Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the husband of Mary Jane Hammond. He was a horseman on a farm before enlistment. He embarked for France on the 29th November 1916 and he was killed by a shell. The War Diary for today records that the Battalion were in the Front Line in the Noyelles, Marcoing Sector. A quiet night, patrolling carried out by two front Company’s but nothing definite ascertained. At 8.00am the enemy commenced a heavy bombardment over a wide area, chiefly to the south and apparently a preliminary to an attack. All communications except by runner, to both front and rear was soon cut off . The last Company to whom communication could be maintained being B Company which continued to report okay until 9.20am. At 10.20am C Company reported everything all right. At 9.30am 9th Suffolk Regiment on left reported enemy coming down Canal Bank, side unknown and smoke barrage north west of Noyelles. At 10.00am okay was received from a Company of 9th Suffolk Regiment in Noyelles by -?- -?-. At 11.30am D Company report by runner no sign of the enemy attack on our front. Artillery activity by the enemy still considerable and enemy aeroplanes flying at all altitudes in large numbers. At 11.35am Brigade message by runner states enemy attack is on right and that flank requires protection. Enemy reported to have broken through between 20th and 29th Division or both. Messages from Brigade and 2nd Sherwood Foresters report enemy seen advancing on right between Masnieres and Marcoing, latter place was heavily shelled throughout the morning. At 12.30pm Report received. Enemy reported moving between Fontaines and Cantaine by this to -?- left flank advanced by 71st Infantry Brigade. Front line Company’s report okay at this minute. At 1.05pm 71st Infantry Brigade Operational Order number 258 received advising action to be taken in the event of a retirement from Noyelles considered necessary. All Company’s instructed accordingly. At 2.00pm 29th Division on our right report via 71st Infantry Brigade that their positions are intact (12.20pm) so far as 87th Infantry Brigade on our immediate right is concerned. At 2.30pm B Company report having been shelled out of their positions and digging in along west edge of Noyelles – Marcoing Road about L.17 c central M.O. reports R.A.P. compelled to evacuate position in Marcoing owing to heavy enemy shelling and prospect of attack, and new position taken up at L.16 a 15.10. At 5.20pm Brigade advise proposed relief cancelled. At 6.40pm Enemy were reported to have captured right post of 9th Suffolk Regiment east of Noyelles. Mutual action taken by 9th Suffolk Regiment right front Company and our left front Company resulted in post being re established at 10.45pm. Battalion HQ’s was heavily shelled throughout the artillery bombardment. Day closed without further action on part of enemy. Patrols reported enemy present on eastern side of Noyelles. The War Diary records for the Gouzeaucourt Sector, at 8.00am the enemy suddenly appeared at Gouzeaucourt having broken through our lines east of that place. The situation was critical, as no knowledge had been obtained of the attack or its strengths and no defensive positions had been prepared. Details at Transport Lines held up the enemy while the Transport was being got ready for withdrawal. Transport moved to Fins 15 minutes after first warning and got away with total casualties of 1 horse killed by Machine Gun fire. Details of all Transport’s held up the enemy until the arrival of Tanks, dismounted Cavalry and the Guards who attacked and drove the enemy back. Casualties, other ranks A Company 1 killed, 1 wounded and 1 missing. B Company 1 killed and 14 wounded. C Company 3 wounded.