Lives of the First World War

This is the Cemetary at Vis En Artois it shows the grave area for the fallen and the Wall to the missing at the rear. My Uncles name is on the Wall

Taken in July 2014 shows the poppy laid next to Thomas Smalley name on the Wall to the missing

This is the Memorial Book in the Cemetary showing Thomas's name

This picture was taken prior to Tommy joining The Fusiliers and shows him in the uniform of the Boys Brigade. Either at this time or just after he joined the 107th Training Reserve as he was to young to go overseas

From details shown in the War Diary for the 11th Batt. Royal Fusiliers I have been able to identify the ground that was covered during the attack on the 29/30th August 1918 The battalion moved into trenches east of Trones Wood on the 29th. (Trones Wood is below the village of Longueval and is a Christmas Tree shape with the point pointing north) The trenches were east of the wood and an estimate would suggest that they were below the village of Guillemont. During the night of the 29/30th the Battalion moved into positions in Savernake Wood to the east arriving at about 2am.(Savernake Wood is below the village of Combles and appears as an S shape) The Battalion attacked east towards Priez Farm across open ground which is now traversed by a Motorway. The picture does not show the Farm but it is still there today

This picture shows Savernake Wood to the left below Combles. As you move East you will cross a new Motorway and then a small farm complex can be seen. This is Priez Farm. The War Diary for the day indicates that the farm was strongly held and the Fusiliers were outflanked to their left. After hard fighting the Battalion returned to Savernake Wood with heavy casualties.