Announcement

**Darrell** · 10-30-2013, 12:15 PM

Closeup of Birth Index entry for Henry:

Attached Files

1.JPG (51.2 KB, 42 views)

**Darrell** · 10-30-2013, 12:20 PM

The 1901 Census shows Henry aged 6 living at 25 Exmouth Street with his parents and an older brother, James, and a younger sister, Sarah. George Kelly, his mother Ellen’s brother, is also living with them.

Head – James Walker aged 31 – Railway Checker
Wife – Ellen Walker aged 28
Son – James Walker aged 8
Son – Henry Walker aged 6
Daughter – Sarah Walker aged 3
George Richard Kelly (Ellen’s brother) aged 18 – Apprentice Printing Machine Worker

Below are the Census records for 1901:

Attached Files

**Darrell** · 10-30-2013, 12:21 PM

The 1911 Census now finds the Walker family living at 65 Glyn Road, Homerton, Hackney, London, England. Henry’s parents have had a further three children, George, William and Ellen. Henry, now age 16, is shown working as a printer in a warehouse.

Head – James Walker aged 41 – Railway Clerk
Wife – Ellen Walker aged 38
Son – James Walker aged 18 – Printer Worker
Son – Henry Walker aged 16 - Printer Worker
Daughter – Sarah Walker aged 14
Son – George Walker aged 10
Daughter – Ellen Walker aged 5
Son – William Walker aged 3
George Richard Kelly (Ellen’s brother) aged 28 –Printer Machine Manager

Below are the Census Records for 1911:

Attached Files

**Darrell** · 10-30-2013, 12:27 PM

MILITARY SERVICE

WW1 starts and Henry enlists as a Private in the 12 Battalion Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) with the Regimental Number 5097. As part of the 24th Division he embarks for the Western Front and arrives in France on 01 September 1915.

During early September 1916 the 24th Division are shown in the Battle of Guillemont 3-6 September and Henry is awarded the MM for “Bravery in the Field” (London Gazette 16 November 1916).

Battle of Guillemont 03-06 September 1916

The 12th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers were attached to the 24th Division of the XV Corps of the 4th Army took part in this battle. Below is a detailed explanation of the events with the participation of the 24th Division highlighted in red.

The Battle of Guillemont (3–6 September 1916) was an attack by the Fourth Army on the village of Guillemont. The village lay on the right flank of the British sector, near the boundary with the French Sixth Army. The Fourth Army had advanced close to Guillemont during the Battle of Bazentin Ridge (14–17 July) and the capture of the village was the culmination of British attacks which began on 22/23 July to advance on the right flank of the Fourth Army, to eliminate a salient further north at Delville Wood. German defences ringed the wood and had observation over the French Sixth Army area to the south towards the Somme.

Preparatory to a general attack intended for mid-September, from the Somme north to Courcelette (beyond the Albert–Bapaume road) the French Sixth Army, the Fourth Army and Reserve Army conducted numerous attacks to capture the rest of the German second line and to gain observation over the German third line. The German defences around Guillemont were based on the remaining parts of the second line and numerous fortified villages and farms north from Hem, Maurepas and Combles, to Falfemont Farm, Guillemont, Ginchy, Delville Wood and High Wood, which commanded the ground in between.

XIII Corps attacked Guillemont with the 30th Division at 3:40 a.m. on 23 July. The 21st Brigade attacked with one battalion from Trônes Wood and one from Longueval Alley to the north. The bombardment of the village and the trenches in front of it appeared to have been highly destructive, as was a standing barrage by heavy artillery on a line from Falfemont Farm to Wedge Wood, Leuze Wood, east of Guillemont to the south of Ginchy. The field artillery fired a creeping barrage in four lifts through the village, stopping on the south and east sides 45 minutes after zero hour. The attack from Trônes Wood reached the German wire with few casualties, where they found the wire uncut and were engaged by artillery and machine-gun fire. The wire was forced despite many casualties and Guillemont entered. The German garrison continued to fight despite many losses and the most advanced British troops were cut off as German reinforcements arrived, overwhelming most of the battalion. Communication with the rear had been cut by a German barrage in no-man's-land and a smoke screen, intended to mask the attack from the Germans in Ginchy.

The left-hand battalion got lost in the gloom and smoke blown over Guillemont by the breeze, some troops veered right and met uncut wire south-east of the village, before falling back to Trônes Wood. Another party took a trench south of the railway which ran east past the north end of Guillemont and was then pushed back to trenches near Waterlot Farm, obstructing the right of the 3rd Division. On the left the 3rd Division attacked Guillemont Station, Delville Wood and Longueval, with the 8th Brigade on the right attempting to occupy ground south of the railway. The troops were held up and also fell back to Waterlot Farm, where a counter-attack was repulsed later in the morning. Further north a battalion also tried to bomb down trenches from Waterlot Farm, either side of the Guillemont road and the railway to the station. The advance was soon stopped by machine-gun fire from Ginchy and ground to the north-east and the troops withdrew; the 9th Brigade attacked Delville Wood and Longueval as part of the Battle of Delville Wood.

