Bury Grammar School old boys on 1st July 1916

[Penny]

Philip,
Thank you for the book info, I shall try to find a copy...

Re: Chocolate soldiers, in all the letters my grandfather wrote to his sister he sends thanks for fruit cake, biscuits, reading material etc.

Penny

[PhilipG]

Mark,

I feel very envious of the fact that you will shortly be visiting Caterpillar Valley Cemetery.  In my younger days (nowadays my undercarriage is u/s), I found that  the account of the attack by the 20th Deccan Horse on the 14th July 1916 on High Wood as viewed from the cemetery, never  failed to interest the school children on the tour.  Incidentally, it was in the field adjacent to Crucifix Corner that my relative was badly wounded whilst serving with the 20th Royal Fusiliers and it was from Crucifix Corner that the Deccan Horse (and 7th Dragoon Gds.) commenced  their disastrous attack.    Best wishes.  PhilipG.

[Mark Hone]

As we are approaching the centenary of the death of Sgt Roger Smith MM and I am finalising his online obituary, I am making a last desperate appeal about the possible mention of him on 1st July 1916 in an officer's account. Someone sent me a mention of him with his arm in a sling being advised by the officer to seek medical treatment but refusing as he feared he might be sent back to another unit. Unfortunately I have mislaid the email since and despite wracking my brains cannot recall who sent it. Apologies, I think that this all happened around the time I suffered a serious injury 18 months ago. It's not Lt Nash-I have his book.
Thanks to local newspapers and contributors to this forum I have detailed accounts of his MM action and death but would like to complete this piece of the puzzle. I have also seen mention of him somewhere being originally with his friends Hubert Dawson (killed 1917) and Tom Cartman (died at sea 1940) in 1 Platoon A Company 16th Manchesters but now I can only find reference to him being in B Company.
Any help much appreciated, as always. We shall be visiting this brave man's grave at Warlencourt Cemetery on our forthcoming Somme tour.

[Robert Bonner]

Mark.
This is probably what you are looking for.  It is an extract from a letter to Hubert Worthington from Colour Sergeant Peter Darlington, CQMS A Company 16th Bn, written on 20 July 1916.

Roger Smith is walking about with a wounded shoulder, would not go in Hospital for fear he should be sent to another Bn when better & there are many deeds which would have given you heaps of pride and pleasure. Briefly put, it is an honour to belong to the Bn.

[Mark Hone]

Robert-you've made my day. I had of course misremembered the details, not least that it was an officer who reported the incident. Was it you who pointed this out to me originally? I shall post a link to Roger Smith's obituary on our Archive website when I have completed it.
Many thanks.

[Robert Bonner]

Mark.
'Twas I.  Delighted to be of help.

[Mark Hone]

Detailed obituaries of all of the Bury Grammar School Manchester Pals old boys who died in the Great War, including the last, Lance Corporal Harvey Ingham Lord, can be read at:
http://bgsarchive.co.uk/authenticated/Browse.aspx?SectionID=164&tableName=ta_boys_rollofhonour

[Tim Bell]

Excellent project Mark. Congratulations on your hard work, perseverance and commitment to tell the story of your Old Boys. I hope the pupils continue to engage with their predecessors' stories.
Tim