“....The strain was great but the battalion took it almost with a stoical resignation, enlivened with those flashes of humour which have made the London soldiers famous during the war...”
Captain Clive Grimwade, 4th battalion London Regiment, 1922
In Memory of Private ALBERT HENRY BLAND 4th Battalion City of London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers)
who died on 25th September 1916
Remembered with honour Combles, France, Communal Cemetery Extension
Commemorated in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Commonwealth War Graves Commission records
Name: BLAND, ALBERT HENRY Initials: A H Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment/Service: London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) Unit Text: 4th Bn. Date of Death: 25/09/1916 Service No: 2818 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial VII. F. 31. Reference: Cemetery: Combles, extension.
Albert Bland’s ‘Dead Man’s Penny’
“...The Somme battles were a severe ordeal even to the most veteran soldiers. The Regiment had now spent, since there return from Egypt, months in the desolation of the battle area practically without shelter from the torrents of rain which combined with the German shells turned the whole surface into a disgusting glutinous mass: the troops were soaked to the skin and plastered with mud but the unconquerable spirit of cheerfulness held them together. There were a few occasions, however, when the circumstances seemed to strong even for the 1/4th Londons, and one of them occurred that night when the rum jars which arrived with their rations were found to contain lime juice...!!!”
Captain Clive Grimwade, 4th battalion London Regiment, 1922
(The War Diary of the 1/4th Londons is held at the National Archives and is file WO 95/2954)
The day he fell
25th September, 1916 †
Bouleaux Wood1, Battle of Morval (25th-28th), The Somme, France
4.30 p.m...... the day started off with a good many casualties from enemy snipers from the direction of Bouleaux Wood which lasted the whole morning. The day’s objective of the 56th division was to form a defensive flank facing south-east over Combles. Three Battalions of the division were all in line, the 169th on the right, with the 167st in the centre and the 168th on the left. The 1/4th Londons (Albert Bland’s) were the right assaulting Battalion of the 168th, their duty being to clear the northern end of Bouleaux wood2.
12.35 p.m. .... the assault troops waiting in muddy ‘jumping-off’ trenches witnessed a barrage of unprecedented ferocity on German positions, which intensified just before zero hour, 12.35, as the creeping barrage pounded down on No Man’s Land, the infantry advanced. The British attack opened, but the 168th brigade (Albert’s) positions being well in advance of those occupied by the 5th Division on its left. Its attack was deferred only 7 minutes later allow the 5th division come up into line.
1 Bouleaux Wood (‘Bollocks or Bully Wood’ as being called by the cockneys of the London Regiment) is situated about 1000 yards SW of the village of Morval and about 500 yards NNW of the town of Combles.
2 See map supplement I. A tank (No 760 Male. Known as H tank) was also used, on 25 Sep, during attacks in the Morval, Quadrilateral and the Bouleaux wood area, commanded by Lt Ambrose.
12.42 p.m. .... the Division attacked only from 168 Brigade's trench. Under the protection of the barrage which was very accurate the 1/4th Londons (Albert’s) and the London Scottish advanced steadily. The 1/4th Londons cleared the north end of Bouleaux Wood, with London Scottish carrying the first trench which ran from the wood to the light railway track. They then came under fire from the railway embankment. This was rushed by by some of the East Surreys (5th Division) and the London Scottish helped mop up.
1.30 p.m. ...by then it was all over and 80 prisoners and four machine guns had been taken.
The battle that day was a short one with ‘only a few’ casualties. It was either during the advance or clearing of Bouleaux wood or due to enemy sniper activity that Albert Bland must have been killed on the 25th of September. After a long period being away from home with active service in Malta and seeing action in Egypt, Gallipoli and especially on the Western Front in France, he’s got killed in the same month that he would have had his 30ste birthday.
Photo: 25th September, British troops during the advance of Bouleaux Wood.
