King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

		King's Own Royal Regiment Museum Lancaster
HOME Museum & Collections Sales Donations Events Contact Us REGIMENTAL HISTORY 17th Century 18th Century 19th Century 20th Century First World War Second World War Actions & Movements Battle Honours FAMILY HISTORY Resources Further Reading PHOTO GALLERY ENQUIRIES FURTHER READING LINKS © Images are copyright, Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum. You must seek permission prior to publication of any of our images.		141 Days: The Battle of the Somme La Boisselle The 7th Battalion went into action at La Boisselle on the 4th July, with a plan to consolidate the front line. The lack of an artillery bombardment before their action did not deter the battalion from launching their attack up three communication trenches. Although their advance was held up by heavy machine gun fire, they were able to capture the German trenches. The war diary reported the German losses of 27 captured, 50 wounded and a further 50 killed. The battalion lost 16 killed, 66 wounded and two missing. Two days later the battalion re-launched the attack beginning at 8 am but, with the artillery continuing longer than expected at least 30 men were hit by our own shells. Lieutenant Wigley, the battalion bombing officer, spent 9 hours continuously bombing the enemy. It was another hard day of fighting. The battalion claimed more than 400 prisoners of war, including a major and a doctor. Their own losses were one officer killed and six wounded and 14 other ranks killed, 144 wounded and 13 missing. Lance Corporal Athol Hay Lance Corporal Athol Hay, the younger brother of the great comedian and actor Will Hay, had been in France with the 7th Battalion, King’s Own for twelve months before the start of the Battle of the Somme. He was with the 7th Battalion in their big attack at La Boiselle on 4th July. In a letter home his family was sent the news that “his leg was carried away by a shell and he was badly wounded otherwise. He lingered on one day in hospital, where all the doctors could do was to alleviate his pain.” Next: Private John Sloan Supported by the Sir John Fisher Foundation and the Army Museums Ogilby Trust © Images are copyright, Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum. You must seek permission prior to publication of any of our images. Only a proportion of our collections are on display at anyone time. Certain items are on loan for display in other institutions. An appointment is required to consult any of our collections which are held in store.