Harold Carver

9468 Private Harold Carver was likely to have been a reservist in the Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) with an enlistment date of July 1904. On the outbreak of war all reservists were mobilized and on 6th August 1914, 350 of them joined the 2nd battalion from the Depot. The battalion including Harold moved to France on 8 September 1914 and took part in many of the early battles which proved costly. The medal roll shows that Harold only served in 2nd battalion but he must have been posted to the 1st prior to his death on 5 July 1916 on the Somme. The battalion were tasked with holding the line near La Boisselle for the night and then on 5th making an attack around 2pm. It was a nightmare journey just to get into the line and the battalion was heavily shelled on the way. Eventually they made it but it was all confusion and the CO decided to attack in three columns with a definite objective for each. The 57th Brigade failed to send up two companies of reserves and the CO had to use men from H.Q., company in the attack. The attack began but after many hours of close quarter fighting it was obvious that all except 'D' company had been driven back. 'D' company made five attacks before winning and holding a portion of trench but at 9pm they were withdrawn before being cut off. A slight counter attack was made by the enemy on 6th but repulsed. The battalion was relieved soon afterwards and marched back to Dernancourt. Casualties had been 4 officers and 50 other ranks killed, 10 officers and 175 other ranks wounded. Harold has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial Somme France. John Morse

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