A Classic "GUARDS ATTACK" (Battle of Flers–Courcelette, Les Boeufs) 1914-15 Trio & Plaque.

To:
26981.Pte J.H. GARDNER.6th SOMERSET LIGHT INFANTRY.
KILLED-IN-ACTION,(Somme)16th September 1916.

(Originally served with & medals named to:
Pte 7/11272 J.H. GARDNER 7th Bn, LINCOLNSHIRE REGT)
To France (Landed at Boulogne with 7th Lincolns, 14th July 1915)

BATTLE of THE SOMME,
The 6th Somerset Light Infantry positions 15th -17th September 1916.


~THE INFAMOUS GUARDS ATTACK AT LES BOEUFS~
(Battle of Flers–Courcelette)

(The 6th took part in The Action of Hooge, in which the Division became the first to be attacked by flamethrowers.)

15th Sept 1916:Pommiers Redoubt and from their positions between Delville Wood and the Switch Line.

16th Sept 1916:6th Bn Took over the front line along with 7th Bn as part of The Guards Division and at 09:25 carried out an attack across the fields towards the German front lines at Gird Trench, Les Boeufs, North East of Flers.

The entire assault immediately came under withering fire from the German positions at Gas Alley and the units sustained very major casualties. This caused the assault to fail. Of 17 officers who took part in the attack 3 were killed outright, 12 were wounded and 2 were missing. Men of the other ranks faired no better and 41 were killed outright, 203 were wounded and 143 went missing in action with most of these never being found.

17th Sept 1916: Unit withdrew just before daybreak, first to Pommiers and then to Fricourt Camp.Pte Gardner was initially one of the missing, his body was later located and buried in the field. Being later located and exhumed from the battlefield his body was reinterred at Guards Cemetery, Lesboeufs. No effects were found or returned to his widow.
[BIOGRAPHY]
James Married: Ellen Lydia (nee Jessop) on 29th November 1914
Ellen remarried some time prior to 1921 and became Mrs E.L. Green and received James' medals in 1921 from S.L.I. HQ in Exeter.



1911 Census: Born Hackney
Living at: 42 North Street, Hackney.
Later Resided: Hammerton, Middlesex
Enlisted: Shoreditch, Middlesex
Includes a good file of research papers along with the original registered packet, plaque card holder, Buckingham palace letter, medal issue letter for war & victory medal.
MEDALS 'MINT' WITH ORIGINAL RIBBONS.

An excellent & original grouping to a man who made the ultimate sacrifice during one of the most catastrophic actions of the war.

James is remembered with eternal honour at Guards Cemetery, Lesboeufs, France,
£595