The Tyneside Memorial seat at La Boisselle
By late afternoon it was obvious that even though the men had acted most bravely the attack had been a disaster and Major J.M Prior with Captain George Swinburn of the 24th Battalion collected 160 men of the 24th and 27th Battalions and 75 Royal Engineers from the German front line. Taking with them water, food, bombs and ammunition this group then filled the gap between the 34th Division and the 21st Division. In his diary however, Captain Swinburn records that his party actually fought their way into and held Scots Redoubt on the 2nd July and that they were severley bombarded on a number of occassions.
Captain J.V Bibby also took some men of the 27th Battalion and held a gap in the German support line, defending the flank of the 21st Division. Successful bombing raids were carried out against the enemy held positions whilst during the time the party was holding the line the enemy shelled them very heavily, but did not follow up with an infantry assault. Both these parties held their advanced positions until relieved on the morning of the 4th July by troops of the 69 Brigade. The majority of the wounded had to make their own way out of the trenches, for any stretcher bearers who dared to move out in the open were shot down. Many of the bandsmen, who were acting as stretcher bearers were killed in this way. A very sad and graphic picture is told by Lance Corporal Michael Manley of the 26th Battalion.
Captain J.V Bibby also took some men of the 27th Battalion and held a gap in the German support line, defending the flank of the 21st Division. Successful bombing raids were carried out against the enemy held positions whilst during the time the party was holding the line the enemy shelled them very heavily, but did not follow up with an infantry assault. Both these parties held their advanced positions until relieved on the morning of the 4th July by troops of the 69 Brigade. The majority of the wounded had to make their own way out of the trenches, for any stretcher bearers who dared to move out in the open were shot down. Many of the bandsmen, who were acting as stretcher bearers were killed in this way. A very sad and graphic picture is told by Lance Corporal Michael Manley of the 26th Battalion.
Anthem For Doomed Youth, Wilfred Owen Oct 1917
We had to stagger back over the corpses of our mates. We reached the British trenches and i sat totally stunned. Young lads were all around me, some were sobbing hysterically, they'd seen things no one should have to see.
The casualties of the Tyneside Irish Brigade, on the 1st July 1916 were tremendous but it is sad to relate that the majority of those who died were never identified, and lie in unmarked graves. It is tragic to think that whilst most families in Tyneside were waking to their daily routine, fathers, uncles and brothers were laying dead, their last thoughts must have been of their loved ones at home. The news of the casualties did not take long to reach the North of England. For the families of well-off middle-class officers there were condolence letters edged in black as well as for many a card from the Bishop of Durham. But for hundreds of miners' families there was just the buff
Army form B 104 notifying that the family breadwinner, or son was a casualty. It must have been a terrible heartbreaking time for those who had lost loved ones.
On the 11th of July the Pioneers of 19th Northumberland Fusiliers crossed the battlefield. A reconnaissance party from the Battalion saw the results of the attack by the Tyneside Irish and Scottish and the Battalion history states
Army form B 104 notifying that the family breadwinner, or son was a casualty. It must have been a terrible heartbreaking time for those who had lost loved ones.
On the 11th of July the Pioneers of 19th Northumberland Fusiliers crossed the battlefield. A reconnaissance party from the Battalion saw the results of the attack by the Tyneside Irish and Scottish and the Battalion history states
The battlefield had not been cleared, that was an impossibility in the circumstances.
Tyneside Scottish and Tyneside Irish dead lay on the blasted field, in shell holes, in bits of trench but chiefly in the open. Those not in the open seemed to have dragged their mutilated bodies into partial shelter of the ruined pieces of trench. One man had died with his pay book on his knee, the writing of the first words of his will being his last act on earth. Another lay with his testament open on the ground, his thumb marking the place. Scenes of the battle baffled desrciption.
Tyneside Scottish and Tyneside Irish dead lay on the blasted field, in shell holes, in bits of trench but chiefly in the open. Those not in the open seemed to have dragged their mutilated bodies into partial shelter of the ruined pieces of trench. One man had died with his pay book on his knee, the writing of the first words of his will being his last act on earth. Another lay with his testament open on the ground, his thumb marking the place. Scenes of the battle baffled desrciption.
The diary of anothe soldier Ted Colpitt, was returned to his next of kin. The last entry made after his death simply reads,
1st July 1916, Ted aged 18years, killed in this big battle
God Bless Him- RIP
God Bless Him- RIP
The Tyneside Irish Brigade suffered nearly 80% casualties on the 1st of July.The achieved the distinction of advancing further than any other unit during the day on the whole of the battle front. They had come 4000 yards under fire since they started. They died 2000 yards inside the German line. Later in August, the Pioneers of
18th Northumberland Fusiliers were attached to one of the Irish Battalions and their history records " In Contalmaison we saw some graves of men from the 103 Brigade who had been killed on 1st July. So some of the brave lads did reach their objective on that deadful day "
After the battle, the brigade was never the same. Their numbers were so depleted that battlaions were merged and new drafts were incorporated from other regiments. Later whilst attached to the 15th ( Scottish ) Division the brigade took part in another Somme attack in September 1916, and in April 1917, when back with the 34th Division was fighhting in the Battle of Arras. It was during this fighting that Lance Corporal Thomas Bryan of the 25th Battalion won the Victoria Cross. The award was also won on the 19th of April by Private Ernest Sykes of the 27th Battalion. The Tyneside Irish Brigade were heavily involved in the German Offensive of 1918 and suffered heavy casualties, so much so that by May the units were reduced to cadre strength. What remained of all these brave Battalions from Tyneside were withdrawn from the line and eventually disbanded in 1918.