On 30 July the 30th Division attacked through the positions of the 35th Division again, at 4:45 a.m. as the French Sixth Army attacked on the right. The 89th Brigade attacked Falfemont Farm and the second position up to the edge of Guillemont, which was attacked by the 90th Brigade. Guillemont station and trenches to the north-west were attacked by the 5th Brigade of the 2nd Division. As the troops moved up during the night of 29 July, a German bombardment fell around Trônes Wood and caught troops from the 89th and 90th brigades as they moved up and at dawn a fog rose reducing visibility below 40 yards (37 m). Maltz Horn Farm and trenches nearby, were stormed at zero hour by a British battalion from the west and part of the French 153rd Division from the south, the British advancing to the Hardecourt–Guillemont road, despite many losses and digging-in with reinforcements, which had moved forwards in small columns. No French troops could be seen and few of the left-hand battalion reached the road, although a larger party reached an orchard at the south-east edge of Guillemont. On the left the 90th Brigade advanced either side of the Trônes Wood–Guillemont track, got into the village with few losses and took 50 prisoners. After a pause the creeping barrage moved on and the north-east of the village was occupied, touch being gained with the left-hand battalion and a counter-attack repulsed. The left-hand battalion had advanced south of the railway and taken many prisoners at the German front trench, before being stopped by cross-fire from the quarry to the south and the station to the north. Another attempt to advance and an effort to form a defensive flank along the railway facing north failed, due to uncut wire and machine-gun fire from the flank, which forced a withdrawal.

Communication with the rear broke down again, as German artillery-fire cut telephone wires and visual signalling was obstructed by the fog until about 9:00 a.m. Pigeons and runners carried a few messages and at 8:55 a.m. the divisional commander Major-General Shea, ordered a line from Maltz Horn Farm to the west side of Guillemont to be consolidated and held at all costs. In the afternoon the party at the orchard withdrew with difficulty and troops on the Hardecourt–Guillemont road fell back later. On the right flank the British held on around Maltz Horn Farm, as German infantry advanced through British heavy artillery fire on Leuze Wood, the cross-roads east of Guillemont and Ginchy. Artillery-fire on Guillemont was impossible because of the British party still holding out; all the British reserves had been committed, leaving none to reinforce the troops in the village, who were overwhelmed around 2:00 p.m. On the left flank the 2nd Division attacked with the 5th Brigade from Waterlot Farm to Guillemont railway station, with protective machine-gun fire from Delville Wood on the left. Many German machine-gun posts were undamaged and few British troops crossed the German front-line to reach the vicinity of the station, where they were shot down, the survivors of the two battalions eventually being withdrawn through a German bombardment. In the heat of the afternoon, the two brigades of the 30th Division reorganised and the 89th Brigade consolidated the only captured ground still held, from the French boundary near Matlz Horn Farm to the Hardecourt–Guillemont road and Arrow Head Copse. During the night the 30th Division and 35th Division were relieved by the 55th Division.

The 55th Division attacked at 4:20 a.m. on 8 August, into an easterly wind which with mist, dust and smoke from a German counter-barrage, made visual signalling impossible, which delayed reports to the 55th Division headquarters until after 6:00 a.m. A reinforced battalion of the 165th Brigade next to the French, advanced over the spur south of Guillemont and was then stopped by German defensive fire and driven under cover in shell-holes. Bombers had moved along Cochrane Alley, south-east into Maurepas ravine and established a trench-block, which left them unsupported on both flanks, as the French attack had also been stopped by the Germans, south-east of Maltz Horn Farm. The right-hand battalion of the 164th Brigade was held up by uncut wire at the south-western edge of Guillemont, where the infantry tried to dig in beyond grenade range, before retiring to their jumping-off trenches. The left-hand battalion broke through either side of the quarry, on the west side of Guillemont and entered the village but reinforcements sent to hold the German front line behind them, were bombed out by a German counter-attack from the south. German machine-guns began to sweep no-man's-land and isolated the British troops in the village.

Further north the 2nd Division attacked, with two battalions of the 6th Brigade on the north side of the railway line, where the right-hand battalion reached Guillemont station, except for the fourth company which was blocked by German troops, who reoccupied their front line behind the advanced British troops. The left-hand battalion attacked from Waterlot farm and reached ZZ Trench and then made a costly attempt to bomb south, losing most of a company before reaching the north end of Guillemont. Despite all efforts communication broke down again during the morning, smoke and dust blocked the view of aircraft observers, no messages were received from Guillemont, trenches east of Trônes Wood were congested with troops and bombarded by the German artillery in the afternoon, which made it impossible for the British to attack again. The 55th Division commander Major-General H. Jeudwine, ordered the 164th Brigade to send more troops into the village after dark and Lieutenant-General Congreve the XIII Corps commander and the Fourth Army headquarters ordered another attack at 4:20 a.m. on 9 August.

