Daniel and the Battalion arrived at Le Havre on the 05/11/1914 and were part of the 23rd Brigade, 8th Division when Daniel fell. Daniel may have received his injuries during the unsuccessful British attack at Aubers Ridge. The Battle of Aubers, 9th - 10th May 1915 : the Northern pincer - 2.30am : all units report that they are in position, having assembled at night. 4.06am : sunrise and all very quiet on this front. 5.00am : British bombardment opens with field guns firing shrapnel at the German wire and howitzers firing High Explosive shells onto front line. Many reports are received that British 4.7-inch shells are falling short, and even on and behind the British front line (later it is agreed that this is due to faulty ammunition, as well as excessive wear to gun barrels). 5.30am: British bombardment intensifies, field guns switch to High Explosive and also fire at breastworks. Two guns of 104th Battery, XXII Brigade Royal Field Artillery had been brought up into the 24th Brigade front and they now opened fire at point blank range against the enemy breastworks; they blow several gaps, although one of the guns is inaccurate due to the unstable ground on which it is located. The lead Battalions of the two assaulting Brigades of 8th Division (24th Brigade has 2nd Northants and 2nd East Lancashire in front; 25th Brigade has 2nd Rifle Brigade, 1st Royal Irish Rifles and 1/13th London Regiment (Kensingtons)) move out into the narrow No Man's Land (in this area it is only 100-200 yards across). German bayonets can be seen behind their parapet. 5.40am : On the further advance the East Lancs are hit by heavy machine-gun and rifle fire by the time they had progressed thirty yards from their own trench; the Northants, coming up ten minutes later, were similarly hit, but a party got through one of the gaps blown by the field guns, and into the German front trench. The attack of the 25th Brigade is much more successful : the wire on the left had been well-cut and the infantry poured through, crossing the almost-undamaged breastworks and into the German fire trenches. They moved onto the first objective (a bend in the Fromelles road), and the Rifle Brigade bombers extended the trench system they occupied to 250 yards broad. 06.10am : By now, the fire across No Man's Land was so intense that forward movement was all but impossible. The support Battalion of the 25th Brigade, the 2/Lincolns, was ordered forward, to cross by the craters; they did so, despite losing many men on the way. Men of the Brigade were at this time seen to be retiring to their front line, having apparently received a shouted order. German prisoners, making their way to the British lines, were mistaken for a counter-attack and there was a great deal of confusion. Brigadier-General Lowry Cole, Commanding Officer 25th Brigade, was mortally wounded when standing on the British parapet in an attempt to restore order. 8.45am and again at 11.45am : Haig orders Rawlinson (Commanding Officer, IV Corps) to vigorously press home the attack. 5.00pm : General Haig, hearing of the continued failure of the Southern attack and the hold-up after initial success of the Northern attack, orders a bayonet attack at dusk, 8.00pm. A disastrous attack that cost 11,000 British casualties for no material gain: it was a minor supporting operation to a much larger French attack in an action known as the Second Battle of Artois. The Northern pincer attack would be made by 8th Division, moving south-east towards Rouges Bancs, then spreading to capture the line between Fromelles and La Cliqueterie. SEE PHOTOS x 13 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY FROM APRIL - MAY 1915. The War Diary states casualties on the 9th May 1915 were - "5 Officers Killed, 6 Officers Wounded, 1 Officer Wounded and Missing, 23 Rank and File Killed, 94 Wounded, 7 Wounded and Missing, 22 Missing". British casualties in the Northern pincer on the 9th May 1915 - 8th Division : 4,682 of which 192 Officers, 49th (West Riding) Division : 94 of which 2 Officers, 7th Division : 25 of which 1 Officer. Worst infantry casualties in the Northern attack, by Battalion - 2/ Rifle Brigade 654, of which 21 Officers, 1/ Royal Irish Rifles 467, of which 23 Officers, 1/13 London (Kensington) 436, of which 13 Officers, 2/ Northamptonshire 426, of which 12 Officers. Communal Cemetery was used by French troops (chiefly cavalry) in October 1914, and for Commonwealth burials from that date until August 1916 (in the case of officers, to March 1918). It now contains 1,268 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, and 12 French war graves. There is also 1 non war burial. Daniel is also remembered on the St. Augustine's Church Roll of Honour (see photos. Daniel's brother Joseph also listed). See photos for Daniel's Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, his listing in the Ireland Casualties WW1, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report, Daniel's Pension Records x 3, Merville Communal Cemetery and Extension and the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Cap Badge. Also see photos for Daniel's brother Joseph's Medal Index Card, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, a photo of Joseph, a photo of his Medals and letter from the King x 2, a Newspaper clipping from the Coatbridge Express 06/01/1915 showing Daniel and his brother William's names on the St. Augustine's Roll of Honour and another photo of Daniel's grave. Finally, SEE PHOTOS FOR 31 PAGES OF THE 8th DIVISION BOOK FROM MARCH - MAY 1915, Merville Communal Cemetery and Extension taken by myself in July 2023, myself at the Cross of Sacrifice at Merville Communal Cemetery and Extension, Poppy Cross placed at Daniel's grave in July 2023 x 4, myself and Poppy Cross at Daniel's grave in July 2023, the Poppy Cross placed by myself before I left for France in July 2023 (see main grave photo showing Poppy Cross and Poppy placed at Daniel's grave) and the 8th Division Order of Battle x 12 (the Division Daniel was with when he died). The War Diary for the 2nd Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) from November 1914 to January 1918 is available to read online
Here
