LCpl J Griffin

 

John Griffin was born in 1891 at Shalbourne in Wiltshire, the eldest child of Edward and Fanny Griffin. Like his father he became a shepherd and in 1911 both father and son were carrying on this occupation at Kintbury. The Reading Standard records his death and gives his address as 46, Lone Barn, one of the so-called “numbered houses” belonging to the Estate though not in the village itself.

 

Like Harold Willcox he enlisted in the 5th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment and although the Rector does not record his name amongst those who joined up until 1915 he must have done so in 1914 for the 5th Battalion was formed on 24 August 1914 and the ranks were so quickly filled that a 6th battalion was formed almost immediately.

 

The Battalion landed in France on 31 May 1915 and after a long period alternating between trench duty and reserve were engaged in creating diversions during the Battle of Loos starting on 25 September.  On 13 October they made their first attack at Hulluch Quarry in which they did well but lost 65 killed and 91 wounded, many of whom later died.

 

On 1 July 1916 5th battalion took part in the Battle of Albert, initially in reserve, but at 0315 on 3 July they took up the attack on Orvillers la Boiselle, advancing over ground on which lay many bodies from the 2nd battalion who had attacked two days earlier. The battalion was one of the few to cross no man’s land and took at least two lines of enemy trenches before getting bogged-down in bombing fights. The attack failed but on 7 July the brigade of which the battalion was a part attacked again and despite heavy casualties succeeded in capturing and holding the first and second lines on the Orvillers spur. On 8 July the Battalion withdrew for a period of training until the 21st when they returned to the front line at Auchenvillers.

 

After a quiet few days with just a little shelling they were relieved on the 25th and carried out training at Varennes before moving to billets at Bouzincourt and more training until the 6th. On 7 August the Battalion left its billets at Bouzincourt and marched to take over trenches north west of Pozieres. The following day the Germans made four counter-attacks using bombs and flame-throwers and succeeded in gaining 50 yards of the 5th Battalion trench.  On 9 August the ANZACs and 7th Suffolks on the Battalion’s right took part in an attack on the German lines and the British trenches were heavily shelled as a result, with 5th Battalion suffering a total of 43 casualties.

 

John Griffin was listed as killed in action on 9 August 1916. He had married Rose Liddiard in early 1915 and her address as next of kin is given as Chilton Foliat.