18th Northumberland Fusiliers were attached to one of the Irish Battalions and their history records " In Contalmaison we saw some graves of men from the 103 Brigade who had been killed on 1st July. So some of the brave lads did reach their objective on that deadful day "
After the battle, the brigade was never the same. Their numbers were so depleted that battlaions were merged and new drafts were incorporated from other regiments. Later whilst attached to the 15th ( Scottish ) Division the brigade took part in another Somme attack in September 1916, and in April 1917, when back with the 34th Division was fighhting in the Battle of Arras. It was during this fighting that Lance Corporal Thomas Bryan of the 25th Battalion won the Victoria Cross. The award was also won on the 19th of April by Private Ernest Sykes of the 27th Battalion. The Tyneside Irish Brigade were heavily involved in the German Offensive of 1918 and suffered heavy casualties, so much so that by May the units were reduced to cadre strength. What remained of all these brave Battalions from Tyneside were withdrawn from the line and eventually disbanded in 1918.
The Thiepval Memorial to the missing, records the names of 73, 412 men who died in 1916-1918 and who have no known graves. Of these men the highest number of missing from one regiment is 2, 931 Northumberland Fusiliers. Of this total, 514 are original other ranks of the Tyneside Irish Battalions who died between 1st and 4th July 1916.
This figure is only exceeded by the Tyneside Scottish Brigade with 590 missing. Therefore the Tyneside Battalions of the 34th Division had between them 37.6% of the whole regimental total of those missing. However, only 63 of those who originally enlisted into the Tyneside Irish Brigade, and who died on the 1st July 1916 are bueried in marked graves.
This figure is only exceeded by the Tyneside Scottish Brigade with 590 missing. Therefore the Tyneside Battalions of the 34th Division had between them 37.6% of the whole regimental total of those missing. However, only 63 of those who originally enlisted into the Tyneside Irish Brigade, and who died on the 1st July 1916 are bueried in marked graves.
Senior officer casualties 1st July 1916, including acting Battalion Commanders.
Lieutenant-Colonel L.M Howard, 1st Tyneside Irish-Killed
Brigadier-General N.J.G Cameron, 103rd Brigade-Killed
Lieutenant-Colonel J.H.M Arden, 2nd Tyneside irish-Wounded
Lieutenant-Colonel M.E Richardson, 3rd Tyneside Irish-Wounded
Brigadier-General N.J.G Cameron, 103rd Brigade-Killed
Lieutenant-Colonel J.H.M Arden, 2nd Tyneside irish-Wounded
Lieutenant-Colonel M.E Richardson, 3rd Tyneside Irish-Wounded
Battalions suffering more than 500 casualties 1st July 1916
4th Tyneside Scottish : Officers 19 Men 610 Total 629
1st Tyneside Irish : Officers 18 Men 620 Total 620
1st Tyneside Scottish : Officers 27 Men 557 Total 584
4th Tyneside Irish : Officers 20 Men 519 Total 539
3rd Tyneside Scottish : Officers 20 Men 517 Total 537
1st Tyneside Irish : Officers 18 Men 620 Total 620
1st Tyneside Scottish : Officers 27 Men 557 Total 584
4th Tyneside Irish : Officers 20 Men 519 Total 539
3rd Tyneside Scottish : Officers 20 Men 517 Total 537
This concludes my tribute to the Tyneside Irish Brigade. Before leaving this section there is one officers that i would like to mention in particular from another regiment and that is Lieutenant Colonel Sandys who was so worried about the German wire still being intact. He was wounded leading his men across the 750 yeards of No-Mans-Land. His regiment the 2nd Middlesex did occupy the German front line for a brief spell before retiring but suffered terrible casualties, 23 officers and 517 men becoming casualties. Sandys was eventually evacuated to England where he soon recovered from his wounds. He was plagued by guilt over the death of so many of his men and was convinced that he could have done more for them. Early in September he sent letters to two of his officers who were also in England. To one he wished he had been killed with his men on the 1st July and to the other " I have come to London to take my life , i have never had a moments peace since the 1st July " On the 6th September he shot himself and died a week later at St Georges Hospital London. These pages are also dedicated to him.
Material used for this section: The Tyneside Irish By John Sheen, published by Pen and Sword
The First Day On The Somme by Martin Middlebrook, Penguin Books
Material used for this section: The Tyneside Irish By John Sheen, published by Pen and Sword
The First Day On The Somme by Martin Middlebrook, Penguin Books
