Albert Charles enlisted at Hertford, likely at the long-since demolished Port Hill Drill Hall. He entered France on the 8th of June 1915, met with the 2nd Bedfords in the Givenchy-lès-la-bassée area on the 10th, and was killed during an allied push on the afternoon of 16th of June 1915.
The war diary of the 2nd Bedfords paints the picture of Albert’s war in enough detail that we can pinpoint more-or-less exactly the modern-day location in which the events took place.
Windy Corner – where Albert would’ve been billeted on the 14th of June 1915 – sits on the crossroads just to the right of the modern-day Guard’s Cemetery, Windy Corner (50°31'43.7"N 2°44'40.0"E).
1915 trench map of Windy Corner.Modern-day Windy Corner.
On the evening of the 15th of June 1915, the 2nd Bedfords received orders to attack crater I.4. The Battalion assembled in Scottish Trench & New Cut trench in advance of the attack which was first scheduled for 12:30 a.m on the 16th of June 1915, but was postponed until 4.45 p.m.
Trench map indicating the objective - crater I.4 can be seen just northeast of Scottish Trench.
Crater I.4 appears to be one of the “Northern Craters” as they would come to be known
Layout and position of the "Northern Craters" from a 1917 trench map.
A small portion of these craters have been only partially filled in, and these likely would’ve been the craters that Albert found himself partaking in a “spirited fight at close range” (50°31'58.6"N 2°45'32.6"E). They have since been reclaimed by a small portion of woodland, but using historic satellite imagery we can see that the northernmost portion of the craters are still visible, which were coincidentally the ones that were “at the junction of SUNKEN Road trench”
Historial satellite view of craters at 50°31'58.6"N 2°45'32.6"E.
Aerial photography from 1918 also shows us the extent of these “Northern Craters”. Granted, likely worse than they were in 1915 but still an interesting visual.
1918 aerial photography showing the visual extent of the Northern Craters.
2nd Bedfords war diary excerpt:
10 Jun 1915 Brigadier inspected draft at 10 A.M.
11 Jun 1915 Order issued to remove the wire rim from caps.
Special Order of the Day. General Sir Douglas Haig has much
pleasure in conveying to the Army under his command the following message
by General Joffre to Field Marshal Sir John French.
This message refers to General Joffre's visit to the 1st Army on 27 May 1915.
"The splendid bearing of the British Troops, who marched past me in the
course of my recent visit reflects the greatest credit on officers, N.C.Os
& all ranks. I thank you for having afforded me the great pleasure of
saluting your fine Regiments and I request you to be so good as to convey to
them my admiration of their soldierly appearance. Please accept Monsiur le
Marechal my most sincere regards". Signed J. JOFFRE.
12 Jun 1915 In billets company parades
13 Jun 1915 Church parade 9 A.M. in an orchard - 2
Lt.A.H.Riddell [Alexander Herbert Oliver RIDDELL, MC] 3rd
Queens. R.W.Surrey R & 100 other ranks reinforcements arrive. 2 Lt
Riddell posted to A Co.
14 Jun 1915 - Windy Corner, near Givenchy-les-la-Bassee Left
billets at 3 p.m. 7.3 p.m. Reported arrival of Battalion in assembly dug outs
15 Jun 1915 6 p.m. [The Second Action at Givenchy].
Attack by 2 Yorks R. & 2 Wilts R. launched. The Battalion had been detailed
to send up 2 Companies to dig communication trenches back from the captured
position but had been informed that we should not be required to move till 6.30
p.m. 7.30 p.m. The Battalion commenced moving up to support 2 Wilts R. who were
reported to be attacking the farm J.15. While the Battalion was carrying out
this movement it was announced that the attack had not been successful. The
Battalion assembled in SCOTTISH Trench & NEW CUT trench. The C.O. & Adjutant
who had remained at WINDY CORNER in close touch with Brigade H.Q. received
verbal orders before they moved up that the Battalion would take part in an
attack by 3 Regiments of the Brigade at 12.30 A.M. 16 June 15. 11.55 p.m. B
Company detailed to assault the CRATER I.4 at 12.30 A.M.
