1916, JUNE 29th – FIRST RAID BY THE 2/4th OXFORDS: BAPTISM OF FIRE

From The Story of the 2/4th Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, by Captain G. K. Rose M.C. (Oxford: B.H. Blackwell, 1920)

That same night (28^th / 29^th) 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.

At zero they all advanced, but the wire was insufficiently cut. Lieut, Stockton, with the right party, under very heavy fire cast both right and left about 50 yards to try to find a gap, but did not succeed in doing so, and brought the right party back. 2nd Lieut. Zeder, in charge of the left party, got up to the wire but could not get through, and this party suffered severely as they came back, 2nd Lieut. Zeder being killed. The supporting party were also held up by uncut wire, and eventually returned to the trenches, having lost 8 killed and about 30 wounded, nearly all of whom were brought in. Sergeant Prentice, Corporal Brereton, and Private Gardner received the Military Medal for their actions during this raid, and the G.O.C. 61st Division wrote that he considered it had been carefully planned and gallantly carried out. The failure of  the raid was due to the uncut wire.

KILLED IN ACTION JUNE 29^th 1916

200305 Lance Corporal Albert Norris

2030 Lance Corporal Reginal Leslie Pink

5341 Private Percy Ball

201969 Private George Gladstone Burge

241361 Private Edward Busby

202002 Private Leslie Hine

4694 Private Harry Parker

5349 Private Walter Edward Frank Smith

5325 Private Kaleb A Wyatt

DIED OF WOUNDS JUNE 29^th 1916

3554 Lance Sergeant Victor Maurice Elliott

6730 Private Noah Davies Huzzey (Formerly 1336, Welsh Regt.)

1916, JUNE 28th – PREPARING FOR THE FIRST RAID BY THE 2/4th OXFORDS

Extracted From The Regimental Chronicles of the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry

On the evening of 28/29th the Battalion had to carry out its first raid. Captain Davenport’s Company had been selected. The plan was to enter the enemy’s trenches, and penetrate to his support line if possible. Two parties were to enter the trenches at points about 100 yards apart, and a third party was to act as reserve and rearguard. Considerable hindrance was experienced by two exceptionally dark nights immediately preceding the raid, which made it impossible to ascertain with certainty whether the wire had been properly cut.

 From The Story of the 2/4th Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, by Captain G. K. Rose KC (Oxford: B.H. Blackwell, 1920)

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.

On the morning of the 28th Lieut. K. E. Brown and 2nd Lieut. W. H. Moberley went out each by himself to reconnoitre the gaps in the wire. 2nd Lieut. Moberley was hit by a sniper and lay for 9 hours in a shell-hole before he could get back to our lines just as the raid was going out. Lieut. Brown remained out about 5 hours, and returned with the information that the wire at the left gap appeared to be sufficiently broken. In order to avoid the machine-gun fire with which the enemy always swept the top of the trenches at the hour fixed for zero, the various parties crept out into the No Man’s Land and lay there for an hour.

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.