A pity I can't go to Buckingham Palace

Field kitchen of the 2nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment, showing the dreary conditions during November 1916 around Albert. 

After the successful offensive capturing Regina Trench, completed on 23rd October, which 8th Battalion had narrowly escaped due to delays caused by bad weather, preparations started right away for the next offensive. The British were working fast to achieve a final success before winter weather halted progress.

The pattern of activity followed its usual cycle: consolidate each gain from the previous offensive while preparing for the next. In the front-line one battalion held, repaired and secured the trench; carrying out surveillance and information gathering about the next target, while the support regiment trained, rehearsed and recovered someway back from the front line. The two swap every few days.

At this stage in the Battle of the Somme, the British strategy of well planned limited objective offensives was proving more successful than the initial more ambitious targets planned in July. The rolling succession of offensives didn't allow the enemy time to recover.

The objective after Regina Trench was Desire Trench and Desire Support. This was the last part of the broader Regina system, which comprised about 3000m of trenches beyond Thiepval Ridge, and it represented a broader consolidation of their position. They hoped to secure the high ground around the River Ancre.

On the 25th October 8th Battalion were bivouacked on Tara Hill. Conditions had continued to be cold and wet, and were gradually worsening. On the 26th the soldiers were noted to be "not too comfortable". There was further rain on 27th and cold on 28th. On both days the battalion were carrying out "physical training" in preparation.

Preliminary instructions for the offensive were received by the battalion on the 28th. On 29th October, they relieved Northampton Regiment in Regina Trench.

"A" company were sent to Vancouver Trench where they came under heavy shell fire. Their company headquarters was hit killing 5 men. As Edwin notes in his letter to his mother, 2nd Lieutenant J.E. Row was killed. The following day (30th) the company were temporarily withdrawn as the bombardment continued.

Conditions were miserable, the trenches were in a bad condition, and the rain continued. Even supplies of water were held up when the rail track from Poiziers was damaged. Preparation of the dug-outs which protected the soldiers from shell blasts ceased due to the continual rain and flooding.

Edwin is clearly under some pressure. In his letter home, he mentions how awful conditions are and describes this piece of trench as a "nasty bit of the line". Perhaps revealingly he is unsure whether he posted his previous letter to her.

On the 2nd Edwin's company A, and C Company, were moved into the Regina Trench. B and D were moved into Zollern Trench (the 2nd objective in the Battle for Thiepval Ridge). The focus was on keeping the communication lines open to Brigade Headquarters. The men are reported to be very tired.

From Regina Trench a patrol was sent out to investigate Desire Trench. On 3rd November 1916 four Germans were captured in the early morning by this patrol. From these Germans, the British learned that the 5th Ersatz division has been relieved by the more experienced 58th Division. 

The Germans were sent to the Brigade Headquarters at Poiziers. The Corps Commander and the Divisional Commander sent a message back expressing their "satisfaction on the identification that had been made".

The event was significant enough to be noted in the History of the Suffolk Regiment who noted that the patrol "brought forth special praise from the corps and the division". 

 53rd Infantry Brigade Intelligence Digest for 3rd November 1916

The battalion was relieved that day by the 7th Bedfordshire Regiment, B&D during the day and A&C at dusk.

They were marched to Albert and then on to Warloys where Edwin wrote to his mother on 5th November. He tells her that he has won the Military Cross. He does not say why. Edwin refers to two captains who have got the military cross also.

The only 8th Battalion captain to receive a Military Cross at that time (that I can find) is Temporary Captain Charles Lloyd. Lloyd received his award for single handedly attacking 12 Germans during the Battle for Thiepval Ridge, capturing nine of them. On the 15th November Capt. Lloyd died of wounds sustained in the attack (ten days after Edwin wrote his letter).

Edwin signs off Cheerio. He is understandably elated by his award.

Why did Edwin win the Military Cross?

The London Gazette, 24 November 1916. Supplement 29,837 Page:11,542

Family events become family stories. But when family stories get retold, they inevitably change. However that does not mean that they are not true (see for example Captain Richmond of the Great Eastern Railway Fleet).

My father remembers two stories about the Military Cross.

The first is that Edwin went out on a reconnaissance into no mans land to see if an enemy trench was occupied by Germans. It was. The reconnaissance was expected to take a few hours, he was out for 24 hours.

The second was that the morale of the soldiers was very bad, and Edwin and a fellow officer sat chatting on top of the trench in order to raise morale. He was hit by a shell and killed instantly.

My father notes the latter cannot be true (since Edwin is not only not dead, but he is in good cheer, judging by his letter to his mother!). 

My father then added "The memory then gets even more muddled. The MC was awarded because of both these acts, but that definitely cant be correct. Shows how unreliable a childhood memory can be."

From the citation we can see that it is given for two events.

The first is relatively clear "He led his platoon in the attack with great courage and initiative". At this point Edwin has only been in one attack: Thiepval. So we can be reasonably certain that this is what is being referred to. We know from his letter home at that time, that he led his platoon over the parapet first (after losing when he flipped a coin with his friend Clee). So this all seems clear.

Moreover the timing for recognising heroism at Thiepval is right. We know from Sydney Fuller's diary that Military Medals (other ranks version of Military Cross) for bravery at Thiepval were also awarded on 7th November - when Edwin has said he is to receive his medal. 

That leaves the second element in the citation  "Later he took out a patrol in daylight under heavy fire, and obtained most valuable information.".

There have of course been a range of opportunities for patrols after Thiepval but only one is specifically refered to in the war diary.

It is entirely possible that Edwin's patrol is the one which captures the Germans. This patrol is on 3 November.

We know that A and C company are in the right place - in Regina Trench.

We know that Regina Trench was under heavy fire, and (based on the citation) that Edwin's patrol took place under heavy fire. This is all consistent with reconnaisance that is intended to be short but lasts for an extended period.

We also know that the patrol takes place in the morning - just as the citation mentions the patrol is out in daylight (although I suppose it could have taken place before it gets light).

We know that the Germans are captured by Edwin's battalion, and that the Divisional Commanders are delighted. This level of satisfaction seems consistent with that required to get a Military Cross.

Finally we know that "A" company are last out of the trench when the battalion is relieved that day. 

We also know (from his next letter) that Edwin now has a broken watch, and has additionally acquired a German watch.

Evening Star - Wednesday 11 April 1906