Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of James Atter a solicitor, born 1870 in Stamford, Lincolnshire and his wife Margaret (nee Plaskitt, married in the 4th quarter of 1895 in the Kensington, Middlesex district), born 1870 in Chapel Street, Belgrave Square, London. Christopher Francis, was born in the 3rd quarter of 1898 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, he had one sibling, a brother James Edward, born 1897 in Melton Mowbray, in March 1901 the family home was at Windybrow, Burton Road, Melton Mowbray. In April 1911 Christopher was absent from the family home at Burton Road, Melton Mowbray, residing there was his father, a solicitor, his mother and siblings, Margaret Nowell, a schoolgirl, born 1902, Dorothy May, born 1906 and David Lawrance, born 1909, all three siblings were born in Melton Mowbray. Christopher was educated at Oakham School, Rutland. His elder brother James who upon enlistment had been allocated the service number 2064, Christopher was allocated the number 2063, would indicate that both brothers enlisted at the same time. James also fell in action.
The War Diary records: 21 Mar-18 - VAULX. On the 20th March at midnight a telephone message was received from the Brigade Major ordering the Battalion to “Stand To” in battle positions at 5.30am on the 21st March in accordance with instructions laid down in the 71st Infantry Brigade Defence Scheme. At the time working parties were out as follows:- 6 officers and 216 other ranks from B, D and HQ’s Company’s. 1 officer and 76 other ranks from A Company. 1 officer and 76 other ranks from C Company. Working parties were ordered to return by Brigade Major. At 4.30am B and A Company’s left camp for the assembly area (I.3.C.) 5 officers and 110 other ranks strong. The working parties not having returned from work. At 5.30am the positions were taken up in the assembly area, C Company were already in position. A heavy bombardment commenced at 5.00am. Apparently the alarm this time was a genuine one. At 6.30am 6 officers and 216 other ranks of B, D and HQ’s Company’s reported in assembly area. They had not returned too long from working parties (5.15am). and were somewhat exhausted, having marched five miles each way to work, and having done a heavy nights work. Some shelling of Battalion assembly area during the morning, but no casualties were sustained. No news was received from A Company whose battle position was 1 platoon in C.29.a. Company less one platoon in Vaulx – Morchies line. At 7.30am wire received from Brigade advising that enemy were concentrating in Corn Hill Valley. At 9.30am Commanding Officer visited Brigade HQ’s and received verbal instructions to move 2 Company’s owing to the enemy having driven in the left front of the Brigade sector. At 10.40am C and D Company’s were ordered to move. Officer Commanding C Company to go to right Battalion HQ’s and place his Company at the disposal of the Officer Commanding 9th Norfolk Regiment, and D Company to hold the trench running from Lagnicourt Switch and C.29.b. 10.90 to C.29.b. 90.70 to cover the southern exits from Lagnicourt, and trenches C.29.b. 90.70 to C.30.a. 30.80. The reasons for the move were that information had been received that the enemy was in Lagnicourt, and these two Company’s were sent forward to protect the left flank of the Brigade, as apparently Lagnicourt Switch was not held and enemy had broken through, reaching C.28.b. 90.90 and the strong point C.29.a. between 10.00 and 11.00am. At 10.57am C and D Company’s moved off to take up their new positions. At 2.00pm nothing of note occurred in the vicinity occupied by Battalion HQ’s and B Company until at 1.40pm orders came from Brigade that B Company was to be ready to move into the Vaulx – Morchies line and take up a position between Lagnicourt – Maricourt Wood Road and Vaulx Wood. Order to move received at 2.00pm. At 2.10pm B Company moved off, followed immediately by Battalion HQ’s, move steadily carried out despite very heavy Machine Gun fire in the neighbourhood of Vaulx Wood. The Company and Battalion HQ’s reached the trench with comparatively few casualties. B Company took up a position rather too much to the left, but they arrived just in time to eject a few of the enemy who had managed to force an entry into the Vaulx – Morchies line. The line was too thickly held on the left of our front, and very thinly on the right. Attempts made to side step to the right were fraught with difficulty owing to the trench not being continuous, and the gaps to cross when one had to go over the open were swept by Machine Gun fire and marked down by enemy snipers. No touch could be obtained with the troops on the right of Lagnicourt – Maricourt Wood Road, owing to the fact there was no trench line for a considerable distance. At about 4.30pm a runner crossed this road with a message from the Officer Commanding 459th Field Company, saying they were holding the line on the right, but were, so far as they knew unsupported, as they had no touch with troops on either flank. At 5.30pm one Company of the 2nd South Lancashire Regiment (25th Division) reported in Vaulx – Morchies line, they were put in on left of Brigade sector. B Company side stepping to the right. Remainder of sector on right as far as Lagnicourt – Maricourt Wood Road held by a portion of the 509th Field Company, and one Company of the 11th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment (C Company commanded by Captain Spencer). At 6.40pm orders were received from Brigade that Battalion HQ’s should move at dusk to Brigade HQ’s in Vaulx, Brigade HQ’s is moving to H.12.d. between Vaulx and Beugnatre. At 8.00pm the move was completed HQ shared with 2nd South Lancashire Regiment, 8th Border Regiment, 1st King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, 2nd York and Lancaster Regiment and 1st East Kent Regiment (Buffs). So far, no news at all of A, C and D Company’s. One further Company of 2nd South Lancashire Regiment had been put in the Vaulx – Morchies line at dusk one immediately on each side of the Lagnicourt – Maricourt Wood Road. At 8.30pm a runner arrived from A Company with the report that 1 platoon of A Company had been practically wiped out at strong