Current Information:

Enlisted-Hornsey

Gommecourt British Cemetery2, Hebuterne, France

The 24th June 1916, saw the beginning of the British bombardment of the German trenches on the Somme which was to last for a week before the infantry attack on 1st July. But the Germans did not take this lying down and their own artillery responded with their own bombardment of the British lines. This was unfortunate for the 7th Middlesex battalion of 167 Brigade, 56th Division who had taken over the trenches in the Hebuterne sector on 21st June. On 26th June they were hit by a severe German barrage which combined with heavy rain, badly damaged their trenches.  Men were up to their knees in water and their physical condition was becoming serious.  There was no hot food, they were soaked to the skin and had no sleep. Things did not improve on the following day when there was more rain and more hostile shelling. That evening the exhausted battalion was relieved and moved back into billets at Hénu and Souastre with many men afflicted with trench foot. Among the many casualties 7th Middlesex sustained during this period in the front line was Jack Fleming.