Decorations from the Somme

Captain Oakley [X550/1/81]

Saturday 9th June 1917

Today the battle at Messines Ridge has gone quiet.  It is fair to say that strong German counter-attacks were expected ere now and their failure to materialise must owe much to the stunning success of the first attack.

The adjutant of 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, tells me that they are about to be relieved in the front line, the exchange taking place as soon as it is dark. They will then move back to Poperinghe. News has been received that the following awards had been made for gallantry on 12th October, 1916 in the unsuccessful and bloody attack on Gird Trench: Captain R E Oakley has received a Military Cross, 10016 Sergeant A Howard and 9578 Sergeant A Mason have both received Distinguished Conduct Medals.

.

The Battalion’s total casualties for this most recent period in the trenches were: eleven other ranks killed; three other ranks died of wounds; two officers and sixty-six other ranks wounded; one other rank gassed and two other ranks suffering from shell shock.

Source: X550/3/WD

Day One Hundred and Thirty on the Somme

Tuesday 7th November 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Heavy rain has been falling all day today, making any attacks impossible. No doubt then men of 50th (Northumbrian) Division, still charged with taking Gird Trench and the Butte de Warlencourt are content that it is so.

The adjutant of the 2nd Bedfords tells me that 30th Division made a successful raid on the Germans last night. Around thirty of the enemy are reckoned to have been killed. The Bedfords took no part.

Day One Hundred and Twenty Eight on the Somme

Sunday 5th November 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Gird Trench, scene of the 2nd Bedfords’ attack on 12th October was the focus for renewed attacks today, along with the ancient burial mound north of Le Sars known as the Butte de Warlencourt.  The weather has been clear today but the battlefield is still sodden and clotted with vast seas of mud.

50th (Northumbrian) Division went “over the top” at 9.10 this morning. The first men over had to pull their comrades out of the slick-sided trenches. The Australians, back on the Somme again after their exertions at Mouquet Farm, were also supposed to attack, but failed to get moving. Nevertheless the men from the North-East struggled forward and even managed to capture part of Gird Trench as well as seizing the quarry just west of the Butte and moving on past their objective.

Unfortunately the Germans counter-attacked around three o’clock this afternoon. A particularly strong counter-attack it was too! Of course it helped that they only had the Northumbrians on which to concentrate and not 50th Division and the Australians. The Germans succeeded in driving the Durham Light Infantry from Gird Trench and also retook the Butte. This valiant effort has cost the division about a thousand casualties, we understand.

Day One Hundred and Ten on the Somme

Wednesday 18th October 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Today, in wet conditions and from flooded trenches more British attacks have taken place, most of them well before dawn. The attacks, in an arc from Le Sars eastward to Lesboeufs have seen little success. Uncut wire and stiff resistence as well as the appalling conditions underfoot have prevented much success. As the year fails it is likely that optimum conditions for any attack will now be quite rare events, but we are sure Tommy Atkins will deal with the conditions with his usual cheery humour and attack with his usual dogged determination.

Many of these attacks have been designed to push the British line northwards to the Butte de Warlencourt. This mound oversees all the flat land hereabouts and serves as a perfect observation post for German artillery. Capture of this will assist any further move towards the still distant target of the town on Bapaume. The villages of Warlencourt and Ligny-Thilloy also lie in the path of attack towards Bapaume. 

4th and 6th Divisions made attacks east of Lesboeufs, 12th Division was successful in advancing the line on the right flank of the 30th Division, which was unable to make any headway towards the now infamous Gird Trench. These attacks were undertaken by 89th and 21st Brigades but the 2nd Bedfords were not involved, much to their relief we are sure. To the left of 30th Division 9th (Scottish) managed to get a little way forward near a small elevation known as The Pimple.

Day One Hundred and Six on the Somme

Saturday 14th October 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Last night the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment were relieved in the front line by 18th Battalion, King’s (Liverpool) Regiment and withdrew to reserve trenches west of the village of Flers. Just before this, about 8.10 pm in Gird Trench Sergeant F Brown successfully bombed a party of the enemy, capturing one, who was a Saxon. This proved important, as it showed that a relief had taken place, as Bavarians had occupied the trench during the attack on October 12th. Total casuatlies for the attack on 12th are now reckoned to be 10 officers and 242 other ranks killed and wounded.

It appears that another hard-fighting battalion of the regiment is preparing for a third attack in this battle. 7th Battalion have today received orders to the effect that the 18th Division had opened advance Divisional Headquarters at Albert: the 53rd Brigade have moved up in readiness for an attack on Regina Trench and the 54th Brigade will move to Beauville. All necessary arrangements are being made for the Battalion to move tomorrow morning. Advance billeting parties were detailed to proceed ahead at 2 pm today - but, this was cancelled just before time to march off.

This afternoon 25th Division made a successful attack on an area known as The Mound, west of the River Ancre and Saint-Pierre-Divion. Seizing this objective gives them observation of the village.

Perhaps the most momentous news of the day is the capture of the last parts of the Schwaben Redoubt. This was achieved by the 39th Division, specifically the 4th/5th Battalion, Black Watch, the 17th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps and our close neighbours from 1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment. About 150 prisoners were taken. So the position first attacked by 7th Bedfords and others on 28th September has finally fallen.

About half an hour ago we were told that 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders of 4th Division have assaulted Rainy Trench and gun pits south of Dewdrop Trench east of Lesboeufs. 2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers have also attacked gun pits in front of Hazy Trench.

Source: X550/3/wd; X550/8/1

Day One Hundred and Five on the Somme

Captain E S M Poyntz

Friday 13th October 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

The 2nd Battalion tell me that the night passed quietly and the enemy did not counterattack. Today I have learned a little more about the Battalion’s attack of yesterday. Captain Poyntz told me that they reckon to have gained about 200 yards of Bite Trench and about 70 yards of Gird Trench. He commented: “The Battalion did magnificently and were the only Battalion to gain any ground on the whole of the Corps Front, all the others having to withdraw to their front trenches”. I am very pleased to say that the message carried by second Lieutenant Pitts reached Captain Beal's party last night and they were able to withdraw to the original front line.

Second Lieutenant Chadwick

The total of dead comes, so far, to 82 dead. Officers killed were: Second Lieutenant Joseph Chadwick; Second Lieutenant Harold Fyson; Second Lieutenant Lawrence Walker and Lieutenant William White. Amongst the wounded were Lieutenant-Colonel Poyntz, Second Lieutenant William Bird, Lieutenant R. Hopkins and Second Lieutenant J P Pitts. The latter two were both slightly wounded but remain at duty.

The 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, are in front line trenches near Gueudecourt. Enemy artillery has been active, as have snipers. There was an intense bombardment this evening which ended about three-quarters of an hour ago, which we hope does not foreshadow an enemy attack. So far today casualties have been four other ranks killed and eleven wounded.

Sources: X550/3/wd; X550/9/1

Day One Hundred and Four on the Somme

Thursday 12th October 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Lieutenant-Colonel Poyntz

This morning 2nd Bedfords spent preparing for their attack on Bite Trench. Things did not begin well when the commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel H S Poyntz was wounded whilst explaining plan of attack to company commanders at 11 a.m. 

Second Lieutenant Fyson

A curious incident occurred about this time - a party of Germans (two officers and about fifty men) appeared in Gird Trench without any arms. They made signs of surrender, but hesitated to come over for fear of being shot, Second Lieutenant H G Fyson, however went out and spoke to the German Officer who got back into the trench, but just as he got in, someone fired a shot at him, and after this, naturally they did not surrender and come over to our lines.

2nd Bedfords' sketch map of the plan of attack

This might have seemed a good omen. The attack commenced just after 2 pm but owing to the Battalion’s trenches not facing the objective the companies on the left had to make a turn across the enemy's front which was only 250 yards away.

The attack was made in four waves, C and D Companies forming the first two waves, C Company under Lieutenant R Hopkins on the right and D under Captain L F Beal on the left. B Company formed the third wave under Captain E S M Poyntz and A Company formed the fourth wave, in support, under Lieutenant W White. The distance between each wave was one hundred yards.

Second Lieutenant (later Captain) Reiss 

At first all went well on the left until the first wave of attackers reached a small ridge about sixty yards in front , when it came under terrific machine gun and rifle fire from the left and front in Gird Trench, causing many casualties. They pushed on and got within fifty yards of Gird Trench, but the fire was so great that they were held up owing to having so many casualties. Second Lieutenant Fyson, the would-be negotiator of the morning, was killed and Second Lieutenant J Reiss wounded in the first five minutes of the attack. Here the attackers had to lie out until nightfall, as the 17th Battalion King’s (Liverpool) Regiment on their left were also held up and could not advance.

Second Lieutenant L H Bird

Further right, however, C and D Companies made better progress and passed over the Southern end of Gird Trench towards Bayonet Trench. They also came under heavy machine gun fire, this time from Gird Support Trench and got held up. At this time, about 3 p.m., Second Lieutenant Bird and Second Lieutenant Walker, who supervised digging of the assembly trenches last night, were killed.

