Arthur Henry Thomas 1882 - 1916

Arthur Henry Thomas was born in Lyncombe and Widcombe near Bath, Somerset on the 19th of April 1882, the 2nd child and only son of William Thomas and Margaret Jessie Thomas (nee Collins). Baptised on the 26th of August 1883, Christchurch, Bath, Somerset. In 1885 Arthur's father William died aged about 30 and by the 1891 census Arthur, his elder sister Florence and his mother known by her middle name Jessie, had moved to London and were living with Arthurs Uncle Edwin (his mothers brother) and his family in Battersea.

Arthur enlisted into the Northamptonshire Regiment at London, on the 11th of February 1901, aged 18 years and 9 months. He was working as a Grocers Assistant, was 5ft 6", weighed 114lbs,a medium complexion with brown eyes and brown hair.

Rank: Private

Service No: 6329

Posted to the the 2nd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment on the 25th of May 1901. Arthur passed the Certificate of Army Education 3rd Class on the 12th of September 1901.

Arthur only served for 10 and a half months before he was discharged by purchase on the 20th of November 1901.

On the 1st of February 1906 Arthur married Mary Belsham at Hackney Registrar Office, witnessed by J.Cullen and W.F.Page. They had a son named Alfred Edward who was born on the 11th of January 1907.

The 1911 census shows Arthur and his wife and son living at 23 Eleanor Road, Woolwich, London. Arthur aged 28 was working as a Butterman shop assistant at a Greengrocers.

World War One Service

Arthur enlisted into the Northamptonshire Regiment on the 7th of September 1914 at Finsbury in London. He was 32 years old, 5ft 7" tall and weighed 118lbs. His complexion was dark with hazel coloured eyes and black hair. Arthur's chest when fully expanded was 35" and he had light varicose veins on both legs. Arthur and family were living at 12 Boxworth Grove, Richmond Road, Barnsbury, London. He was posted to the 7th (Service) Battalion joining 'A' Company and was given Regimental No:14205.

The 7th Battalion was formed at Northampton as part Field Marshal Earl Kitchener of Khartoum's New Armies.'Your King and Country need you: a call to arms' was published on 11 August 1914. It explained the new terms of service and called for the first 100,000 volunteers. This figure was achieved within two weeks. Army Order 324, dated 21 August 1914, then specified that six new Divisions would be created from units formed of these volunteers, collectively called Kitchener's Army or K1. The next 100,000 men were part of K2 and with a further 100,000 in K3. The 7th Northants were raised from the men of K3.

The 7th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment soon became known as the 'Mobbs Corps' up and down the country as Edgar Mobbs raised a Company ('D' Coy) from 250 of his friends and admirers. Edgar Mobbs was an English Rugby Union player who was Captain of Northampton R.F.C and England. He later went on to be the 7th Battalion's Commanding Officer before being killed in action in 1917.

Training 1914-191:5

The 7th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment moved to Shoreham by Sea, Sussex in September 1914 and was here it that the men began training. Although the Battalion was formed on paper and could be seen on Parade in Buckingham Park, Shoreham, it was a collection of enthusiastic amateurs that had a long way to go before they would be ready to go to war. At first the men had no uniform or rifles and eventually a Blue uniform was issued to the New Armies and bought some conformity to the Battalion.Wooden dummy rifles were issued which did not resemble a rifle in shape, weight or appearance and were seldom used except to hang washing between the men's tents.

The 7th Service Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment was in the 73rd Infantry Brigade attached to the 24th Division which was situated on the South Downs with excellent training facilities close by. The lack of equipment hampered many aspects of training but the men made rapid progress mainly due to the sporting rivalry's between the Companies. Arthur was promoted to Lance Corporal on the 1st of October and again promoted, this time to Company clerk on the 20th.

On the 1st of November 1914 Arthur reverted back to the rank of Private and the situation at the camp in Shoreham, where constant rain had turned the ground of Buckingham Park into a swamp was dire. The tents were under inches of water and a move was imperative. The huts that were being built by McAlpine's firm were far from complete but it was decided in early December to move into the unfinished huts. The huts although dry were unbearably cold and with the men's occupation of them they could not be complete. Private Arthur Thomas was again promoted, back to the Rank of Lance Corporal on the 1st of December.

