JOHN JAMES CLOSE (1894 – 1916)

32627 Private John James Close, 14^th Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry was killed in action 11 December 1916 and is buried in Cambrin churchyard, France.[1]  He was 22 years old and is commemorated on Cockfield War Memorial and the Roll of Honour for Cockfield Council School.

Family Details:

John James “Jack” Close was born 1 June 1894[2] at Cockfield the son of Edward and Annie of Fell Edge, Cockfield.  There were 8 children;

• Jane bc.1879
• Annie bc.1880
• Thomas Edward bc.1884
• Emily bc.1886 at Cockfield
• George William bc.1889
• Henry bc.1890 at Cockfield
• Robert bc.1892 at Cockfield
• John James born 1894 at Cockfield[3]

John Close attended Cockfield Church of England School prior to 14 January 1907 when he went to Cockfield Council School until he left 29 May 1908 to find work.  [4]

Edward Close died 1910 aged 59.[5]  By 1911, 54 year old Annie was head of the family living at Fell Edge, Cockfield.  Her 25 year old daughter Emily was single and living at home.  Her sons worked at the colliery.  21 year old Henry was a hewer, 18 year old Robert was a putter and 16 year old John James was an apprentice colliery joiner.  Cynthia Christine Close was her 4 year old granddaughter. [6]

Military Details:

John James Close enlisted 19 February 1916 at Darlington into the Durham Light Infantry and was allocated the regimental number 32627. He was initially with the Army Reserve and was mobilized and posted 25 May 1916 to the 14^th Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry, “D” Company (14/DLI).[7]

At the outbreak of war, the British regular army numbered only 720,000 so Parliament sanctioned an increase of some ½ million men of all ranks. 11 August 1914, the “Your King and Country need you.  A call to arms” campaign called for 100,000 men to enlist.  This figure was achieved within 2 weeks and these volunteers formed 6 new Divisions of Kitchener’s Army or K1. Within the month over 2,000 men assembled at Newcastle-upon-Tyne and the first recruits left to form the 10^th (Service) Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry and the surplus became the 11^th Battalion.  On the 16^th September, another 2,000 recruits left Newcastle-upon-Tyne and these became the 12^th and 13^th Battalions then another 1,100 went south to billets in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire to form the 14^th Battalion. Another 1,000 plus men assembled to form the 15^th Battalion in early October – thus within 2 months of the war commencing, Durham men contributed 6 battalions.

The 14^th (Service) Battalion was initially attached to the 64^th Brigade, 23^rd Division but on 25^th November 1915 it was transferred to the 18^th Brigade, 6^th Division as part of the XIV Corps, Fourth Army. [8]By 1916, other battalions in the 18^th Brigade were:

• 1/West Yorkshires
• 11/Essex
• 2/DLI
• 18^th Brigade Machine Gun Company
• 18^th Trench Mortar Battery

Training took place at Halton Park, High Wycombe and Witley Camp.

32627 Private John James Close, 14/DLI was a colliery joiner working at Gordon House Colliery at Cockfield and this employment was considered to be bone fide work essential for the war effort.  Not until the end of 1915, did the government consider it necessary to introduce conscription and it seems likely that in February 1916, he was conscripted into the 4/DLI for training then posted to the 14/DLI upon entering France in August 1916.  By this time the Battle of the Somme was taking place.

1 July 1916 is a date synonymous with the greatest British military disaster ever – the opening day of the Battle of the Somme.  The 14/DLI was not involved in the opening actions at the Battle of the Somme and it did not enter the area until August.

The Battle of the Somme: 1 July – 18 November 1916 – an overview [9]

 The Battle of the Somme was viewed as a breakthrough battle, as a means of getting through the formidable German trench lines and into a war of movement and decision.  Political considerations and the demands of the French High Command influenced the timing of the battle.  They demanded British diversionary action to occupy the German Army to relieve the hard pressed French troops at Verdun, to the south.

General Sir Douglas Haig, appointed Commander-in-Chief in December 1915, was responsible for the overall conduct of British Army operations in France and Belgium.  This action was to be the British Army’s first major offensive on the Western Front in 1916 and it was entrusted to General Rawlinson’s Fourth Army to deliver the resounding victory.  The British Army included thousands of citizen volunteers, keen to take part in what was expected to be a great victory.

The main line of assault ran nearly 14 miles from Maricourt in the south to Serre to the north, with a diversionary attack at Gommecourt 2 miles further to the north.  The first objective was to establish a new advanced line on the Montauban to Polizieres Ridge.