Albert Bland’s, List of Honour3
Mediterranean/North Africa
Malta 1915, 2nd January – 20st august
Egypt 1915, August 25th – October 9th
Gallipoli 1915-1916, October 16th – January 8th
Egypt, Beni Mazar 1916, February 16th – April 17th
Western Front
France, The Somme, 1916
Gommecourt, July 1st
The Battle of Ginchy, 5th – 10th September
The Battle of Flers-Courcelette, 15th September-
18th September
†The Battle of the Morval, 25th-28th September
3 Albert Blands Medal Card, supplement II and Medal Card explanation III.
Pte Albert Henry Bland
Enlistment
England 19144
August – 23rd December
According to his Army Service Number 2818 Albert Bland who lived in Clerkenwell, London, enlisted in September 1914 at the London Regiment HQ in Shaftesbury Street City Road into the 4th Battalion London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers).5
By December 1914, the 2/4th moved to Maidstone and being placed under orders of 2/1st London Brigade in the 2/1st London Division.The fact that his Medal Card gives away the information ‘Theatre of War Egypt’ he must have been enrolled to the newly formed 2/4th Battalion, since this was the only battalion of the London Regiment that went to Egypt during the First World War.6 Initially the 2/4th was supposed to be a reserve battalion for the 1/4 Battalion that went to Malta in September that year and was called the 4th (1ste reserve) battalion. But it stayed independent and became known as the 2/4th Battalion, London Regiment.7
Albert Bland went for training till the 14th of December 1914 at Folley Farm in New Barnet. By then the 2/4th has grown to strength of 27 officers and 986 other ranks and joined the Brigade at billets in Maidstone. On the 17th they received a warning order to proceed on foreign service at short notice. On 23 December the battalion embarked in Southampton on the H.T. Avon for Malta.
4 Information on the 2/4th and later on the 1/4th Battalions’ active service has been derived from; The War History of the 4th Bn. the London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), 1914-1919 by Captain F. Clive Grimwade (London: Regimental HQ, 1922) .
For reading the book online use the link in the literature list.
5 Information according to records found in the Imperial War Museum and the National Archives.
6 Medal Card supplement II.
Malta 1915
2nd January – 20st august
The Battalion arrived in Malta at 31th of December where they disembarked on the 2nd of January, relieving the 1/4th. The 2/4th London’s settled down at St. George’s Barracks starting off with an intensive training. Their main task became guarding government buildings and palaces. Consequently the Battalion moved on the 1th of February to Floriana Barracks, Valetta.
Malta however was destined to play an important in role in the Great War because of two events. First of all on the 25th of April 1915 combined military and naval operations started against the Gallipoli peninsular. Second because allied Italy declared war on Austria in the 22nd may 1915. Malta became a base of operations.
On the 14th of august a warning order was being issued for the Battalion to prepare for embarkation to Egypt. The Governor of Malta spoke the following words of farewell: “...their (the London Regiment) appearance in Valetta, the smart way in which the men salute, the alacrity of the Main Guards in turning out, all show the efficiency of the battalion. ...God Speed, and if they go from Egypt to the front I am confident to uphold the high reputation of the City of London Regiment...”
Egypt 1915
August 25th – October 9th
On the 20th the Battalion embarked on H.T Southlands for Egypt, arriving at Alexandria on the 25th. Here they marched to quarters under canvas at Sporting Club Camp on the seashore where it remained, mainly occupied with guard duties, until October 6th. On the 9th the Battalion embarked on the H.T. Karroo, and under escort of two destroyers, it sailed to Mudros. On the 15th the Battalion was transhipped to H.T. Sarnia and the Battalion disembarked at the Gallipoli Peninsular on the 16th of October. Gallipoli was about to become Albert Bland’s first theatre of war.