By zero hour some of the attacking battalions were in position and were met by massed machine-gun fire, when they advanced after a hurried bombardment. Disorganisation hampered the attack on the left, where the 166th Brigade was replacing the 164th Brigade but one battalion hugged the barrage and reached the German wire, where it had many casualties attempting to press on through the obstacle. The left-hand battalion was delayed, began its advance after the British barrage had lifted and was quickly forced under cover by German small-arms fire. Later in the day an attack by the 165th Brigade, from the positions captured on 8 August also failed. To the north the 2nd Division attacked again, with a battalion of the 6th Brigade south of the railway line, which was repulsed and an attack from Waterlot Farm also failed. The parties from the 55th Division which had got into Guillemont on 8 August, either side of the quarry and that of the 2nd Division, which had bombed its way in along ZZ Trench into the north end of the village, amid much smoke and confusion were quickly counter-attacked by German local reserves, until two more battalions arrived and overwhelmed them. Isolated groups held out for a while at the quarry and more held out at the station, until overrun late on 9 August, being observed from the British lines moving towards Ginchy under German escort.

Rawlinson met the XIII Corps commander and those of the 55th, 2nd and 24th divisions on 9 August and suspended attacks, until much more thorough preparations had been made. The 2nd Division was relieved by the 24th Division during the night of 9/10 August. A combined attack was planned with the French Sixth Army for 11 August, when the French would attack either side of Maurepas with a left flank guard from the 165th Brigade, which would capture the spur south of Guillemont, by advancing 300 yards (270 m) north, from the junction of Cochrane Alley and the Hardecourt–Guillemont road, covered by French attacks into the Maurepas ravine. Joint attacks on Maurepas and Guillemont were expected to be ready by 17 August. On 10 August mist and rain grounded artillery-observation aircraft, forcing a postponement of the attack but 12 August was fine and clear. The French attack captured much of the German second position from Cléry to Maurepas and the southern portion of the village. The British attack began at 5:15 p.m. after a preliminary bombardment and was covered by a bombardment on the German positions in the south of Guillemont and the second position. Bombers advanced down Cochrane Alley on the right and in the open on the left, reaching the objective in 30 minutes despite machine-gun and rifle fire. French troops on the right did not appear and the troops were withdrawn after dark, except for the trench block in Cochrane Alley. German counter-attacks overnight in the Sixth Army area, prevented a resumption of French attacks on 13 August.

On 16 August the French 153rd Division advanced north-west of Maurepas and into Maurepas ravine, before being repulsed by a counter-attack at 10:30 p.m. The 3rd Division had relieved the 55th Division on the night of 14/15 August, ready to attack at 5:40 p.m. on 16 August, which dawned bright and hot. On the right of the 76th Brigade, a battalion quickly cleared Cochrane Alley to the Hardecourt–Guillemont road and took the trench along the road, despite machine-gun fire from Lonely Trench, which was too close to the British front line to be bombarded by artillery. A Stokes mortar bombardment on it was ineffective and attacks by the left-hand battalion of the 76th Brigade and right-hand battalion of the 9th Brigade failed despite several more attempt. The left-hand battalion of the 9th Brigade was also stopped soon after beginning its advance. After dark the British withdrew on the right, only the ground in Cochrane Alley being retained. To the north a 24th Division attack with a battalion of the 72nd Brigade, on German strong-points south of the Trônes Wood–Guillemont track also failed.

Late on 17 August the British withdrew during a bombardment by heavy howitzers on Lonely Trench, until 8:00 a.m. next day. After two hours two battalions tried to capture the trench by surprise but were repulsed and another attempt by a composite battalion, at 4:00 a.m. on 18 August also failed. The 3rd Division attacked on the right with the 76th Brigade, which reached the first objective near the Hardecourt–Guillemont road on the right and Lonely Trench on the left, some troops also reaching the road beyond. A battalion of the 9th Brigade on the left advanced a short distance before being stopped, which exposed the troops further south to flanking fire from the north and forced them to withdraw. The troops on the right flank were engaged by German machine-gunners, firing up the slope from the right and began to dig in. French troops had taken more of Maurepas and advanced either side of the village, gaining touch with the British on their left. Attempts to capture the north end of Lonely Trench and a bombing attack from the north failed and the left battalion of the 9th Brigade was caught in cross-fire, when it attacked the German trenches south-east of Arrow Head Copse, only a few parties briefly reaching the objective. The second stage of the attack was suspended.

On the right of the 24th Division, the 73rd Brigade attacked either side of the Trônes Wood–Guillemont track; the battalion to the south kept close to the barrage but was stopped by machine-gun fire at the German front line. Attempts to get into the trench failed and a German counter-bombardment made the passage of reinforcements impossible. The battalion attacking north of the track, was also held up on the right but on the left managed to get into the German front line near the quarry, despite German counter-attacks, as British reinforcements arrived to help consolidate. To the north touch was gained with the right-hand battalion of the 17th Brigade, which had been unable to see where the barrage began to creep but had advanced anyway and taken many German prisoners. The brigade reached the German front line and part of Waterlot Farm road, at the second objective which were quickly consolidated. Communication by telephone and visual signals did not collapse, which kept the supporting artillery in contact with the infantry.