The first day of the infantry attack was preceeded by a week-long artillery bombardment of the German positions.

1 July:  Just prior to zero-hour, the storm of British shells increased and merged with huge mine explosions to herald the infantry attack.  At 7.30am on a clear midsummer’s morning the British infantry emerged from their trenches and advanced in extended lines at a slow steady pace over the grassy expanse of No Man’s Land.  They were met with a hail of machine gun and rifle fire from the surviving German defenders.  Accurate German artillery barrages smashed into the infantry in No Man’s Land and the crowded assembly trenches – the British suffered enormous casualties:

• Officers killed: 993
• Other Ranks killed: 18,247
• Total Killed: 19,240
• Total casualties (killed, wounded and missing): 57,470

In popular imagination, the Battle of the Somme has become a byword for military disaster.  In the calamitous opening 24 hours the British Army suffered its highest number of casualties in a single day.  The loss of great numbers of men from the same towns and villages had a profound impact on those at home. The first day was an abject failure.  The following weeks and months of conflict assumed the nature of wearing-down warfare, a war of attrition, by the end of which both the attackers and defenders were totally exhausted.

The Battle of the Somme can be broken down into 12 offensive operations:

• Albert: 1 – 13 July
• Bazantin Ridge: 14 – 17 July
• Delville Wood: 15 July – 13 September
• Pozieres Ridge: 15 July – 3 September
• Guillemont: 23 July – 3 September
• Ginchy: 9 September
• Courcelette: 15 – 22 September
• Morval: 25 – 28 September
• Thiepval: 25 – 28 September
• Le Transloy: 1 – 18 October
• Ancre Heights: 1 October – 11 November
• Ancre: 13 – 18 November

Adverse weather conditions, the autumn rains and early winter sleet and snow turned the battlefield into morass of mud.  Such intolerable physical conditions helped to bring to an end Allied offensive operations after four and a half months of slaughter.  The fighting brought no significant breakthrough.  Territorial gain was a strip of land approximately 20 miles wide by 6 miles deep.  The cost in lives was enormous – British and Commonwealth forces were calculated to have 419,654 casualties (dead, wounded and missing) of which some 131,000 were dead.  French casualties amounted to 204,253.  German casualties were estimated between 450,000 to 600,000. (14) In the spring of 1917, the German forces fell back to their newly prepared defences, the Hindenburg Line, and there were no further significant engagements in the Somme sector until the Germans mounted their major offensive in March 1918.

14/DLI: to the Somme

2 August 1916:  14/DLI entrained at Esquerdes to Doullens then marched to huts at Acheux Wood and commenced attack training.

14 August: the battalion went into the line north east of Hamel and the Germans fiercely bombarded the trenches.

19 August:  They were relieved and returned to billets at Engelbelmer

25 August: There was a failed raiding party attempt.

26 August:  The battalion went to Vignacourt for more training.

30 August 1916:  32627 Private J.J. Close entered France

Battle of Morval: 25 – 28 September 1916 [10]

What became known as the Battle of Morval took place in the days following 25 September 1916.  This town is situated in the southern sector of the British 4^th Army’s theatre to the north of the French 6^th Army.  The objective was to drive the Germans from their positions in the vicinity of Gueudecourt, Lesboeufs, Morval and Combles.    The XIV Corps comprising the Guards, the 5^th and 6^th Divisions were faced with capturing the fortress villages of Lesboeufs and Morval.  The 14/DLI formed part of the 18^th Brigade together with the 1/West Yorkshires, 11/Essex and 2/DLI.  The 18^th Brigade together with the 16^th, 17^th, 19^th and 71^st Brigades combined to form the 6^th Division

24 September:  As was customary, the offensive commenced with an artillery bombardment which opened up.  On this occasion, the Germans had no time to deepen their trenches or prepare deep dugouts, concreted machine gun posts and massed belts of barbed wire.

25 September:  The infantry went over the top.   The offensive coincided with a French assault to the south.  The Royal Artillery blasted a “creeping barrage” and the infantry followed into No Man’s Land.  Tanks were to be used in the attack behind the troops and concentrated their fire power on specific strong German positions.  The village of Gueudecourt was still holding out as night fell.  The real success was to the right on the front where the XIV Corps, packed into a narrow frontage to maximise their penetrative power and they swept forward to dramatic effect, eventually capturing the whole of the German front line system.  The objectives of Lesbouefs and Morval were taken.  In many places along the line the troops of the XIV Corps met little opposition from front line Germans.