Gallipoli 1915-1916
October 16th – January 8th
Once embarked on the peninsular the Battalion became attached to the Royal Naval Division at Cape Helles. They arrived at a critical period in the fortunes of the Dardanelles campaign that lasted already since April 25st 1915. Since the failure of the august offensive, the situation had changed most unfavourably for the allied chances of ultimate success.
On the of 20th October the 2/4th London’s relieved the 2/2th London’s in the ‘Eski Line’, a reserve line some 1500 yards in rear of the advanced trenches. During the move forward from bivouacs the Battalion suffered their first casualties. On the 27th this position was handed over again to the 2/2th London’s. On the 29th October and 1st November they suffered heavy Turkish shelling whilst being in reserve in the Rest Camp. In November the Battalion occupied in turns of 7 days the front line where they received instructions in trench fighting. The battalion discovered however that the elements were their worst enemy so far. Heavy rainfall flooded the trenches, followed by several days of rain, storms and later frost which inflicted considerable hardship on the troops. It has been recorded that the water froze around the men’s feet as they slept from sheer exhaustion. Greatcoats that had been drenched by rain were so stiffened that they stood up by themselves. The cold was so severe that it was only by keeping the men constantly at work with their shovels that many were kept alive at all. In December the British forces in Gallipoli suffered because of the weather over 200 dead and over 10.000 sick that were evacuated.
Early December the 2/4th took over a front trench from the French where they were subjected to heavy bombardment by field guns and howitzers. After changing to another line in the meantime the Turks increased activity. An attack was expected but never came.
Finally because political/military reasons the decision has been made to evacuate all the allied troops from the Cape Helles line on the Gallipoli peninsula. The relatively smooth evacuation of 14 divisions in the winter under enemy fire is ironically considered as the greatest allied success of the campaign. The 2/4th embarked January 8th. On the 18th it arrived in Alexandria again where after it travelled to Wardan, a camping ground near Cairo.
Photo: British Troops in trench at Gallipoli, 1915
Egypt, Beni Mazar 1916
February 16th – April 17th
By the time Albert Bland and his Battalion returned to Egypt there was much anxiety centred in the Western Desert. Here the Senussi, a warlike tribe of Arabs, had created a situation of some ‘difficulty’. There was a possibility of internal disorders and religious unrest in the Nile Valley and the Delta District. Military operations would be necessary to force the Senussi to a proper behaviour again.
Next to the Western Desert Force a Southern Desert Force was being created to protect the four distinct areas. The fourth and southernmost area being located in the Minia and Assiut Provinces under Brig. Gen. A. Stirling. Albert Bland and the 2/4th Battalion joined Stirling’s Minia Force, their barracks being in Beni Mazar.
The Minia Force was confined to defensive measures. But the occupation by the Senussi of the Baharia Oasis, created a serious menace to the part of the Nile Valley for which the Minia Force was responsible. The battalion carried out company training to the extent which the circumstances permitted, as it was held at all times under instant readiness to move. A good deal of attention was paid, nevertheless, to long distance route marching with the intention of hardening the troops for the possibility of an advance against the Baharia Oasis. Also trial runs were made on the armoured train from Beni Mazar to Maghaga to get the inhabitants used to the present of British Forces. On the 3rd and 5th of March alarms took place and the Beni Mazar Force moved tactically to Tambu, taking up positions there.
Throughout the 2/4th occupation of Beni Mazar they received the greatest possible attention and kindness from the local Egyptian population who overwhelmed them with gifts. For tactical reasons, however, the Battalion left Beni Mazar. On the April 17th at Alexandria Albert Bland and the Battalion embarked on the H.T. Transylvania for Marseille, France en was immediately entrained for Rouen were they arrived on the 26st of April.
