Robert Francis MALLPRESS

THE GREEN HOWARDS IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1919, by Colonel H.C. Wylly, C.B.(Richmond, Yorkshire 1926)

THE SECOND BATTALION 1914-1915

… In the middle of June [1915] the 7th Division was again engaged in the neighbourhood of Givenchy, but the weight of the attack and the greater proportion of the losses seem to have fallen upon the 21st Brigade in general and The 2nd Green Howards in particular. On the afternoon of the 14th the Battalion proceeded to the trenches near Givenchy, and, took over from the Scots Guards a portion of the British trench line east of Givenchy, ‘A’ and ‘B’ Companies manning the fire parapet, ‘C’ Company being located in Givenchy Keep, Marais Redoubt, and in some billets near Windy Corner (800 yards west of Givenchy Church), while Battalion Headquarters and ‘D’ Company were at Windy Corner.

Early on the 15th the Battalion was assembled ready to attack – ‘A’ and ‘B’ Companies and the machine-gun section in front, each company having a frontage of some two hundred yards, and ‘C’ and ‘D’ Companies being in support in rear. “And so,” writes one who participated, “a few minutes before 6 everything was ready, the men in grand form and full of confidence, and only waiting for the signal to jump over the trenches and rush across the one hundred and fifty yards to the first German trench. As soon as our heavy bombardment commenced the Germans replied very violently, aiming especially along our parapet, and at 2 minutes to 6 their machine-gun and rifle fire commenced. This was difficult to understand as we thought no one could be living in that German trench. At 6 o’clock to the minute the signal went, a mine exploded under a portion of the German trench away to the right, and without the slightest hesitation, and in spite of a regular hail of bullets and continuous shells, the men, most gallantly led by their officers and non-commissioned officers, rushed out to the attack…

“But our hopes of getting across were stopped; the Germans were able to line their trenches and simply stand up and shoot, for no covering fire could be brought to bear on them. In spite of this, a party of twenty men of ‘A’ Company, under Second-Lieutenant Belcher and Sergeant Whitlock, reached the German line, drove out and killed some German bomb throwers, and pressed a few yards beyond this trench, but could not get any further. However, they hung on until 10 p.m., when they were able to get back to our lines, bringing their wounded with them. It was a fine achievement carried out with great boldness. It must be noted that the German line could not be seen from our trenches, as it was on the reverse side of a slope and the ground was covered with long grass and standing corn – this made it impossible to follow what was going on throughout the line.

“The attack was carried out by ‘A’ and ‘B’ Companies, and they advanced until every man was killed or wounded or pinned to the ground by rifle and machine-gun fire and hand grenades. These two companies had roughly a total strength of 360 men; about 70 came back. Of the 13 officers who went over the parapet 5 were killed and 5 wounded and 1 wounded and missing… It should be added that a few men, under Sergeants Foster and Malpress, also reached the German trench. Sergeant Malpress was killed on the parapet, and Sergeant Foster, who took his place, was wounded there.

“After the attack was held up we were subjected to a severe bombardment again which lasted all night. We were eventually relieved and got clear of the trenches about 2 a.m. on the 16th…

England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966

1915

MALLPRESS Robert Francis of 9 South-terrace Birkenshaw Yorkshire a sergeant in His Majesty’s Army died 15 June 1915 on active military service in France Administration Wakefield 2 November to Alice Mallpress widow. Effects £127 3s. 11d.