Friday 25th August 1916

Huts along the Rue du Sac, near Pont d’Achelles

The men were up early. Tea was provided at 2 am and the Battalion marched off at 3 am, via Romarin to rendezvous with their guides at Hyde Park Corner, west of Ploegsteert Wood. From there they were led to the front line positions which they were to occupy. These ran from just south of Factory Farm north-west to Prowse Point, including the new section of trench which they had themselves dug just a few days earlier. Company Commanders, along with the Lewis Gun and Bombing Officers, each accompanied by an NCO were in position by 2pm to take over trench stores and inspect the line. By 6 am all four Companies were in position in the front line. The weather remained fine and British artillery fired intermittently throughout the day. During the day the Germans were very quiet, but “as darkness came along he was somewhat busy with machine-gun and rifle fire, all of which passed harmlessly overhead”.

Pte. Frank Brooks (see 29^th July), who had been officially missing in action since 29^th July, was now confirmed as having been taken prisoner by the Germans; he had been wounded in action and had had his left foot amputated.

Six new subalterns posted to join the Battalion arrived in France. 2Lt. Robert Main Graham was 23 years old; he was the youngest son of Daniel and Isabella Graham. He had been born and brought up in Glasgow and had attended the University, where he was a member of the OTC. He had been commissioned in August 1915. 2Lt. Arthur Halstead (see 6^th July) had been commissioned from the A.S.C.; he was 22 years old. 2Lt. Benjamin Owen Hunt was 21 years old; he was from Brighton, the second of nine children of Benjamin and Gertrude Hunt. His father, Benjamin, had built up a successful business but had died on 11^th October 1910. On 15^th September 1914 Hunt had volunteered to serve with 1^st Home Counties (Territorial) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, with whom he served in England firstly as a gunner, and latterly as a driver, until he was commissioned on 31^st May 1915. 2Lt. Godfrey Samuel Isaacs was 20 years old; he was the son of Samuel and Emma Isaacs and had been born and brought up in Brixton. He had enlisted as a trooper in the Surrey Yeomanry (Queen Mary’s Regiment) on 1^st October 1914 and served in England until being commissioned on 18^th May 1915. 2Lt. John Edward Lennard (sic.) Payne was 32 years old, the son of Rev. Charles Lennard Payne, Little Brunswick Rectory, Billericay, Essex. He had enlisted in 16^th (Public Schools) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment on 5^th September 1914, at which point he gave his occupation as ‘artist’ and declared that he had previously lived for some time in Brunswick, Germany. He had been commissioned on 7^th May 1915. A week after being commissioned he had married Florence Julia Rensham. George Henry Roberts was three days short of his 26^th birthday; he was one of seven children of Edward and Mary Roberts. His father owned a clothier’s business in Huddersfield, while George had worked for a local grocer before the war. He had enlisted with West Ridings in August 1914 and had remained with 11^th (Reserve) Battalion for the next year, rising to the rank of Acting Sergeant, before being commissioned on 15^th September 1915.

2Lt. Benjamin Owen Hunt
Image by kind permission of Neville Hunt

Acting Corporal Stephen Brown Airey, serving with 4^th Cameron Highlanders, was confirmed Lance Corporal and posted to France; he would later be commissioned and serve with 10DWR. He was one of eight children of Francis and Isabella Airey and had been born, on 23rd October 1890, in Grassington, though the family had subsequently moved to Skipton. He initially worked as a factory hand but had then taken up a post as a policeman with West Riding Constabulary. On 13^th August 1915, in Leeds, he had enlisted in 3^rd (Territorial) Cameron Highlanders and six weeks later had been appointed Acting Corporal. He had been transferred to 3^rd Battalion on 12^th July.

Pte. Clifford Gough (see 22^nd July), who had only been with the Battalion for a month, was admitted via 70^th Field Ambulance to 23^rd Division Rest Station, suffering from myalgia; he would spend a week there before returning to duty on 1^st September.

In Sedbergh, North Yorkshire, Mr. T.P. Shaw, proprietor of Shaws Grocers and Confectioners, wrote a character reference for Albert Hoggarth, who was shortly to be called up to join the Army; Albert would later be posted to 10DWR and serve with ‘A’ Company. Mr. Shaw stated that, “Albert Hoggarth has been in my employ since May 1913. During these three years he has had sole charge of the bakery and has done all the baking and cooking in the most satisfactory manner. He is very energetic and can be strongly recommended to any post.” Albert Hoggarth was 25 years old and had been born in Kendal, the only son (with three sisters) of Joseph and Elizabeth Hoggarth. His mother had died when Albert was only a child and his father had re-married in 1899 and he and his second wife, Mary Eleanor, had two further children before Jospeh had died in 1907. Albert had attested under the Derby Scheme on 20^th November 1915.