 26 September:  The village of Combles was left isolated and the Germans had to abandon it.  Gueudecourt was overrun on the afternoon.   14/DLI went to the front line east of Lesboeufs.  By the conclusion of this offensive, the final objectives had been achieved and additional land had been captured beyond the villages of Lesboeufs and Morval.

 An account of the 14/DLI in September [11]

The British battlefront extended from the region of Leuze Wood, east of Guillemont to the vicinity of Martinpuich.

• 11 September:  The 6^th Division took over the front east of Guillemont
• 12 September: 6am:  General bombardment of the German lines began.  The 14/DLI moved up from Sand Pit Valley to the Citadel, south of Fricourt.  Later in the day, the 18^th Brigade rushed into the Quadrilateral from the flanks and the 2/DLI entered a trench called Low Road, bombed it down for 100 yards and held on.  At night the 14/DLI were sent forward from Guillemont to consolidate a position where the railway crossed the Ginchy-Leuze Wood road.  The trenches were full of dead and wounded Norfolks and Suffolks.
• 13 September dawn: patrols sent out to locate troops on the flanks.  Further fighting to the north where the Guards attacked Lesboeufs.  The 14/DLI began work on an assembly trench in front of their position for another attempt upon the Quadrilateral.
• 14 September early morning: heavy enemy barrage, counter attack expected, did not happen, resumed work on the trench.
• 15 September: work on another assembly trench 70 yards further forward.
• 24 men were wounded before the actual attack started.
• 18 September: intense bombardment of the German positions by the British artillery.  Rain began to fall.
• 18 September 5.50am: The 14/DLI climbed out of the wet trenches and plodded forward following the creeping barrage.  On the right and the centre the line made good progress but on the left,

“German machine-gunners maintained a galling fire”. 

• Rifle grenades were used and the machine guns were soon in British hands.  The Straight and the Quadrilateral were taken, the advance pressed on.  North of the railway, the 14/DLI bombed out dug-outs and reached the forward slope in view of Morval.  The battalion dug in.  The expected enemy infantry counter attack did not materialise but German gunners opened fire on the new positions.  At night, the whole brigade was relieved and the 14/DLI reached billets at Meaulte, the following day.
• 4 officers and 31 men killed, 4 officers and 161 men wounded and 32 men missing.  106 unwounded Germans had been captured and 6 machine guns.
• 21 September: a draft of 80 men had been received before the 14/DLI moved forward again relieving the 1^st Guards Brigade in front of Lesboeufs.  The night was spent in reserve between Trones Wood and Bernafay Wood.
• 23 September evening:  14/DLI moved forward and relieved the 2^nd Durhams and 11^th Essex, taking over the whole of the brigade front just south of Ginchy-Lesboeufs road.  The Germans occupied Cow Trench on the left beyond the road.  Hostile shell fire.
• 24 September dawn:  the German infantry advanced under intense bombardment.  They did not reach the trenches of the 14/DLI.  British gunfire prevented further enemy attacks but many shells fell short into the trenches of the 14/DLI.  At night, the battalion was relieved by the 2/DLI.  Losses 1 officer killed and 10 men wounded.
• 25 September:  the 2/DLI and the 14/DLI participated in the attack along the whole allied front from the river Somme to Martinpuich.  The 1^st West Yorkshire Regt. were successful in “making good” the village of Lesboeufs but the 14^th were not called upon and sat in reserve positions all day under a heavy German bombardment – 1 officer and 2 men killed, 2 officers and 32 men wounded.
• 26 September evening:

“On the evening of the 26^th the Durhams relieved the Yorkshiremen on the ground that had been won.  All 4 companies were put in the front line which ran just east of the ruins of Lesboeufs and here the battalion remained until the early morning of September 29^th when the 2^nd Sherwood Foresters of the 71^st Brigade took over the position.  During this period German shell fire never ceased and losses amounted to 13 killed and 2^nd Lieut. R.E. Bryant and 29 wounded.  On the 28^th an enemy aeroplane flew over the trenches and was driven off by Lewis Gun and rifle fire.”

18/1628 Private William Edwin Earl 14/DLI who’s parents lived at Buckheads Farm between Evenwood and Cockfield, was killed in action 27 September 1916.  He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.  It would be highly likely that Privates Close and Earl would be known to each other.

29 September:  14/DLI moved onto Mealute and the focus of the Somme offensive during October moved to the north and the Battles of Thiepval and Le Transloy.  The 6^th Division and the 14/DLI were heavily involved in the October offensive.

