Three: Private H. Lancaster, 16th (Newcastle) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, who was...

Three: Private H. Lancaster, 16th (Newcastle) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, who was mortally wounded in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916, on which date the Battalion suffered over 350 casualties 1914-15 Star (16-1628 Pte. H. Lancaster. North’d Fus:); British War and Victory Medals (16-1628 Pte. H. Lancaster. North’d Fus.) good very fine and better (3) £140-£180 --- Harry Lancaster was born in Egmont, Cheshire, in 1889, the son of Thomas Lancaster of 20 Church Street, Moor Road, Cumberland. He enlisted at Manchester for the 16th Battalion, being amongst the first to volunteer for one of Lord Kitchener's new 'pals' Battalions; raised by the Newcastle and Gateshead Chamber of Commerce, the 16th soon became known as the 'Newcastle Commercials' compiled almost entirely at that time of men from the north east of England. Sent to Richmond in Yorkshire and thence to Salisbury Plain for training, the Battalion disembarked at Boulogne from Folkestone 22 November 1915 and began to march towards the Western Front.  On 7 December 1915 the 16th took over the front line and received the somewhat eerie message 'Hallo Northumberlands' from the Germans. Relieved a week later by the Royal Fusiliers, the men were sent to Albert. Posted to "B" Company, VIII Platoon, Lancaster spent the spring and summer of 1916 engaged in a war of attrition on the Western Front, punctuated by trench raids, mortar and shellfire exchanges and efforts to consolidate ever more complex positions. The First Day of the Battle of the Somme On 1 July 1916 the Northumberland Fusiliers were in the front line with orders to attack the German strong point at Thiepval. At exactly 07.30 a.m. Lancaster went 'over the top' under the command of Lieutenant R. W. Falconer and proceeded across No Man's Land towards the Bavarian Infantry Regiment. According to the Official History of the Great War, a football was followed into battle at zero hour, at which time the Germans opened up with all means at their disposal once the Commercial's had reached the point of no return; this sudden hail of fire proved devastating. Of the 38 men in Falconer's Platoon, 10 were killed in action, 1 (Lancaster) later died of wounds received, and 8 were wounded, representative of 50% casualties (The Roll of Officers, N.C.O.'s and men at the Battle of Thiepval, Cooke historical records, refers).  Stretchered from the battlefield, Lancaster was evacuated to hospital near Boulogne but never recovered from his injuries. He died on 16 July 1916 and was buried at Etretat Churchyard in Normandy. The failed attack of 1 July 1916 also cost the life of Lieutenant Falconer and Captain P. G. Graham, O.C. "B" Company, 16th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers.