Arthur Garfoot

Garfoot's battalion was involved in the attack on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 01/07/1916, among to capture the village of Gommecourt at the north of the British line. The British artillery had pounded the German lines for a week and it was expected that there would be minimal resistance when the British infantry advanced. The battalion attempted to cross No Man's Land in four waves, but after an advance of less than seventy yards they were hit by German shells and machine gun fire. In the first few minutes the colonel and the adjutant had both gone down. Great gaps were torn in the line, but the men behind moved forward. By the time they reached close to the German front line no officers remained standing. The men could see that the wire had not been thoroughly cut and though they knew it was hopeless they never hesitated but moved on. Some two dozen got into the German from line, but a lack of grenades and numbers meant they were soon forced back into No Man's Land where they stayed waiting for dark. Of the 746 men who set out that morning only 96 answered roll call that evening. Garfoot was initially reported as missing. Thiepval Memorial

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