Thomas William ROBINSON

HISTORY OF THE EAST LANCASHIRE REGIMENT IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918 (Littlebury Bros. Ltd. 1936)

1st Bn. East Lancashire Regiment

1916
On the morning of July 1st the bombardment of the enemy trenches became intense, but the German machine-guns continued to fire from Beaumont-Hamel throughout the bombardment.

At 7.26 a.m., the leading platoons of the assaulting companies moved out to a line taped-out in ‘no-man’s-land,’ so as to be in line with the 1st Lancashire Fusiliers, of the 29th Division, who were to attack Beaumont-Hamel.

At 7.32 a.m. ‘D’ Company and Battalion Headquarters followed the attacking companies and established themselves in shell-holes.

Immediately our guns lifted from the German front-line trenches, heavy machine-gun fire was opened from the German front-line; from Beaumont-Hamel and Ridge Redoubt, Lieut.-Colonel Green personally counted eight machine-guns firing on the battalion front. Simultaneously the German artillery barrage came down some 200 – 250 yards in front of our line and on all assembly trenches.

In spite of this terrific fire, the battalion advanced as steadily as if on manœuvres until practically the whole battalion became casualties. Actually a few of the leading troops entered and passed the German front-line, but on the front of the right and centre companies the wire was found intact and no way through it could be found. Many men were killed on the wire while attempting to force a way through; among them was Sergeant Redmayne who was shot through the head just as he got out of the trench in front of Colonel Green. Many sought cover in the shell-holes close to the wire which they had vainly attempted to pass.

The survivors of the battalion occupied shell-holes in ‘no-man’s-land’ until they were able to retire to our trenches at dusk. All wounded capable of crawling were sent back first, followed by a rear-guard of unwounded men.

[Thomas William Robinson was killed in action on the 1st July 1916.]