104 years ago today the British Army suffered it’s worst day ever: 1st July 1916 the Battle of the Somme begins, 1/5th Cheshire Regiment part of diversionary attack called Gommecourt Diversion….

1/07/1915 Lieutenant Edward Guy Melland (Age 26) 8th Bn. New Irish Farm Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen Belgium. Son of Edward Melland, of Alport, Bakewell, Derbyshire, and of Katharine Alice Melland, his wife.

1/07/1915 Private John Traynor (Age 20) 1st Bn. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen Belgium. ‘9927’ Son of Mrs. Marguerite Dooley, of 56, Flamank St., Birkenhead.

1/07/1916 Lance Corporal Charles Ackerley 1st/5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘1343’

1/07/1916 Private Sydney Allen 1st/5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘1891’

1/07/1916 Second Lieutenant George Stuart Arthur (Age 32) “A” Coy. 5th (Pioneer) Bn. Gommecourt British Cemetery No.2, Hebuterne, Pas de Calais France. Son of Samuel and Louisa Arthur, of 24, Heath Crescent, Halifax.

1/07/1916 Private John Atherton 1st/5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘3754’

1/07/1916 Private John Atkin (Age 19) 1st/5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘3421’ Son of William and Anna Atkin, of 2, Dinting Lane, Glossop.

1/07/1916 Lieutenant Philip Burnet Bass (Age 21) “A” Coy. 5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. Son of Col. P. de S. Bass, C.M.G., and Mrs. Bass, of 8, Madeley Rd., Ealing, London.

1/07/1916 Private Charles Henry Bennett (Age 29) 1st/5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘2972’ Son of the late Charles and Margaret Davison Bennett.

1/07/1916 Private Charles Blackburn 1st/5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘2822’

1/07/1916 Serjeant Edwin Boardman (Age 24) 5th Bn. Gommecourt British Cemetery No.2, Hebuterne, Pas de Calais France. ‘1244’ Son of Edward and Edith Boardman, of 7, Broom Rd., Hale. Cheshire.

1/07/1916 Private John William Boardman (Age 22) 1st/5th Bn. Bienvillers Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais France. ‘240329’ Son of Edward and Edith Boardman, of 7, Broom Rd., Hale, Cheshire.

1/07/1916 Private John William Boulger 1st/5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘1988’

1/07/1916 Private Norman Randolph Broadribb 1st/5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘2430’ (served as PERRY). Son of William and Eliza Broadribb, of 13, City Rd., Chester.

1/07/1916 Private Vivian Brocklehurst (Age 20) “C” Coy. 1st/5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘1736’ Son of Henry and Ada Mary Brocklehurst. Proceeded to France in Feb.1915.,.

1/07/1916 Private Robert Buchanan 1st/5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘3611’

1/07/1916 Private William Carter (Age 18) 1st/5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘3900’ Son of Martha Evernden (formerly Carter), of 20 Back, Queen St., Chester.

1/07/1916 Private Albert Cartwright (Age 33) 9th Bn. Gordon Dump Cemetery, Ovillers-La Boisselle, Somme France. ‘11776’ Son of Mrs. Emily Coleman, of 37, Evans St., Crewe.

1/07/1916 Private Albert Cash (Age 20) “A” Coy. 1st/5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘1628’ Son of T. W. Cash and Annie Cash, of 3, White Bear Yard, Knutsford, Cheshire.

1/07/1916 Private Arthur Clarke 1st/5th Bn. Hebuterne Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais France. ‘1779’

1/07/1916 Private Arthur Edwin Clarke 1st/5th Bn. Hebuterne Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais France. ‘3123’

1/07/1916 Private John Clifford 1st/5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘1527’

1/07/1916 Private Harry Davenport (Age 25) 1st/5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘2851’ Son of Charles and Kate H. Davenport, of 15, Oakfield Rd., Altrincham, Cheshire.

1/07/1916 Lieutenant Frank Arnold Davies 5th Bn. Gommecourt British Cemetery No.2, Hebuterne, Pas de Calais France.

1/07/1916 Private Neville Dutton (Age 18) 5th Bn. Gommecourt British Cemetery No.2, Hebuterne, Pas de Calais France. ‘3732’ Brother of Mrs. E. M. Lloyd, of 4, St. Andrew’s Avenue, Timperley, Cheshire. Born at Altrincham, Cheshire.

1/07/1916 Private George Edge 1st/5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘1413’

1/07/1916 Lance Corporal Robert Fletcher 1st/5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘1460’

1/07/1916 Private Harry Gayter 1st/5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘3679’

1/07/1916 Private William Hinchliffe (Age 25) 5th Bn. Gommecourt British Cemetery No.2, Hebuterne, Pas de Calais France. ‘1462’ Husband of the late Clara Hinchliffe, of 4, Bank St., Heaton Lane, Stockport.