Captain E S M Poyntz

On B Company reinforcing the attack they pushed on again and captured about 200 yards of Bite Trench, which is a shallow communication trench, much blown in. Seeing that Gird Support Trench and Bayonet Trench were very strongly held and being under very heavy enfilade fire from Gird Support Trench, Captain E S M Poyntz and Lieutenant R Hopkins decided it was useless to attempt to get further, so they dug in along the captured portion of Bite Trench. 

Captain R Hopkins

This they did under heavy enfilade fire. This portion of Bite Trench was converted by B and C Companies into a magnificent fire trench and is very important owing to the observation that can be obtained from it. Half of A Company converted the Southern portion of Gird Trench and placed a block about 70 yards up. An attempt was made to cut a trench from here to contact up to D Company who were isolated and digging in about seventy yards to the West of Gird Trench, but this had to be given up owing to the enemy's fire on this point.

Captain L F Beal

All hopes, I have been told, have given up of trying to get in touch with D Company under Captain Beal, who is isolated with about fifty men. Several messages have been sent, but the runners were either killed or wounded. Eventually 2nd Lieutenant J P Pitts got back to Headquarters with a message and he took back orders for Captain Beal to withdraw to his original position after dark. We hope he finds him.

Second Lieutenant J P Pitts

Thus the attack by 30th Division on Gird Trench has had mixed fortunes. Less has been achieved than was hoped but not everything has ended in failure, with some ground having been taken. On the left of the division 9th (Scottish) Division made an attack towards the Butte de Warlencourt but were only able to progress about one hundred yards due to intense fire.

To the left of 30th Division, 9th (Scottish) Division attacked the Butte de Warlencourt and a small stand of trees known as Little Wood. These places were not taken, but an advance of 200 yards was made

To the right of 30th Division, 6th Division, though not 8th Bedfords, made an attack today on Zenith Trench between Lesboeufs and Gueudecourt but were repulsed. The 8th Bedfords are in front line trenches east of Gueudecourt from which they relieved the attacking battalions yesterday. Other attacks by the Division gained some small success. 12th (Eastern) Division made some small gains also. One of the attacking units was the Newfoundland Regiment, temporarily attached from 29th Division. These men from the wild east coast of Canada suffered terrible casualties in unsuccessful attacks on 1st July. Today they enjoyed a bit more success and have suffered many less casualties. Their bravery in July was an exemplar to all in the army and their work today, though slight in its gains was, we understand, carried out with the same gallant determination.

On the right flank of the British Army on the Somme, 4th Division attacked alongside the French and managed to get five hundred yards forward. Attacks on Rainy, Dewdrop and Spectrum trenches have met with failure, however.

Source: X550/3/wd

Day One Hundred and Three on the Somme

Wednesday 11th October 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

This afternoon the 2nd Bedfords have moved their position from that shown yesterday to the one shown in pink above, where they have replaced 17th Battalion, King’s (Liverpool) Regiment. They have, effectively, moved directly to the left. During the night a party under 2nd Lieutenant L H Walker will dig an assembly trench for the attack on Gird Trench and its environs tomorrow. During the move today five men were killed and seven wounded.

Tomorrow the Battalion has the job of advancing in four waves to capture Bite Trench shown on the map above.

Second Lieutenant L H Walker

Meanwhile, 7th Battalion has been receiving reinforcements to make good the gaps incurred at Thiepval and the Schwaben Redoubt. Today 158 men arrived from England “all of which were well equipped, of good physique, and a marked improvement on previous drafts, except they have no marching powers” as the Adjutant, Captain Bridcutt informed me.

Today the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Douglas Haig, visited the battalion’s billets. He chatted with many of the officers and men as he passed from one place to another. The adjutant explained: “No inspection parade was arranged as he wished to pay a visit to a unit carrying on in the ordinary way. Major Mills is in charge of the Battalion as its colonel, G D Price, is in temporary command of 54th Brigade.

Source: X550/3/wd; X550/8/1

Day Ninety Nine on the Somme

Saturday 7th October 1916 From our Correspondent in the Field

Today has seen more activity on the Somme than of late, with attacks in the vicinity of Le Sars, a village which sits astride the main road from Albert to Bapaume, in an arc round to Lesboeufs. 

23rd Division was tasked with the capture of the village of Le Sars. In the face of heavy fire they achieved their objective, so the village joins a growing list of heaps of ruins captured since 1st July. The Division was then ready to advance on an old Romano-Gallic burial mound called the Butte de Warlencourt, which is high enough to dominate the flat ground hereabouts. However, there were insufficient reinforcements for this, so the division dug-in just the other side of Le Sars.