Western Front, France 1916
April 24th – 25th September †
The 2/4th battalion disbanded
The need for replacements in the 1/4th Battalion after having had lots of casualties in France in de last 15 month had been far beyond the capacity of the Reserve Battalion at home to replace. With the certain prospect of being called on to fill serious deficiencies by the large numbers of additional casualties which were expected in the great battle destined to open on July 1st., it was decided (by the War Office) to disband all units formerly comprising the 2/1st London Infantry Brigade. The dispersal of the 2/4th battalion at Rouen is therefore the last incident to be recorded in its separate history. For Albert Bland’s military genealogy therefore we have to follow the 1/4th Battalion London Regiment form April 1916. The 2/4th Battalion London Regiment mentioned in the literature from later on in 1916 its not Albert Bland’s battalion anymore since it’s the renamed 3/4th Battalion!!!
It is important to state that it isn’t very likely that Albert Bland was granted leave after being abroad for over more than a year, having been in several theatres of war by then. The importance of the coming battle made it impossible to grant leave to more than only a very small proportion of the Battalion. Drafts were sent up quickly up the line beginning on the 5th of May. By the 20th of June the whole Battalion had been despatched to the 1/4th London’s. The reinforcements of the 2/4th were considered as most welcome because of their experience in Egypt and Gallipoli. The 1/4th Battalion London Regiment became in the meantime part of the newly formed 56th (London) Division, preparing itself for the battle of the Somme.
The Somme, the attack on Gommecourt
‘The Big Push’, July 1st
Comprising the main Allied attack on the Western Front during 1916, the Battle of the Somme is famous chiefly on account of the loss of 58,000 British troops (one third of them killed) on the first day of the battle, 1 July 1916, which to this day remains a one-day record.
The first face of the battle started off with enormous preparations carried out by the troops under most trying weather conditions and frequent heavy enemy fire. The 56st Division took over a line opposite Gommecourt with the 168st Brigade (including 1/4th battalion) moving into reserve in Souastre. Here the troops again were despatched to heavy labour as preparation for the Somme Offensive. On the 20th and 21st of May the 168th Brigade withdrew into reserve to Grenas, however the 1/4th remained in the forward area attached to the 169th Brigade on the right of the Divisional Front. On the 28th of May the 1/4th London’s relieved the Kensingtons in W subsector of the divisional front. It was then the 56st Division started to dig a new frontline at no great distance from the enemy, which was of considerably difficulty. They had to dig at night to avoid the Germans getting to know their plans so close to their trenches. The 1/4th London’s became responsible for the W Sector of the new line.8 But by the time the Germans realised what happened the new line became their favourite target for their field guns and mortars.
The 30th of May opened with heavy bombardments on the new line. Heavy bombardments lasted till the first of June when the 1/4th were relieved and went to Bayencourt where tea was served. During the preparations for the battle more reinforcements from the disbanded 2/4th gradually came in and the major part of June the 1/4th was being used as a work battalion. Another draft of the old 2/4th arrived on June the 24st. Affairs in the line had now begun to ‘tune up’. On the 27th the 1/4th returned to the line again taking over the whole W sector till the beginning of the battle.
8 See map I supplement III
‘Going over the top’
The fate of the 1/4th Londons during the battle for Gommecourt on the 1st of July has been attached to the Rangers Battalion. Whilst the 1/4th were occupying the British front trench on the left in W sector the Rangers went over to attack.9
At 7.30 a.m. on Saturday 1st July 1916, the men of the British divisions selected for the attack clambered out of their trenches and started to trudge purposefully across No Man's Land towards the German wire. Ten minutes earlier, a huge mine had been set off under Hawthorn Ridge near Beaumont Hamel giving the German artillerymen and machine gunners more than enough time to bring their guns into action.
The Rangers - Their companies arranged A to D from right to left, the Rangers crossed No Man's Land to find reports of uncut wire correct. Although the two flank companies made some progress, B and C in the middle were badly held up and found getting into the German trenches nearly impossible. Heavy machine gun fire from Nameless Farm took its toll on all companies and many officers were lost including all four company commanders. The attack quickly lost impetus and only on the left did a small party of D Company eventually reach its objective in the third German line. Other members of the Rangers started to retreat almost immediately.