Haig’s plan was simple – to keep attacking and load the pressure on the Germans.  So another concerted attack was launched all along the Somme front 12 October.  The 4^th Army attacked along the Le Transloy Ridge, the Reserve Army would thrust forward again on Pozieres Ridge and the Third Army would re-enter the fray with another push against the Gommecourt Salient.

An account of the 6^th Division [12]

“Oct. 8-9. Into line relieving 20^th Division

12. General attack – 6^th Division towards Le Transloy – by 18^th and 71^st Infantry Brigades – 16^th Infantry Brigade in reserve- unsuccessful.
13. Attack renewed- partially successful.
14. Fresh attack by 71^st Infantry Brigade – only partially successful on the left.
15. Relieved to Corbie.”

More detail is provided:

“…the 6^th Division was brought in again on the night 8/9^th October for a general attack on the 12^th October.  The enemy had dug a series of trenches named by us Rainbow-Cloudy-Misty-Zenith etc. a portion of which had been captured by us, making a somewhat pronounced salient.  All three brigades were in the line, with one battalion in front trenches, the 71^st Infantry Brigade being in the salient, with the 16^th on the right and the 18^th Infantry Brigade on the left.  The objective of the attack of the 12^th October was the line of trenches running north from Le Transloy.

At 2.5pm the flank brigades attacked but only partial success……Perhaps more than anything it was due to the effect of their machine gun fire…the attack was renewed at 5.35am on the 15^th October, the 18^th Infantry Brigade on the left (2^nd D.L.I. and 11^th Essex) attempting to seize those portions of Cloudy and Mild trenches still held by the enemy…the left attack made little ground…”

The history confirms that:

“The Division had taken part as a whole in 3 general attacks on the Somme (15^th and 25^th September and 12^th October) and had also carried out subordinate operations on the 13^th and 18^th September and the 18^th October.

It has suffered casualties amounting to 277 officers and 6,640 other ranks and had well earned a rest.”

The Division suffered 7,430 casualties between 5 August and 23 October 1916 on their tour of the Somme. [13]

An account of the 14/DLI in October 1916 [14]

 7 October:  14/DLI moved to the front and their bivouacs at Trones Wood came under heavy shell fire on the evening – 17 men were killed and wounded.

8 October:  the battalion moved into assembly positions for the next attack – the objective was to capture Rainbow Trench and Shine Trench then advance to Cloudy Trench.

12 October:  2.05pm – the advance began under an enemy barrage.  The advance kept going and Rainbow Trench was taken.  Shine Trench was also captured but the Germans defended the next objective with great resolve.

14 October:  14/DLI was relieved by the 11^th Essex.

“At 5.35am on October 15th when the Brigade attacked again but without success, Lieut. A. Owles, 2^nd Liuet. S.G. Highmoor and 60 men were in support to the 11^th Essex.  In the evening, the 14^th now only 200 strong, relieved the Essex men in Rainbow and Shine Trenches…Just after midnight Rainbow Trench was heavily bombarded.”

16 October:  British gunners were busy but many of their shells fell short hitting Shine Trench.  The 14/DLI was relieved that night and moved back to Montauban, where a draft of 185 men of the 2/1^st Derbyshire Yeomanry was absorbed.

During the October fighting the battalion lost 7 officers and 182 men and it seems likely that one of those was 14633 Private John Maughan, 14/DLI, from Evenwood Gate who died of wounds 16 October 1916 and is buried at Grove Town Cemetery, Meaulte, France.  It would be likely that Privates Maughan and Close would have known each other.  Private J.J. Close received a wound 11 October which didn’t appear to need hospital treatment and he stayed at the front.  21 October he suffered a gun shot wound to the back of the head and he was taken to Etaples for treatment.  He returned to the battalion 31 October.

A first hand account

A first-hand account of the action is provided by Guardsman Horace Calvert, 4^th Battalion, Grenadier Guards who was also in the XIV Corps along with the 14/DLI:

“Out of the trench and there was no barbed wire in front.  We met the usual machine-gun fire, the mistake to me was blowing a whistle before the attack; another way could have been found which was silent.  As soon as the whistle went the Germans must have known the attack was on its way and they were ready.

We had to bomb the Germans out of one position.  I was just a few yards away from where the bombers were throwing the bombs and when I passed it the corpses were piled up – our bombs had done a lot of work there.  We were losing a few and the section corporal wasn’t far away from me when he was hit in the right arm…He said to me, “I’ll have to go back.”  He set off walking.  The usual thing – there were snipers waiting and they got him on his way back.  He was killed.  We got near the front-line trench when I got mixed up with some German bombers.  These bombs came fast and furious among us.  And I and one or two more caught the nasty side effects, shrapnel in the right shoulder.”

