The Battalion arrived at Boulogne on the 17/07/1915 and were part of the 52nd Brigade, 17th (Northern) Division. Henry arrived in France 1 month later. Henry was Killed in Action when the Battalion took severe casualties in an attempt to capture the Quadrangle trench during the Battle of Albert (opening phase of the Battles of the Somme). The Battle of Albert, 1st - 13th July 1916 : In this opening phase, the French and British assault broke into and gradually moved beyond the first of the German defensive systems. For the British, the attack on the 1st of July proved to be the worst day in the nation's military history in terms of casualties sustained. It is the aspect of the battle that is most remembered and most written about, and for good reason, but to concentrate on the failures is to entirely miss the point of the Somme and why the battle developed into an epic period of the Great War. On the first day, British forces at the southern end of the British line made an impressive advance alongside the French Sixth Army, capturing the villages of Montauban and Mametz and breaking through the enemy's defensive system. North of Mametz the attack was an almost unmitigated failure. The situation led to a redirection of effort, with the offensive north of the River Ancre effectively being closed down and all future focus being on the line south of Thiepval. There was a stiff fight for Trones Wood and costly, hastily planned and piecemeal attacks that eventually took La Boisselle, Contalmaison and Mametz Wood during the rest of the period up to the 13th of July. FROM THE 12th (SERVICE) BATTALION WAR DIARY FOR THE 07/07/1916 - "Battalion arrived at Railway Copse at 6.30am and were distributed in trenches on ridge under hedge 800 yards North of Copse which they reached under heavy fire and with some loss. 7.25am Lieutenant N.G. Crawhall arrived with orders that we were to assault Quadrangle Support at 8.00am, the 9th Northumberland Fusiliers and 9th West Riding Regiment having failed. There being no time to issue written orders, the C.O. (Lieut. Col E.G. Harrison) and Adjutant (Captain B. DuVal) went up to hedge to organise attack. Attack launched at 7.50am from Ridge to go over 9th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers in Quadrangle Trench. Organisation "D" and "B" Company leading, "C" Company support, "A" Company Reserve, Battalion Bombers held by H.Q. About 10.0am news came of complete failure of attack under barrage and enfilade Machine Gun Fire. At 2.30pm the C.O. was ordered to go up and organise attack with all available troops in Quadrangle Trench and was wounded on his way up. The Adjutant sent orders to O.C. 9th Northumberland Fusiliers and advised 52nd Brigade. Battalion relieved by 51st Brigade at 7.30pm. The following casualties occurred - Lieut. Col. E.G. Harrison CB DSO Wounded. Major G.S.W. Rusbridger Wounded. Major H.F. Browell Wounded. Captain H. McKean Killed. Captain E.R. Thompson Wounded. Captain J.H. Betts Killed. Lieutenant H. Bate Wounded & Missing. Lieutenant N.G. Crawhall Wounded & Missing. 2nd Lieutenant E. Kingsley Wounded & Missing BK. 2nd Lieutenant F. Latimer Killed. 2nd Lieutenant J. Adams Wounded. 2nd Lieutenant J.S. Greenwood Killed. 2nd Lieutenant A.B. King Killed. 2nd Lieutenant C.J. Alderton Killed. 2nd Lieutenant E.F. Smith Killed, and 539 Other Ranks. Night - 7/8th Battalion returned to Meaulte". SEE PHOTOS x 10 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY MAY - JULY 1916 and PHOTOS x 45 FOR THE 17th (NORTHERN) DIVISION BOOK 1st - 11th JULY 1916 (photo 45 states 15th Division instead of 17th). The Battalion casualties from the 1st - 11th July 1916 were : 7 Officers Killed, 5 Wounded and 3 Missing. 50 Other Ranks Killed, 275 Wounded and 210 Missing. The Division casualties from the 1st - 11th July 1916 were : 70 Officers Killed, 97 Wounded and 20 Missing. 779 Other Ranks Killed, 2966 Wounded and 857 Missing. Also see photos for Henry's Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Thiepval Memorial Panel List, his name on the Thiepval Memorial x 2, Henry's Pension Records x 2, the Manchester Regiment Cap Badge and the 17th (Northern) Division Order of Battle x 12 (the Division he was with when he fell). The Battalion War Diary from 15/07/1915 to August 1916 is available to read on line
HERE