The left-hand battalion reached the north end of ZZ Trench, quickly enough to surprise the garrison. Bombers then worked down the German trench along Waterlot Farm road, met the right-hand battalion and then bombed their way north-eastwards to the rest of ZZ Trench, taking about 100 prisoners, then joined with troops of the 14th Division at the XV Corps boundary. German artillery-fire on the Anglo-French boundary was maintained all day and in the evening the Germans counter-attacked and pushed back the French to the south-western slopes of Maurepas ravine. Some troops on the right of the 76th Brigade also fell back and exaggerated reports of a repulse led to a special reconnaissance early on 19 August, which found that the Germans opposite the 76th Brigade had withdrawn to a line from Falfemont Farm to Wedge Wood and air reconnaissance confirmed that Lonely Trench was empty. During the day troops from the 76th Brigade and the 8th Brigade on the left were able to dig in beyond the Hardecourt–Guillemont road, reoccupy Lonely Trench and gain touch with the French, who also reoccupied ground to the right. During the night of 19/20 August the 3rd Division was relieved by the 35th Division.

On the night of 20/21 August, French troops captured Angle Wood and gained touch with the British along the slope of Maurepas ravine. The 35th Division had taken over the right of the 24th Division to the Trônes Wood–Guillemont track and at 5:00 a.m. on 21 August, failed to capture a German strongpoint opposite Arrow Head Copse. The 24th Division on the left, was subjected to much German artillery-fire but parties from two battalions occupied the remainder of ZZ Trench leading into Guillemont unopposed. In attacks at 4:30 p.m., the 35th Division discharged a smoke screen to cover the right of the 24th Division, which attacked the quarry with a battalion of the 72nd Brigade, as two companies of the 17th Brigade attacked south-eastwards from near Guillemont railway station. The attack on the quarry failed after a long bombing fight and the attack from the station was costly to both sides, the British being too depleted to hold the captured ground. The 20th Division relieved the 24th Division by dawn on 22 August and on the night of 22/23 August, the 35th Division took over Angle Wood from the French.

Preparations for the next attack were interrupted by a German counter-attack on 23 August, when the Germans bombarded the lines of the 20th Division at 9:15 p.m. and attacked the area south of the railway. The advance was stopped by machine-gun fire but caused much confusion in the British positions, which were full of engineer and pioneer working parties. At 12:30 a.m. more German artillery-fire stopped work for the night and the 20th Division attack was cancelled in the morning. The infantry of the 35th Division had also been extensively bombarded and Rawlinson cancelled all of the XIV Corps attack, except on the right flank of the 35th Division to guard the French flank. At 5:45 p.m. on 24 August, the French attacked from the Somme to the British boundary. The left division of the French I Corps took the German second position south-east of Falfemont Farm and a defensive flank was formed on the left, which connected with the 35th Division below the Falfemont Farm spur. The rest of Maurepas was captured and I Corps pushed a salient east of the village, half-way to Le Forêt. On the night of 26 August the 5th Division relieved the 35th Division.

The 5th Division on the right of XIV Corps, assembled a battalion of the 13th Brigade in captured trenches on the Leuze Wood Spur, about 400 yards (370 m) short of Falfemont Farm on 3 September. The battalion attacked at 8:50 a.m. between Point 48 and the farm grounds on the left, as German defensive fire pinned down the French 127th Regiment in the ravine and the French barrage in support of the British was abruptly switched south against a German counter-attack. The British troops were fired on from the front and flanks, inflicting approximately 300 casualties. A renewal of the attack was ordered, as German artillery fired on the British assembly trenches. At noon the 95th Brigade attacked the spur north of Falfemont Farm towards Guillemont, both battalions took the German first line and then captured dug-outs and a machine-gun nest near Wedge Wood. The attack resumed at 12:50 p.m. and captured the German second line, from Wedge Wood to the south-eastern fringe of the village, against slight resistance. The right-hand battalion had many casualties when fired on from Falfemont Farm, as the 13th Brigade attacked it again and advanced towards Wedge Wood. Flanking machine-gun fire was encountered from Combles ravine as another French attack took place further south, towards Bois Douage north-east of Maurepas. A small advance was made on the left south of Wedge Wood but "feeble" British artillery support was inaccurate and the creeping barrage fell behind one of the attacking battalions.

