1st July 1916

[First day of the Battle of the Somme.]

The hour-long barrage lifted at 7.25 am, the troops went 'over the top' into a smoke screen, were cut down in droves by heavy enemy machine-gun, rifle, and artillery fire. The few men who reached the opposing trenches found that the wire had been partially cut but not removed by the preparatory artillery fire, so were unable to make any progress. Just over half of the battalion was destroyed in that morning, mostly in the first few minutes. Later reports told that most of the casualties were the work of one enemy machine-gun that had not been suppressed in the north-west corner of Gommecourt village. The 1/6th South Staffordshire regiment now numbered about 250 men.

1st Saturday
Staffs Infantry lead Charge and go over top at 7.30am.
46 Division make a Charge at Foncquevillers and Staffs Bgde reach Germans where from which they are forced to return, being greatly outnumbered, the German shell fire was deadly and terrific casualties numbering 2000 for Div.
Notts & Derbys make an advance, British advance at several points.

[On this the first day of the first Battle of the Somme, British Army casualties were approximately 21000 killed and 25000 wounded.]

2nd Sunday
I am on Hospital duty during Charge, at Gaudiempre, wounded continue to come in convoys. Colley, B Sect killed on 1/7/16 and several Notts & Derbys. British continue to bombard on a long front and infantry attacks and successes at many points.
Bearers return from trenches.
46 Div come out of action.

2nd Sunday

I am on hospital duty during Charge, at Gaudiempre,wounded continue to come in convoys. Colley,B Sect killed on 1-7-16 and several Notts & Derbys. British continue to bombard on a long front and infantry attacks and successes at many points. Bearers return from trenches.46 Div come out of action.

3rd Monday
Advance party of B Sect leave Gaudiempre and march to Bailleulval and take over dressing station 1 1/2 miles in rear of line. Quiet time.
Motor orderly.

4th Tuesday
Bailleulval.
Motor orderly.
Travelling to La Herlière Headquarters and Hospital.
Aft. Berles and La Herlière.

9th Sunday
From Bailleulval to La Herlière.
No. 18 car finished first week up line.

10th Monday
Car returns to La Herlière and journeys to Couturelle and Doullens, Avesnes and Frevent.

12th Wednesday
Went to Bailleulval to baths, and on to ADMS.
Return to Hospital La Herlière and from there to Berles.

13th Thursday/14th Friday
Car goes to 2nd NMFA and 1st NMFA with dental cases. At night all Cars are sent up to Berles at 10pm o’clock in readiness for casualties from our bombing attack. Terrific bombarding by our artillery for some hours. Cars return to La Herlière at 5.30am o’clock.

15th Saturday
Doullens by Car, taking eye cases.

17th Monday
Motor Orderly.
Berles.

21st Friday
New General inspects the Unit and Cars, all is satisfactory.

22nd Saturday
Motor orderly.
Car staying at Head Quarters La Herlière
Went to Doullens and Frévent 60 miles in all.

26th Wednesday
Doullens by Car, and Bavincourt.

28th Friday
Left La Herlière for Berles to work the line, constantly taking sick and wounded from Dressing Station to Hospital La Herlière.

29th Saturday
Called up at 3am o’clock to take wounded man to Hospital La Herlière, again at 2pm and 10pm.
Heavy bombardments.

30th Sunday
Journeyed to Hospital at 2am, B Sect relieved from lines and take over Hospital at La Herlière, A Sect coming up the line.

31st Monday
Returned for duty to B Sect, who are running Hospital at Berles, at which I am put on Orderly Duty No. 1 ward, hours 7am to 7pm, all beds full.