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Wounded on the Somme

Description: My father, John Stafford, served at the Battle of the Somme. My mother convinced him to write a memoir of his experiences as he was obviously suffering, mentally, with memories of his wounding. This memoir has been typed for safekeeping. The subject of the memoir is the Battle of the Somme, specifically an attack on the fringes of Trones Wood 6-8 August 1916 (crossing No Mans Land across what was known as "Death Valley"). Stafford describes the kit he carries, including 2 large cans of water for his section. He describes their attempts to dig-in while waiting a day or more in No Man's Land. Stafford has a terrible premonition of his wounding, and of his survival. However, when he is shot through both legs and crawls into a shell hole for safety he is stranded for 2 days, less than 20 yards from the Germans who he can clearly hear. He is saved finally by a reconnaisance patrol of British soliders from the unit which replaced the Liverpools after the attack. He describes their rescue attempts and their bravery, as well as the death of another soldier in the same shell hole. Finally he goes on to describe his treatment - including the chilling label pinned to his chest - "Maggots"! Private John Andrew Stafford, from Liverpool, served in the 5th Liverpool Regiment. His regiment number was 3083 (then 200947). His Medal Award card (online) shows he was eligible for the Victory medal and the British medal (reference H/2/102 B35 p4971), as well as the 1915 Star (reference H/2/7B p1598), and that he went overseas to France on 21 February 1915. Later he moved to Preston. He was awarded the MBE (Member of the British Empire) for services during the Second World War.
Contributor: John Ashworth
Coverage: Western Front
Geographic coverage: 53.763201,-2.7030899999999747; Preston; http://sws.geonames.org/2639912/
Type: Memoir; Leaf; item; http://www.eionet.europa.eu/gemet/concept/4730
Format: 13; Paper
Subject: Medical; Trench Life; John Andrew Stafford; World War One; http://dbpedia.org/page/World_War_I
Identifier: 47308; 3155
Relation: http://www.europeana1914-1918.eu/en/contributions/3155
Language: English
Source: UGC
Provider: Europeana 1914 - 1918
Providing country: Europe

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      • Place Term: http://sws.geonames.org/2635167/
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      • Geo Space: 53.76667; -2.71667
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