The 95th Brigade advanced to the third objective on the Wedge Wood–Ginchy road, at 2:50 p.m. which was reached easily. Consolidation began, touch was gained with troops of the 20th Division in Guillemont and 150 prisoners were taken. The battalions in support had moved forward promptly and communication with the advance had been maintained by flares at each objective, which were reported by ground and air observers. The repulse of the 13th Brigade required its relief by the 15th Brigade, which delayed the attack on Falfemont Farm until 6:30 p.m. The attack on the right was stopped again by flanking machine-gun fire but Wedge Wood was captured on the left and touch gained with the 95th Brigade on the Ginchy road. A further advance by the 95th Brigade to the final objective was not made, despite the ground in front appearing to be empty of Germans, as the failure at Falfemont Farm and the position of the 20th Division to the north would have created a salient. Attacks were suspended until then next day, by Major-General Stephens the 5th Division commander at 7:35 p.m. The 5th Division battalions had about 700 men each before the attack and losses during the day were 40%, mostly wounded.

On the 20th Division front, the line had been pushed close to the west and south-west of Guillemont; assembly trenches dug near the station made an attack from the north-west feasible. The 59th Brigade due to attack the south end of the village, was so depleted that a battalion was attached from each of the 60th and 61st brigades and the 47th Brigade of the 16th Division relieved the 60th Brigade, for the attack on the northern part of the village. On the left flank of the 59th Brigade, a battalion advanced before zero hour through the British barrage and surprised the defence, as a battalion from the 47th Brigade did the same north of Mount Street. The main attack began at noon and in twenty minutes the 59th Brigade reached the first objective along the Hardecourt road to Mount Street, the left-hand battalion mopping-up at the quarry to the north, where the 47th Brigade battalion had pressed on. The left-hand battalion of the 47th Brigade attacked from the station and overran the German defences, as contact patrols reported the capture of the first objective by 12:30 p.m. The advance to the second objective began at 12:50 p.m. against much more artillery and machine-gun fire. Two battalions reinforced the 59th Brigade and one battalion leap-frogged through the right-hand battalion of the 47th Brigade.

By 1:15 p.m. the battalions consolidated near North and South streets, before advancing again at 2:50 p.m. to the Wedge Wood–Ginchy road against little opposition, as the 47th Brigade prolonged the line to the north. The infantry reorganised swiftly and before 3:30 p.m. a fresh battalion and a pioneer company occupied Guillemont and dug-in, touch being gained with 5th Division troops later. A report arrived at 5:15 p.m. that the 7th Division had been forced out of Ginchy, which led to the advance to Leuze Wood being cancelled apart from patrolling. German counter-attacks across the Guillemont–Ginchy road at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. were repulsed. Rain began after dark as the new line was consolidated, with the 59th Brigade along the Wedge Wood–Ginchy road and the 47th Brigade from Guillemont to the south-west corner of Ginchy. At dusk German aircraft appeared and an accurate bombardment began on the new positions. Supporting attacks by the Fourth Army further north failed and more were ordered by Rawlinson for 3:10 p.m. after a preliminary bombardment from dawn.

Dawn on 4 September was accompanied by wind and showers, as the 5th Division prepared to attack the German second position, from Point 48 to Wedge Wood and Valley Trench to the north. Two battalions from the 16th Division were attached to the 5th Division and one to the 20th Division. The 15th Brigade prepared to attack Falfemont Farm again, having gained touch with French troops overnight, who did not attack as arranged at 3:05 p.m., which led to the British being raked by machine-gun fire from Combles ravine. A party reached the farm and was bombed out, as a battalion began to bomb south-east from Wedge Wood and another battalion worked round covered by the spur, part of the farm being captured by 4:00 p.m. A frontal attack at 5:30 p.m. failed and a battalion was detailed to sap forward overnight. Patrols near the Leuze Wood spur prevented German reinforcements from moving forward and more seen advancing from Combles were dispersed by British artillery-fire. In the 95th Brigade area Valley Trench was occupied with one casualty and the edge of Leuze Wood was reached at 7:30 p.m., where the British barrage stopped the advance temporarily, before the wood was entered and consolidated, few German troops being seen.

The situation in Ginchy was obscure but British troops were believed to be in occupation and German troops were still holding out between the village and the Quadrilateral. Part of the 47th Brigade had been relieved overnight but the 59th Brigade troops were still present. During the afternoon only patrols advanced, reaching a line west of Leuze Wood, north-west to the Guillemont road as German sniping from Ginchy stopped troops advancing along the railway. The 59th Brigade was relieved overnight in heavy rain, by part of the 49th Brigade. In the early hours of 5 September, the 5th Division captured the rest of Falfemont Farm and patrolled towards Point 48, sending troops down Combles ravine, to link with the French at the railway in Savernake Wood and the 95th Brigade in Leuze Wood, reports reaching the 5th Division headquarters at 11:45 a.m. recommending that the advance continue. Rawlinson ordered an advance into Leuze Wood and the higher ground towards Ginchy. At 4:00 p.m. an attack on Combles Trench failed, as unseen wire was encountered in standing crops, as did a second attempt at 7:30 p.m. In the north the 95th Brigade advance into Leuze Wood was unopposed.