Southwick

A further move was necessary and the 7th Battalion moved to Southwick, a seaside village about 4 miles West of Brighton. The men were billeted in the homes of the villagers, and the Companies could usually been found all billeted on the same road. Training continued and the men begun practising using the entrenching tool to dig trenches and dugouts. This led a amusing moment one day, when an Officer came up to a Platoon that was digging. The Officer noticed one man using his entrenching tool differently from all the other men and considers that the majority must be right. "Here my man this is how you use a pick" the Officer remarked before showing the man. The Officer satisfied begins to move on but overhears the man say to his fellow men "... and to think I've been a .... miner all my life!" The Officer made a swift exit.

4 months were spent at Southwick, billeted with the villagers before the camp at Shoreham was finished. Early April 1915 saw the 7th Northants move back to the camp at Shoreham but not before an enthusiastic send off by the villagers. The Battalion resumed its training and it was during this period at Shoreham that the Battalion began to gradually receive its equipment. After less than a month the 7th Battalion were ordered to Reigate to work on the London defences that were being built in the neighbourhood. The Battalion marched to Reigate with 'A' Coy including L/Cpl Arthur Thomas and 'B' Coy billeted in Reigate and 'C' and 'D' Coy billeted in Redhill.

London Defences And Spies

The trenches that the 73rd Brigade worked on were located on the reverse slope of a hill overlooking Reigate and the march up, before and after work would long be remembered by the men of the 7th Northants. The 73rd Brigade were responsible for guarding the defences that were being dug and this was at the height of a spy craze gripping the nation. After listening to many tales of mysterious lights the Battalion Adjutant organised a regular spy hunt. A large number of men armed with sticks were sent out to scour the countryside. The mysterious lights were traced to their origins usually a dining room light, civilians were followed to their homes and a noise that reportedly sounded like Morse Code was found on investigation to be emitted by a peaceful cow!

Woking And Bisley

The Battalion were ordered back to Shoreham after a fortnight of digging and guard duties and remained at Shoreham before receiving orders to march to Woking in order to join the Aldershot Command. Woking was reached by a route march that took 2 days. A break at Guildford after a 20 mile march in the hot sun was subject to much praise by the inhabitants including many older ex-servicemen. The 7th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment now occupied Inkerman Barracks along with the 9th Royal Sussex Regiment and another Battalion from the 73rd Brigade. The main reason for the move to Woking was the proximity of the famous ranges at Bisley. The 'Century Butts' as the range was known soon saw the 7th Battalion begin its musketry training and although some high individual scores were obtained, the general level was good. Once the musketry courses were complete the 7th Battalion had completed it's training and it was only a matter days before they were ordered overseas.

Field Marshall Earl Kitchener inspected the 24th Division on the 12th of August and although his inspection coincided with a downpour of rain he was delighted with the soldierly appearance of these New Army Battalions. The 24th Division was one of a group that was being held in reserve for offensive operations, so they did not go abroad immediately. The intervening period saw the 7th Northants at Chobham Common training in trench construction and trench attack and was carried out under active service conditions. The trenches the men dug bore little resemblance to those they had dug at Shoreham or Southwick and the Battlion benefited from the extra weeks training. They were inspected at Chobham Common by His Majesty The King, with The Queen and Princess Mary.

British Expeditionary Force 1915

The 24th Division finally received orders to leave for France and after a years hard training the men rejoiced at the news. In 1914 it was expected that the 7th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment would be fighting overseas within 6 months. The last night at Inkerman Barracks in Woking was celebrated by a concert in the Sergeants mess which the Officers were invited too and was a great success.

The transport and machine gun sections were the first representatives of the 7th Battalion to leave Woking, moving out on the 31st of august 1915 via Southampton to Le Havre. The remainder of the men entrained at Brookwood on the 1st of September after a 2 hour wait in the rain. On arrival at Folkstone the Battalion embarked at once and sailed to Boulogne arriving in the early hours of the 2nd of September 1915.

