Lives of the First World War

known 15th July 1916

On the 15 July the 16 KRRC were called upon to take a German strongpoint the switch line, which ran through the north of High Wood. This was, along with hundreds of his comrades, Walt Farrar's his first experience of 'going over the top'. This baptism of fire is conveyed in 5 pages of the battalion's War Diary. The bare facts of the attack are outlined in the Regimental History: 'The 100th Brigade attacked with the 9th Highland Light Infantry on the left, in the front line, the 16th KRRC being in support. The Highland Light Infantry were held up from the start by enfilade fire from HIGH WOOD. The Queen's reached the enemy's wire, and found it uncut. Our 16th Battalion was then put in to fill the gap between the two regiments. They advanced 1,000 yards over the open and lost heavily... The Battalion behaved most gallantly in this, its first big fight, and eleven Military Medals were awarded to NCOs and riflemen for their conduct in the attack.' None of the objectives were taken. High Wood first assaulted in mid July was eventually taken by the 47 London Division in September after 10s of thousands of casualties. Saturday 15th July 1916. Temperature 72°F, morning mist clearing to a bright day. 16th (Service) Battalion (Church Lads' Brigade) 100th Brigade, 33rd Division. The Battalion lost on this day: (Killed in Action and Died of Wounds) Rfn Edgar Wilfred Anderson, C/883, Spennymoor. Rfn William Anderson, C/649, Long Eaton. Rfn Albert Asden, C/929, Rawtenstall. Rfn Ernest Atkinson C/207, Leicester Rfn William Ball, C/256, Highfield, Wigan Rfn Wilson Barber, C/1111, Oldham. Rfn James Barnes, C/ 631, Chesham. Rfn Frank Thomas Barron, C/461 Whitchurch, Salop. Rfn William Ernest Bell, C/1454, Darlington. L/Cpl Thomas Birkett, C/939, Durham Rfn Nathaniel Blaker C/582, Worthing. L/Cpl William Edwin Bradshaw C/356, Wigan. Rfn Horace Albert Briggs, C/135, Lonf Eaton. Sgt Leonard Brown, C/813, Birmingham. Rfn Thomas Brown, C/1646, Felling-on-Tyne. Rfn Holden Broxup, C/1402, Bradford. Rfn Harry Bull,R/17138,New Barnett. Rfn James Arncliffe Burdon C/1281, Stockton-on-Tees Rfn William Ernest Burrows, C/460, Whitchurch, Salop. Rfn William Charles Caiger, C/330, Sparkford, Somerset Rfn Henry Charles Carter, C/331, Connah's Quay. L/Cpl Thomas Frederick Cliff C/449, Whitchurch, Salop. Rfn Levitt Geoge Cooper C/854, Leicester. Rfn Wilfred Crook, C/932, Bolton. L/Cpl William Cundall, C/210, Leicester. Rfn Ernest Dixon, C/68, Burnley. L/Cpl John Arthur Exall, C/380, Hereford. Cpl Albert George Fenn, C/626, Chesham. Rfn Charles Edwin Francis C/680, Windsor. Cpl John Marrington Goff, C/83, Brightlingsea. Rfn Arthur Thomas Goldsmith C/42, Eastbourne. Sgt Frank Gomm, C/636, Chesham. Rfn Cecil Graverstock, C/16, Croxley Green Rfn Harold Guest C/1035, Wombwell. Rfn James Hadfield C/490, Bolton. Rfn Charles John Hatt C/130, Blyth. Rfn Frank Hayes C/262, Chesham. Rfn Joseph Henry Hill, C/1036, Wombwell. Rfn George Hughes, C/38, Redhill. Bglr Arnold Ingham, C/589, Ashton-under-Lyme Rfn Louis Edward Jones, C/112, Sketty, Swansea. Rfn John Henry Jones, C/682, Buckley, Flints. Rfn Isaac Knill, C/1098, Ifracombe. Rfn Joseph Knowles, C/282, Ashton-in-Makerfield. Rfn Thomas Leach, C/511, Heywood, Lancs. Rfn Cyril Herbert Long, C/900, Chard. Rfn Percy Lowe, C/587, Audenshaw, Manchester. Rfn Ernest Merrey, C/1072, Burton-on-Trent Rfn Charles Minnett, C/475, Wombwell. L/Cpl Frank Rumsey Moon, C/230, Redhill. Sgt Joseph Reginald Mountenay, C/567, Bakewell. Rfn Henry Oscar Mullanny, C/1320, Bradford. Rfn John Arthur Mullanny, C/1403, Bradford. L/Sgt Edgar Newbold, C/343, Long Eaton. Rfn Frank Offen, C/487, Brighton Rfn John Page, C/758, Selly Oak. Rfn Arthur Pattison, C/32, Bishop Auckland. Rfn Harry Pearce, C/627, Chesham. Rfn Cecil Pepper, C/1210, North Wlasham. Rfn Francis Bibby Pickering, C/987, Carlshalton. Rfn Edwin Purcell, C/1199, Blackburn. Rfn Ernest Rhodes MM, C/1064, Rochdale. Rfn Rfn Robert Adam Watson Robinson, C/911, Berwick-on Tweed. Sgt Robert Ernest Robinson, C/34, Bishop Auckland. Rfn Charles Rogers, C/5, Croxley Green. Rfn Robert Arnold Roper, C/1019, Stockton. Sgt William Henry Taylor, C/241, Mytholmroyd. L/Sgt Russell Thompson, C/1008, Harden, Durham L/Cpl G George Henry Tranter C/1119, High Wycombe. Rfn Alfred Valks C/1115, Sedgefield, Durham. Rfn George William Watson, C/853, Leicester. L/Cpl George William Welburn, C/1097, Birkby, Yorks. Sgt Robert Welsby, C/202, Kearsley. Rfn Ernest Wheatley, C/1129, Middleton, Lancs. Rfn Frank Whitehead, C/527, Rochdale (Died of wounds 16th July 1916) Rfn Harry Wood, C/1234, Wallington, Surrey. Officers Major Adrian Deighton Cooban. Age 33. Capt Herbert Phillip Deedes. Age 34 Lieut James Bryn Hitchens. Age 43 2nd Lieut Kenneth George Denniss.

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