The 20th Division was relieved by the 16th Division during the morning and posts along the Guillemont–Leuze Wood road linked by a continuous trench, a battalion linking with the 5th Division in Leuze Wood. In the early morning of 6 September, as the rain stopped, the 56th Division relief of the 5th Division south of Leuze Wood was interrupted by a German counter-attack. On the left the 95th Brigade was relieved by the 49th Brigade, which crossed the Combles–Ginchy road and entered Bouleaux Wood, as German artillery bombarded the spur south-west of Leuze Wood all day. As night fell the 5th Division relief continued, despite a German counter-attack and by 10:30 p.m. the attack had been repulsed, the 56th Division completing the relief early on 7 September. Patrols on the left of the 16th Division attempting to advance along the railway, were stopped by fire from the Quadrilateral and the 48th Brigade received continuous shell-fire as the fighting in Ginchy continued. At 3:00 p.m. the 48th and 49th brigades began to advance at the brigade boundary, the 49th Brigade moving the left flank to face north-east and the 48th Brigade being stopped by fire from the Quadrilateral and Ginchy.

Order of Battle: Henry's 12 Battalion Royal Fusiliers were part of the 24th Division, XV Corps of the 4th Army

Attached Files

MM KIA Trio - HENRY WALKER - Battle of Guillemont - 24th Division.JPG (20.3 KB, 42 views)

**Darrell** · 10-30-2013, 12:29 PM

Map of operations for the Battle of Guillemont (indicated by red X on map):

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w

oNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w

ontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w

ontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="******45;-"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]-->

Attached Files

MM KIA Trio - HENRY WALKER - Battle of Guillemont Map 1.jpg (161.1 KB, 40 views)

**Darrell** · 10-30-2013, 12:30 PM

Typical destruction around the town of Guillemont:

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w

oNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w

ontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w

ontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="******45;-"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]-->

Attached Files

MM KIA Trio - HENRY WALKER - Battle of Guillemont Map 2.jpg (126.3 KB, 39 views)

**Darrell** · 10-30-2013, 12:36 PM

Henry’s name appears in the War Diaries of the 12<sup>th</sup> Royal Fusiliers on both 23 September 1916 and 19 November 1916 for the recognition of his efforts with the award of the Military Medal.

First are the War Diary Reports in which Henry's name is listed twice.

23 SEPTEMBER 1916 :

"Under authority granted by HM the King" Corps Commander has awarded the Military Medal to the following NCO men, 4796 Cpl K.F. MOORE & 5097 Pte H. WALKER.

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w

oNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w

ontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w

ontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]-->

Attached Files

1.jpg (121.4 KB, 37 views)

**Darrell** · 10-30-2013, 12:46 PM

19 NOVEMBER 1916 :

Damp morning. Ceremonial parade took place at the 26th Divisional HQ BRAQUEMONT where the Fifth Army Commanderpresented Medal Ribbons to the undermentioned officers, NCO and men.

2 Lt A.H. Lee, 5150 Sgt D. SMOOKE, 3125 Pte. F. Steward, 5097 Pte H. WALKER., 17873 SERGT G.E. BISHOP., 2542 SERGT. J.C. ALDWORTH., 2926 Pte. F. MYALL., 3856 L/Cpl H.N.C. DAVIES.

Attached Files

1.jpg (117.4 KB, 35 views)

**Darrell** · 10-30-2013, 12:50 PM

Henry’s gallantry during this time frame was documented in the London Gazette in the Tuesday 16 November 1916 Issue.

Front page of the 16 November 1916 LG:

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w

oNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w

ontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w

ontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="******45;-"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]-->

Attached Files

1.jpg (99.1 KB, 35 views)

**Darrell** · 10-30-2013, 12:51 PM

Page where Henry's name is listed (plus closeup of entry):

Attached Files

**Darrell** · 10-30-2013, 01:00 PM

Little less than a year later at the 3rd Battle for Ypres, Henry is shown missing in action, and later confirmed dead during the Battle of Pilckem Ridge 31 July 1917 (the first day of this battle).

Battle of Pilckem Ridge 31 July 1917

During this time the 12th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers were attached to 73rd Brigade in the 24th Division of the II Corps of the 5th Army who took part in this battle.

The Battle of Pilckem Ridge, 31 July – 2 August 1917, was the opening attack of the main part of the Third Battle of Ypres in the First World War. The battle took place in the Ypres Salient area of the Western Front. The Allied attack had mixed results; a substantial amount of ground was captured and a large number of casualties inflicted on the German defenders, except on the tactically vital Gheluvelt plateau on the right flank. The German defenders also recaptured some ground on the XIX Corps front, from the Ypres–Roulers railway, north to St. Julien. After several weeks of changeable weather, heavy rainfall began in the afternoon of 31 July and had a serious effect on operations in August, causing more problems for the British who were advancing into the area devastated by artillery fire and which was partly flooded. The battle became controversial, with disputes about the predictability of the August deluges and for its mixed results, which in much British writing were blamed on misunderstandings between Gough and Haig and on faulty planning, rather than on the resilience of the German defence.