The 7th Northamptonshire Regiment's stay in Boulogne was short and they moved by train and were billeted in Crequy and Torcy, 2 small villages about 4 miles from Fruges. The Battalion were the first British troops to based in this area and were warmly welcomed. The men stayed here for 3 weeks and were then told the 24th Division was soon to be part of the greatest battle of the war. The men were told to 'push on through' and that reinforcements would come through. The distant rumble of the artillery could be heard and the 7th Battalion marched towards the gunfire on the 21st of September.

Battle Of Loos 1915

The march to the front lines occupied 4 days under the greatest of secrecy. All movement was confined to the darkness, and smoking was not permitted.

Already tired from the forced marches, in which only five men fell out, the 7th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment were held back too far from the front line, arriving late on the 25th. The 7th Northants were sent up to the front line on the evening of the 25th, while the rest of the Division moved the next day.

The 7th Battalion were given no instructions on arrival at the front line trenches near to Auchy, told only to follow an Officer from the 9th Division up to relieve one of the assaulting Battalions. The men of the 7th Northants wearing full kit and carrying extra ammunition moved across the battlefield crossing 7 trenches before they reached the Battalion they were relieving. Here they set up a defensive flank between the Hohenzollern Redoubt and Fosse 8.

The 7th Battalion stayed in this position overnight and by 12 noon on the 26th of September, heavy enemy shelling of Fosse 8 began and continued all day. The German's counter attacked 'B' Coy's section of the trenches, bombing them but they were eventually repulsed. Lieutenant Morley of 'B' Company would have been recommended for the Victoria Cross, but both he and the senior Officer who was going to recommended him were killed.

The shelling by the German's on Fosse 8 and the communication trenches leading up to the Hohenzollern Redoubt continued during the early hours of the 27th. Just after dawn the German's counter attacked in Battalion strength, against the Fosse and Slag alley and the 7th Northamptonshire Regiment were forced back to some cottages at Corons de Pekin which was North of the dump at Fosse 8. The German's placed heavy machine guns on top of the dump and could bring the area between the dump and the Hohenzollern Redoubt under intense fire. An attack to recapture the position at Fosse 8 was abandoned when several Officers, including General Thesiger, were killed by a shell whilst planning the attack. The Battalion held its positions for the rest of the day and were finally relieved in the evening. The 7th Northants had suffered heavily in their 'Baptism of Fire' losing 402 men. This caused much anxiety back home in Northampton as rumours abounded that the Battalion had been wiped out. The 24th Division as a whole lost 4178 men for very little gain, on the 26th September.

There was another heavy counter-attack on the morning of the 27th and at 11pm the 7th Battalion were finally relieved though it took some time to collect the remainder of the men in the old trenches at Sailly La Bourse. Captain R.C. Fowler who was the most senior Officer unwounded after the battle assumed Command of the Battalion from Captain Mobbs who had taken over Command during the battle before being wounded. The Battalion had lost most of its equipment with many of the men losing their service caps. The 7th Northants marched to Noeux les Mines where they entrained and moved to Berguette. After detraining the Battalion then marched 6 miles to Norrent-Fontes where they had a few hours rest before marching to billets at Lambres which was about 3 miles south of Aire.

Major H.W. Compton from the 12th Battalion took over Command of the 7th Northamptonshire Regiment at Lambres and after 3 days reorganization the Battalion again moved via train to Godewaersvelde and then marched to Herzeele via Steenvoorde. At Herzeele, Major P.C.B Skinner, D.S.O, arrived and took command of the 7th Northants and every effort was made to refit and get the men rested. As so many units had suffered equally in the Battle Of Loos it was not easy for the various Brigades and Divisions to refit all at once

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Winter 1915

The 7th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment were inspected on the 4th of October 1915 by Major General J. Capper who had assumed Command of the 24th Division and he was distressed at the losses the Battalion had suffered and the shortage of equipment to refit with, as he had family connections with the Northamptonshire Regiment. After a couple of days at Herzeele the 7th Battalion crossed the Belgian Frontier on the 6th of October and marched to Watou where they stayed before marching to Reninghelst near to Poperinge. It had been decided that the 73rd Infantry Brigade should take over a section of the trenches in front of the village of St.Eloi.

On the 12th of October 1915 L/Cpl Arthur Henry Thomas was promoted to Corporal and on the evening of the 14th the 7th Battalion relieved a Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry and commenced tours of 7 days in the trenches and 7 days in the camp on a rota with the 13th Battalion Middlesex Regiment.

