This is my transcription of my Grandfather’s
memoirs.
On 26th July 1914 Edmund Lenfestey (Le Bordage, St
Peter's) joined No.1 Company of the Royal Guernsey Artillery
as an eighteen year old. Eight days later England declared
war on Germany. On 20th November 1915 Edmund with his
friends, John Corbin (Le Douit, St Peter's) and Clarence
Tostevin (La Couture, St Peter's) volunteered for
active service and joined the Royal Field Artillery.
In January 1916 about forty Guernsey volunteers left
for Swanage where Edmund and his friends spent two and
a half months training to man 4.5 inch howitzer batteries.
They were then sent to Woolwich, the headquarters of
the Artillery, before being ordered to France. Crossing
from Southampton to Le Havre, they disembarked and marched
for two hours to Harfleur on a cold and wet day in March
1916.
|
Edmund Lenfestey, Royal Field Artillery
taken at Swanage
|
|
"During the eight days in Harfleur we occupied our
time in gun-drill and fatigues down at the docks, feeding
only on bully and biscuits. We were now only twenty Guernseymen
amongst thousands belonging to different regiments. .....the
three of us were split up, one in each division. John
was sent to the 2nd Division and myself to the 7th Division.
Clarence stopped behind with a rash. Wished John au revoir
at Rouen, not to see him again for 18 months."
The Battle of the Somme (July 1916)
The 7th Division* captured Mametz, a success on 1st
July 1916 in contrast to the disasters North of and along
the Albert-Bapaume road. There were further successes
for the Division during the night attack of 14 July.
"Some of us disentrained at Morlancourt on the river
Somme and I was posted to the 35th Howitzer Battery, 22nd
Brigade. I was now a lone Guernseyman and had to make
myself at home in the battery, being the only Kitchener's
man amongst regulars. My battery was in action at Bray-sur-Corbie
firing on Mametz. The horses and wagons were stationed
at Sailly-le-Sec. After being rather quiet, only firing
a few shells a day, we got ready for the big advance.
The British started the offensive on a wide front on 1st
July at 5.26am. We bombarded for two hours with ceaseless
firing covering our infantry as they went "over the
top" The infantry captured all objectives though
suffering heavy casualties (the 7th Division had 3410
casualities on the first day). Thousands of German prisoners
passed quite close to our guns two miles behind the front
line. After this advance we stood by all night and day
for fear of a counter-attack which eventually came. At
that time we had only one casualty, a lad killed outright.
Our six guns advanced to Mametz Wood (10th July), passing
through villages completely destroyed by our shells, including
Fricourt. Another four weeks firing night and day, for
we were pressing the Germans back, and then the 7th Division
retired from action for a fortnight's rest at Heilly near
Corbie. This was the first fortnight of August 1916 and
there I had news of my father's death."
|
