Cairnduff & Carnduff Web Site.
| BATTLE OF THE SOMME. |
The Battle of the Somme also known as the Somme Offensive, was a battle of the First World War fought by the armies of the British and French empires against the German Empire. It took place between 1 July and 18 November 1916 on both sides of the upper reaches of the River Somme in France. The battle was intended to hasten a victory for the Allies and was the largest battle of the First World War on the Western Front.[7] More than three million men fought in this battle and one million men were wounded or killed, making it one of the bloodiest battles in human history.[8]
The French and British had committed themselves to an offensive on the Somme during Allied discussions at Chantilly, Oise, in December 1915. The Allies agreed upon a strategy of combined offensives against the Central Powers in 1916, by the French, Russian, British and Italian armies, with the Somme offensive as the Franco-British contribution. Initial plans called for the French army to undertake the main part of the Somme offensive, supported on the northern flank by the Fourth Army of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). When the Imperial German Army began the Battle of Verdun on the Meuse on 21 February 1916, French commanders diverted many of the divisions intended for the Somme and the "supporting" attack by the British became the principal effort.
The first day on the Somme (1 July) saw a serious defeat for the German Second Army, which was forced out of its first position by the French Sixth Army, from Foucaucourt-en-Santerre south of the Somme to Maricourt on the north bank and by the Fourth Army from Maricourt to the vicinity of the Albert–Bapaume road. The first day on the Somme was, in terms of casualties, also the worst day in the history of the British army, which suffered 57,470 casualties. These occurred mainly on the front between the Albert–Bapaume road and Gommecourt, where the attack was defeated and few British troops reached the German front line. The British troops on the Somme comprised a mixture of the remains of the pre-war regular army; the Territorial Force; and Kitchener's Army, a force of volunteer recruits including many Pals' Battalions, recruited from the same places and occupations.
The battle is notable for the importance of air power and the first use of the tank. At the end of the battle, British and French forces had penetrated 10 km (6 mi) into German-occupied territory, taking more ground than in any of their offensives since the Battle of the Marne in 1914. The Anglo-French armies failed to capture Péronne and halted 5 km (3 mi) from Bapaume, where the German armies maintained their positions over the winter. British attacks in the Ancre valley resumed in January 1917 and forced the Germans into local withdrawals to reserve lines in February, before the scheduled retirement to the Siegfriedstellung (Hindenburg Line) began in March. Debate continues over the necessity, significance and effect of the battle. David Frum opined that a century later, "'the Somme' remains the most harrowing place-name" in the history of the British Commonwealth.[8] |
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Other Information on various soldiers killed, from Newtownards |
Rifleman Carnduff, Samuel (No. 17416) No. 17416, ‘B’ Company, 13th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles |
Killed in action on Saturday 1 July 1916 Buried: Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery, France (Grave III C 9)
Newtownards and District War Memorial Newtownards Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Mark) – as Cairnduff
In some records the surname is spelt Cairnduff.
In the Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 – 1919 database it is recorded that Samuel Carnduff was born in Newtownards and he enlisted in Newtownards. Rifleman Samuel Carnduff served with the 13th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in 108th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division and he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
Rifleman Samuel Carnduff is commemorated on Newtownards and District War Memorial and in Newtownards Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Mark) where his surname is spelt Cairnduff. |
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Rifleman Carnduff, (No. 9294), James Carnduff (Tibs), 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Killed in action on Wednesday 10 March 1915 No known grave. Commemorated: Le Touret Memorial, France (Panel 42 and 43)
Newtownards and District War Memorial Newtownards Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Mark) – as Cairnduff In some records the surname is spelt Cairnduff.
