Baptism of Fire, 29th June 1916

“It was not long before the Battalion received what is usually termed its ‘ baptism of fire.’ Things were waking up along the front in anticipation of the Franco-British attack on the Somme. Raids took place frequently. Fighting patrols scoured No-Man’s-Land each night. In many places at once the enemy’s wire was bombarded to shreds.

By the end of June an intense feeling of expectancy had developed ; activity on both sides reached the highest pitch. The Battalion was not slow in playing its part. One of the early casualties was Lieutenant Moberly, who performed a daring daylight reconnaissance up to the German wire. He was wounded and with great difficulty and only through remarkable pluck regained our lines.

That same night the Battalion did its first raid, by B Company under Hugh Davenport. The raid was ordered at short notice and was a partial success. If the tangible results were few, B Company was very properly thanked for its bravery on this enterprise, which had to be carried out against uncut wire and unsubdued machine-guns. Zeder, a lieutenant with a South African D.C.M., was mortally wounded on the German wire and taken prisoner. The casualties were numerous. Davenport himself was wounded, but unselfishly refused treatment until his men had been fetched in. It was a night of battle and excitement. To the most hardened troops a barrage directed against crowded breastworks was never pleasant. The Battalion bore itself well and earned recital, albeit with some misdescription, in the English press a few days later.”

Killed in Action:

Lance Sergeant Victor Maurice Elliot, 3554, age 29, B Company.

Lance Corporal Albert Norris, 200305, age 21.

Lance Corporal Reginald Pink, 2030.

Lance Corporal William Henry Rimmer, 202946, age 20.

Private Percy Heber Ball, 5341, age 18, C Company.

Private George Gladstone Burge, 201969.

Private Leslie Hine, 202002.

Private (Signaller) Noah Davies Huzzey, 6730, age 21.

Private Harry Parker, 4694.

Private Walter Edward Smith, 5349

Private Caleb (Kaleb) Arthur Wyatt, 5325, Aged 26.

Died of Wounds From the Raid.

2nd Lieutenant Joseph Herbert Zeder, D.C.M.

Private Caleb (Kaleb) Arthur Wyatt

Name: WYATT, CALEB ARTHUR
Initials: C A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
Unit Text: 2nd/4th Bn.
Age: 26
Date of Death: 29/06/1916
Service No: 5325
Additional information: Son of Samuel and Mary Jane Wyatt, of Adderbury West, Banbury, Oxon.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. B. 9.
Cemetery: LAVENTIE MILITARY CEMETERY, LA GORGUE

Name: Kaleb A. Wyatt
Birth Place: Adderbury, Oxon
Residence: Oxford
Death Date: 29 Jun 1916
Enlistment Location: Adderbury, Oxon
Rank: Private
Regiment: Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
Battalion: 2/4th Battalion.
Number: 5325
Type of Casualty: Killed in action

Please see: Baptism of Fire, 29th June 1916.

Private Walter Edward Frank Smith

Name: Walter Edward Frank Smith
Birth Place: Oxford
Residence: Oxford
Death Date: 29 Jun 1916
Rank: Private
Regiment: Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
Battalion: 2/4th Battalion.
Number: 5349
Type of Casualty: Killed in action

Name: SMITH
Initials: W E F
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
Unit Text: 2nd/4th Bn.
Date of Death: 29/06/1916
Service No: 5349
Additional information: Son of Mrs. H. Smith, of 2, Bliss Court, Broad St., Oxford.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. B. 7.
Cemetery: LAVENTIE MILITARY CEMETERY, LA GORGUE

Please see: Baptism of Fire, 29th June 1916.

Lance Corporal William Henry Rimmer

Name: RIMMER, WILLIAM HENRY
Initials: W H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment/Service: Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
Unit Text: 2nd/4th Bn.
Age: 20
Date of Death: 29/06/1916
Service No: 202946
Additional information: Son of William Henry and Helena Rimmer, of 16, Darley Drive, West Derby, Liverpool.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 83 to 85.
Memorial: LOOS MEMORIAL

Name: William Henry Rimmer
Birth Place: Liverpool
Residence: Liverpool
Death Date: 27 Jun 1916
Rank: L/Corporal
Regiment: Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
Battalion: 2/4th Battalion.
Number: 202946
Type of Casualty: Killed in action
Comments: Formerly 1624, Liverpool Regt.

Please see: Baptism of Fire, 29th June 1916.