By 8.15 am it was clear that there were major problems with the Rangers' attack. Men had already returned to the British lines and the artillery barrage being put down in No Man's Land and on the 1/4th Londons in the British front lines was fearful. Communication was almost impossible within the British lines, getting information from the other side was well nigh impossible. Orders were sent, however, for the 1/4th Londons to go across to support what was left of the Rangers.
At 9.00 am the men of A and C Companies, 1/4th Londons left the battered British front lines and moved stolidly towards the German lines in an attempt to bolster the floundering Rangers' attack. Left leaderless in the first few minutes, a few men reached the German trenches where they were either killed or captured. There was now a hole in the middle of the 56th Division's attack where the Rangers should have been. Forced to left and right away from the machine guns of Nameless Farm they were
9 See map II supplement III
now left desperately defending small sections of German trench under constant attack from larger and better armed German bombing parties.
Isolated parties were all that was left of these battalions and under pressure from heavily armed bombing parties of the 170th Regiment they were forced back towards the first German line. Another attempt at reinforcement by D Company, 1/4th Londons was swept away by shrapnel and high explosive a few yards into No Man's Land.
By 2.30 PM the attack was over. Men of the two battalions trickled back from the German lines, rushing from shell hole to shell hole to escape. Those unable to escape were killed or made prisoner.
By the end of a day of carnage unprecedented in the history of the British Army, 19,240 men had been killed, 2,152 were missing and another 35,593 were wounded; a total of 57,740 casualties in not much more than twelve hour's fighting. Across two thirds of the length of the British front what was left of the attacking units were back in their trenches. Only in the south, where the Germans did not expect an attack by the French, were the attacking troops on their first day objectives.
At Gommecourt, the two attacking divisions had suffered 6,769 casualties with the 56th Division suffering over 60% of the total. They had failed to take Gommecourt and they had failed to protect the northern wing of the main offensive at Serre where the attack had been brief and bloody.
The Somme, The Battle of Ginchy
5th – 10th September
The battle of Ginchy was part of the first Battle of the Somme and was launched in advance of the main September offensive the Battle of Flers- Courcelette, to push the British front line nearer to the main German defences, which ran to the north of the village.
In preparing for the Battle of Ginchy the 56st Division had the novelty of being one of the first divisions to practice with tanks for the first time on the Western Front. It must have made an impact on Albert Bland and everyone involved.
On the night of the 5th of September the position of the Brigade was now: London Scottish in front line at Leuze Wood and Albert Blands Battalion the 1/4th Londons in support at the Wedge Wood-Ginchy Road. At that
time Leuze Wood was corrupted by the ever-ready wit of the Cockney into ‘Lousy’ Wood. Enemy’s bombardment on their positions increased in intensity and two platoons of the 1/4th were ordered to reinforce the London Scotts in Leuze Wood. They managed to get through a very unpleasant barrage and to joining up was a success. Throughout the 7th of September the Germans shelled the lines of the 1/4th at Wedge Wood Valley heavily and a lot of casualties were suffered. Before dawn on the 8th September the 1/4th took over the front trench were the Rangers came up in line with them on the left. On the evening before the assault the 1/4th Londons was made the right assaulting Battalion, during the night again suffering from heavily bombardments.
