Born in 1888 at Houghton Bedford, son of Alfred (Carpenter) and Emma Litchfield. 1891: With his family at 27 Edward Road, Bedford. 1901: A Scholar living with his widowed mother at 21 Stoneycroft Road, Woodford Bridge. In 8th February he joined the Great Eastern Railway. 1911: A Clerk with the Great Eastern Railway at Millwall Docks, still with his family at 21 Stoneycroft Road, Woodford Bridge. He enlisted at Bow on 3rd September 1914, and went to France on 9th March 1915.
High Wood on the Somme had been attacked several times without success. Now on 15th September 1916, the London Irish, Poplar and Stepney Rifles and two Companies of Civil Service Rifles among others supported by four tanks were to capture not only the wood, but “The Switch Line” trench system beyond it. Because of the proximity of the British lines, there was no pre bombardment or artillery support for the men when they began the advance at 06.20. This put them at a grave disadvantage. By 06.30 the attack was faltering in the face of intense fire from German rifles, machine guns and shells. The men had begun taking casualties while they waited in no man’s land to advance. As the dead began covering the ground in front of the Wood, the living were taking what shelter they could in shell holes, or returning to the trenches. 80% of the Civil Service Rifles Companies had become casualties. The tanks proved ineffective.
Two more Battalions were used in a second attack (19 (St Pancras) and 20 (Blackheath & Woolwich), but they too became bogged down in intense fighting. The 6th and 8th Battalions were also committed, while 7th managed to clear and hold the “Switch Line” trenches.
Only later in the morning when the Trench Mortar Batteries put down a barrage of 750 shells over 15 minutes did a renewed assault led by the remaining Companies of Civil Service Rifles manage to reach the wood, and take control of it by 13.00.
The objective had been achieved, but at a high cost. The Poplar & Stepney Rifles suffered 332 casualties, including Horace Litchfield. The 47 London Division had lost in excess of 4,500 men. The Divisional Commander was removed for this “wastage”, but it was he who had requested a withdrawal from front lines to permit an initial artillery bombardment, and been overruled. He had also argued against using tanks to try to enter the wood, but wanted them to progress on the flatter peripheral ground. Interestingly it was following the intense mortar barrage that progress began to be made, and the Wood was captured. Major General Charles Barter was later awarded a K.C.B (1916) and K.C.M.G (1918), and there was no further official censure for his decisions that day.
Horace Litchfield is also remembered on the Great Eastern Railway Memorial at Liverpool Street Station.
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Sources:
Ancestry.com