Lance Corporal Reginald Leslie Pink (1897 – 1916)

Name: PINK
Initials: R L
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment/Service: Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
Unit Text: 2nd/4th Bn.
Date of Death: 29/06/1916
Service No: 2030
Additional information: Son of Mr. F. R. Pink, of 5, Blenheim Terrace, Chipping Norton, Oxon.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. A; 7.
Cemetery: LAVENTIE MILITARY CEMETERY, LA GORGUE

Name: Reginald Pink
Birth Place: Chipping Norton, Oxon
Residence: Chipping Norton
Death Date: 29 Jun 1916
Rank: L/Corporal
Regiment: Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
Battalion: 2/4th Battalion.
Number: 2030
Type of Casualty: Killed in action

Please see: Baptism of Fire, 29th June 1916.

His father worked at the Woollen Factory in Chipping Norton.

Private Harry Parker

Name: PARKER
Initials: H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
Unit Text: 2nd/4th Bn.
Date of Death: 29/06/1916
Service No: 4694
Additional information: Son of Mr. J. Parker, of 57, North St., Bicester, Oxon.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. B. 6.
Cemetery: LAVENTIE MILITARY CEMETERY, LA GORGUE

Name: Harry Parker
Residence: Oxford
Death Date: 29 Jun 1916
Enlistment Location: Bicester, Oxon
Rank: Private
Regiment: Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
Battalion: 2/4th Battalion.
Number: 4694
Type of Casualty: Killed in action

Please see: Baptism of Fire, 29th June 1916.

Lance Corporal Albert Norris

Name: NORRIS, ALBERT
Initials: A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment/Service: Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
Unit Text: 2nd/4th Bn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 29/06/1916
Service No: 200305
Additional information: Son of Sophia Norris, of Warren Row, Henley-on-Thames.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 83 to 85.
Memorial: LOOS MEMORIAL

Name: Albert Norris
Birth Place: Hurley, Berks
Residence: Wargrave, Berks
Death Date: 29 Jun 1916
Enlistment Location: Henley-On-Thames, Oxon
Rank: L/Corporal
Regiment: Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
Battalion: 2/4th Battalion.
Number: 200305
Type of Casualty:Killed in action

Please see: Baptism of Fire, 29th June 1916.

Private (Signaller) Noah Davies Huzzey (1895 – 1916)

Name: HUZZEY, NOAH DAVIES
Initials: N D
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private (Signaller)
Regiment/Service: Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
Unit Text: 2nd/4th Bn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 29/06/1916
Service No: 6730
Additional information: Son of Albert and Elizabeth Huzzey, of 50, Tyrpenry St., Morriston, Swansea.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 83 to 85.
Memorial: LOOS MEMORIAL

Name: Noah Davies Huzzey
Birth Place: Morriston, Glam.
Residence: Swansea
Death Date: 29 Jun 1916
Enlistment Location: Morriston, Glam.
Rank: Private
Regiment: Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
Battalion: 2/4th Battalion.
Number: 6730
Type of Casualty: Died of wounds
Theater of War: Aldershot
Comments: Formerly 1336, Welch Regt.

Please see: Baptism of Fire, 29th June 1916.

See: SEION NEWYDD CHAPEL, CLASE ROAD MORRISTON nr SWANSEA

Albert Huzzey born:1844. Died Nov 4th 1902. Elizabeth Huzzey born I think 1847. Died Feb 14th 1920. ??? Huzzey (son) a signaller in the 2/4 Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry Who was killed at Laventie on June 29th 1916 and buried in Bethune Cemetary Northern France aged 21 years.

Private Leslie Hine

From www.headington.org.uk:

Leslie Hine was born in Oxford in 1897, the son of William Charles Hine(born in Oxford in 1864, registered second quarter) and Caroline Jane(surname unknown, born in Oxford in c.1866). His parents were married in c.1887 and had eleven children:

• William Thomas Hine (born in Oxford, registered in Headington Registration District first quarter of 1888)
• Mabel Alice Hine (born in Oxford on 11 March 1889, baptised at St Barnabas’s Church on 14 July 1889)
• Albert Vernon Hine (born in Oxford on 1 May 1891, baptised at St Barnabas’s Church on 8 October 1891; probably the young man of 19 called Albert V. Hine who died in the Tonbridge Registration District in first quarter of 1911)
• Frank Hine (born in Oxford on 27 May 1893, baptised at SS Philip & James Church on 27 July 1893)
• Percival Hine (Frank’s twin, born and baptised as above; died aged 6 months, funeral at SS Philip & James Church 7 December 1893)
• George Hine (born in Oxford on 21 December 1894, baptised at SS Philip & James Church on 25 April 1895)
• Harold Hine (born in Oxford on 8 February 1896, baptised at SS Philip & James Church on 30 April 1896)
• Leslie Hine (born in Oxford on 1 July 1897 and baptised at St Margaret’s Church on 3 September 1897)
• Winifred Margaret Hine (born in Oxford in 1898, died aged 11 weeks, funeral at SS Philip & James Church on 26 September 1898)
• Ewart Hine (born in Oxford on 16 July 1899 and baptised at St Margaret’s Church on 30 August 1899)
• Phyllis Margery Hine (born in Oxford in February 1905 and baptised at St Margaret’s Church on 26 March 1905)