16 Jun 1915 - New Cut and Scottish Trench 12.17 A.M. Attack
postponed to 1.30 P.M. 12.59 A.M. Attack postponed till 5.30 A.M. & orders
received for Battalion to relieve 2 Wilts Regt. who were still holding the
trenches. B Company was stopped at 1.20 A.M. The first two platoons were
getting in position to assault & were in front of NEW Trench & SCOTTISH
trench. The relief of the 2 Wilts Regt. was carried out. B Company, with it
left in touch with the Grenadier Guards (20th Bde). holding NEW trench 2
Machine guns also in this trench on the left A Company, in Scottish trench in
touch with 2 R.S.F. on right, on left with D Company also, in Scottish trench;
this Company was in touch with 2 Gordon Highlanders (20 Bde) on the left.
Battalion H.Q. C Company & 2 Machine Guns in Reserve in NEW CUT trench.
3.55 A.M. Detailed orders for the 5.30 am attack received. 3.58 A.M. Attack
postponed until further orders. 8.48 A.M. Instructions received that when the
attack was next ordered that Battalion was to develop flank attack along line I
4 - I 3 - I 9. It was uncertain after this time whether the attack was likely
to take place or not. 3.25 (approx) Orders received that an attack was to take
place at 4.45 p.m. Battalion ordered to "attack I 4 from the North and
assist the R.S.F. as opportunity offers". R.S.F. first objective was
German 1st Line trench from H 3 to I.4 (inclusive) 4.45 p.m. the company
advanced in successive platoons from the right, No 8 platoon under 2 Lieut. C.W.MacFie [Claud William MACFIE],
3rd S.Staffs.R. leading. All the platoons entered the CRATER at the junction of
SUNKEN Road trench & the Trench, once German at this time unoccupied &
in a bad state of repair. The Company came under a considerable volume of rifle
& Machine Gun fire as it topped the lip of the CRATER. A spirited fight at
close range took place in the CRATER. The company formed a line in the crater
as they were not able to push forward on account of the hostile bombs. No 4/7296
Corporal Milne [Robert M. MILNE, DCM] distinguished himself by
throwing back all those that landed near him into the German trenches until he
was wounded. 2/Lt.F.Powell [Frank POWELL] seeing that
his company was suffering heavy losses (2 officers Killed C.M.S. wounded &
nearly 50% of other ranks. 2/Lt.F.Powell [Frank POWELL] was twice
wounded himself) & some German reinforcements coming up - and also on
account of there being no sign of Regiment which was attacking on the right or
of our bomb throwers - gave the order for the Company to withdraw to their
former trenches. This was carried out in good order under the direction of 2
Lieut R.B.Gibson [Robert Bowness GIBSON], 3rd S.Staffs.R. attached 2 Bedf.R.
the only officer of the company left. No 9638 Corporal T.Green [Thomas
GREEN, DCM] with about 9 men was on the left of & slightly separated
from the rest on the Company. He saw the Company go back & remained a while
longer but seeing he was in danger of being surrounded & that the Germans
appeared to be getting ready for a counter attack, he withdrew his men safely,
bringing in a wounded man himself, he went out later in the evening &
brought some more wounded in. The two Machine guns in NEW Trench on the left of
the line held by our company under No 7784 Sergeant W.Mart [William
MART, DCM] & 9969 L/Sergt.W.Wilson [William A.
WILSON] availed themselves of the good targets offered by the Germans in a
communication trench & also when they were firing at B Company in &
withdrawing from the CRATER. Sergt MART [William MART, DCM]
was wounded but refused to leave his guns & inflicted heavy losses on the
Germans. At least two German officers were noticed among those killed, one of
them was wearing a brown uniform. 5.58 p.m. Situation was as follows. D Company
in NEW TRENCH. A. remains of B & C Company in SCOTTISH trench. 8 p.m.
(approx) C Co relieved D Company B Co withdrawn to NEW CUT trench A & D
Companies in SCOTTISH TRENCH. R.E. put up wire in front of NEW TRENCH.