point C.29.a. during the morning. The remainder of the Company are in battle position in Vaulx – Morchies line between Crucifix - Morchies and C.29.a. 30.20 9th Norfolk Regiment and 2nd Sherwood Foresters had also withdrawn to this line, and the disposition in the Brigade sector was:- right to left 9th Norfolk Regiment A Company and C Company, 2nd Sherwood Foresters, 459th Field Company 9 men with a Machine Gun, D Company (right at Morchies – Crucifix, left at C.29.c. 60.50), 2 Company’s of the South Lancashire Regiment, B and C Company of the 11th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment and 1 Company of the South Lancashire Regiment. The left of the sector being in line with the north east corner of Vaulx Wood. The strengths of the various units and Company’s as far as known at the present time, A Company 1 officer and 70 other ranks, C Company 1 officer and 37 other ranks, D Company 3 officers and 112 other ranks, B Company 4 officers and 110 other ranks, Battalion HQ’s 4 officers and 40 other ranks. 9th Norfolk Regiment 120 all ranks, 2nd Sherwood Foresters 120 all ranks. Returns came up during the night and were sent to all Company’s. Lieutenant G. Mansfield returned from leave and joined D Company. Lieutenant Frampton 71st Trench Mortar Battery joined our D. Company. Casualties, other ranks A Company 6 killed, 22wounded, 24 missing, B Company 2 killed, 7 wounded, C. Company 4 killed, 12 wounded, D. Company 2 killed, 10 wounded, 1 missing. Officer’s killed Lieutenant, Acting Captain J. H. Harbottle, Lieutenant C. F. Atter, Lieutenant C. T. Lancaster, 2nd Lieutenant G. A. Roberts, 2nd Lieutenant N. G. Fidoe. Officer’s wounded Lieutenant C. H. Watson, 2nd Lieutenant A. G. Escudier, 2nd Lieutenant W. Jones. Officer’s missing Lieutenant J. O. Vessey M.C., 2nd Lieutenant T. C. A. Clarke.
On Friday April 5th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – LIEUT. C. F. ATTER KILLED. – We much regret to record the death of Lieut. Christopher F. Atter, of the Leicestershire Regt. (elder surviving son of Mr. and Mrs. James Atter, Windybrow, Melton Mowbray), who was killed in action on March 21st. The sad news was conveyed to his parents in the following letter which arrived from his Colonel on Saturday: “26th March, 1918. Dear Madam, - I regret to inform you that your son, Lieut. Christopher F. Atter, was killed in action on the 21st inst., the first day of the enemy’s offensive. Your son’s Company was sent forward to assist a Battalion that was holding the front system of trenches. The Company had much heavy fighting, and that evening retired to a reserve line, having lost every officer except one, since killed, and the greater part of the men. The Company did most gallant work and stopped the enemy’s rush to a great extent, and caused the enemy heavy losses. Owing to the number of casualties in this Company it has been impossible for me to find out how your son was killed, though if I am ever able to obtain further details I will at once inform you. Please accept the deepest sympathy of myself and his other brother officers in you loss. Believe me, yours very truly, F. Latham, Lieut. Colonel.” Another officer has written as follows: “My dear Mrs. Atter, - Felt that I should like to write to you about your son’s death, and express my sincere sympathy in your loss. As you know, he died leading his men against overwhelming odds, and it was due to his deeds that the battalion made such a glorious stand against the hordes of Germans that attacked us. He was very popular both with the men as well as officers due to his personal charm, and that he commanded the respect of all that came into contact with him. We shall feel his loss terribly. If there is anything that I can do please do not hesitate to call on me. Offering you my deepest sympathy in your loss, I remain, sincerely Fenton Taylor, Captain, U.S.M.S., Leicestershire Regt., 29th March, 1918.” Deceased was 19 years old, the same age that his brother James had attained when killed in action on April 16th, 1916. They were educated together at Oakham Grammar School, both being sound athletes and in the School Rugby 15. It will be remembered that they did much to encourage the Rugger game in Melton Mowbray when a local club was formed, and deceased has taken a leading part in his battalion sports, being stand-off half back in the Rugby football team. At the time war was declared he and his brother were in camp at Rugeley with the Cadet Corps and the camp was suddenly broken up on the memorable 4th August, 1914. They came home and immediately joined the local Territorials, marching out with them to Loughborough the same week, and proceeding to France on the 27th Feb. 1915. There they saw much active service, and deceased was wounded in the arm by shrapnel, being invalided home and leaving his elder brother at the front. Just previously the latter had been buried for three hours as the result of a mine explosion, it was during deceased’s period of convalescence that his brother James was killed. The Headmaster of Oakham having a nomination for Sandhurst, gave it to Mr. C. F. Atter, who went through the course there, and was gazetted to the Leicestershire Regt., as Second Lieutenant. He spent some time with his battalion in England, then went out to France last summer. As recently as February 18th he was gazetted to full Lieutenant, dating back from the 19th January. When he joined the army he was only 16 years and two months. In a letter addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Atter, Mr. W. L. Sargent, M.A., headmaster of the Oakham Grammar School says. – “I am deeply grieved to hear of Christopher’s death and write to offer you and Mrs. Atter my deepest sympathy. I almost think that this was the happiest disposition I have ever known. His good temper was infectious and his absolute frankness always disarmed criticism. His life has been a splendidly courageous one. On the football ground he never knew what fear was and he always had the sunniest smile in the hardest games. His devotion in enlisting when he did, was a splendid example and indeed, at this critical time we may be certain that his courage must have been an inspiration to those who served under him.