Today, 3rd July 2025, marks the 109th anniversary of the death in battle of my great uncle, 19053 Lance Corporal Henry Taylor (Always known as Jack) D’Hooghe.
You can read more about Jack here Thomas Henry (Jack) D’Hooghe – Jonathan D’Hooghe
Jack had enlisted with his brother, my grandfather, in September 1914 and both found themselves as new recruits in the cavalry. At some point in time, Jack transferred to the 7th Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment.
On 3rd July 1916, the 12th (Eastern) Division was tasked with attacking the fortified village of Ovillers, the Battalion War Diary states that -“At 3.15am the Battalion made a frontal attack on Ovillers on a frontage of 200 yards. On the right of the Battalion was the 5th Royal Berks and on the left the 37th Brigade, the 36th Brigade being in Reserve. [There were 4 battalions in a Brigade and 7/Suffolks were one battalion of 35th Brigade – Ed] Two companies of the Essex Regiment were in support for each battalion.
Ten minutes before Zero the leading waves advanced under cover of the bombardment and at the hour of Zero the Battalion assaulted in eight successive waves. The first 4 waves (D and C Companies) penetrated to the enemy’s third line and portions of them into the village itself, but owing to the darkness touch was lost with succeeding waves and with the 5th Royal Berks on the right, so that the leading waves were not supported closely enough, thus allowing the Germans to get in between the waves and cut off the leading ones at the 3rd line of resistance, it was at this 3rd German line that the chief casualties occurred and the assault was brought to a standstill. The two companies of the Essex Regt. moving up in support were too far behind and practically annihilated by machine gun fire.
The casualties in the Battalion were 21 Officers and 458 Other ranks killed, wounded and missing.’
This represented a loss of some 52% or every other man. Great Uncle Jack’s body was never identified and today he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing.
Although 109 years have now passed, we remember Jack and his sacrifice for the Great Cause.
The Thiepval Memorial to the missing on the Somme.
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