Soldier Record

Twenty five years ago I was privileged to inherit my father's memorabilia from the Great War. Included were his medals, a few photographs and various documents including his army reference, and diary from 1915. As Dad died in 1945 just before my eleventh birhday I had no knowledge of his active service, but as a retirement project I was compelled to research and discover where the war took him.

Within days of Kitchener's call to arms he volunteered on 4 September 1914 enlisting in the 1/1 st Bucks Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. He was twenty years old. Four days later he moved to Chelmsford spending almost seven months training. During late March the battalion entrained for Folkestone then embarking on the steamship INVICTA for the channel crossing to Bolougne.

Moving east across Northern France they headed for The Western Front and trenches bordering the eastern fringes of Ploegsteert Wood in southern Belgium. Dad's diary entry 9 April 1915 briefly states "went in the firing line", an unforgettable experience. The battalion was in the 145th Brigade, 48th South Midland Division.

Following a brief period defending the Douve trenches facing the Messines Ridge the division left Belgium on 24 June moving back into France and The Somme, first relieving the French Army east of H'buterne. The division was actively involved before, during and after The Battle of The Somme, predominately in the Pozires area.

During late March 1917 the division moved again to the Hindenburg Line east of P'ronne, but their time there was relatively brief. Following a successful night attack 16/17 April on the German lines at Tombois Farm they returned to the northern Somme area during mid July. Then further orders they moved back to Belgium.

The horrendous Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele Offensive) was imminent. Their first main objective was to the west of St Julien towards Pilckem Ridge during the battle of Langemarck. Following a brief rest period they returned, but then further objectives were to the east of St Julien during the push towards Passchendaele.

Leaving the Ypres Salient during late October 1917 they were briefly at Vimy. The division's final move during late November 1917 was to Northern Italy and the densely forested mountains surrounding the Asiago Plateau. The battle of Asiago commenced at 3.00 am during the night of 15/16 June 1918. By September it became evident that morale within the Austro-Hungarian forces was severely weakened and time was right for for that final push. Little opposition was experienced as the 48th division swept through the mountains, completely overwhelming the enemy, finally forcing an unconditional surrender and the Armistice in Italy effective 3.00 pm 4 November 1918.

Dad finally returned to England (Purfleet) on 12 February 1919 for demobilisation 9 March 1919.