47th Division, whose objective was also the Butte de Warlencourt, attacked Snag Trench but the volume of fire it encountered made any real progress impossible.

41st Division is between Eaucourt-l’Abbaye and Gueudecourt and encountered heavy machine-gun fire as it went forward. Some units managed to pierce Bayonet Trench and, as far as we know, are holding out. Those attacking the east end of Gird Trench were unable to get near it.

12th (Eastern) Division were supposed to attack north-east from Gueudecourt but were late in going forward due to a German barrage on their front lines as they were about to go “over the top”. They struggled forward but were unable to make any headway.

20th (Light) Division are between Gueudecourt and Lesboeufs. They seized a main German defensive line called Rainbow Trench and pressed on to take another trench called Misty Trench. A German counter-attack as the light failed this evening from the direction of Beaulencourt appears to have been defeated.

56th (London) Division, alongside the French on their right flank, attacked north-east from Lesboeufs. Attacks by both the Londoners and the French were able to make little headway and, as evening fell were pushed back to their starting positions.

The last units of 18th (Eastern) Division have been relieved in the unspeakable desolation of mud, bodies and debris known as the Schwaben Redoubt. The dubious honour of continuing the fight here will fall to 39th Division. They were immediately attacked by Germans including two flame-thrower teams but the enemy were repulsed.

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

Day Eighty Nine on the Somme

Wednesday 27th September 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

This morning I received some splendid news from the adjutant of the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, Captain Bridcutt. Readers will remember that yesterday 54th Brigade of 18th Division seized a good part of the fortress village of Thiepval: “The Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel G. D. Price and I arrived at the Chateau in Thiepval. After conferring with Lieutenant-Colonel Maxwell, 12th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, commanding the scattered portions of the three battalions (12th Middlesex, 11th Royal Fusiliers and 6th Northamptonshires) Colonel Price decided to attack the untaken portion of Thiepval - the north-western part of the village. Dispositions for the attack were as follows C and D Companies, commanded by Captains Leslie Keep and Mulligan respectively, were detailed for the assault which was to be carried out in two waves with C Company on the right and D Company on the left. A and B Companies were sheltered close at hand in German dug-outs. Zero was fixed for 5.30 a.m.”

Captain T R J Mulligan

“The morning was extremely dark and the assaulting companies had great difficulty in forming up for the attack on the correct alignment. At about 5.45 all was ready and a few minutes later the two waves advanced, sweeping across the untaken portion of ground and the enemy trenches. Two machine-guns and a good deal of rifle fire opened from the enemy's lines but our troops continued to advance and in a short time were in possession of the German trenches on the north-western face of Thiepval. Captain Mulligan and Second Lieutenant Potts fell, badly wounded but during the action 36 prisoners were taken and about a hundred Germans killed by rifle fire and bayonets”.

“This action, though apparently small, was of the utmost importance as without the whole of the Village of Thiepval and the trenches surrounding it being captured, the whole line of attack was held up. So to the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment (especially C and D Companies) belongs the honour and glory of the final destruction of one of the Germans’ strongest positions and one which they had boasted could never be taken”.

“Our casualties were 2 officers above mentioned and about 110 other ranks in the above action. The other three battalions of the 54th Brigade, who made yesterday’s attack on Thiepval, had been withdrawn to cover in our support area”. If Captain Bridcutt sounded elated he can be forgiven. The Battalion, and the division more widely, has achieved something of note today, the equal of its successes on the first day of the battle and at Trônes Wood.

I have since learned that of just over one hundred men wounded, 51 have been killed today, with two having died last night in moving up to support the brigade attack. A number of others will likely not survive the day. An officer killed, not mentioned by the adjutant, is Second Lieutenant Ian Ross-Taylor from Essex. Lieutenant Henry Potts is very gravely wounded and has been moved back to a hospital near Boulogne(1).

This evening Captain Bridcutt has been back in touch. It looks as if the battalion will be called on again tomorrow to attack one of the three redoubts which lie near Thiepval from north to east – Schwaben Redoubt to the north. This promises to be a more dangerous operation than the taking of the village.

This afternoon 11th Division, having taken Mouquet Farm yesterday but failed to take another of these redoubts – Zollern Redoubt, tried again. Evidently they had done considerabe damage in their attack yesterday as they found the place empty and have gladly occupied it. No doubt the seizure of Thiepval also contributed to this evacuation as the place was then outflanked. They have also attacked the third of the redoubts, which lies just north of Zollern Redoubt – Stuff Redoubt. An attack here this morning filed but this afternoon 9th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment attacked alone. This can be disastrous but to the Yorkshiremen’s credit they have obtained a toehold on the southern face of the redoubt. An hour later another Yorkshire unit – 6th Battalion Green Howards, who had been due to attack with the West Yorkshires, took eighty or so prisoners in a nearby trench and joined their colleagues at the south face of the redoubt.