It is likely that the experiences of Privates Close, Maughan and Guardsman Horace Calvert were similar.

Returning to the Battle of Morval, analysis appears to conclude that the tactic of “bite and hold” was successful in this instance due to a combination of factors – an effective preliminary bombardment, the “creeping barrage” which provided cover for the infantry and the relatively weak German defences.  This concentrated attack with limited objectives was supported by a French offensive to the south which further occupied the German defensive cover.  Thus the British edged forward as the Germans edged back and prepared new lines of defence.

 23 October:  14/DLI left Ville-sur-Ancre by train and reached Oisemont then onto Lapugnoy

29 October: 2 weeks training.

During this period Private J.J. Close was in hospital at Etaples.

31 October:  Private J.J. Close re-joined his battalion.

The 18^th Brigade replaced the 64^th in the Cambrin Sector and the 14/DLI worked with tunnelling companies at Noeux-les-Mines, Sailly-Labourse and Annequin.

24 November:   14/DLI moved to Lapugnoy

6 December: relieved the 1/West Yorkshires in the front line at Cambrin, just south of the la Bassee canal.

10 December:   2/Lt. R.H.C. Macdonald with 8 men attempted to enter the German trenches but the enemy was on the alert and opened fire.  Most of the party were hit, the officer being mortally wounded.  Sergeant R.T. Young and Corporal T. Jaye showed great courage in attempting to recover him and both received the Military Medal.

Was Private J.J. Close involved?

The 14/DLI War Diary should be examined to ascertain whether there is any clue.  It seems probable.  The following were casualties: [15]

• 10 December:  2/Lt. Ronald Hugh Charles Macdonald and 43231 Private W. Parkin
• 11 December:   32627 Private J.J. Close
• 12 December:  27697 Private T. Ramsey

The letter below dated 2 December 1916 and was written to Private Close’s older brother George – it was his last letter home.

“Dear George

Just a few lines to let you know that I received your nice box quite safe and sound and I am very pleased with same, many thank to you and the wife.  I am sorry to hear that you have got a bad back and I hope it will soon be better.  I was quite in luck’s way today as I got a large box of stuff from home containing amongst other things a gold hunter and handkerchiefs so you see I am well off for handkerchiefs now.  The box just came at the right time as we are going into the trenches any time now we might get out again for Xmas if we are lucky.  The weather out here is getting quite cold but we can’t expect any better weather for the time of the year.  I am pleased to hear of a zeppelin being brought down in the county of Durham it shows they are not quite asleep after all.  Well George I haven’t much news to tell you I am quite well and in good health so I will close wishing you, the wife and the children a merry Christmas. 

I remain your loving brother.

Jack”

12 May 1917:  the “effects” of Private J.J. Close were forwarded to his mother, Mrs. Ann Close but the Hunter watch was not returned to the family.  Later correspondence relates to the award of a “Dependants’ Pension” and the memorial plaque and scroll in commemoration of Private J.J. Close was forwarded to the family sometime after August 1919.

Burial

 Cambrin Churchyard extension:  Private J.J. Close is buried at grave reference S. 38.  Cambrin is a village about 20 miles north of Arras and above 6 miles east of Bethune on the road to La Bassee.  At one time the village of Cambrin housed brigade headquarters but until the end of the war it was only about 800m from the front line trenches.  The village contains 2 cemeteries used for Commonwealth burials – the churchyard extension taken over from French troops in May 1915 and the Military Cemetery behind the Mayors House.  The churchyard extension was used for front line burials until February 1917 when it was closed, but there are three graves of 1918 in the back rows. Cambrin Churchyard Extension contains 1,211 Commonwealth burials of the First World War.

References:

[1] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[2] Cockfield Council School Admissions Register

[3] 1891, 1901 & 1911 census

[4] Cockfield Council School Admissions Register

[5] England & Wales 1837-1915 Death Index Vol.10a p.136 Teesdale 1910 Q3

[6] 1911 census

[7] Army Form B.2512 & Statement of the Services

[8] www.1914-1918.net/dli.htm

[9][9] Various sources including CWGC, “The Somme” P. Hart;   http://www.1914-1918.net.

[10] “The Somme” Peter Hart various pages

[11] “The Durham Forces in the Field 1914-18: The Service Battalions of the Durham Light Infantry” Capt. W. Miles 1920

[12] “A Short History of the Sixth Division” Major General T.O. Marden  Appendix III

[13] Marden Appendix 1

[14] Miles

[15] Soldiers Died in the Great War

Photographs: