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ing the second half of 1916 the 1/4th Battalion was involved
in the Battle of the Somme; the most costly battle for the British
to that date with over 400,000 casualties.
Frank survived those battles and the very long and severe
winter of 1916/17. By this juncture of the war the Germans had
withdrawn to their rear defence, the Hindenburg Line. The 1/4th
were destined to be part of the British force attacking that part
of the line just south-east of Arras near the villages of Neuville-
Vitasse and St Martine-sur-Cojeul.
The Battery War Diaries tell us that they were billeted near Corbie
(eight miles east of Amiens) on 1st April. They then undertook
an 8-day circuitous march, in freezing cold weather and heavy
snow storms, covering probably 60 or 70 miles. They finished
up at the village of Berle-au-Bois (10 miles SSW of Arras). They
rested here for three days with orders to be ready to move at
three hours notice. The time was spent on final inspections of kit
and equipment and company parades.
On 11th April 1917 they received orders to go to the Madeline
Redoubt which was at the junction of the railway and the
Ficheux-Mercatel road. They were in the relief position for the
front-line trenches which were about two miles east. On the
12th the order came to move to the front.
The hand-written Battalion War Diary for that period reads:
April 12th Received orders to relieve the 18th Manchester
Regt in close support at Madeline on the Neuville-Vitasse to
Henin-sur-Cojeul Rd. Leaving the Redoubt at 1.05pm the relief
was complete by 5.40pm. A chance shell fell amongst “C” Coy
on the way up killing 1 and wounding 2 O.R. (other ranks).
1st reinforcements and “B” Echelon of this regiment remained
at BLAIRVILLE.
Casualties 1 O.R. killed 3 O.R. wounded.
Eventually ?? relieved 16th Manchester Regt.
April 13th A great deal of burial and salvage work was
done by the battalion in the vicinity of the trenches in front ??.
Casualties 4 O.R. wounded.
109
in the Battle of the Somme; the most costly battle for the British
to that date with over 400,000 casualties.
Frank survived those battles and the very long and severe
winter of 1916/17. By this juncture of the war the Germans had
withdrawn to their rear defence, the Hindenburg Line. The 1/4th
were destined to be part of the British force attacking that part
of the line just south-east of Arras near the villages of Neuville-
Vitasse and St Martine-sur-Cojeul.
The Battery War Diaries tell us that they were billeted near Corbie
(eight miles east of Amiens) on 1st April. They then undertook
an 8-day circuitous march, in freezing cold weather and heavy
snow storms, covering probably 60 or 70 miles. They finished
up at the village of Berle-au-Bois (10 miles SSW of Arras). They
rested here for three days with orders to be ready to move at
three hours notice. The time was spent on final inspections of kit
and equipment and company parades.
On 11th April 1917 they received orders to go to the Madeline
Redoubt which was at the junction of the railway and the
Ficheux-Mercatel road. They were in the relief position for the
front-line trenches which were about two miles east. On the
12th the order came to move to the front.
The hand-written Battalion War Diary for that period reads:
April 12th Received orders to relieve the 18th Manchester
Regt in close support at Madeline on the Neuville-Vitasse to
Henin-sur-Cojeul Rd. Leaving the Redoubt at 1.05pm the relief
was complete by 5.40pm. A chance shell fell amongst “C” Coy
on the way up killing 1 and wounding 2 O.R. (other ranks).
1st reinforcements and “B” Echelon of this regiment remained
at BLAIRVILLE.
Casualties 1 O.R. killed 3 O.R. wounded.
Eventually ?? relieved 16th Manchester Regt.
April 13th A great deal of burial and salvage work was
done by the battalion in the vicinity of the trenches in front ??.
Casualties 4 O.R. wounded.
109
