Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Walter Henry Galpin Attwooll, born 1854 in Portland, Dorset and his wife Eliza Emma Attwooll (nee Toop, married on the 12th October 1887 in Wells, Somerset), born 1st September 1861 in Wells, Somerset. Reginald Walter was born 12th July 1893 in Evercreech, Somerset. In March 1901 Reginald was absent from the family home at Poyle Farm, Tongham, Seale, Farnham, Surrey, residing there was his father, a farm bailiff, his mother and siblings, John Galpin, born 20th August 1888 and Hilda Jane B., born 1891, both his siblings were born in Wyke Regis, Dorset, Reginald was residing at Kilkenny Villas, 2, Taunton, Somerset, this being the family home of his widowed Grandmother, Jane Hoddinott, born 1840 in Dorchester, Dorset and her son, William G. Attwooll, a commercial traveller, born 1863 in Dorset also residing in the family home was Reginald’s Cousin, Rhoda I. Galpin, an artist and sculptor, born 1881 in Finchley, Middlesex. In April 1911 Reginald was employed as an agricultural worker and was residing in the family home at Mill House, Putley, Ledbury, Herefordshire together with his father, a gardener and small holder, his mother and siblings, John, a chemical manufacturer’s commercial traveller, Hilda and Mary Galpin, born 29th May 1901 in Tongham, Surrey, also residing in the family home was Reginald’s widowed maternal Grandmother, Elizabeth Toop, born 1819 in Barrow, Somerset. At the time that Reginald enlisted into the Army he was engaged as a farm worker at Hat Farm, Lubbesthorpe, Leicestershire. In 1939 Reginald’s widowed mother still resided at Mill House, Ledbury.
Reginald attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (Three years with the Colours.) on the 12th September 1914 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as -?-, Somersetshire, his age as 21 years and 40 days and his trade or calling as farm hand. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father Walter Attwooll, his mother Emma Attwooll, his brother John Attwooll and sisters, Mary Attwooll and Hilda Attwooll, of Putley, Ledbury, Herefordshire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 10¼ inches in height, weighed 156 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 38 and 42 inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was light brown and he had hazel eyes. His physical development was described as good. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for General Service on the 12th September 1914 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 9/14974 on the 12/9/14. Posted to the 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 24/9/14. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 29/7/15. Appointed unpaid Lance Corporal, in the field on the 10/11/15. Killed in action, in the field on the 14/7/16. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 12/9/14 – 28/7/15, 320 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 29/7/15 – 14/7/16, 352 days. Total service 1 year 307 days. He was awarded the 1915 Star, British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Reginald’s father Walter Henry Attwooll on the 17th May 1919, and was witnessed and signed by F. W. -?- -?-, Clerk in Holy Orders, Putley, Ledbury, Hereford on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, Walter Henry Attwooll of Mill House, Putley. Mother of soldier, Eliza Emma Attwooll of Mill House, Putley. Full blood brother of soldier, John Attwooll, age 30 of Stinchcombe, Nr. Dursley. Full blood sisters of soldier, Hilda Attwooll, age 29 of Stinchcombe, Nr. Dursley, Gloucester. Mary Attwooll, age 17 of Mill House, Putley. Reginald’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and some of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 14 Jul-16 - FRICOURT. Battalion moved off at 12.15am and moved up to the southern edge of MAMETZ WOOD. Fairly heavy shelling. They reached the reserve position MAMETZ WOOD 500 yards west of the front edge at 3.20am just as intense bombardment of German trenches began, and either went into existing trenches or dug in. At 5.20am “B” Company (Captain ANDERSON) and 1 platoon of “A” Company moved over to BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD to reinforce the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT They finally reached the north of the wood of village and as far as possible dug themselves in. They were mixed up with the 6th, 7th and 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT. Heavy casualties including all Company officers. At 6.00am remainder of “A” Company moved to German 1st line trench and started to consolidate it. 2 platoons of “C” Company taken to Brigade Headquarters for carrying. At 8.15am Lieutenant Colonel HAIG with “D” Company and ½ of “C” Company moved to BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD. Lieutenant Colonel HAIG had orders to take over defence on the north western and western edge of the wood which was being heavily shelled. At 8.45am “D” Company (Lieutenant NOLAN) directed on the north western corner of the wood to clear wood and dig in on the edge. 2 platoons of “C” Company in support trench with Battalion Headquarters. Between 9.00am and 12.00 noon “D” Company met with heavy opposition and reached forward support line but failed to clear wood. Lieutenant NOLAN was killed. Lieutenant de LISLE and Lieutenant SMITH were wounded. Between 12.00 noon and 3.00pm Germans threatened counter attack, very heavy shelling of all lines. “A” Company brought to Battalion Headquarters and 2 platoons sent to reinforce 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT. At 12.00 noon Colonel KUMME, 2 officers and 30 men captured by “D” Company. Between 4.00pm and 7.00pm Brigadier came and ordered all available men to attack the north western edge of the wood. Lieutenant Colonel HAIG, Captain EMMETT and 2nd Lieutenant STEPHENS with about 50 men advanced roping in about 100 men of 1st EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT as supports. Captain EMMETT with 40 men reached the north western edge of the wood and killed 4 German observers and attempted to charge the German trenches 50 yards from the edge of the wood. Captain EMMETT and 36 men were killed by machine gun fire. Meanwhile Lieutenant Colonel HAIG with the 1st EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT and a few of the 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT had reached the railway line and came under enfilade
machine gun fire (Lieutenant STEPHENS was killed). The edge of the wood close to the village was cleared and a small drive was organised towards Captain EMMETT’S party. They came under heavy sniping fire and Lieutenant HINCKLEY was wounded and most of his men killed or wounded. 7.00pm all posts started consolidating where they were. Patrols sent out constantly from the strong posts. Rough positions as below (On the Battalion Diary page a rough sketch shows the positions of the Companies) Between 9.00pm and 11.00pm heavy shelling and enemy rifle fire but no actual organised attack.