Day Ninety Six on the Somme

Wednesday 4th October 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

More fighting has been going amid the deep mud at the Schwaben Redoubt today but, as far as can be seen, neither side has gained or lost much. 23rd Division made an attack before dawn toward Le Sars but was stopped by bullets and mud.

Roll of Honour - 4th October 1916

Died of Wounds

7th Battalion

• 43300 Private Bruce HONOUR, 22, ex-10351 West Yorkshire Regiment, son of William James and Isabel Honour of 7 Houghton Place, Beeston Road, Leeds [Yorkshire] (Puchevillers British Cemetery)

Died

2nd Battalion

• 9943 Private Percy GODFREY, 25, son of Maria Godfrey of Friars Wash, Flamstead [Hertfordshire] (Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension)

Day Ninety Five on the Somme

Tuesday 3rd October 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

1st/18th Battalion London Regiment today managed to retake Eaucourt-l'Abbaye. They had noticed, we are told, that the the trenches covering the remains of the hamlet were thinly held. They are now in a position north-west of the shattered buildings.

Day Ninety Four on the Somme

Monday 2nd October 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

The 7th Bedfords have today travelled to the villages of Vacquerie and Gorges, well behind the lines south-west of Doullens. The 8th Battalion, also in billets behind the lines, has had the honour today of congratulations from General Officer Commanding 6th Division on their performance in terrible circumstances on 15th September as well as on 25th September.

Sadly, strong German counter-attacks in the early hours of this morning pushed the Canadians out of the gains they made in Regina Trench yesterday. The 47th (2nd London) Division carried on the fight around Eaucourt-l’Abbaye but this still remains in enemy hands. 50th (Northumbrian) Division cleared some of the area on the Londoners’ left flank.

The Schwaben Redoubt remains a point of contest. Today 55th Brigade of 18th Division was attacked in its positions in the redoubt and driven from some of them by an attack which has lasted all day

Today has been wet and chilly and the fighting has definitely taken on the characteristics of Autumn. There is mud everywhere and this tires the men as quickly as being in action itself.

Sources: X550/8/1; X550/9/1

Roll of Honour - 3rd October 1916

Died of Wounds

1st Battalion

• 21193 Lance Corporal John Gordon POTTS, 23, born Sunderland [Durham], son of George and Naamah Potts of 10 Holly Terrace, Millfield [Durham] (Étaples Military Cemetery)

Day Ninety Three on the Somme

Sunday 1st October 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

After being relieved from the captured Thiepval position, the 7th Battalion has been resting in huts for the day in Mailly-Maillet Wood. The General Officer Commanding 54th Brigade, T H Shoubridge, visited the battalion and addressed them in very high terms of congratulation on their morale and stubborn fighting.

The Brigadier said: "The 7th Battalion, Bedfordshires are one of the best fighting battalions it is possible to find and I am very proud to have such a battalion under my command". The Brigadier particularly referred to the severe fighting and the daring manner the Battalion had snatched from the enemy a position they boasted of being "impregnable and impossible for the English to take".

Today has been another day of vigorous attacks on the Somme. Moving from left to right across the battlefield – the Canadians captured a portion of Regina Trench lying north-west of the village of Courcelette this afternoon but have yet to succeed in holding it as counter-attacks are expected. 

On their left 23rd Division attacked and took ground. Private George White from Aspley Guise, who is known to your correspondent, told him that his unit, 8th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry together with 11th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters took all their allotted length of Flers Trench and most of Flers Support Trench. Other units from the division were unable to enter le Sars, however.

An attack by 50th (Northumbrian) Division took some of its allotted part of Flers Trench. 47th (2nd London) Division attacked the hamlet and abbey buildings of Eaucourt-l’Abbaye and, with the help of two tanks (later destroyed), they seized it. However, 1st/7th Battalion, London Regiment failed to advance very far due to uncut wire, allowing the Germans to retake Eaucourt.

The New Zealanders also went forward and gained ground. This attack was assisted by 36 Livens Projectors which created a wall of blazing fire on the German positions, though did not succeed in neutralising the enemy machine guns which did a lot of damage. Nevertheless the New Zealanders, once again, performed splendidly, taking around 250 prisoners and sections of Gird Trench, for the loss of about 850 of their men killed and wounded.

Source: X550/8/1

Roll of Honour - 1st October 1916

Died of Wounds

7th Battalion

• Temporary Second Lieutenant Henry POTTS, 23, attached 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment, son of Jabez and Hilda Alice Potts of 1a Cato Road, Clapham [London], born Hyde [Cheshire], Radcliffe Scholar at University College, Oxford  (Boulogne Eastern Cemetery)