{"id":5697,"date":"2016-07-01T07:30:21","date_gmt":"2016-07-01T07:30:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/plattwarmemorial.org\/?p=5697"},"modified":"2017-05-03T10:49:01","modified_gmt":"2017-05-03T10:49:01","slug":"the-somme-centenary-at-platt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/the-somme-centenary-at-platt\/","title":{"rendered":"The Somme Centenary at Platt"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);background-position: center center;background-repeat: no-repeat;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;margin-bottom: 0px;margin-top: 0px;border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0px;border-color:#eae9e9;border-style:solid;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-one-full fusion-column-first fusion-column-last\" style=\"margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><style type=\"text\/css\"><\/style><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-1 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:31px;margin-left:0px;\"><h3 class=\"title-heading-left fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"margin:0;--fontSize:24;line-height:1.5;\">The Somme Centenary at Platt<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"imageframe-align-center\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-dropshadow imageframe-1 hover-type-none\" style=\"-webkit-box-shadow: 3px 3px 7px rgba(0,0,0,0.3);box-shadow: 3px 3px 7px rgba(0,0,0,0.3);\"><a href=\"http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/somme.jpg\" class=\"fusion-lightbox\" data-rel=\"iLightbox[a5f28290e066bf0f22f]\" data-title=\"Battle of The Somme\" title=\"Battle of The Somme\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"605\" src=\"http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/somme.jpg\" alt class=\"img-responsive wp-image-5699\" srcset=\"http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/somme-300x182.jpg 300w, http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/somme-640x387.jpg 640w, http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/somme-768x465.jpg 768w, http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/somme.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-bottom:20px;width:100%;\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-sep-clear\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\"><p>One-hundred years ago, in the summer of 1916, almost all of the men from Platt parish who were serving along the Western Front were concentrated with their units in the Somme region of Northern France. After many months of preparation, the Battle of the Somme was designed to drain the enemy reserves, and break through their line in an effort to end almost two years of stagnant trench warfare. After a ferocious artillery bombardment lasting seven days and nights that could apparently be heard from Platt Woods, the offensive began at 7:30 a.m. on 1 July. We know that six of our lads were in action on the first day with one, Thomas Bennett of the 7<sup>th<\/sup> Battalion The Queen\u2019s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) being awarded the Military Medal for gallantry during the battle and reputedly saved by a bible in his breast pocket that stopped a bullet. \u00a0In 1922 Thomas, who lived at Whatcote Cottages, was the first person to lay a wreath at the newly built Platt War Memorial. Also in the fray was Frederick Pierce from Comp, who was serving with the Royal Engineers and tasked with going out into No Man\u2019s Land during the night to build bridges over the ditches and streams, over which the attacking forces could cross, often with shells landing in very close proximity.<\/p>\n<p>Within a week another dozen or so from the parish had joined the battle, with two men losing their lives within hours of each other on the third day. Peter Piper of the 6<sup>th<\/sup> Royal West Kents, who wrote to his sister in Crouch on the eve of the battle \u2018that in spite of everything he was not downhearted\u2019, was mercilessly mown down by machine-gun fire whilst trying to get through barbed wire in front of the German trenches. Richard Andrews from Wrotham Heath had provided covering fire for Peter\u2019s company as they advanced, but was killed himself very shortly afterwards in an enemy counter-attack.<\/p>\n<p>As the summer wore on, more locals, many of who had enlisted shortly after war broke out, were sent to the Somme, and by the end of the campaign in November 1916, over a quarter of all those from Platt who were posted overseas during the course of the entire war, had seen action in the region.