No.26651, Private, Ainger Harry MINETT
Aged 23
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Born in Bury St.Edmunds (2nd qtr 1893 4a:791) son of Harry Beairs and Elizabeth Ann MINETT (née BURGESS)
1901 census...Aged 8, he was at 14 Out Westgate, Bury St.Edmunds with his father Harry Beairs MINETT [40] domestic gardener born Littleport; his mother Elizabeth Ann [45] born Oxlode, Cambs; brother Jonathan Bevie [5] born Bury St.Edmunds. 1911 census...Aged 18, a grocer's assistant, he was at 69 Whiting Street,Bury St.Edmunds with his mother (shopleeper) and brother Jonathan(greengrocer's assistant) His mother transferred her greengrocer's shop to Ainger in 1915 due to her ill health. |
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He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds. Thanks to an excellent website (www.bedfordregiment.org.uk) the war diary has been transcribed, as follows:- 12 Oct 1916 [The Battle of Le Transloy] Battalion engaged during the morning preparing for the attack. Lt.Colonel H.S. Poyntz [Hugh Stainton POYNTZ, DSO] wounded whilst explaining plan of attack to Company Commanders. At 11 a.m. On October 12th the 89th Brigade were ordered to attack the enemy's trenches in conjunction with the 90th Brigade on the Right and the 9th Division on the left. the frontage allotted to the 89th Brigade was from M.24.b[sic a?].4/4 to about M.24.b.4/4. reference Map Sheet 57.c.S.W. ZERO HOUR was at 2.5 p.m. At about 11 a.m. on the morning of the attack a party of Germans (2 Officers and about 50 men) appeared in GIRD TRENCH without arms about M.24.b.0/5. They made signs of surrender, but hesitated to come over for fear of being shot, 2nd Lieut.H.G. Fyson [Harold George FYSON] however went out and spoke to the German Officer who got back into the trench, but just as he got in, someone fired a shot at him, after this they did not come over. The attack commenced at 2.5 p.m., but owing to our trenches not facing the objective the Companies on the Left had to make almost a Right Form across the enemy's front which was only 250 yards away. The attack was made in four waves. "C" & "D" Coys forming the first two waves, "C" Coy under Lieutenant R.Hopkins [Ronald HOPKINS] on the Right and "D" under Captain L.F.Beal [Leonard Frank BEAL, MC], "B" Company formed 3rd wave and constituted of Nettoyeurs under Captain E.S.M.POYNTZ. "A" Company formed the 4th wave in support under Lieutenant W.White [William WHITE], the distance between each wave was 100 yards. At 2.5 p.m. the first wave left its assembly trenches and all went well until it reached a small ridge about 60 yards in front, when it came under terrific Machine Gun and Rifle Fire from the left and front in GIRD TRENCH, causing many casualties. They pushed on and got within 50 yards of GIRD TRENCH, but the fire was so great that they were held up owing to having so many casualties. 2nd Lieut.H.G.Fyson [Harold George FYSON] Killed and 2nd Lieut P.J. Reiss [Phillip Julius REISS, MC & Bar, MM] wounded at 2.10 p.m. Here they had to lie out until nightfall, as the 17th Bn.Kings Liverpool Regiment on their left were also held up and could not get on. 2nd Lieut.T.J.G. Reynolds [Thomas Joceline Gordon REYNOLDS] wounded at 2.15 p.m. of which he subsequently died, a few hours later. 2nd Lieut.F.J.Chadwick [Francis Joseph CHADWICK] Killed 2.20 p.m. Lieutenant W.White [William WHITE] Killed 2.30 p.m. The two Companies on the Right "C" and "D" Companies made better progress and passed over the Southern end of GIRD TRENCH towards BAYONET TRENCH. they also came under heavy machine Gun Fire from GIRD SUPPORT Trench and got held up. (At this time about 3 p.m. 2nd Lieut.W.H. Bird [William Henry BIRD] and 2 Lieut L.H.Walker [Laurence Hale WALKER] were killed). On "B" Company reinforcing them they pushed on again and captured about 200 yards of BITE TRENCH which was a shallow communication trench and much blown in and running perpendicularly from our front line across the neutral ground towards BAYONET TRENCH and to within about 50 yards of the latter. seeing that GIRD SUPPORT TRENCH and BAYONET TRENCH were very strongly held and being under very heavy enfilade fire from GIRD SUPPORT TRENCH Captain E.S.M.POYNTZ and Lieut.R. Hopkins [Ronald HOPKINS] decided it was useless to attempt to get further, so they dug in along the captured portion of BITE TRENCH. This they did under heavy enfilade fire, but by 5 p.m. they had well consolidated their ground. They also got into touch with the 17th Bn.Manchester Regiment on their right by joining up a trench [in] the MANCHESTERS front line to about half way down BITE TRENCH in touch with "B" and "C" Companies. This portion of BITE TRENCH was converted by "B" & "C" Companies into a magnificent fire Trench and is very important owing to the observation that can be obtained from it. Half of "A" Company converted the Southern portion of GIRD TRENCH and placed a block about 70 yards up. An attempt was made to cut a trench from here to contact up to "D" Company who were isolated and digging in about 70 yards to the West of GIRD TRENCH, but this had to be given up owing to the enemy's fire on this point. All hopes were given up of trying to get touch with "D" Company under Captain L.F.Beal [Leonard Frank BEAL, MC] who was isolated with about 50 men, several messages were sent, but the runners were either killed or wounded. Eventually 2nd Lieutenant J.P. Pitts [James P. PITTS, MC] got back to Headquarters with a message and he took back orders for Captain Beal [Leonard Frank BEAL, MC] to withdraw to his original position after dark, this he successfully did by crawling and got his party in about dawn. The total gains of the day were about 200 yards of BITE TRENCH and about 70 yards of GIRD TRENCH. The Battalion did magnificently and were the only Battalion to gain any ground on the whole of the Corps Front, all the others having to withdraw to their front trenches. Lieutenant R. Hopkins [Ronald HOPKINS] and 2nd Lieut.J.P. Pitts [James P. PITTS, MC] were both slightly wounded and remained at duty. The night passed quietly and the enemy did not counterattack.
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