Leslie’s father was a printer compositor, later a printer’s reader. Back in 1881 he was a printer’s apprentice (16) living with his parents at Douglas Villa in Kingston Road, and own father had the curious job of “Artistic Director of Bones ‘Museum’ ”. After his marriage in about 1887 Leslie’s father chose to remain conveniently near Oxford University Press, and at the time of the 1891 census he lived with his young family at 25 Albert Street in Jericho.

By May 1893 the Hine family had moved to 65 Hayfield Road, which until 1896 was in SS Philip & James parish, and they were still there in 1898. By the time Leslie’s next brother was baptised the following year, his family had moved to 59 Hayfield Road. Leslie attended SS Philip & James School, and was commended at an inspection on 1 November 1907. On 7 January 1907 he won a prize for four years’ full attendance.

The family was still living at 59 Hayfield Road at the time of the 1911 census, when Leslie (13) was still at school; but by 1914 they had moved to 71 Plantation Road also in St Margaret’s parish.

In the First World War Leslie Hine served as a Private in the 2nd/4th Battalion of the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Service No. 202002). He was killed in action in France at the age of 18 on 29 June 1916 and has no known grave. He is remembered on the Loos Memorial (Panel 83 to 85) and on the war memorial outside St Margaret’s Church in north Oxford.

After the War

Leslie’s parents

• Between the time Leslie went missing in 1916 and was confirmed as dead in 1917, his family moved from Plantation Road to 43 Observatory Street. The William Charles Hine living at 74 Cranham Street in 1936 is likely to be Leslie’s father.

• Leslie’s brother Frank Hine (born 1893), then a clerk of 43 Observatory Street, married Annie Amelia Jones at St Margaret’s Church on 23 December 1922.

Name: Leslie Hine
Birth Place: Oxford
Residence: Oxford
Death Date: 29 Jun 1916
Rank: Private
Regiment: Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
Battalion: 2/4th Battalion.
Number: 202002
Type of Casualty: Killed in action

Name: HINE, LESLIE
Initials: L
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
Unit Text: 2nd/4th Bn.
Date of Death: 29/06/1916
Service No: 202002
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 83 to 85.
Memorial: LOOS MEMORIAL

Please see: Baptism of Fire, 29th June 1916.

Lance Sergeant Victor Maurice Elliott

Name: ELLIOTT, VICTOR MAURICE
Initials: V M
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lance Serjeant
Regiment/Service: Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
Unit Text: “B” Coy. 2nd/4th Bn.
Age: 29
Date of Death: 29/06/1916
Service No: 3554
Additional information: Son of George and Harriet Elliott, of 107, Oakhill Rd., Putney, London. Native of Tydd St. Mary, Lincs.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: VI. P. 71.
Cemetery: MERVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY

Name: Victor Maurice Elliott
Birth Place: Tydd St. Mary, Lincoln
Residence: Oxford
Death Date: 29 Jun 1916
Enlistment Location: E. Putney, Surrey
Rank: L/Sergeant
Regiment: Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
Battalion: 2/4th Battalion.
Number: 3554
Type of Casualty: Died of wounds

Please see: Baptism of Fire, 29th June 1916.

PETERBOROUGH CATHEDRAL, ST PETER’S TRAINING COLLEGE WAR MEMORIAL

The memorial is to the Old Boys of St Peter’s College, Peterborough who gave their lives in World War 1. It is to be found within St Sprite’s Chapel, Peterborough Cathedral, and takes the form of a stone tablet with a curved top, the arms of the city are carved, and painted, above the inscription in red. A inverted, gold sword is carved between the two columns of names. Dates shown thus 1900-01 are the dates the individual attended the college.

Lance Sergeant Victor Maurice Elliott
3554 Lance Serjeant “B” Coy. 2nd/4th Bn Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry. Born Tydd St Mary, Lincs Enlisted Oxford Resident East Putney, Surrey. Died of wounds 29th June 1916. Age 29. Son of George and Harriet Elliott, of 107, Oakhill Rd., Putney, London. Buried MERVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY Grave VI.P.71. 1906-1907