Capt Thomas Henry Lewis Mills, 8th East Yorks Regt KIA 14/06/1916
The Battle of the Somme did contain several military successes, despite the seriously flawed military planning on 1st July. One of these was the night attack on Bazentin-le-Grand (near Montauban in Picardy) on 14 July 1916 in which my great-uncle, Capt Thomas Mills of the 8th East Yorks (a New Army Battn), took part, and lost his life. On this occasion, the men were drawn up in the dark at 3 a.m.after following a white tape into No Man’s Land, from where they attacked. There was only a short bombardment and after ferocious fighting, most of the objectives were taken by late morning.
My Great Uncle Tom was leading a company of 8th East Yorkshire in the first wave and discovered that the wire protecting the German trenches south of Longueval had not been destroyed by the bombardment. They were caught out in the open – and mown down like sitting ducks. As was common with many British officers, my great uncle was hit by a sniper’s bullet.
The 2nd Battn Royal Scots led a flanking bombing attack across the German trenches in front and the enemy were killed, or fled. However, the dead of the 8th East Yorks, including Tom, and many of the the 7th Shropshire Light Infantry lay thick on the ground in front of the uncut wire.
Uncle Tom did not have to go to war as he had already completed a full tour on overseas service, latterly in Sierra Leone. But on the outbreak of war in 1914 he re-enlisted as a private soldier (he had retired as an NCO prior to this) and worked his way up to the rank of Captain. We still have his cap-badge, buttons and compass, which were taken off his body.
Stephen Hagen
My Great Uncle Tom was leading a company of 8th East Yorkshire in the first wave and discovered that the wire protecting the German trenches south of Longueval had not been destroyed by the bombardment. They were caught out in the open – and mown down like sitting ducks. As was common with many British officers, my great uncle was hit by a sniper’s bullet.
The 2nd Battn Royal Scots led a flanking bombing attack across the German trenches in front and the enemy were killed, or fled. However, the dead of the 8th East Yorks, including Tom, and many of the the 7th Shropshire Light Infantry lay thick on the ground in front of the uncut wire.
Uncle Tom did not have to go to war as he had already completed a full tour on overseas service, latterly in Sierra Leone. But on the outbreak of war in 1914 he re-enlisted as a private soldier (he had retired as an NCO prior to this) and worked his way up to the rank of Captain. We still have his cap-badge, buttons and compass, which were taken off his body.
Stephen Hagen
Date & Place:
Not specified or unknown.