The periods that the men spent in the trenches the 7th Northants faced trench mortar attacks which was a new form of the terror and destruction the men had to get used to. Time was spent on working on the trenches and improving the dug outs and mining activity was great by both sides. Working parties of men spent many hours emptying spoil bags from the mine shafts into various shell holes and pits so that the mine head would not be visible to the Germans owing to heaps of chalk. This work could only be undertaken at night and the Officers in charge of the miners could be seen almost daily at Battalion H.Q asking the C.O to put more men on the job. However men were needed to work on the trenches as the weather which was now quite bad was bringing down the parapets and the trenches were deep in a chalky slush and the Battalion were busy with these jobs when in the line.

The Bus House

Situated behind the support line on the Voormezeele - St. Eloi road lay the remains of an estaminet known through out the British Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders as the Bus House. The Canadians had once taken a motor bus this far but no further and this gave the place its name. By the time the 7th Northants arrived in the area the house was a skeleton but contained a metal safe that so far had thwarted all efforts to open it. The house was in full view of the Germans by day and used as a calibrating point for their heavy artillery but despite this efforts were made daily by the men who still had no success in getting the safe open.

On the 27th October the whole Battalion, then in the reserve had a chance to have a hot bath at the new Divisional baths. The men of the 7th Northants had been in France and Flanders for almost 2 months and this was the 1st official bath they had had. The men were provided with clean underclothes. The same day as the men had their baths, a representative contingent of men paraded in Reninghelst as part of a Composite Battalion made up from men from the other Battalions in the 73rd Infantry Brigade and were inspected by the King, who addressed the men in spite of the fact that the village was shelled at times by the Germans and this was a couple of days before the King had his accident and was thrown from his horse.

Before the 7th Battalion left the St. Eloi sector the men spent 2 days in the reserve at Dickebusch in order to be close to hand for any working parties that were required. During the march to Dickebusch the Battalion were shelled heavily and suffered some casualties and although the village was shelled constantly the Battalion were very fortunate, with a barn that platoon of men had just vacated receiving a direct hit from a shell.

In The Reserve

On the 22th November 1915 the 7th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment were relieved and the 24th Division moved to St. Omer as part of the General Headquarters Reserve. The journey was by route march with the 1st stage to Ecke near Steenvoorde a distance of about 9 miles. The next day the men marched to Arneke passing over Cassel Hill where the 2nd Army H.Q, Commanded by General Plumer was located. The march up the hill was as good as a weeks training since the Battalion had done hardly any hard marching since marching to the Battle of Loos, and the men had spent several weeks in muddy trenches which was prime cause of swollen feet.

The march to the rest area was completed on the 3rd day and the men arrived at Eperlecques and were soon settled into billets. The men began training and specialist courses on the Lewis gun, Signalling and Bombing. Inspections of the equipment and the men were carried out periodically and on the 2nd of December the first allotment of leave to England was granted to the 7th Battalion and 6 Other Ranks were soon leaving for 8 days. The morale of the men was raised as they now hoped they would be on the next allotment although it would cause disappointment if cancelled for any reason.

The 7th Battalion was inspected by the Army Commander and others from the Higher Command whilst at Eperlecques and Sir Douglas Haig visited the village, inspecting a Company training and spoke to some of the men. Brigade training was carried out at Foret d'Eperlacques and every effort was carried to improve the efficiency of the men. Sports were carried and an inter-company football competition was won by 'D' Coy after a hard struggle.

Christmas 1915

It soon became clear that the 24th Division would be behind the lines in the Reserve for its 1st Christmas in France and Flanders and arrangements to celebrate in style soon begun to be made. Purchases of Cigars, Beer, Oranges and the rest of the food etc was paid for by the profits from the Battalion's canteen and all this was supplemented by gifts from the people of Northampton, sent out via the local newspaper the Northampton Independent. The 7th Battalion owed special thanks to people of Northampton who supported the 'Mobbs Corps' tremendously throughout the war on all occasions.

