No.11405, Rifleman, Alfred HINDS
Aged 18
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Alfred Hindes was born in Hartest in 1898 (3rd qtr 1898 Sudbury 4a:792) son of Ezekiel and Ellen HINDS(née FARRANCE)
1901 census...Aged 3, he was at The Green, Hartest with his father Ezekiel HINDS [40] farm labourer; his mother Ellen [36]; sisters Ethel[12] and Elizabeth [6]; brothers William [10], Harry [8] and Walter [1]. All were born in Hartest. 1911 census...Aged 13, a labourer, he was at Mill Hill Farm, Hartest with his parents, brothers Henry James, Walter and Edward [7]; sister Eleanor [9] On the pension card his mother was at 75 Beulah Grave, Croydon. |
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He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds
The Battalion War Diary :- 27/7 Delville Wood...2 am Battalion moved to Delville Wood and took up position on southern edge of wood, and lay down in jumping off formation immediately in front of SOUTH STREET. Companies were disposed as follows, Left A Coy (Capt Weston) in support to and under orders of 23rd R.F. Left centre B Coy (Capt West), Right C Coy (Capt Gregson-Ellis), Right D Coy (Lt Reid). Right Coy was detailed for protection of right flank. 5 am our bombardment of Longieval Village commenced 6 am Our bombardment of Delvill Wood commenced 7:10 am Leading waves of 1st KRRC and 23rd R.F. moved forward from their assembly trenches 7:12 am Battalion,less A Coy advanced in two waves in support Btn HQs in centre of leading wave. After advancing 270 yards the leading battalions halted. The battalion halted and dug in at the front. Our bombrdment had lengthened by this time to the northern portion of the wood. Advance continued. Battalion finally halted and dug in on the PRINCES STREET line, this being the objective. During the advance from South Street enemy rifle fire was considerable but extremely inaccurate. Enamy machine gun fire apparently from vicinity of Longueval Village enfiladed the advance and consolidating parties. Another machine gun was traversing opposite the centre of the advance. These two guns ceased firing having apparently been silenced just before the Battalion reached PRINCES STREET. 9 am By the time the Btn were dug in enemy opened extremely accurate HE fire, enfilading the position from right to left 9:44 Consolidation of the line was continued during the remainder of the day and a very fair line was made. Weather throughout the day was very warm and no water supply was available other than that carried in bottles. The line was continually shelled from 9am to 8pm 10:40 Officer from 1 KRRC support trench came back and stated that the enemy were bombing along right flank of the Btn and that the position there was being retained with great difficulty. Orders were immediately given for bombs to be collected (each man was carrying two bombs). This was done with very little delay and the bombs were sent up with 12 bombers from the two centre Coys. A pigeon message was sent to Brigade "Send up bombs, very urgently needed". 10:50 An old dump containing 30 boxes SAA and about 100 boxes of bombs was discovered about 50 yards in rear of PRINCES STREET line, this having been evidently left there in a previous advance and overlooked by the enemy. Parties were detailed to take quantities of bombs and SAA to the KRRC support trench 11:30 am Another officer from KRR arrived at B tn HQ and asked for further reinforcements to assist in holding the right flank of the Btn. He stated that 12 men and Lewis gun and team woould be sufficient. 11:45 12 men and 2 Lewis gun teams were sent forward immediately with a further supply of bombs 11:30 to 9pm..Same officer from KRR returned and stated that the right of the firing line of the Btn has been slightly pushed back and the Lewis guns which we had sent up knocked out. Reinforcements were then sent forward consisting of the remainder of the right centre company under 2Lt Childs (who was killed shortly after he had got his party into position). The remainder of left centre Coy was trasferred to the positiom vacated by the right centre party in order to be prepaed to counter attack. Pigeon message was then sent to Brigade to the effect that the firing line had been reinforced and only a small number of men were left in hand for support and that reinforcements were urgently needed. Enemy shelling lessened about 5 pm 8 pm From this moment until dawn the situation was quiet with litle shelling CWGC records 119 killed, only 31 have a known grave
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