Summerson H.W.

HERBERT WALKER SUMMERSON 1889-1918

Second Lieutenant H.W. Summerson, 9^th Battalion, the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment died of wounds 5 June 1918 and is buried at Marfaux British Cemetery, south of Rheims.[1] He was 28 years old and is commemorated on the Cockfield War Memorial, the screen in St. Mary’s Church, Cockfield and the Bishop Auckland Grammar School memorial plaque.

Family Details

Herbert Walker Summerson was born 21 September 1889 [2] at Cockfield, the oldest son of Herbert William and Alice Summerson. There were 7 children, all born at Cockfield:

Herbert Walker born 1889
Clara bc.1890
Mary bc.1893
William bc.1894
Maurice bc.1896
Gladys bc.1897
Alice bc.1898

In 1901, the family lived at Garden House and Herbert William is recorded as a “colliery owner”. [3] The Summersons were well-established local entrepreneurs who worked the quarry on Cockfield Fell and numerous coal mines in the area such as Holly Moor Colliery to the west of Cockfield.

By 1911, 21 year old Herbert Walker is recorded as a “law student”.[4]

Service Details

Herbert Walker Summerson enlisted into the Northumberland Fusiliers and was given the regimental number 46258. The dates he enlisted and entered France are unknown but he did not enter France until after 31 December 1915 since he was not awarded the 1914-15 Star.[5]

20 January 1917: Corporal H.W. Summerson [6] submitted his application for a temporary commission using the form for candidates serving in the ranks of the New Armies, Special Reserve or Territorial Force. It is recorded that he had previously served with 28th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers and the Northumberland Fusiliers. At this time, he was posted to the 17th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers with the BEF in France. The 17th [Service] Battalion [North Eastern Railway Pioneers] Northumberland Fusiliers entered France in November 1915 and was attached as Divisional Troops to 32nd Division.[7]

27 February 1917: he was sent to the UK for the purpose of joining an Officer Cadet Unit. He was admitted to No.18 OC Battalion at Bath. [8]

28 September 1917: appointed as Temporary Second Lieutenant, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.[9]

13 April 1918: admitted to No.8 Red Cross Hospital, Boulogne – GSW right leg, slight.

16 April 1918: transferred to 24 General Hospital, Etaples.

26 April 1918: discharged

5 June 1918: Died of wounds at Advanced Dressing Station, 75th Field Ambulance[10]

It was recorded that he served with 9th Battalion, the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. The 9^th (Service) Battalion, the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment was formed at Preston, Lancashire as part of K3, Kitchener’s New Army and came under the command of 74^th Brigade, 25^th Division. It landed in Boulogne, France 26 September 1915. Other units were:

11^th, the Lancashire Fusiliers
13^th, the Cheshire Regiment
8^th, the East Lancashire Regiment left November 1914
8^th, the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment left October 1915
2nd Bn., the Royal Irish Rifles October 1915-November 1917
74^th Machine Gun Company March 1916, moved into 25 MG Bn., 1 March 1918
74^th Trench Mortar Battery formed 17 June 1916
3^rd, the Worcester Regiment November 1917-June 1918

Following severe losses during the Battle of the Aisne, 27 May-6 June 1918, the remnants of the battalion formed a composite battalion with the 8^th Border Regiment and was transferred to 50^th Northumbrian Division.[11]

Between 28 September 1917 until the death of Second Lieutenant 5 June 1918, the division saw action as follows: [12]

First Battles of the Somme 1918

21-23 March: St. Quentin
24-25 March: Bapaume

Battle of the Lys

9-11 April: Estaires
10-11 April: Messines
13-15 April: Bailleul
17-19 April: First battle of Kemmel
25-26 April: Second Battle of Kemmel

27 May – 6 June 1918: The Battle of the Aisne

After the exertions of April, the Division was moved to a quiet sector of the front.

9 May: entrained at Rexpoede to Fismes, 20 miles south west of Soissons in the Champagne area. It was expected that the tired divisions could recuperate there.

26 May: intelligence confirmed that a heavy German attack was expected. The 8^th 19^th 21^st 25^th and 50^th Divisions formed the IX British Corps allied to the Sixth French Army. The 25^th Division was in reserve and ordered up into closer support.