On Christmas day all the Companies arranged their dinners and a great celebration was had by all. A race of 100 yards was organised between the oldest member of the Battalion and a Company Quartermaster Sergeant and was well attended by the men. On Boxing day the expected orders to move out were received and the 24th Division was take over the British line near to Pilkem. This move was then cancelled and the men enjoyed another weeks rest before new orders to move to the now very famous sector across the Ypres - Menin Road at Hooge. The 7th Battalion had enjoyed the longest period of rest it would have until after the Armistice and had benefited greatly from the extended training time. Reinforcements of men and Officers arrived throughout this period and the volunteers of Christmas 1914 were by Christmas 1915 battle hardened veterans.

Ypres - Menin Road 1916

On the 7th of January 1916 the 7th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment including Corporal Arthur Henry Thomas left the village of Eperlecques and marched to St. Omer where they boarded trains and moved to Poperinghe in Belgium arriving at Quintin Station. The Battalion marched through Poperinghe and were camped 2 miles south east of the town. The camp was in a poor state when the men arrived and in order to encourage improvements Major Mobbs offered a prize to the platoon that made the best improvements and next day the winners were a platoon from 'A' Company.

Ypres and the salient, played a central role throughout the whole of the war owing to its strategic position. The Allied Armies stopped the German advance here in 1914 and the town was surrounded on 3 sides and bombarded continuously throughout the war. The town became synonymous with destruction, trench warfare, poisonous gas attacks and military stalemate.

As there was an ever present threat of sudden German attacks it was necessary for all troops including those in the reserve to prepared at all times for a sudden move. The men could be called to 'Stand To' at any time of the day or night, and after inspection were dismissed. These alarms commenced as soon as the 7th Northants arrived in the area and the speed at which the men fell in whilst in fighting order always received commendation from the Army Authorities.

After a few days at this camp orders were received to move to The Bund at Zillebeke. The Zillebeke Bund is the west embankment of the Zillebeke lake, which was man-made and supplied the town of Ypres with water. Many dug-outs, dressing stations etc, were built into the steep bank and although not safe from enemy shelling, the steep bank made it difficult for the Germans to obtain direct hits. A common sight when there was a pause in the almost continuous shelling, was to see men peering into the lake looking for fish that had been stunned by shells falling in the water and quite a many Bream and other fish were collected in this way.

The stay at The Bund saw the 7th Battalion mainly engaged on working parties for the Royal Engineers. Gordon Farm which was a ruined house, about 1 mile distant and was the infantry working parties rendezvous. The Royal Engineers had a large dump for stores at the farm and the area became notorious with the men along with such areas as Hell Fire Corner, The Culvert, Pilkem Ridge and Transport Farm.

Hooge Winter 1916

On the 19th of January 1916 the 7th Battalion moved into the front line trenches at Hooge. The ruins of the famous racing stable at Hooge was between the Battalion's and the German lines. It was around the ruined stable that the main incidents of the Northants time in this area occurred. The cover afforded by the ruins provided each side with excellent opportunities for sudden raids and nearly every night bombing encounters took place here. The 7th battalion's bombing squad, led by Lieutenant Hadley, soon established their superiority over the Germans.

The trenches the 7th Battalion held, had in August 1915 been captured from the 14th Division, retaken by the 6th Division and had been the scene of heavy fighting. The area was littered with the dead from both sides which made work on the trenches difficult. The Germans held the high ground and commanded a complete view of the British line right up to Ypres. All work and necessary movement was confined to the night hours and the enforced idleness, the threat of gas attacks when the wind was favourable, the appalling state of the trenches, and the continuous bombardment by the German artillery made this sector of the British line trying throughout the war, but especially so during the winter months of early 1916 when it was known a German attack was coming.

After 4-6 days in the trenches the men would usually march back to Ypres along the Menin road and would deposit the boots worn in the trenches in a cellar near to the old ramparts at Ypres. They would then proceed to the west end of Ypres where they could get soup at a soup kitchen in the ruined asylum. The asylum was in view of Pilkem Ridge which was held by the Germans and was no place to linger at with the threat of shells.

The Battalion would march or sometimes go by train to the camp at Vlamertinghe and the latter was introduced to prevent the men marching too far on their swollen feet. The rail line ran almost to the asylum through Vlamertinghe to Poperinghe and on a quiet night the train could be heard by the Germans who usually shelled somewhere along the line. The men of the Railway Operating Division of the Royal Engineers put up new records of time taken along the Ypres - Vlamertinghe line, just as the infantry set new records between Hooge and Hell Fire Corner.

