Interlude

Senlis

After spending July 2nd in Authuille wood, the 19th Battalion was withdrawn from the front line on July3/4 1916. On July 4, it was moved to Senlis, about halfway back to Warloy behind Albert, where it began reorganising and re-equipping. Seven replacement officers joined the battalion, it seems in the most part transfers from The King's Regiment (Liverpool). 

On July 5 to 7 the battalion was about 3 km. north at Forceville. While at Forceville, the battalion's reorganisaton continued with an emphasis on rebuilding its specialist capabilites, including training new bombers (i.e. grenade throwers) and lewis gunners. Both categories of specilists had suffered severely on July 1 and replacements were required. 

Fatal casualties for July 1 (including missing who were declared dead) were:

Surname	Init	Age	Rank	Unit	Cemetary
ASHTON	E D	27	Second Lt	9th Bn. .	AVELUY COMMUNAL CEMETERY
HYDE	A E	30	Private	"A" Coy. 19th	BLIGHTY VALLEY CEMETERY
BOULGER	T		Private	19th Bn.	BLIGHTY VALLEY CEMETERY
CANDLAND	G H	31	Private	19th Bn.	BLIGHTY VALLEY CEMETERY
SMITH	J		Private	19th Bn.	BLIGHTY VALLEY CEMETERY
STAPLETON	T	38	Private	19th Bn.	BLIGHTY VALLEY CEMETERY
WHEELDON	A E G	29	Serjeant	19th Bn.	BLIGHTY VALLEY CEMETERY
CHAMBERS	E C E	20	Second Lt	"A" Coy. 19th	BOUZINCOURT  CEMETERY
BARBER	V F	17	Private	19th Bn.	BOUZINCOURT  CEMETERY
DUSSEE	A N	26	Second Lt	4th Bn. attd. 19th	BOUZINCOURT  CEMETERY
HOLLAND	W A	29	Private	19th Bn.	LONSDALE CEMETERY
JARVIS	H	27	Private	19th Bn.	LONSDALE CEMETERY
JONES	J		Private	19th Bn.	LONSDALE CEMETERY
MORTON	F	21	Private	19th Bn.	LONSDALE CEMETERY
DEAN	R		Private	19th Bn.	NORFOLK CEMETERY
FREEMAN	F H	23	Second Lt	19th Bn.	OVILLERS MILITARY CEMETERY
ALFORD	C W	24	Private	19th Bn.	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
BLEACKLEY	T		Serjeant	19th Bn.	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
BROOME	G		Private	19th Bn.	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
BROOMFIELD	W	21	Private	19th Bn.	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
CROMPTON	J		Private	19th Bn.	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
DUFFY	C		Private	19th Bn.	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
ELLIS	R		Lance Corporal	19th Bn.	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
FITTON	E		Private	19th Bn.	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
GERBER	E	25	Lance Corporal	19th Bn.	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
GORING	J		Private	19th Bn.	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
GREASBY	C S	18	Private	19th Bn.	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
HILEY	L		Lance Corporal	19th Bn.	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
JONES	R	36	Private	19th Bn.	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
JONES	T H		Private	19th Bn.	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
KIRTON	R		Private	19th Bn.	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
LAMBERT	F		Serjeant	19th Bn.	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
MASTERMAN	R C	20	Lieutenant	19th Bn.	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
PEARSON	J		Private	19th Bn.	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
ROBERTSON	H		Private	19th Bn.	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
RYDINGS	E		Private	19th Bn.	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
SIMPSON	R		Private	19th Bn.	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
THOMPSON	I	21	Private	19th Bn.	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
THORPE	J	26	Private	19th Bn.	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
WALKER	G	31	Lance Corporal	19th Bn.	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
WALLWORK	W C		Private	19th Bn.	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
WALSH	A		Private	19th Bn.	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
WILKINSON	A		Private	19th Bn.	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
WALLWORK	G R		Private	19th Rn.	THIEPVAL MEMORIAL

On the 7th, the battalion moved from Forceville to Bouzincourt, about 3 km. northwest of Albert, in preparation for its eventual return to the front. Despite taking 50% casualties on July 1, the battalion was one of the more intact units left in 32nd Division. While in Bouzincourt, consistent with many other damaged battalions, the 19th Lancashire Fusiliers were reorganised from 4 Companies lettered A, B, C, D, into 2 Companies numbered 1 and 2. The 2 Companies were placed under the command of Captains Haywood and Palk respectively, both of whom were original 3rd Pals officers.


On the 8th, the battalion moved forward to Donnet Post, a mass staging area behind the lines but generally opposite the village of Ovillers-la-Boisselle or as it was more often known, Ovillers. Arriving at Donnet Post the battalion relieved the 11th Middlesex Battalion.

Trench Map of the Ovillers Area

It was at Donnet Post that George wrote his July 8 letter to Alf. 

Screen Capture of a Young Tommy Writing Home
from BBC's "Birdsong"

On the eve of the 8th, 2 Company was assigned to carry bombs (i.e. hand grenades) from Crucifix Corner to Ovillers. Remaining at Donnet Post on the 9th and 10th, the whole battalion was again engaged in transporting bombs and in trench maintenance, losing an officer (2nd Lt. Morrison) and 2 other ranks  killed. 

Crucifix Corner

On the 10th, 100 other ranks of Number 1 Company under Captain Haywood went into the line at Ovillers, being placed at the disposal of the Officer Commanding the 2nd Battalion of the Manchester Regiment, who was commanding all of the troops in the village. Number 2 Coy continued carrying bombs.

On the 11th, the 3rd Salfords were wheeled into the trench line at Ovillers.