27 May: At 1am a heavy German bombardment with gas and high explosive hit the whole area between the front line beyond Chemin and Fismes. At 4am, the German infantry attacked and the 25^th Division was ordered to hold the second line of defence. The 8/Borders were instructed to hold the Aisne bridges at Pontvert and Concevreux. By 10am, the 74^th Brigade came under the orders of the 21^st Division, the 75^th under the 8^th Division and the 76^th under the 50^th Division which, by now, were fighting for their lives north of the river. By mid-day, the Germans had broken through and crossed the Aisne and the units of the 35^th Division were thrown piecemeal into action. They were all but destroyed. The 11/Lancs. holding high ground north of Vesles, held out to the last man. The remnants of many units were temporarily joined into composite units, fighting a withdrawal as the enemy pressed on many miles across the river Marne.

Casualties between 26 May and 14 June amounted to 4338 officers and men of whom 2511 were missing.

9 June: a decision had been taken to break up what was left of the Division to reinforce other formations. [13]

Later research records that 9/Loyal North Lancashire Regiment lost 2 officers including Second Lieutenant H.W. Summerson and 67 other ranks killed in action or died of wounds between 26 May and 14 June 1918. [14]

Press Article

19 June 1918: The Teesdale Mercury reported as follows:

By his blithe, cheery and gentlemanly bearing, he having practised in the courts at Barnard Castle for a series of years, the late Lieut. H.W. Summerson, of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, who died of wounds in France, will be greatly missed in local forensic and social circles. The deceased officer was the son of Mr. Herbert Summerson, Garden House, Cockfield and nephew of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Summerson of Fairfield, Galgate, Barnard Castle. Lieut. Summerson was in practise as a solicitor at Bishop Auckland and Darlington and to the honour and memory be it said, he enlisted as a private soldier, about 2 years ago. He was at one time in the office of Mr. T. Dowling, now a major in the Army Service Corps with whom he served his articles. Lieut. Summerson has fallen in the prime of life, he being but 28 years of age. By his suavity of manners and genial disposition he was everywhere esteemed and in local sport he was conspicuously and deservedly popular. Much regret is expressed at his early demise.

Burial

Second Lieutenant H.W. Summerson is buried at grave reference VII.D.6 Marfaux British Cemetery. Marfaux is 18.5kms from Rheims. The cemetery was begun after the Armistice for the concentration of graves from the battlefield and other military cemeteries in the Marne, the vast majority of whom fell between May and August 1918. There are over 100 burials, of which over 300 are unidentified. Second Lieutenant H.W. Summerson was originally buried at Jonchery-sur-Vessel. His headstone bears the epitaph provided by his mother, Mrs. Alice Summerson:

“Till the Day Break and the Shadows Flee Away” [15]

Commemorations

Second Lieutenant H.W. Summerson is commemorated on the Cockfield War Memorial. His name appears on the 1914-1918 Memorial Plaque for former teachers and students at Bishop Auckland Grammar School.

Herbert’s parents provided a Memorial Screen in St. Mary’s Church, Cockfield in memory of their son, Herbert Walker Summerson. It was dedicated in November 1920 by Rev. J.E. Phillips, Rector of Cockfield and Vicar of Staindrop. An oak chancel screen, it is divided so that the centre section allows access to the chancel, the left hand panel depicts a half relief of a soldier kneeling at a prayer desk and the right hand panel carries the dedication: [16]

“In loving memory of Hubert Walker Summerson 2^nd Lieutenant 9^th L.N.Lans. died of wounds June 5^th 1918 and buried at Marfaux. This screen is erected by his parents.”

REFERENCES

[1] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[2] Army Form MT 3?? Application for appointment to a temporary commission in the Regular Army for the period of the war dated 20 January 1917 section 2 & England & Wales 1837-1915 Vol.10a p.242 Teesdale 1889 Q4

[3] 1901 census

[4] 1911 census

[5] Medal Roll card index

[6] See 2 above s.11b – may have been appointed as Corporal 8 December 1915

[7] http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/northumberland-fusiliers/

[8] Form S.D.605

[9] Army Form W.3136

[10] Field Service report dated 12 June 1918 G.H.Q. 3rd Ech.

[11] http://www.1914-1918.net/loyals.htm

[12] www.1914-1918.net25div.htm & http://www.warpath.orbat.com/battles_ff1918_pt1.htm

[13] http://www.1914-1918.net/25div.htm

[14] Officers & Soldiers Died in the Great War