Railway Wood

About the middle of February the 7th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment moved a short distance north to the trenches in front of Railway Wood. The trenches here were almost as in a bad state as those at Hooge but had better accommodation and the mine shaft under Railway Wood provided safe cover for the Reserve Company. Trench 'A1' ran directly towards the enemy lines and was unpleasant for the men to hold. It's positions meant the Germans attacked the flanks with rifle and rifle grenade fire. The trench could not be approached at all during the day and it was impossible to construct a communication trench from Railway Wood. By night the Germans were in the habit of bringing up a naval gun mounted on a train located behind their lines which fired onto these trenches. There was no shelter that was safe enough against this field gun and trench 'A1' acquired unenviable reputation amongst the men. It was whilst in this sector of the front that the 7th Battalion's Intelligence Officer failed to return from a night patrol in 'No Man's Land', and this was a huge loss to the Battalion.

The expected German attack came towards the end of February and took place at the Bluff which was south of the 24th Division's position, but the Division had suffered heavily in the preliminary artillery bombardments which took place across a broad front.

Ypres Sector 1916

On the 1st of March 1916 the 7th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment were in the reserve and received orders to hold itself in readiness to support an attack that the 3rd Division was to make against the trenches lost to the Germans at the Bluff. The Battalion moved back to the dug-outs previously occupied at Zillebeke and on arrival found the area had been heavily shelled since the men were last here, with many of the shelters destroyed. The shelter previously used by the 73rd Brigade H.Q. had been destroyed and the Brigade H.Q. moved in to the Ypres Ramparts.

The 7th Battalion wasn't required to help the 3rd Division's attack on the Bluff so they spent a week at The Bund in Zillebeke, being constantly bombarded by Howitzers and Field guns, and the area was repeatedly shelled with gas shells which kept the Battalion busy maintaining the gas proof curtains to the main dug-outs. On March the 8th the 7th Battalion moved back into the front line, relieving the 2nd Battalion Leinster Regiment in the trenches at Hooge.

Snow had been falling for several days and the trenches were in an appalling state. Movement by day was impossible, but now with the condition of the trenches which had made the trenches a quagmire of deep mud and slush, movement by night was also nearly impossible and the harsh winter of 1916 made the conditions in the Ypres Salient, one of the enduring images of the Great War.

On the 9th of March 1916 a bombing attack, by the Germans on the trench near to the ruined Hooge Stables, inflicted casualties to both sides before the attack was repulsed by the arrival of Sergeant Brookman and his bombing squad. Private Boyle from 'B' Company, a father to 8 children was killed after fighting hard with his rifle, and another man from the Battalion received no less than 17 distinct wounds although none were serious.

On the 18th of March the 24th Division were ordered to move south to the foot of the Messines Ridge and the 7th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment including Corporal Arthur Thomas, left Hooge after two and half months during which the Battalion suffered heavily. With the constant German artillery bombardment, and the fact that even when out of the line in reserve the troops were still under shell fire, periodical bombing by German aircraft and the terrible condition of the ground and trenches, meant that the main difficulties the men faced was the movement to and from the trenches.

The communication trenches were under direct German observation by day, and any work done by men overnight, received German attention at first light. The Ypres - Menin Road was swept by machine gun fire and continuously shelled day and night. The town of Poperinghe which was about 10 miles from Hooge and where the troops would be billeted when in the reserve was also shelled and bombed and the Ypres Salient gained a reputation in the British Expeditionary Force that was unrivalled on the British front and which has endured to this day.

Messines 1916

On leaving Hooge the 24th Division marched via Westoutre and Berthen to relieve the 1st Canadian Division in the line at Messines. The 7th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment spent a couple of days in the area around the defences of Kemmel Hill, before relieving the 15th Battalion Canadian Highlanders in the trenches near Wulverghem on the 24th of March.

The outgoing Canadians, after 9 months occupation, assured the men of the 7th Battalion that this sector of the line was really quiet and there was no such thing as 'No Man's Land' as their patrols were in charge all the way up to the German lines. The 7th Battalion at once noticed that the wire entanglements in front of the trenches were excellent, especially compared to the wire at Ypres, but on closer inspection was found to be indeed poor against what the Germans had erected in front of their own lines.

