#15414 Corporal Thomas Herbert Birks
11TH KING’S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS
MEANWHILE, BACK AT GUILLEMONT, THE fight for the village went on. On the day that Henry Biggs was killed trying to seize it, 21st August, the 11th King’s Royal Rifles came up to relieve troops from his division in front of this problematic objective. Among their number was Thomas Birks, a labourer from Sheffield. Thirty-seven years old when he enlisted in September 1915 at Winchester, Thomas had a wife and children at home.
Despite the fact the battalion was taking over the line in wet, sticky conditions, the relief passed off quietly and there were no casualties amongst the riflemen as they entered the trenches. The plan was to have Thomas’ battalion attack Guillemont from specially dug trenches on their front on 24th August, as part of a larger attack with French co-operation on the right of the British line.
On the evening of the 23rd, though, the Germans put down a heavy barrage on the British support lines to block reinforcements coming up and attacked Thomas and the 11th King’s Royal Rifles in their trenches with more than 100 men. Beginning with throwing bombs, the enemy managed to get close to Thomas under cover of morning mist. The British artillery countered, but could not stop the enemy’s advance. The rifles themselves managed to fend off the attack by rifle and machine-gun fire, and no German found his way into the British line, but the scene was one of utter confusion. Bullets splayed all over the place, indiscriminately cutting down men of the King’s Royal Rifles and enemy alike. In the chaos, Thomas was hit.
The trenches were badly blocked with troops who were sent up to reinforce the riflemen and the wounded being evacuated. Under continuing heavy artillery fire, the parties who were sent up to dig the new trenches and prepare for the attack on the 24th could do nothing. The following day’s operation was cancelled.
The 11th King’s Royal Rifles had suffered casualties of more than 100 men, most of whom were now missing. Thomas Birks was hurriedly evacuated and admitted to a casualty clearing station with bullet wounds to his head, side and his right knee. He did not survive the day. One source lists his death as accidental, which suggests that perhaps he was hit by British fire. Thomas left behind his wife, Sarah, and their three children, Ethel, 14; Alice, 12; and 5-year-old George. He was laid to rest at La Neuville British Cemetery, plot II.A.54.
Corporal Thomas Birks’s grave at La Neuville British Cemetery. (Andrew Holmes)