At 04.45 the British columns moved to the assault. The 1/4th moved forward steadily keeping well up to their barrage. The battalion couldn’t find their first objective since the landscape had been so battered by shellfire that its appearance had changed dramatically. A-company moved on to their second objective under the impression it was their first, which they occupied, but finding itself way ahead of the rest of the battalion. The commanding lieutenant got killed together with all his men. The too rapid advance also brought the whole battalion under the fire of their own barrage with casualties as a consequence. 1/4th Londons B- company also ahead of the rest of the Battalion came in touch with a German Bombing party, attacking them vigorously and managed to push them back. In this fighting the men of B-company displayed great courage and dash. One of Albert Bland comrades was awarded the military medal. In the evening the 1/4th firmly occupied ‘Bully’ (Bouleaux Wood) trench. They were far from happy however. There was no flank protection and they suffered heavy losses. After support had arrived they occupied on their own, further ahead and in the dark Beef trench, which at dawn they unfortunately had to abandon and had to evacuate to Bully Trench under enemy sniper activity. Throughout this trying day the 1/4th displayed magnificent spirit and clung to their hardly won gains with grim determination losing 22 officers and 250 men. That night the 1/4th handed over their positions giving them 3 days of rest before the next battle of Flers-Courcelette.
Flers-Courcelette, The first battle with tanks
15th -18th September
An intense preliminary bombardment began on 12 September and at 6.20am on Friday 15 September the advance began in mist and smoke. The opening position of the 168th Brigade being in reserve bivouacs in Angle Wood Valley, the 1/4th at the head of the valley near Wedge Wood. The Divisions target was to establish a defensive flank facing Combles. The 1/4th had to follow 167th Brigade in order to clear Bouleaux (‘Bully’) Wood in two stages.
The 15th was a day of great success. The city of Flers fell before the battalions had to assault it. However, the 6th Division failure to break through a stubborn German defence line had an effect on the 1/4th.
At 9.00 a.m. the 1/4th left their bivouacs a few hours after three tanks débuted on divisional level. Under German shellfire the 1/4th Londons moved forward to battle position between Leuze (‘Lousy’) and Bouleaux (‘Bully’) Wood. The advanced brigades fought for 10 horrible hours that day which resulted in a slaughter within their ranks. Because of tactical reasons the 1/4th luckily avoided the slaughter and had to move back into their bivouacs till the 18th, suffering a lot casualties however from enemy shellfire.
The whole area of Angle Wood including the bivouacs was a distinctly unhealthy location these days. The Germans shelled the whole area constantly and the weather was, as usual, wet and the grounds very muddy. The strain was great but the battalion took it almost with a stoical resignation, enlivened occasionally with those rare flashes of humour which have made the London soldiers famous during the war.
For the offensive on the 18th the 1/4th Londons again were attached to the 167th Brigade to serve as the left assaulting battalion. Zero hour 6.15 a.m. arrived but the Battalion was still struggling their impossible slippery way to the assembly point. The British barrage opened and was answered by heavy concentrated German machinegun fire which was devastating for the battalion. The only way to avoid complete destruction was to take cover in the waterlogged shell holes. The operation on the 18th as far as the 1/4th were concerned was aborted suffering leaving behind lots of casualties.
The divisional target however was reached and on the 20st the 1/4th took over a support line that run through Leuze Wood. Also Leuze Wood was a
very unhealthy place because it was under target of enemy shellfire. The position was, without exception, the muddiest that had fallen to the lot of the battalion. ‘To stand still’ was to sink gradually into the mud till above the knees. The continued strain of heavy shell fire and conditions of physical misery were beginning to have their effect and several men started to collapse mentally and physically. Also enemy snipers had started to become active again. Never was relief more welcome than the one on the 20th of September.
On the 25th of September Albert Bland got killed in action during the first day of the Battle of Morval.