The day after the 7th Battalion moved into the front line, the Germans heavily shelled the trenches. Fort Osbourne a series of sandbagged dugouts that the support companies occupied was targeted. Since the departing Canadians had declared that the Germans were ignorant of the existence of the dug-outs, the men found it disconcerting that they had been shelled before the Battalion had even been there 24 hours. The bombardment continued into the next day, the 26th of March 1916, and the 7th Battalion Intelligence Summary calculated that no less than 1,000 shells had landed on the 7th Northants position in the 2 days they had been in the trenches at Wulverghem.

After 8 days in the line the 7th Battalion was relieved by the 2nd Battalion Leinster Regiment, and moved to the Brigade Reserve and were camped at Red Lodge situated at the western edge of Ploegsteert Wood. Red Lodge was an old farm building and some old wooden huts, on the slopes of the wooded Hill 63. The hill commanded excellent views of the German held Messines ridge but every time the 7th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment held the position, they were shelled heavily once, twice if not more often whilst they stayed here. Other Battalions seemed to be more fortunate, as the 7th Northants nearly always suffered casualties.

On the 3rd of April 1916 Corporal Arthur Henry Thomas was promoted to paid Lance Serjeant. The Battalion whilst on Reserve spent the night hours on working parties just behind the front. After every other tour in the trenches the 7th Battalion would move to the Divisional reserve in Koetepyp, about one and half miles from Neuve Eglise. The camp at Koetepyp didn't command the view that Hill 63 and the Red Lodge had but men preferred it here as there was no shelling and they weren't called on for so many working as found when they were in the Brigade reserve.

Gas Attack Wulverghem 1916

On the night of 29/30th of April 1916 the Germans carried out a gas attack on a considerable scale near Wulverghem, on a front of 3,500 yards held by the 3rd and 24th Divisions. The Germans covered the sound of the gas being released, with heavy rifle and machine gun fire. Artillery bombardments on 3 sectors of the British lines was followed by 8 Infantry attacks. 2 of these attacks managed to penetrate the British line with 1 repulsed immediately and the 2nd was driven out by a counter-attack after the Germans had occupied some trenches for about 40 minutes.

The 7th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment were in the Brigade reserve at Red Lodge when the German attack began and the Battalion was 'Stood To' and manned some defences known as the Cavalry Trenches. At 4am the Battalion received the order to 'Stand Down' as no attack had broken through to their position.

Lieutenant-Colonel Mobbs the 7th Battalions Commanding Officer was granted a period of leave so Captain H. Grierson assumed command. During this period in the trenches the Battalion was visited by members of the Royal Navy. A contingent had a most instructive 24 hours in the front line at trench 'C.2'. This trench compared favourably with any on the British front for its comfort and design. The other trenches the Battalion held were not so fortunate. These trenches known as '141' and '142' were constantly enfiladed by a battery of German 5.9" guns. No work could be performed on these trenches by the men without drawing enemy fire.

Major-General J. Capper Commanding Officer of the 24th Division was apparently one of only a few who appreciated these trenches, as most days he could found wandering along this line or examining the lines opposite, much to the annoyance of the Company O.C who resided there.

Throughout May 1916 the 7th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment spent the time in the trenches on a tour of 6-8 days,then alternate tours of Brigade or Divisional reserve. The time in the trenches passed relatively quiet with enemy occasional artillery, rifle and machine gun fire at times, patrols mounted in 'No Man's Land' and working parties either bringing up the supplies of food and ammunition or working on the trenches.

May and into June 1916 the sector of the line held by the 7th Battalion was generally uneventful until the 17th of June when just after midnight the Germans released a cloud gas attack. The attack happened at the same time that several Officers and N.C.O's from the 7th Australian Brigade were reconnoitring the front. Working parties from the support Company were also in the trenches so the line was thickly held more so than usual.

