The 1st July 1916 is a date infamous in British
military history – The first day of the Somme.
The British in an effort to relieve the pressure on their
French allies in Verdun mounted a huge offensive in the Somme area along a 15 mile front involving
some 750,000 men. The attack was due to begin at 7.30am after an eight-day
bombardment.
Albert Hollins (my half cousin 3 times removed) was a
sergeant serving with the 8th Battalion, Prince Alberts, Somerset
Light Infantry. Albert from Sandy Lane, Rugeley worked before the War in the
grocery trade and had arrived in France in September 1915. On the 1st
July he was just 22 years old.
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| Albert Hollins 8th Bat. SLI |
The War Diary for the Battalion describes the
events of the day.
8th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry War Diary 1st July 1916
At 6.30am Trench ladders & bridges were put in place and
an intense artillery barrage was opened.
7.30-am – Was ZERO time for assault.
7.25 am Front waves of B & C Coys crawled out.
T
he battalion was ordered to attack in the following
formation B and C Coys in front B on right and C on left. To advance in 4 lines
of platoons at 2 paces interval about 100 ft between lines – supported by A Coy
in 2 lines of ½ coys. D Coy coming on in seal in artillery formation. E.g. in
lines of platoons in file as a carrying party for SAA – bombs, picks and
shovels.
The artillery barrage lifted our men advanced in quick time.
They were met by very heavy machine gun fire and although officers and men were
being hit and falling everywhere the advance went steadily on, and was reported
by a Brigade Major who witnessed it to have been magnificent.
The leading platoon lost quite 50% going across “No man’s
Land” On arrival near the enemy’s front line they were momentarily held up by a
machine gun, but as the successive supporting lines came up they soon got in.
Already the enemy had opened an artillery barrage on “No
Man’s Land” and our front line trench – which caused heavy casualties among the
supports. The only enemy found alive in his front line were a few machine gunners,
who were immediately killed.
Our men worked their way down the German communication
trenches, bombing dugouts which contained live Germans, then on to where the
trenches had been battered out of all recognition and only consisted of a mass
of craters.
They were supported by one Stokes gun but the officer in
charge and the team were soon knocked out; then a Lewis gun team of ours got …
& but considerable help; enabling our men to make a further advance. This
party was under 2LT Kellett and worked its way from crater to crater until it
got to Lozenge Alley which had not been straffed by our artillery, here they
consolidated – making fire steps etc. because it was only a communication
trench. The enemy’s barrage of shrapnel prevented further advance.
In Lozenge Alley 2Lt Kellett’s party joined up with 2LT A.H.
Halls party making a total of about 100, who had been doing much the same work.
They held this position all night – during which time they repulsed a bombing
attack coming from the direction of Fricourt.
The high hopes of the Officers and men of the first day were
soon replaced by grinding attrition. The attacks had soon stalled and the
appalling loss of life made the first day of the Somme the worst in British military history. In total 57,470 casualties were recorded including 19,240 dead.
The 8th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry
suffered 116 casualties killed on the first day.
Like most of country, family and friends had to wait for news of their loved ones.
News of Albert’s fate was reported in the Lichfield Mercury
Friday 21st July 1916
Local Casualties
Sargent A. Hollins. Information has been received by Mr and Mrs Thomas
Hollins, Sandy Lane, Rugeley that their son, Sergeant Albert Hollins, has been
killed in action. Sergt. Hollins joined the Somerset Light Infantry Sept 1st
1914 and went out to the front in Sept 1915.
He went all through the Battle of Loos, and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant for gallantry in the field.
Previous to enlistment he was employed by messers Siemens. He was home on leave
about two months ago.
The Sergeant-Major of his company, in a letter of sympathy
to his deceased parents, says: He died as he lived, a solider. He was killed
about three yards from machine gun, which he was charging and trying to take.
His end must, have been instantaneous as he had four bullet wounds, from his
head to his throat. Deceased has a brother in the Royal West Kent Regiment.
Albert has no known grave and is remembered on the Thiepval
Memorial (Pier 2 and Face 2A) and on the war memorial in Brereton, near Rugeley.
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| Thiepval Memorial |
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| Brereton War memorial |