The attack began at 3:50 a.m. on the 31st July, which was intended to coincide with dawn but low cloud meant that it was still dark. The main British effort in the offensive was made by II Corps across the Ghelveult Plateau, on the southern flank of the Fifth Army. II Corps had the most difficult task, advancing against the principal German defensive concentration of artillery, ground-holding and Eingreif divisions. The 17th Brigade on the right of 24th Division reached its objective 1,000 yards (910 m) east of Klein Zillebeke. The 73rd Brigade in the centre was stopped by German pillboxes at Lower Star Post and 72nd Brigade on the left reached the Bassevillebeek but then had to withdraw to a line south from Bodmin Copse, a few hundred yards short of the blue line (first objective).

The 30th Division with a brigade of the 18th Division, had to advance across the Gheluvelt plateau to Glencorse Wood. The 21st Brigade on the right lost the barrage, as it crossed the wreckage of Sanctuary Wood and took until 6:00 a.m. to capture Stirling Castle Ridge. Attempts to advance further were stopped by German machine-gun fire. The 90th Brigade to the left was stopped on the first objective. German artillery fire fell on Sanctuary Wood and Chateau Wood from 5:00 a.m. and succeeded in stopping the advance, except for a short move forward of about 300 yards (270 m) south of Westhoek. In the dark a battalion had veered left into Chateau Wood, in the 8th Division sector and reported that it had captured Glencorse Wood. The attached 53rd Brigade of 18th Division moved forward, into ground that both divisions believed to be clear of German defenders, it was not until 9:00 a.m. that the mistake became known to the divisional commanders. The 53rd Brigade spent the rest of the day attacking an area that 30th Division had been intended to clear. 30th Division and 24th Division failed to advance far due to the boggy ground, loss of direction in the dark and because much of the German machine-gun defence on this section of the front remained intact.

The 8th Division advanced towards Westhoek and took the Blue and Black lines relatively easily. The southern flank then became exposed to the concentrated fire of German machine-guns from Nonne Boschen and Glencorse Wood in the area to be taken by the 30th Division. The difficulties of the 30th Division further south were unknown to the 8th Division, until just before the 25th Brigade was due to advance over Westhoek Ridge. Brigadier-General Coffin decided that it was too late to stop the attack and sent a company of the reserve battalion to fill the gap to the south, which was not enough to stop German enfilade fire, so the Brigade consolidated on the reverse slope and held the crest with Lewis-gun posts. Pockets of ground lost to German counter-attacks were regained by British counter-attacks. British artillery barrages made it impossible for German infantry advance further in this area.

XIX Corps attacked with 15th Division on the right, next to the II Corps boundary along the Ypres–Roulers railway and 55th Division north to just short of St Julien. Their objective was the black line up the bare slope of Frezenberg Ridge, then across the valley of the Steenbeek to the green line on the far side. If German resistance collapsed, reserve brigades were to advance to the red line beyond Gravenstafel. The advance went well but then increasing resistance from fortified farms caused delays. Several tanks managed to follow the British infantry and attack strong-points like Bank Farm and Border House, allowing the advance to continue. After a pause for consolidation on the black line, the reserve brigades of the XIX Corps divisions began their advance to the green line a mile beyond, as the sun came out and a mist formed. On the right the advance encountered enfilade fire, from the area not occupied by 8th Division beyond the Ypres–Roulers railway. 164th Brigade of 55th Division had a hard fight through many German strong-points but took Hill 35 and crossed the Wilhelm (second) line, an eventual advance of about 4,000 yards (3,700 m). Patrols pressed beyond the Zonnebeek–Langemarck road, one platoon taking fifty prisoners at Aviatik Farm on Gravenstafel spur.

XVIII Corps reached the first objective and after an hour moved down to the Steenbeek, one of the muddiest parts of the battlefield, behind a smoke and shrapnel barrage. The 39th and 51st Divisions then established themselves on the stream for 3,000 yards (2,700 m), from St Julien to the Pilckem–Langemarck road. Several tanks were able to help capture strong-points delaying the advance and outposts were established across the stream.

The attack had most success in the north in the area of XIV Corps, with the Guards Division and 38th Division and I Corps of the French First Army. A lack of German activity east of the Yser canal had led to the Guards Division crossing it without artillery preparation in the afternoon of 27 July. The German front line was found to be empty so the Guards lurked forward 500–700 yards (460–640 m) beyond the canal, as did the French 1st Division on the left. The 38th Division front line was on the east side and it moved forward slightly against German small-arms and artillery-fire. On this section of the front, the Entente forces advanced 3,000–3,500 yards (2,700–3,200 m) to the line of the Steenbeek River. The preliminary bombardment had succeeded in destroying the front line of the German position and the creeping barrage supported the infantry attack at least as far as the first objective. The infantry and some tanks dealt with German strongpoints encountered after the first line and forward battle zone had been penetrated, pushing on towards the further objectives. A number of field batteries moved forward once the black line had been captured, to join those established there before the attack, which had remained silent to avoid detection. Small cavalry probes were also carried out but German fire stopped them before they reached the green line.