The Canadians have been involved in heavy fighting south of Le Sars over a trench called Kenora Trench, which is an eastern extension of the Regina Trench mentioned yesterday.

Elsewhere 55th (West Lancashire) Division have taken another section of Gird Trench, north-west of Gueudecourt, the village which fell yesterday. The Germans still hold part of this trench, where it joins with another called Goose Alley. 1st Division and 23rd Division have also made small gains today.

Source: X550/8/1

(1) He would die on 1st October and is buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery.

Day Seventy Eight on the Somme

Saturday 16th September 1916: From our Correspondent in the Field

This morning I spent time with the somewhat stoical Lord Henry Scott who commands the 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment in the field. The hasty attacks of yesterday on the Quadrilateral were even more costly than I imagined. In all 126 officers and men have been killed out of 850 or so going into action. Many more, of course, have been wounded. This makes yesterday the bloodiest day for any battalion of the Regiment in this war so far.

His Lordship emphasised that the battalion exists to kill Germans and take ground and that that inevitably results in casualties. Nevertheless your correspondent could detect the grief in his eyes. His Lordship, after all, oversaw the training camp at Ampthill where most of the men who now serve under him were trained. What remains of his battalion have moved back to Maltz Horn Farm but have no rest, as they have to carry rations and other material to the front line for their successors in the firing line. Their division has joined with 56th (London) Division in making some small, local attacks.

The 1st Battalion, meanwhile, has moved to nearby Waterlot Farm, south of Delville Wood. They are temporarily part of 20th (Light) Division. The adjutant told me laconically “bad trenches and very little cover”. The Guards Division has moved forward today and attacked the area between Serpentine Trench and the village of Lesboeufs and taken some ground.

14th (Light) Division has also been in action. It advanced from positions east of Delville Wood but was unable to make any progress. I understand it is having another crack as I write these words. 41st Division, fresh from its success at Flers yesterday attacked towards the village of Gueudecourt managed to advance to within one hundred yards of a place called Gird Trench which runs around the south-west side of the village before falling back to Bull’s Road, which runs from the north end of Flers to Lesboeufs(1).

The splendid New Zealanders have managed to hang on to Courcelette, defeating a German counter-attack around nine o’clock this morning and even managed to advance a little way, taking Grove Alley west of Flers.

47th (1st/2nd London) Division attacked towards a point known as the Cough Drop south of Eaucourt-l’Abbaye but only one company managed to reach that place due to intense enemy fire. 50th (Northumbrian) Division’s attacks met with failure. 15th (Scottish) Division was counter-attacked in Martinpuich and, though beating it off, have been subjected to an enemy barrage all day.

The Canadians attacked Zollern Trench east of Thirpval but were unsuccessful. 11th Division on their left made some progress west of Mouquet Farm and 49th Division carried out raids west of Thiepval itself.

So, though not all today’s attacks have met with success a little ground has been gained. Perhaps more importantly the villages of Flers, Martinpuich and Courcelette, or, at least, their ruins, remain firmly in British hands.

Source: X550/9/1

(1) Failure to take it would lead to costly attacks by 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment on 12th October.

Breaking the News

Netley Hospital Chapel

Monday 7th December 1914: How does one break the news of a brother’s death to one’s mother? Such a dilemma was, we understand, recently faced by Private H. Huckle of 2nd Bedfordshire Regiment. He is currently in Netley Hospital, Hampshire, and addressed a letter to his sister: “Am pleased to say I am going on splendidly. I was hit in the chest – just missed the heart by an inch. That was a fortnight ago, but I was unable to let you know before. Am leaving Netley on Friday – going somewhere to recruit my health”.

“With regard to Alfred, for heaven’s sake be brave and break the news to mother, for I dare not write to her. He is dead – was killed on October 26th – died in the fighting line, fighting for his King and country. No nobler death can a soldier die. Do try and be brave and comfort poor old mother. Remember greater love can no man show than lay down his life for his country (1). Do try and be brave and break the news to mother" (2)

Source: Luton News 26th November 1914

---

(1) A distortion of a saying of Jesus – “greater love hath no man that he lay down his life for his friend”.
(2) 3/6130 Private Alfred Huckle from Stotfold was killed in action with 2nd Battalion on 31st October 1914 near Zandvoorde. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate. Harry himself would be killed in action with the same battalion on 12th October 1916 assaulting Gird Trench near Eaucourt l’Abbaye on the Somme. He also has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.