“Thus perished the first two companies of two fine battalions, and few survivors ever found their way back to the British lines”

[“The Robin Hoods” 1/7th, 2/7th & 3/7th Battns. Sherwood Foresters]

“The most terrible day I have ever had. I hope I shall never see another one like it”

[Lieutenant Josiah Taylor]

For a detailed account please see here

---

---

139th Brigade documents

Report of the part played by the 139th Infantry Brigade in the action on the 1st July 1916. Report from WO-95-2692-5 and 139 Brigade from WO-95-2692-5-29

Part played by the 3″ Stokes Trench Mortars in action on 1st July 1916. Trench Mortar from WO-95-2692-5-7

Part played by the Machine Guns during the action on 1st July 1916. Machine Guns from WO-95-2692-5-8

---

1/5th Battalion Sherwood Foresters

Part played by the 1/5th Battalion Sherwood Foresters during the action on 1st July 1916. 5th Battn from WO-95-2692-5-9 and 1:5th account from WO-95-2692-5-17

1/5th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters; Statements of men who reached the German Front Line (with sketch). Men statements from WO-95-2692-5-10

Includes statements from the following men:-

“A” Company A Coy 1:5th from WO-95-2692-5-20

Captain Dowman’s report from 1918 Dowman 1918

• 3028 Pte A Daykin (mentions L/Cpl Brudenell)
• 4005 Pte W Edge
• 2567 Pte F Bates (4th wave)
• 1564 Cpl E Milner
• 4541 Pte G Treece
• 2078 Pte S Handford (1st wave and mentions 2/Lt H H Lilly and Pte Wright)
• 3865 Pte RH Brown
• 2123 Pte EG Hemm (4th waves and mentions 2/Lt EC Villa)

“B” Company B Coy 1:5th from WO-95-2692-5-21

“C” Company  C Coy 1:5th from WO-95-2692-5-23

• 1949 L/Cpl CT Boot (1st wave)
• 4100 Pte J Jeffcoate (2nd wave)
• 1818 Pte T Garbutt (1st wave)
• 1995 Pte T Jackson (1st wave)
• 2312 Pte C Massey (3rd wave)
• 2438 Pte E Edwards (3rd wave)
• 3103 Cpl PJ Murphy (3rd wave and mentions 2/Lt WGW Barber, 2/Lt Dornton, Captain Naylor, 2/Lt RB Cecil, 4478 Pte T Attenborough, Cpl Harrison, 2408 Cpl Powditch)
• 4478 Pte T Attenborough 4478 Attenborough from WO-95-2692-5-19
• 1605 Pte W Parkin (3rd wave)
• 2165 Pte E Smith (3rd wave)

“D” Company D Coy 1:5th from WO-95-2692-5-24

Grenade Section

• 1515 Pte G Kerry

Fifth wave (Headquarters)

• 764 Regl. Sergt.-Major BA Maddock

List of men that made it to the German first line. 1:5th men front line from WO-95-2692-5-27

---

1/6th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters

1:6th from WO-95-2692-5-18 and 1:6th Battn from WO-95-2692-5-25

---

1/7th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters

Part played by the 1/7th Battalion Sherwood Foresters during the action on 1st July 1916. 1:7th Battn from WO-95-2692-5-11 and 1:7th account from WO-95-2692-5-16

Includes statements from the following men:-

• 4894 Pte J Banks. 4894 Banks from WO-95-2692-5-12
• 2916 L/Cpl Oldknow. 2916 Oldknow from WO-95-2692-5-13
• 2676 Pte GA Dean. 2676 Dean from WO-95-2692-5-14
• 4188 Pte Brough, 3856 Pte Berresford, 4100 Pte Jeffrate of Wragg’s Company. Wragg from WO-95-2692-5-15

List of men that made it to the German first line. 1:7th Battn front line from WO-95-2692-5-26