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Home > War Diaries > 1st Battalion, the Essex Regiment   Covering the initial attack on the Somme 1 to 23 July 1916   1 July 1916 The battalion moves up with the intention of being in the second wave of units making the great attack towards Beaumont Hamel.   List of officers who took part in the attack on this day.   Rank Name On 1 July 1916 Remarks Lieutenant Colonel A. C. Halahan     Captain F. C. Dinan   Died at age 28 as a Major, buried Mendinghem Military Cemetery, 29 September 1917. Captain A. D. Henderson wounded   Captain G. A. M. Paxton     Captain T. A. C. Brabazon wounded Died aged 20 on 3 August 1916. Buried in Wilton Cemetery, Wiltshire. Captain A. N. W. Powell     Captain RAMC F. Saunders Medical Officer   Lieutenant H. A. Harvey     Lieutenant R. E. G. Carolin     Lieutenant F. F. Cooke wounded   Second Lieutenant W. R. Cheshire killed Age 27. Buried in Knightsbridge Cemetery, Mesnil-Martinsart Second Lieutenant R. B. Horwood killed Age 22. Buried in Ancre British Cemetery. Second Lieutenant E. T. H. Hill wounded   Second Lieutenant H. A. Jackson wounded   Second Lieutenant A. J. Morison wounded Killed in action 20 November 1917, aged 34. Buried in Flesquieres Hill British Cemetery. Second Lieutenant B. O. Warner wounded Killed in action 19 May 1917, aged 34. Commemorated in Orange Trench Cemetery, Monchy le Preux. Second Lieutenant W. J. McLean   Died of wounds on 12 August 1916, aged 33. Buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. Second Lieutenant A. P. Chawner   Killed in action 20 October 1916 aged 22. Buried in Bernafay Wood British Cemetery. Second Lieutenant C. P. Lawson     Second Lieutenant G. A. Apps     Second Lieutenant M. C. W. Kortright   Killed in action 21 May 1917, aged 23. Buried in Orange Trench Cemetery, Monchy le Preux. Second Lieutenant A. Grant   Killed in action 30 November 1917. Commemorated on the Louverval Memorial to the Missing. Second Lieutenant B. Hull     Second Lieutenant F. R. Wheatley   Killed in action 11 August 1916 with 12th Battalion. Buried in Potijze Burial Ground Cemetery. Second Lieutenant J. R. Broomfield   Killed in action 3 December 1916, aged 36. Buried in Guards Cemetery, Lesboeufs. Second Lieutenant A. Coucher Battle Police           Other ranks approx. 850       3.30am: Took up position in St John's Road as follows: W Company's right on French Trench, then Z, Y and X. X Company's left being on Uxbridge Road. Men much fatigued by long time (9pm 30th to 3.30am 1st) it had taken to get into position and heavy equipment carried.   6.0am: Intense artillery bombardment commenced.   7.20am: Mine exploded under Hawthorn Redoubt.   The huge mine goes up at Hawthorn Redoubt   7.30am: 86th and 87th Brigades left our 1st Line trenches to assault their objective. Heavy artillery and machine gun fire and difficulty of getting through our own wire caused these Brigades very heavy losses. Very few men survived long enough to enable them to reach half way across "no man's land".   8.40am: Orders received cancelling our previous objective and ordering Essex and Newfoundlanders to advance and clear up German 1st Line trenches. Worcesters and Hampshires remaining in reserve. Newfoundlanders were ordered to advance to the attach from their positions in St John's Road. Essex, owing to ground between St John's Road and our front line being under heavy fire, were ordered to advance via communication trenches and take up positions in our front line from which to commence the assault. Essex and Newfoundland Regiment to advance to the assault independently as soon as they were ready.   8.45am: Orders issued to Companies to take up the following positions: Y Company with its right on a point 100 yards north of Mary Redan. X Company to prolong to the left. W and Z Companies being in support trenches. Newfoundland on the left were seen to advance from St John's Road and immediately came under very heavy artillery and MG fire which practically wiped them out before they had gone many yards beyond our front line.   From the British Official History. 1st Essex starting position on St John's Road can be seen bottom left.   10.50am: Y Company reported that they were in position in touch with W Company. Z Company had taken up a position between X and Y Companies owing to the congestion of the trenches due to being choked with wounded and badly damaged by shell fire it had taken Companies two hours to get into positions. Orders issued to Companies to attack. Companies came under heavy artillery and MG barrage immediately they appeared over the parapet, causing heavy losses. Report received from OC X Company that our wire on his front was uncut, that further advance was impossible and that he had suffered heavy casualties. Z Company in centre was able to make better progress, one platoon under 2/Lt Chawner getting about half way across "no man's land". W Company attempted to support, but were unable to make much progress.   11.10am: Lt Skitt, RFA attached, learned from his group that a bombardment of the1st German line was ordered from 11.10am to 12.30pm. Orders were immediately given to cease the attack and reorganise in St John's Road, but it was only possible to convey this message to Z Company.   11.30am: Communication established with Brigade and orders received to renew the attack at 12.30pm.   11.55am: Orders issued to Companies to reorganise for the renewal of the attack at 12.30pm.   12.20pm: Message received from Brigade, postponing the attack to 12.45pm. Brigade informed that owing to casualties and disorganisation, it was impossible to renew the attack until we had had time to reorganise. Subsequent orders received, cancelling the attack and ordering us to hold the line Mary Redan - New Trench - Regent Street, getting in touch with Worcesters on our left and the 36th (Ulster) Division on our right, and prepare to repel counter attack. Battalion occupying above position with one Company in support in St John's Road.   3.30pm: Orders received that 7th Worcesters were to relieve us in the firing line. Companies on relief were to go into St John's Road.   10.30pm: Head of Worcesters arrived at Knightsbridge and Companies notified and ordered to move.   11.40pm: Relief cancelled and Companies ordered to resume their previous position.   2 July 1916 3.0am: Ordered to take up position at Fethard Street, right on Uxbridge Road, left on Limerick Junction. This line was found to be blocked by the Monmouthshire Regiment; orders received to take up position in St John's Road, left on Thurles Dump, right on Piccadilly.   3 ( to 6) July 1916 5.0am: Went into reserve, then into support to Hampshires in St John's Road.   6 ( to 10) July 1916 Moved to Mailly Wood. Two drafts, 70 of the Northamptonshire Regiment and 20 of the Essex, joined. general Hunter-Weston inspected the battalion. Battalion digging night and day in the communication trenches. Strength 611 (less drafts).   10 ( to 17) July 1916 Moved up into the firing line and relieved Hampshires. Line extended from Mary Redan to A Street. It was afterwards prolonged to D Street. Heavy shelling most of the time; casualties were fairly heavy. 2/Lt Russell was killed. Three Companies in firing line and one in support. [Second Lieutenant Henry Russell died of wounds on 11 July. Aged 23, he is buried in Gezaincourt Communal Cemetery Extension].   17 ( to 23) July 1916 Moved to Acheux Wood and remained in reserve for training. Battalion training at Louvencourt for one day only.   More war diaries

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