Lives of the First World War

known 15th September 1916

The 18th (Service) Battalion (Arts & Crafts) KRRC, arrived in France in March 1916 for service on the Western Front as part of 122nd Brigade, Bde, 41st Division. Between 15-22 September 1916 they were committed the Battle of Flers-Courcelette. This was a large-scale general renewal of the Somme offensive after the weeks of attritional fighting for the third German system at Pozieres, High Wood, Delville Wood, Guillemont and Ginchy. We know from the Burial Report that George Abbott and two 18th Battalion KRRC soldiers were buried in the same grave at Trench Map reference 57c.S.6.c.1.0 on 15th September 1916. We know from unit records that 112 Machine Gun Company joined 122nd Brigade, 41st Division in May 1916 and supported the attack.. We know from "The Somme: The Day-by-Day Account" (McCarthy, C. (1995) ISBN 978-1-85409-330-1) the following: "The 41st Division was to attack Flers and had most tanks, four for the Longueval–Flers road and six to attack the middle and west side of the village. On the right flank the 124th Brigade attacked with two battalions forward and two in support, having assembled in no man's land. The advance began at zero hour and Tea Support Trench and the Switch Line fell relatively easily by 7:00 a.m. and Flers Trench at 7:50 a.m. At 3:20 p.m. a large party of infantry reached Bulls Road and linked with the 122nd Brigade on the left but attacks on Gird Trench failed. The 122nd Brigade had attacked with two battalions and two in support, reaching the Switch Line by 6:40 a.m. and the on to Flers Trench. Tank D15 was knocked out near the Switch Line, D14 ditched near Flers and D18 was damaged by a shell at Flers Trench but managed to withdraw. D16 entered Flers at 8:20a.m. followed by troops of the 122nd Brigade, D6, D9 and D17 driving along the eastern fringe of the village, destroying strong points and machine-gun nests. By 10:00 a.m. the surviving Bavarians made a run for Geuedecourt and small parties of the 41st Division reached the third objective. A lull occurred from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. then the third objective was consolidated along with Box & Cox Trench and Hogs Head. D16 was undamaged but D6 was set on fire close to Gueudecourt and D9 got to Box & Cox along Glebe Street and was knocked out. D17 was hit twice by artillery-fire and abandoned on the east side of Flers and recovered later". At some point during this day Maurice Woodward and his two comrades were killed.

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