Cause of Death: |
Killed in action, at Fricourt (Somme). The events of July 1st were one of the great military blunders of the WWI and ever. The troops were supposed to attack after an artillery barrage that last 7 days and could be heard in London. However the British went for quantity rather than quality with respect to the munitions, 30% off shells either failed to explode or misfired and exploded as they left the gun killing the crew. Secondly the Army HQ decided instead of rushes, the men should march in rigid controlled lines allowing the German machines guns to be brought to bear. Lt.-Col. Colmer William Donald Lynch with his battalion advanced. The leading waves were cut down by rifle and machine gun fire, the supporting troops shot down by shrapnel shells. Musketier Karl Blenk of the 169th Regiment who were defending the village stated "You didn't have to aim, we just fired into them. If only they had run, they would have overwhelmed us". Some men made the village and their bodies were discovered when the Germans gave up the village in 1917. The regiment commenced the day with over 800 men and finished the day with 80 men and 4 officers. To quote Private Pearson, "We were two years in the making and ten minutes in the destroying". |