Yet in spite of a heavy bombardment from every kind of shell and trench mortar, the 7th Battalion's casualties were 1 Officer wounded, 7 Other Ranks killed, and 53 wounded which included a number of men from the visiting Australians. The gas cloud practically missed trenches '141' and '142' and the men soon discarded their gas helmets but Battalion H.Q. was situated in a valley and the Officers and men there were required to wear their gas helmets for about 2 hours.The gas attack boosted the men's faith in the P.H helmets against the current gases used by the Germans, and the helmet regarded before as inartistic piece of kit was now treated respect second only to the rifle.

The following evening the 7th Northants were relieved by the 25th Battalion Australian Imperial Force and proceeded to Bailleul by 30 General Service Wagons and 3 Lorries as it was not safe to make the men march so soon after a gas attack. At Bailleul the Battalion were met by guides who took them to Haegedoorne where the men were billeted for the night.

Kemmel June 1916

The next day the 19th of June 1916 the 7th Battalion march to a camp at Locre known as Wakefield Huts. After a day in what was considered an ideal camp the 7th Northants moved closer to the front line, occupying a camp in a sandpit at the foot of Kemmel Hill known as Kemmel Shelters.

Kemmel Shelters were used by the Battalion in the 73rd Brigade Reserve and the 7th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment occupied this position until the 27th of June 1916 when they moved into the front line trenches. The 7th Battalion took over a sector of the trenches in front of Kemmel village, relieving the 2nd Battalion Leinster Regiment.

The 7th Battalion's reserve company was billeted in Kemmel Château which at this point in the war was still unscathed by German shelling. This led to a rumour amongst the men that the house was owned by a German. This sector of the British line was regarded by the men of the 7th battalion as worse than those they had vacated near to Wulverghem. The accommodation for the 2 front line Companies was very poor and the left sub-sector of the trenches was under almost continuous heavy trench mortar attack causing severe damage. The German heavy trench mortar was fired from concrete positions in Petit Bois, against which the British Artillery seemed powerless to counter.

The approach of the long expected Allied offensive saw a massive artillery attack all along the British lines and the subsequent Germans counter-barrages. These artillery duels were aimed mainly at the infantry in the trenches hoping to cause as much damage and devastation as possible.

On the 28th of June 1916 the 7th Battalion were subjected to an intense bombardment on their front line trenches with 2nd Lieutenant A.F.J. Burnham killed and a further 30 casualties inflicted in an attack which lasted less than half an hour. On the 29th of June 1916 Lance Serjeant Arthur Henry Thomas was killed in action aged 34 years.

L/Sgt Arthur Thomas was buried 2 1/4 miles North East of Dranoutre (now Dranouter), Reference: Map 28 Square N.21 B.5 by the men of the 7th Battalion. Arthur's widow Mary, who had moved residence and was now living at 10 Hampshire Street, Buckland, Portsmouth, was notified of Arthur's death on the 10th of July 1916.

A form in Arthur's Army service records dated the 28th of September 1916 give's a list of Arthur's belongings that he had with him at the time of his death and these were sent to Arthur's widow Mary.

1.Coin (Farthing)

Packet of Letters

2 Note Books

Pocket Wallet containing 5 photos

Metal Locket and Chain

1. Xmas Card

1. Pocket knife

1. Photo

1. French Book

Arthur's grave in now located in Kemmel Château Military Cemetery, Belgium in grave E.9. and Arthur is buried alongside 2 other men from the 7th Battalion who were also killed on the 29th of June 1916, and also other men from the Battalion who killed whilst they were fighting here.

Arthur is entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals and his wife Mary received these between 1919 and 1921 when they were issued.

Arthur's widow Mary was awarded a War Pension for herself and son Alfred, with a Separation Allowance of 14/6 (14 shillings and 6 pence) and an Allotment of Pay 3/6 ( 3 shillings and 6 pence). The pension was paid by the Central Army Pension Issue Office.

Arthur Henry Thomas

Rank: Lance Serjeant

Regt No: 14205

Regiment: 'A' Company 7th Service Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment

Killed In Action 29/6/1916

Buried at Kemmel Château Military Cemetery

Grave Ref: E.9

Arthur Henry Thomas is my 2nd Great Grandfather from my Father's side of my family.

Lest We Forget

Lee Thomas

July 2013

Photos from Project Gutenberg

http://www.gutenberg.org

Ypres and the Battles of Ypres, by Unknown

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/36213/36213-h/36213-h.htm