1/07/1916 Private George Frederick Jones 1st/5th Bn. Hebuterne Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais France. ‘3192’

1/07/1916 Private John Jones 1st/5th Bn. Hebuterne Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais France. ‘2351’

1/07/1916 Private Stephen Kelly 9th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘17475’

1/07/1916 Private John Aubrey Kendall (Age 21) 5th Bn. Gommecourt British Cemetery No.2, Hebuterne, Pas de Calais France. ‘1979’ Son of Alice Maude Lamb (formerly Kendall), of 239, Lea Rd., Wolverhampton, and the late Joseph Kendall.

1/07/1916 Corporal Jack Large 5th Bn. Hebuterne Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais France. ‘1820’

1/07/1916 Private George Percy Lear (Age 22) 1st/5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘4487’ Son of George and Kate Lear, of 238, Muslin St., Newton, Hyde, Cheshire.

1/07/1916 Private John Martin (Age 23) 1st/5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘1510’ Son of John and Phoebe Martin, of 43, Askeridge St., Runcorn, Cheshire.

1/07/1916 Private Leo Mattimore (Age 19) 1st/5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘1564’ Son of Peter and Mary Ann Mattimore, of 3, Princess St., West Bollington, Macclesfield, Cheshire.

1/07/1916 Captain Robert John McLaren 16th Bn. Hawthorn Ridge Cemetery No.2, Auchonvillers, Somme France.

1/07/1916 Private Abraham Millward (Age 18) 9th Bn. Gordon Dump Cemetery, Ovillers-La Boisselle, Somme France. ‘12825’ Son of Mrs. J. Millward, of 25, Welsh Row, Mow Cop, Stoke-on-Trent.

1/07/1916 Private James Minshall 5th Bn. Gommecourt British Cemetery No.2, Hebuterne, Pas de Calais France. ‘1595’ Son of Mrs Emma Minshall, of 19 Bank Street, Cheadle, Cheshire.

1/07/1916 Private Joseph Moores (Age 20) 1st/5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘3743’ Son of William and Jessie Moores, of 4, Stone St., Runcorn, Cheshire.

1/07/1916 Private John Mugan 1st/5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘2736’

1/07/1916 Serjeant Philip Hugh Peirce (Age 31) 5th Bn. Hebuterne Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais France. ‘2297’ Son of John and Emily Peirce, of “Glenhurst,” Shipton-under-Wychwood, Oxford.

1/07/1916 Private William Poole 1st/5th Bn. Gommecourt British Cemetery No.2, Hebuterne, Pas de Calais France. ‘3591’

1/07/1916 Private William Rackstraw (Age 21) 1st/5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘1920’ Son of Joseph and Sarah Ann Rackstraw, of 80, Welcomb St., Hulme, Manchester.

1/07/1916 Private Harry Shaw (Age 21) “A” Coy. 1st/5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘2553’ Son of John and Annie Shaw, of 63, Park Rd., Hale, Altrincham, Cheshire.

1/07/1916 Private Thomas Shone 9th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘11789’

1/07/1916 Private Albert Steel (Age 26) 9th Bn. Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L’abbe, Somme France. ‘28781’ Husband of Catherine Steel, of 12, Balliol Terrace, Millers Bridge, Bootle, Liverpool.

1/07/1916 Drummer Herbert Sutcliffe (Age 22) 1st/5th Bn. Gommecourt British Cemetery No.2, Hebuterne, Pas de Calais France. ‘1728’ Son of Mr. and Mrs. Sutcliffe, of Altrincham, Cheshire.

1/07/1916 Corporal Harry Thomas (Age 19) “A” Coy. 1st/5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘2376’ Son of William Henry and Ellen Thomas, of 13, Heyes St., Altrincham, Cheshire.

1/07/1916 Private Frank Turner (Age 21) “A” Coy. 1st/5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘1657’ Son of the late John Turner, of 67, Mill St., Congleton, Cheshire.

1/07/1916 Private John William Wakefield (Age 20) 1st/5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘3320’ Son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Wakefield, of 4, Loch St., Runcorn, Cheshire.

1/07/1916 Private Frank Walker 1st/5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘1396’

1/07/1916 Private Frank Walker 1st/5th Bn. Thiepval Memorial, Somme France. ‘2400’

1/07/1916 Private Herbert Whitney 5th Bn. Hebuterne Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais France. ‘3015’

1/07/1916 Private Joseph Yarwood 5th Bn. Hebuterne Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais France. ‘1062’

1/07/1918 Private Albert Heaton (Age 29) 2nd (Garr.) Bn. Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. ‘292398’ Husband of Sarah Ellen Heaton, of 117, Oxford St., Regent Rd., Salford, Manchester. (pic from findagrave.com – with thanks)