The Men

Company Sergeant Major Percy Chappell
1st Somerset Light Infantry
4th Division

Lieutenant-Colonel Reginald Bastard, D.S.O.
2nd Lincolns
8th Division

Private ‘Paddy’ Kennedy
18th Manchesters (3rd Manchester Pals)
30th Division

Private Billy McFadzean
14th Royal Irish Rifles (Belfast Young Citizens)
36th (Ulster) Division

Private Dick King
10th King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
21st Division

Lieutenant Philip Howe
10th West Yorks
17th (Northern) Division

Bugler Bill Soar
1/7th Sherwood Foresters (Robin Hood Rifles)
46th (North Midland) Division

Lance Corporal Charles Matthews
6th Northamptons
18th (Eastern) Division

Private Albert McMillan
16th Middlesex (Public Schools Battalion)
29th Division

Lieutenant Henry Webber
7th South Lanes
19th (Western) Division

These ten soldiers have been chosen as the principal representatives in the story of the Army of 1916. They are listed in their order of appearance in the book and with the ranks they held and their units on the day of the battle.