<\/p>\n<p>Those men from Platt we\u00a0know were definitely at the Somme\u00a0are:<\/p>\n<p>ANDREWS, Richard Haxon \u2013 6<sup>th<\/sup> Bn The Queen\u2019s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) KIA 3\/7<\/p>\n<p>ASHDOWN, Herbert Henry \u2013 6<sup>th<\/sup> Bn The Queen\u2019s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)<\/p>\n<p>BANCE, George \u2013 10<sup>th<\/sup> Bn The Queen\u2019s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)<\/p>\n<p>BANCE, George Thomas \u2013 8<sup>th<\/sup> Bn The Queen\u2019s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)<\/p>\n<p>BANCE, James \u2013 11<sup>th<\/sup> Bn King\u2019s Royal Rifle Corps<\/p>\n<p><strong>BENNETT MM, Thomas \u2013 7<sup>th<\/sup> Bn The Queen\u2019s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>BISH, Ernest Frank &#8211; 10<sup>th<\/sup> Bn The Queen\u2019s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)<\/p>\n<p><strong>BOWEN, Albert Victor<\/strong> <strong>\u2013 7<sup>th<\/sup> Bn The Queen\u2019s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>BOWEN, John William \u2013 59<sup>th<\/sup> Brigade, Royal Field Artillery<\/p>\n<p><strong>BOWEN, Sydney Horace \u2013 7<sup>th<\/sup> Bn The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>BRADLEY, Gus Leopold Diplock \u2013 14<sup>th<\/sup> Bn London Regiment (London Scottish)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>BRIDGLAND, Sidney \u2013 38<sup>th<\/sup> Trench Mortar Battery<\/p>\n<p>BUSH, Francis Augustus \u2013 1<sup>st<\/sup> Bn The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)<\/p>\n<p>BUSH, Jesse Joseph \u2013 29<sup>th<\/sup> Battery, 42<sup>nd<\/sup> Brigade, Royal Field Artillery<\/p>\n<p>CORNER, Charles William \u2013 10<sup>th<\/sup> Bn The Essex Regiment<\/p>\n<p>CRIPPS, George Alfred \u2013 10<sup>th<\/sup> Bn The Rifle Brigade<\/p>\n<p>ELLIS, Robert James \u2013 A Battery, 124<sup>th<\/sup> Brigade, Royal Field Artillery<\/p>\n<p>EVANS, Alfred Luke \u2013 2<sup>nd<\/sup> Bn Coldstream Guards<\/p>\n<p>EVANS, Ernest George &#8211; 10<sup>th<\/sup> Bn The Queen\u2019s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)<\/p>\n<p>FRENCH, Stuart Charles \u2013 11<sup>th<\/sup> Bn Highland Light Infantry<\/p>\n<p>HAYES, Herbert Thomas \u2013 56<sup>th<\/sup> Field Ambulance, ASC<\/p>\n<p>HAYES, Vincent Abel \u2013 8<sup>th<\/sup> (Service) Bn, The Queen\u2019s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)<\/p>\n<p>HOUNSELL, Archibald Charles Clarence \u2013 21<sup>st<\/sup> (County of London) Bn (1<sup>st<\/sup> Surrey Rifles)<\/p>\n<p>INGRAM, Philip Maurice \u2013 4<sup>th<\/sup> Dragoon Guards (Royal Irish)<\/p>\n<p>LARKING, Frederick Charles \u2013 8<sup>th<\/sup> Bn The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)<\/p>\n<p><strong>NEWMAN, Edward George \u2013 94<sup>th<\/sup> Brigade, Royal Field Artillery<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>PARRIS, Ernest Henry \u2013 Grenadier Guards<\/p>\n<p>PARRIS, Frederick Thomas \u2013 3<sup>rd<\/sup> Bn Grenadier Guards<\/p>\n<p><strong>PIERCE, Frederick George \u2013 Royal Engineers<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>PIPER, Peter &#8211; 6<sup>th<\/sup> Bn The Queen\u2019s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) KIA 3\/7<\/p>\n<p>PITMAN, Cecil Charles \u2013 50<sup>th<\/sup> H.A.G. Royal Garrison Artillery<\/p>\n<p>RAYFIELD, Albert Edward \u2013 11<sup>th<\/sup> Bn King\u2019s Royal Rifle Corps<\/p>\n<p>RAYFIELD, Charles John \u2013 7<sup>th<\/sup> (The Princess Royal\u2019s) Dragoon Guards<\/p>\n<p>SEARS MM, Stephen John \u2013 1<sup>st<\/sup> Bn The Queen\u2019s own (Royal West Kent Regiment)<\/p>\n<p><strong>SPARKS, Arthur Victor \u2013 7<sup>th<\/sup> Bn The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) KIA 19\/7<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>TERRY, Albert John \u2013 7<sup>th<\/sup> Bn The Queen\u2019s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>TERRY, Francis John \u2013 1<sup>st<\/sup>\/4<sup>th<\/sup> Northumberland Fusiliers<\/p>\n<p>THOMAS, Noel \u2013 7<sup>th<\/sup> (City of London) Bn The London Regiment<\/p>\n<p>THORNDYCRAFT MM, Reginald Frank \u2013 11<sup>th<\/sup> Bn King\u2019s Royal Rifle Corps KIA 3\/9<\/p>\n<p>WILLMER, William \u2013 HQ Divisional Artillery, RFA<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Men who were in action on the first day are in bold.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5699,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5697","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-events"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5697","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5697"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5697\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7837,"href":"http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5697\/revisions\/7837"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5699"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5697"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5697"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/plattmemorialhall.org\/warmemorial\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5697"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}