Ivan Percival Campbell Sorge, Border Regiment

The 9th Battalion was formed at Carlisle in September 1914 as part of K3 and attached to 66th Brigade in the 22nd Division. It moved to Lewswe and Seaford and then onto billets in Eastbourne in November 1914. In February 1915 it became the Divisional Pioneers of the same Division. It located to Seaford in March 1915 and then onto Aldershot in May 1915. It landed at Le Havre on 4 September 1915 but soon moved to Salonika, arriving 7 November 1915. The 6th Battalion was formed at Carlisle in August 1914 as part of K1 and attached to 33rd Brigade in the 11th (Northern) Division. It moved to Belton Park (Grantham) and then relocated to Frensham in April 1915. The Battalion sailed from Liverpool on 1 July 1915 for Gallipoli, landing at Helles on 20 July. It was evacuated to Egypt in January 1916. Its duty on the Western Front commenced when the battalion landed at Marseilles in France on 6 July 1916. On 9 February 1918 it was disbanded at Mazingarbe in France.

Lieutenant Sorge first arrived in France as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers (No. 2 Siege Company, Royal Anglesey Royal Engineers) on 14 December 1914. He was commissioned on 23 January 1915 and initially served in the 9th Battalion, Border Regiment. He was later attached to the 6th Battalion of the same regiment. This Battalion first saw serious action on the Western Front at the Somme in September 1916. It was previously deployed around Arras. On 26 September the 6th Battalion took part in the Battle of Thiepval.

At 12.35pm, after a preparatory three-day bombardment, four assault divisions of the Reserve Army moved forward on a 6,000 yard wide front. The 11th Division, attacking northwards, quickly overran Mouquet Farm, but experienced much difficulty subduing its surviving defenders. The eventual surrender of the depleted garrison allowed 11th Division to move against Zollern Redoubt but severe casualties slowed progress and by evening the attackers had stalled at its edge. 18th Division moved up and eventually helped secure the greater part of Thiepval, after much hard close-quarter fighting. During the afternoon, following the evacuation of Zollern Redoubt, 11th Division stormed Stuff Redoubt and gained precarious hold of its southern edge. By the battle’s end on 30th September, the British had gained most of the ridge-line though sections of Stuff and Schwaben Redoubts remained in German hands. During this battle the 33rd brigade suffered over 600 casualties.

The Battalion War Diary confirms that Lieutenant Sorge of 'D' Company was part of the attacking force and was probably wounded during this action as a number of officers were reported as casualties. After recovery from the battlefield he would have eventually been transferred back to the Base Hospital (No. 1 General Hospital) at Etretat, on the coast near Le Havre, probably to await transport back to the UK. He died there 2 to 3 weeks after being wounded.

Born at Holyhead on 11 November 1894, the eldest son of Percival and Isobel Annie Sorge (nee Weaver) of "Burnley", Walthew Avenue, Holyhead. In 1901 he lived with his family at Parkfield, Holyhead. At the time of the Census those resident at the address were his mother Isobel Annie Sorge (36), Ivan Percival Campbell Sorge (7) and his brother Roy Pyefinch Sorge (5). The Census recorded his father as Mate on the LNWR ship, PS Banshee, at Holyhead Harbour. (The Banshee was the last of the Paddle Steamers operating out of Holyhead). His father was born at Birkenhead, Cheshire. His mother originated from Brixton, Surrey. Also at the house was a Domestic Servant, Elizabeth Owens (19).

In 1911 the family lived at "Nubia", Walthew Avenue, Holyhead and comprised Percival Sorge (46), Annie (46), Ivan (16), Roy (13), Lorimer Hilton (5). Ivan was then employed as a Clerk working for the LNWR Marine Department. His father was recorded as a Ships Master, also working for the LNWR. Also present was Ellen Macnamara (18), a Domestic Servant, originating from Kilkenny, Ireland. Records show that a daughter, Ida Marjorie Sorge, died at Holyhead in 1904, aged one year. Percival and Isobel Annie Sorge ended their lives at Watford, where they died within three months of each other in 1950, both aged 85.

He is believed to have also to have been one of Holyhead's first Scouts along with the Fox-Rusell brothers.

Awarded the 1914-15 Star (as Sapper in the Royal Engineers), Victory Medal and British War Medal. His father applied for the 1914-15 Star in October 1920. (His VM and BWM were sold at auction in 2009 and again in 2015. His bronze Memorial Plaque was sold in auction in 2014).

Buried in Etretat Churchyard Cemetery, France. Grave located at II.B.20. Also commemorated on the LNWR "Roll of Honour".

With thanks to Regis Biaux for providing the photograph of Second Lieutenant Sorge's Grave. Image of Memorial Plaque from www.the-saleroom.com.