The 1st (Lowland) Field Company were part of the 2nd Infantry Brigade, 1st Division. The Division fought at the Battle of Albert, 1st - 13th July 1916, the Battle of Bazentin (or the Bazentin Ridge), 14th - 17th July 1916 and the Battle of Pozieres, 23rd July - 3rd September 1916 (Battles of the Somme). The Royal Engineers 1st (Lowland) Field Company were positioned west of Fricourt on the day Henry received his wounds. From their War Diary - "X27C44 - 17/08/1916 - Night Work : Constructing Strong Points on a trench captured by the enemy. On the Left of the new trench - about S3C79 - a Post was dug to a depth of 3ft - 6ft with two open MG (Machine Gun) emplacements. On the Right flank - about SC310.9 - work was delayed owing to heavy enemy shelling + machine gun fire. A bombing raid by our Infantry also hindered progress. Work on Right Battalion Headquarters carried on in reliefs. Day Work : Preparing Notice Boards + constructing concertina wire entanglements. Weather showery". "X27C44 - 18/08/1916 - Day Work - Finishing off Notice Boards + carting same to Forward Dump. Constructing concertina wire entanglements. Work on Right Battalion Headquarters carried on in reliefs. Night Work - At S3D69 a Strong Point - with 2 MG (Machine Gun) Emplacements + wire all round - was constructed. The Point was completed + taken over by a Garrison. Weather - Cloudy, Fair". According to Henry's Service Records he originally joined up with the Highland Light Infantry (18365) but was discharged on the 12/04/1915 (see Service Records x 4). Henry's wounds were received at the Battle of the Somme. SEE PHOTOS x 27 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY JULY - AUGUST 1916. Main grave photo kindly donated by Mick McCann at the British War Graves website who supply photos FREE OF CHARGE
here. Henry shares his resting place with Rifleman A. Cass (R/16685) of the King's Royal Rifle Corps. Henry is remembered on the Cavan Roll of Honour. A huge thanks to Henry's great grandson George Brodie for additional family information and the attached photos listed below. See photos for Henry's Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report, his name on the Ireland Casualties of WW1, his Service Record x 4 (see Service Record 2 for family information), Heilly Station Cemetery, his former Regiment the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge, the Royal Engineers Cap Badge and Henry's Pension Records x 3, photos for Henry's son Henry with wife Agnes and 3 sons, Henry, William and Archie, Henry's Medals with Memorial Plaque (Dead Man's Penny), his Memorial Scroll x 2, the 1st Division Order of Battle x 12 (the Division Henry was with when he fell), 2 more photos of Henry's grave taken by his great grandson George in April 2024, grave photos kindly donated by my friend in France, Thierry Dericbourg x 2 and Henry's Will x 2.
