No.L/16592, Lance Corporal, George William HAMMOND
Aged 22
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Born in 1893 (3rd qtr Bury St.Edmunds 4a:766) son of George and Mary Edith HAMMOND (née COOPER)
1901 census...Aged 7, he was at 34 Garland Street, Bury St.Edmunds with his fsther George HAMMOND [28] tobacco manufactuer's foreman, born Bury St.Edmunds; his mother Mary E [28] born Wattisfield; brother Frederick [4] and sister Olive K [2]. All the children were born in Bury St.Edmunds 1911 census...Aged 17, a grocer's assistant, he was still at 34 Garland Sreet with his parents, sister Olive and brother Frederick (an outfitter's assistant) |
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He enlisted in Stratford. The war diary:- 1 July...From early dawn until 07:20, bombardment was very fierce. The big mine opposite HAWTHORNE REDOUBT was then exploded and "Z" Coy rushed forward to occupy crater, but were immediately met by heavy machine gun fire and artillery barrage. 5 miuntes after this (zero time) the general attack along the whole front was launched. Very few of our men reached as far as the enemy barbed wire. Owing to our artillery persistently shelling the 2nd and 3rd line of the enemy's first system, the Germans were enabled to freely use their own front line and therefore resisted all attacks upon it. This continued to about 12 mid-day, whe the few remaining men in "no man's land" were forced to retire. 1 pm...Major HH Cripps was ordered to Brigade HQ to take over the duties of Brigade Major but was seriously wounded within two hours. Lt Colonel RV Johnson was [?] in the front line trench by one of our own High Explosive shells and severely shaken. Major G.S.Guyon was killed leading the 16th Bn West Yorkshire Regt. Casualties were:- Officers killed - 3, Wounded -12, Wounded and missing -1, Missing -4 Other ranks killed -54, Wounded -276, Missing -140. The tally from CWGC was a total of 295 killed, of which 201 have no known grave and are named on the Thiepval Memorial
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
