Pte F Newcombe, 8th York and Lancs R, Killed in action 1 July 1916
Frank Newcombe was born in 1894 in Heeley, Sheffield to William, a labourer in an ironworks, and his wife Christiana (née Grice). In 1901 he was living in Brightside, north of Attercliffe. Here the family, consisting of William, Christiana, Frank and his three sisters Florence, Elizabeth and Emmey, were boarders with Mrs Renshaw at No.16 Fleet Street. Later three further children were born, Marjorie, Mary Ann and Charles. In 1911 the family lived at 38 Edward Road, Attercliffe, the now 17-year-old Frank being employed as a pit pony driver in a colliery.
Frank served under the regimental number 12199, enlisting into the York and Lancaster Regiment at Sheffield on or about Saturday 29 August 1914, in a group of men all medically examined at Attercliffe on that day. Possibly having attested for service with the 6th (a K1 or First New Army battalion) when that battalion, formed at Pontefract, was reaching full strength, he probably spent time on the strength of the 7th (K2) battalion (possibly, like 12191 Joseph William Reed and 12193 Henry Kelwick, being posted to them on 8 September 1914) but seemingly did not proceed with them overseas. The reason for this is no longer accessible but may have been connected with sickness or injury. He ultimately served with the 8th battalion, a K3/Third New Army formation which was raised in September 1914 at Pontefract, landing in France in August 1915 as part of 70th Brigade in Babington's 23rd Division.
Seemingly part of a reinforcement draft, Pte Newcombe entered the France theatre of war the following month, on 23 September 1915, when the battalion was in reserve trenches in the line at Erquinghem. He would have subsequently joined the 8th in the field probably some time early the following month. At that time it was in the course of joining the 8th Division and alternating between time in the line and billets at Estaires and then Sailly (where the battalion temporarily amalgamated with the 2nd Berkshire Regiment, presumably for training purposes). The Red Cross Enquiry List indicates that as of July 1916 Pte Newcombe served with 'B' Company of the 8th, and it is reasonable to assume that he was probably placed in this company at this time.
The battalion spent November between the line at Foray House and billets at Rue des Quesnes, Bac St Maur and Fleurbaix. The war diary makes particular reference to working parties and to gas helmet practice and drill at this time. December saw the battalion in Corps Reserve at Steenbecque, undertaking much training before taking part in divisional manoeuvres in the latter part of the month. The battalion did not move out of Corps Reserve and back to Rue des Quesnes and then into the line at Eaton Hall until 11 January 1916. After a more eventful tour in the line with some casualties including one Major killed and another (the second in command) wounded, late January and early February saw the battalion in Divisional Reserve at Dump House and then Brigade Reserve at Fleurbaix, followed by a period in the line at Foray House. At this time elements of the 23rd Northumberland Fusiliers were attached to the battalion for familiarisation purposes. The rest of the month was spent alternating between Fleurbaix and Foray House, patrolling when in the line and coming under notably more active enemy artillery fire. The war diary noted one incident of the effect of rifle fire on a steel helmet, and also five cases of accidental injury during the period. A similar pattern applied during March, broken up by a daylight foray of a Sgt of 'A' Coy on 3 March to take a flag which had been put up during the night opposite the battalion lines; upon inspection it referred to a German 'Great Victory' near Verdun. During this period enemy machine guns were "more active than on any previous occasion when the Battalion has been in this line" [Foray House]. Two Companies of the 11th Royal Sussex were also attached to the battalion in the middle of the month, again for instructional purposes. Due to the fair weather it was noted that no-man's land was quickly drying up and more aeroplane activity was noted from both sides.
At the end of the month the battalion moved down to Vignacourt in the Somme sector, as the BEF prepared for the great offensive, travelling down to Albert and then going into trenches in front of Authuille Wood on the 7th of April 1916.
For the Somme offensive, the area allocated to III Corps (of which the 8th Division was by then a part) was astride the Albert-Bapaume road, with 8th Division on the left, north of the road, opposite Ovillers-la-Boisselle. 25th Infantry Brigade were to attack the village itself.
70th Infantry Brigade on the left would attack along Nab Valley (Blighty Valley) towards Mouquet Farm and capture the ground north of the village. 23rd Infantry Brigade would attack along Mash Valley, capturing the south of the village.
In the centre 2nd Royal Berkshire Regiment and 2nd Lincolnshire Regiments led the 25th Infantry Brigade attack on the village. Charging into the full weight of an artillery barrage the attack halted before it even got half way.
2nd Middlesex Regiment and 2nd Devonshire Regiment successfully negotiated Mash Valley and captured an area of German trenches. However with the attacks on either side of them stalling, they came under fire from three sides and were forced to retreat.
A similar situation faced 8th King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and 8th York & Lancaster Regiment in 70th Infantry Brigade on the left. They also captured an area of trenches but had no support from either side.
The battalion, as the leading battalion on the left of the 70th Brigade, assaulted from trenches in Authuille Wood ('The Nab'), leaving the trenches in perfect order but being met by very heavy fire from the front and flanks. Attacking in four waves, most men in the first wave were killed and wounded in the midst of No-man's land. A similar fate met the three subsequent waves which continued to follow them. Those who crossed No-Man's Land reached the German wire which was partially uncut; many were shot down in the cutting of it. Some seventy men passed over the German first and second lines and reached the third line; of these none were seen again. The remainder were held up in the first and second lines, fighting parties of the enemy who emerged from dug-outs and communications trenches. Eventually all the men in the second line became casualties. Fighting continued in the first line and, in the face of a strengthened German assault, casualties in No-Man's Land were searched for ammunition and bombs. Eventually, whittled down into small parties of two and three, the remnant of the battalion was driven out of the first line and forced to retire. Of the 680 NCOs and men and 22 officers in the assault, 68 returned unwounded: 1 Sergeant, 3 Corporals, 10 Lance-Corporals, 54 men, no officers.
11th Sherwood Foresters sent up into support were stopped in no man's land by heavy machine-gun fire, and the trenches were abandoned. In the attack on Ovillers, 8th Division suffered 4719 casualties, among the highest of any division on the first day of the Somme.
Pte Newcombe was one of a large number of York and Lancaster men reported as missing, such a list featuring in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph of Friday, August 11, 1916, and also the War Office Daily Casualty List dated 10 August 1916. His entry in the latter was as follows:
First Name:
F
Surname:
Newcombe
Resided Town:
Sheffield
Report Date:
10/08/1916
Information:
Listed as "Missing" on the Casualty List issued by the War Office.
Rank:
Private
Service Number:
12199
Service:
British Army
Primary Unit:
York And Lancaster Regiment
A Mrs Newcombe, possibly his wife, put in hand enquiries via the Red Cross. Her address was 32 Radcliffe Street, Templeboro, near Sheffield; a negative response was provided in 1918. Meanwhile, Pte Newcombe's death was presumed on or after 1 July 1916. His financial effects of £1 5 Shillings and War Gratuity of £8 10 Shillings went to his widow, Jane. The couple had two children, Frank Newcombe and William Henry Newcombe.
Pte Newcombe is commemorated at the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, Pier and Face 14 A and 14 B.
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