Supplement I
The attack on Bouleaux Wood, 25th September The position of the 1/4th Londons
Supplement II
Medal Card Albert Bland
Source: National Archives
Medal Roll information National Archives
Supplement IV
National Archives Reference
Address 168 St Albans Bds
Civil Parish St Andrew Holborn
Rural District
Town or Village or Hamlet
Parliamentary Borough or Division Holborn
Ecclesiastical Parish St Albans
Administrative County London
County Borough, Municipal Borough Holborn or Urban District
Ward of Municipal Borough or Urban S E St Andrew District
Albert Bland
Relation to Head of Family Head
Condition as to Marriage Married
Sex M
Age Last Birthday 35
Profession or Occupation Printers Labourer
Employment Status
Where Born Strand London
Language
Infirmity
Ellen G Bland
Relation to Head of Family Wife
Condition as to Marriage Married
Sex F
Age Last Birthday 35
Profession or Occupation
Employment Status
Where Born Caledonian Rd London
Language
Infirmity
Albert H (incorrectly called ‘A’ on sensus) Bland
Relation to Head of Family Son
Condition as to Marriage Single
Sex M
Age Last Birthday 14
Profession or Occupation Errand Boy Book Binders
Employment Status
Where Born Clerkenwell London
Language
Infirmity
Grace N Bland
Relation to Head of Family Daughter
Condition as to Marriage Single
Sex F
Age Last Birthday 12
Profession or Occupation
Employment Status
Where Born Kings X Rd London
Language
Infirmity
Selina J Bland
Relation to Head of Family Daughter
Condition as to Marriage Single
Sex F
Age Last Birthday 11
Profession or Occupation
Employment Status
Where Born Clerkenwell London
Language
Infirmity
James Bland
Relation to Head of Family Son
Condition as to Marriage Single
Sex M
Age Last Birthday 3
Profession or Occupation
Employment Status
Where Born Holborn London
Language
Infirmity
Rose L Bland
Relation to Head of Family Daughter
Condition as to Marriage Single
Sex F
Age Last Birthday 0
Profession or Occupation
Employment Status
Where Born Holborn London
Language
Infirmity
Supplement III
According to his Medal Card Albert Bland was awarded three medals;
- 1914-15 Star
The 1914-15 Star was instituted in 1918 and was awarded to those who saw service between 5 August 1914 and 31 December 1915. Those personnel eligible for the 1914 Star were not eligible for this medal. The medal was issued named, with the recipient's details impressed on the star's reverse. All recipients of this medal also received the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
- British War Medal
This medal commemorates some of the bloodiest battles that have ever been fought by British & Commonwealth troops. The medal was instituted by King George V in 1919 to mark the end of the First World War and record the service given. Although the First World War ended in 1918, the qualification period was extended to cover post-war mine clearance and service in Russia during 1919-20.
- Victory Medal
This medal was instituted in 1919 to commemorate the victory of the Allies over the Central Powers. It was resolved that each of the Allies should issue a Victory Medal to their own nationals. Al the issues would have the common obverse of a picture of Victory.
Supplement IV: position of the 168th Brigade during the Attack on Gommecourt
Supplement V:
Position of the 1/4th Londons during the Battle of Ginchy
Literature
Battalion/Regimental history
*The History of the Old 2/4th (City of London) Battalion The London Regiment Royal Fusiliers (London, 1919) By F. W. Walker, F. C. J. Read Published by Westminster Press, 1919
*The War History of the 4th Bn. the London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), 1914-1919 by Captain F. Clive Grimwade (London: Regimental HQ, 1922)
Link to digital book:
http://www.archive.org/stream/warhistoryof4thb00grim:
* History of the 2/4th London Royal Fusiliers 1914-1916:
This CD contains lists of soldiers who were attached to the 2/4th Battalion. Details include name, rank, postings, death date, discharge dates and details of any injuries sustained. Also includes a list of officers and a record of the battalion’s movements from 1914-1916 and numerous photos. ISBN: 978-1-84727-441-O
* The Royal Fusiliers in the Great War, By Herbert Charles O'Neill, Published by W. Heinemann, 1922.
The 1/4th and the Battle for Gommecourt and the Somme in general
* Recommendable website on the Gommecourt battle:
http://www.gommecourt.co.uk/index.htm
* Pro Patria Mori - the 56th (1st London) Division at Gommecourt, 1st July 1916’
* Battleground Europe: Somme: Combles, Paul Reed
* The Somme, Day by Day, McArthy