223651 Pte. Harry William Bacon British Army 9th (Queen Victorias Rifles) Btn. London Regiment from:South Norwood, Surrey My Grandfather, Harry Bacon, was severely wounded at Gommecourt on 1st July 1916 on the first day of the Battle of The Somme. This is an extract from his diary, written in August in Le Treport hospital.
"On evening of 30th June 1916 marched up to trenches and took up placers in front trench. Our company was first to go over.
At 7:30am next morning over we went, under heavy bombardment from both sides. The Germans got wind of what was coming. I managed to get out of the trench and pushed forward as well as I could. I had only gone about 30 yards when I was hit by a piece of shrapnel in the stomach. It felt like a punch in the stomach and winded me.
I tried to go on, but crawled into a shell hole which just covered me from rifle bullets. I stopped here for a bit but eventually chanced my luck and got back to our trenches and got to the dressing station. It was a miracle I did not get hit getting back.
From the dressing station I got sent straight down the line to No.16 General Hospital Le Treport."
My Grandad was medically discharged and never returned to active service. He died in 1959 aged 65
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