Born around 1882 in Newtownards Son of Joseph and Mary Carnduff (nee McKee) who were married on 11 November 1876 Lived in Georges Street, Newtownards Joseph Carnduff worked as a stone mason. |
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Joseph and Mary had at least eleven children including: |
| James (born around 1882) |
| Alexander (born around 1885) |
| William (born around 1887) |
| Grace (born around 1890) |
| Samuel (born 20 February 1892) |
| Thomas (born 29 March 1894) |
| Mary (born 10 April 1896) |
| Malcolm (born 20 July 1899) |
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| Their father Joseph died on 19 December 1902 (aged 60) Prior to the outbreak of the Great War, James Carnduff worked as a stone mason and bricklayer. James Carnduff and Isabella Hanna (born in Scotland, daughter of James Hanna, a laborer) were married on 12 July 1899 in Greenwell Street Presbyterian |
Church, Newtownards and they had six children: |
James Carnduff and Isabella Hanna |
| Mary Jane (Winnie, born 15 April 1900) |
| James (born 9 January 1902) |
| William (born 18 January 1905) |
| Elizabeth (Lizzie, born 18 November 1906) |
| Nellie Hanna (born 23 May 1908) |
| Emily (born 11 November 1910) |
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After their mother Isabella became unwell she was admitted to Downpatrick Hospital. The Carnduff family lived in East Street, Newtownards.
James Carnduff enlisted on 8 September 1914 in Newtownards and declared his age to be 32 years 122 days. It was noted that he was 5 feet 5 inches tall with blue eyes and dark brown hair. Prior to the outbreak of the Great War James Carnduff had been a member of the North Downs and when war broke out he re-joined the colors. He went to France on 6 November 1914 and on successive days in March 1915 two men from Newtownards were killed in action at Neuve Chapelle where the Allied objective was to take Aubers Ridge – Rifleman James Carnduff on 10 March and Rifleman Alexander Gibson on 11 March. First news of their deaths reached Newtownards in a letter written by Rifleman John Weir (No. 7496) to his uncle James Weir of Mill Street, Newtownards.
Rifleman James Carnduff (known as Tibs) left a wife and six children the eldest of whom was 15. Before the war the Carnduffs lived in Georges Street, Newtownards and, after James enlisted, his wife and family moved to 82 Mill Street, Newtownards to live with the children’s grandmother, Mary Carnduff. Their address at that time was 27 Frederick Street, Newtownards, Later they lived at 34 Greenwell Street, Newtownards.
In March 1916 James Carnduff’s mother, brothers, sisters, wife and family placed an Our Heroes – In Memoriam notice in the Newtownards Chronicle and it contained the verse: |
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Far, far away thy grave to see, But not too far to think of thee,
No morning dawns, no light returns, but what, dear son, I think of thee.
We cannot, Lord, Thy purpose see, But all is well that’s done by Thee. |
Rifleman Carnduff, Robert (No. 17388), 13th & 12th Battalions, Royal Irish Rifles |
Killed in action on Tuesday 26 March 1918 (aged 26) No known grave Commemorated: Pozieres Memorial, France (Panel 74 to 76)
Newtownards and District War Memorial Second Newtownards Presbyterian Church
BIOGRAPHY In some records the surname is spelt Cairnduff. Born around 1891/1892 in Newtownards Son of Samuel and Ann Jane Carnduff Lived in Mill Street, Newtownards and at 20 Greenhill Terrace (Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt of Honor Website). Samuel Carnduff worked as a general laborer.
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Samuel Carnduff and Ann Jane had at least five children: |
| Elizabeth (Lizzie, born around 1877/1878) |
| Samuel (born around 1881/1882) |
| James (born around 1887) |
| Fabie (Febby, born around 1884/1885) |
| Robert (born around 1891/1892) |
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Their mother, Ann Jane, died on 22 October 1893 (aged 46) Robert Carnduff enlisted in Newtownards and he was stationed at Clandeboye Camp, Bangor when he and Sarah Kerr (a box-folder of 41 West Street, Newtownards and a daughter of Nathaniel Kerr, a mason) were married on 12 February 1915 in Ballygrainey Presbyterian Church.
Rifleman Robert Carnduff served with the 13th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in 108th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division and he was wounded during the Battle of Langemarck in August 1917. He was transferred to the 12th Battalion and was killed in action on 26 March 1918 during the German Spring Offensive. At the time of Robert’s death his wife Sarah was living at 39 Robert Street, Newtownards. Later she moved to High Street, Portaferry. Carnduff, |
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15 Jan 2018 |
.For non-commercial private study and research only |
Copyright © 2015 Cairnduff |
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