The aftermath of the first day
Boy Soldiers of the Somme 1st July 1916
The 1/6th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment (part of the 11th Brigade) were due to attack the Heidenkopt (Quadrilateral redoubt) on the morning of the 1st of July 1916. At 07.20 am the Hawthorn ridge mine exploded about 1,500 yards to the right of their position. The British artillery barrage lifted and the Germans got ready for the coming attack, sweeping the British line with artillery and machine gun fire.
At zero hour the 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade and the 1/8th Royal Warwicks attacked the Heidenkopt followed by the 1/6th Royal Warwicks. Both the Rifle Brigade and the Royal Warwicks entered the Heidenkopt and some of the trenches behind. They had suffered heavy casualties from the machine gun fire coming from Serre. The 1st Hampshire Regiment had attacked the Redan Ridge to their right. Some of the Warwicks and Rifle Brigade reached the Munich Trench which ran south of Serre. Heavy German counter attacks pushed the British troops back to the Heidenkopt, they managed to hold this until noon the next day, when German counter attacks forced them to abandon it. The average the fighting force of a Battalion would have been around 750 men.
Casualties for 1st July 1916 Killed wounded and missing
1st Rifle Brigade. 474 1/8th Royal Warwickshire Reg. 563
1/6th Royal Warwickshire Reg. 472
We remember two of the 1/6th Royal Warwickshire Regiment from that day.
Boy Soldiers of the Somme 1st July 1916
Private 4748. John James Perkins. KIA 1st July 1916 aged 16
Son of James Perkins, of 20/24, South Rd., Camp Hill, Birmingham.
Buried, Sucrerie Military Cemetery, Colincamps. Grave Reference: I. E. 26.
Private 4438 Henry John Edward Woodward. KIA 1st July 1916 aged 15
Only son of Mrs. Florence Woodward, of 4, Wordsworth Mansions, West Kensington, London.
Henry’s body was never found. His is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. Pier and Face 9 A 9 B and 10 B. He is believed to be the youngest casualty of the first day of the Battle of the Somme.