At noon the advance on the II Corps front had been stopped by the local German defenders and their artillery. The arrival of the British advance further north on the green line, 500 yards (460 m) beyond the Steenbeek on the XIX Corps front at about 11:00 a.m. took a long time to be communicated to the British divisional headquarters because of mist, slow going by runners, cut signal cables and poor reconnaissance results from contact-patrol aircraft, caused by troops being unwilling to light flares while overlooked by German defences. Around 3:00 p.m. Gough ordered all XIX Corps troops to advance to the green line, in support of the three brigades which had reached it. Delays persisted and a German force approaching from behind the Broodseinde–Passchendaele ridge was not seen by British aircraft. A message from a ground observer did not reach 15th Division headquarters until 12:53 p.m. and rain began soon after, cutting off the view of advanced British troops by artillery observers.

A German creeping barrage began at 2:00 p.m. along XIX Corps front, then German troops attacked the flanks of the most advanced British positions. The 39th Division was pushed back to St Julien, exposing the left of the 55th Division, just as it was attacked frontally over the Zonnebeke spur by six waves of German infantry, preceded by a barrage and three aircraft which bombed and machine-gunned British troops. Attempts to hold the ground between the black and green lines failed, due to the communication breakdown, the speed of the German advance and worsening visibility as the rain increased during the afternoon. The 55th and 15th division brigades beyond the black line, were rolled up from north to south and either retreated or were overrun. It took until 6:00 p.m. for the Germans to reach the Steenbeek, as the downpour added to the mud and flooding in the valley. When the Germans were 300 yards (270 m) from the black line, the British stopped the German advance with artillery and machine-gun fire.

The success of the British advance in the centre of the front caused serious concern to the Germans. The defensive system was designed to deal with some penetration but it was meant to prevent the 4,000-yard (3,700 m) advance that XVIII and XIX Corps had achieved. German reserves from the vicinity of Passchendaele, had been able to begin their counter-attack at 11:00–11:30 a.m. when the three British brigades facing the counter-attack by regiments of the German 221st and 50th Reserve Divisions of Group Ypres, were depleted and thinly spread. The British brigades could not communicate with their artillery due to the rain and because the Germans also used smoke shell in their creeping barrage. The German counter-attack was able to drive the British back from the green line along the Zonnebek–Langemarck road, pushing XIX Corps back to the black line. The Germans also recaptured St Julien just west of the green line on the XVIII Corps front, where the counter-attack was stopped by mud, artillery and machine-gun fire. The three most advanced British brigades had lost 70% casualties by the time they had withdrawn from the green line.

On the flanks of the Entente attack, German counter-attacks had little success. In the XIV Corps area, German attacks made no impression against British troops, who had had time to dig in but managed to push back a small bridgehead of the 38th Division from the east bank of the Steenbeek, after having suffered heavy losses from British artillery, when advancing around Langemarck. The Guards Division north of the Ypres–Staden railway held its ground; the French repulsed the Germans around St Janshoek and followed up to capture Bixschoote. German counter-attacks in the afternoon against II Corps on the Gheluvelt plateau, intended to recapture Westhoek Ridge, were able to advance a short distance from Glencorse Wood, before the 18th Division artillery and a counter-attack pushed them back again. In the Second Army area south of the plateau at La Basse Ville, a powerful attack at 3:30 p.m. was repulsed by the New Zealand Division. X Corps also managed to hold its gains around Klein Zillibeke against a big German attack at 7:00 p.m.

Sometime during those pitched battles of the 31s July Henry lost his life. Exactly where is lost to time, but he was one of several thousands who met the same fate.

The British Official History gives Fifth Army casualties for 31 July – 3 August as 27,001; 3,697 being killed. Second Army casualties 31 July – 2 August are 4,819; 769 killed, the 19th Division losing 870 casualties. German Fourth Army casualties for 21–31 July were approximately 30,000, excluding wounded whose recovery was to be expected in a reasonable time. The British Official Historian added another 10,000 for this category, a practice which has been questioned ever since. According to Albrecht von Thaer, a staff officer at Group Wytschaete, units may have survived physically but they no longer had the mental ability to continue.

Map of the area where Henry lost his life on the first day of battle (31 July 1917):

Attached Files

MM KIA Trio - HENRY WALKER - Battle of Pilckem Ridge 31 July 1917 Map.JPG (157.8 KB, 32 views)

**Darrell** · 10-30-2013, 01:10 PM

Some of the Battle Reports for the fighting that took place during the time leading up to and the 31st of July 1917:

Attached Files

**Darrell** · 10-30-2013, 01:11 PM

..

Attached Files

**Darrell** · 10-30-2013, 01:12 PM

...

Attached Files

Announcement

MM WW1 KIA Trio Group to Henry Walker - 12 BN Royal Fusiliers

MM WW1 KIA Trio Group to Henry Walker - 12 BN Royal Fusiliers

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Users Viewing this Thread