By mid August the 3rd Division was holding a sector to the south of Guillemont and at 6:30 a.m. on 16th August the 12th West Yorks who had been in reserve moved into trenches. A and C Companies along with Battalion HQ were in Maltz Horn Trench, B in Swainson Trench and D in Jackson Trench in support of the Royal Fusiliers who were holding the front line in 'T' Trench to the Barrier. Some casualties were suffered due to heavy enemy shell fire resulting in One Officer sustaining shell shock, One O.R. (Other Ranks) killed, 14 wounded and One missing.
Lonely Trench was somewhere in this field.
Late on 17th August the Battalion received orders to prepare for another attack to capture Lonely Trench as a previous attack on the 16th had failed due to heavy shell fire, zero hour was set at 10:00 p.m. In conjunction with other Officers, Major Thomson and Lt Col Long (Commanding 10th Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 76th Infantry Brigade) reconnoitred the positions to be attacked.
Copy of the original War Diary entry for the attack on 17th August 1916.
During the previous failed attack it became clear that Lonely Trench was a much more formidable target than had been anticipated, heavily held by infantry supported with machine guns and protected by barbed wire. It was irregularly sited, difficult to observe and could not be bombarded in it's most important parts due to it's close proximity to the British trenches which would have to be evacuated (Artillery fire at this time was not very accurate and many shells often fell short of their intended target).
A surprise night attack with Bayonet and bomb (Grenades) was decided upon. A and C Companies would lead the assault along with two companies of the 10th R.W.F. on their right. They would be supported by the other companies held back in reserve. Brigade Artillery would bombard the supporting German positions and just prior to the assault, Stokes mortars would shell Lonely Trench in order to keep the Germans heads down as our Infantry rushed forward.
Hand drawn map showing location of Lonely Trench from original War Diaries.
The attacking companies moved into the Assembly Trench at 7:45 pm and the supporting companies were in position in Edwards Trench by 8:45 p.m. Major Smythe (commanding 12th West Yorks) was informed by the Brigade Major that Lt Col Long (10th R.W.F.) was due to leave 76th Infantry Brigade HQ at 7:30 p.m. and meet him in trenches at the intersection of the two Battalions. Major Smythe arrived at Assembly Trench at about 8:30 p.m. and walked some distance along the trench due to be occupied by R.W.F. meeting their advance party at about 9:00 p.m.
The tape position for the West Yorks had been reconnoitred by 9:15 p.m. but Major Smythe was unwilling to place the tape until he received a report that the R.W.F. had arrived in their jump off positions. (Prior to an attack a white tape was laid out in advance of our trenches, as close to the enemy lines as was possible and the Infantry crawled forward and spread out along it. On zero hour they would then quickly rush forward and assault the enemy positions with a minimum of casualties).
At about 9:50 p.m. Major Smythe spoke to the Brigade Major and arranged for zero hour to be put back by thirty minutes allowing for the late arrival of the R.W.F. as he had still not received a report of them being in position. This change was passed to the awaiting companies. (there were no radio communications at this time so messages were delivered by runner which could take quite some time).
At about 10:01 p.m. Major Smythe eventually met up with Lt Col Long for the first time who informed him that it was zero hour and his men were already advancing (He was obviously not aware of the time change). As a result of this encounter Major Smythe had no choice so he ordered his men to advance as well. A and C companies left Assembly Trench and advanced in the best formation that they could in the circumstances, this could only be done by passing the order from right to left along the line.
Without a preliminary bombardment the Yorkshire men advanced into a hail of bullets from heavy rifle and machine gun fire and the attack consequently failed. The Regimental History states that there was a british bombardment, however the Battalion War Diary (written at the time) clearly states that there was no British supporting bombardment. What should have been a quick dash from the taped jump off point into the German trench supported by artillery, turned out to be an irregular advance over a much longer distance without covering shell fire.
After it was clear that the attack had failed, Major Smythe ordered the attacking companies to hold a semi-dug fire trench in front of Assembly Trench with a view to reorganising. By now the British artillery were shelling the German positions, however many of the shells fell short onto the West Yorks positions, even falling short of Assembly Trench. This state of affairs continued for some considerable time after zero hour.
As a result of this failed attack the West Yorks suffered the following casualty figures from both enemy fire and the inaccurate British artillery bombardment:
3 Officers wounded
1 Officer shell shocked
1 Officer missing (he was later discovered dead)
15 Other ranks killed
135 Other ranks wounded
11 Other ranks missing
This was not the end of the attack on Lonely Trench though as once both the West Yorks and R.W.F. had reformed they launched another attack in the early hours of 18th August. This assault also failed with both Battalions suffering further casualties. The West Yorks were relieved at 11:00 a.m. by the 1st Northumberland Fusiliers and moved back into reserve at Talus Boise. Lonely Trench was eventually captured late on 19th August.
Thiepval Memorial to the missing on the Somme.
My Great Uncle George Arthur Lumby was 25 years old when he was killed during this failed attack on Lonely Trench leaving a wife and young daughter to mourn his death. His body was never recovered which indicates that he was either killed in the initial assault or was one of the missing. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing on the Somme. The above account is his brief story, one of many who went off to war and never returned.
Placing a cross for George at the Thiepval Memorial.
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