Private George Christopher Abbott
5813 8th East Lancashire Regiment
Wounded and missing 15th July 1916, aged 21.
Lived at 72 Olympia Street
From the War diary of the Battalion we discover that they were trying to take the village of Pozieres but came under heavy bombardment and machine gun fire. Presumably George was one of the many reported wounded and missing:
From the Burnley Express 29 July 1916: Private Reported Wounded.
News is urgently wanted of the whereabouts of Private George C Abbott (5813) of the 8th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment whose home is 72 Olympia Street Burnley. Word has come from two of his comrades stating that he was wounded in Action about the 15th or 16th, and that he was still in France. The writer's could not say anymore. Since then however, no further news has been received respecting him copper and his relatives will be grateful for any information.
Private Abbott was Twenty-One Years of age last June, and before enlisting was a Weft labourer at Shaw Mills, Littleborough.
From the East Lancashire Regiment war diary dated 14 July 1916:
From our Front line towards Pozieres and consolidated existing trench there. 2nd Lt Lightbound A at the same time took a reconnoitring patrol out to the German gun position at point 97 about 200 yards from the Pozieres-Liziere line which was afterwards held by a 2nd Lieutenant Dunmall and Speak with 6 Grenadiers 1 Platoon 1 Lewis Gun Section at 4.00 pm Lieutenant McQueen's party was relieved by 2nd Lieutenant Stout with 6 Grenadiers 1 Platoon 1 Lewis Gun Section at 7.00 pm 2nd Lt Stout with his party attempted to enter Pozieres. This party arrived at the barrier on the Pozieres-Albert road where 3 Germans were seen, two were bayoneted by our men but the third escaped and gave the alarm. Our party then had to retire receiving very heavy casualties from machine guns situated in the houses and Orchards around Pozieres.
Pozieres 15/7/16 - at 9:20 a.m. After heavy bombardment of Pozieres for 1-hour, the Battalion led a Brigade attack on the village. A and B companies in the Front line C&D companies in support. Owing to artillery barrage and machine gun fire the Battalion was unable to achieve it's objective but was joined by the units of the Brigade and consolidated existing trenches to East and Southeast of Pozieres. At 5 p.m. A further bombardment of Pozieres was carried out and the Battalion with remainder of Brigade attempted another assault on Pozieres at 6-8 pm, this assault was again held up by machine guns and the wire not being cut in the hedges surrounding the village. The Battalion handed over the trenches to the 10th Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment at 2:30 a.m. And proceeded to trenches in Close support. Casualties, Officers killed 1, wounded 8. Other Ranks. Killed 56. Wounded 276. Missing 33.
It was quite possible that George was wounded and went missing during this action.
From the Army Register of Soldier’s Effects we discover his sole legatee was his mother Mary Ellen.
George is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France: Pier and Face 6C
Photo courtesy of George Coppock, 2024