, machine guns and snipers from Germans who were still on Mouquet Farm. Could not get any messages back. All Coy commanders and Coy S. Majors were knocked out early in the advance. Casualties amongst NCO’s were heavy.

8pm: Telephone message from G.O.C. 34^th Brigade to CO to move up Battn HQ, collect the Battalion, consolidate 2^nd objective with two Coys and move two Coys up to 3^rd objective. Attempted to move up at once but unable to reach the Quarry owing to machine guns and snipers from Mouquet Farm.

10.30pm: Started to move up. Encountered enemy barrage on the way to Quarry. HQ Coy carried up water for the men in front. Halted short time in Quarry for barrage to abate. Moved on to High Trench. Found Manchester’s working on Communication trench, East Yorks working on High Trench and R.E. on communications trench forward. Pushed on to R.27.d.5.9. Had picked up 2 Lt Nash and 2^nd Lt Vale and about 50 men.

Ovillers - 27.9.1916: 2am: Enemy sending up a lot of flares 100 yards to our front. Consolidated by digging T Trench. Decided to send out bombing party but no bombs available. Sent out party to reconnoitre. They were driven back by machine gun fire.

6.30am: Manchester’s moved up to Schwaben Trench. Dorsets moved up to Zollern Redoubt. Consolidated and established Battalion HQ at point NE of R.27.b.17. 2^nd Lt Nash with 20 men moved up towards Stuff Redoubt but had to withdraw from heavy machine gun and sniper farm.

10am: Enemy shelling became heavy and continued so throughout the day. Enemy were also very active with snipers and machine guns. Made it very difficult to get any ammunition, bombs and rations.

1.130pm: Received orders to attack Hessian Trench with the Manchester’s attacking Stuff Redoubt on our left. This order was afterwards cancelled. Continued to consolidate under enemy’s shell fire during the night.