Name
Wilfred John (poss. John Wilfred) Camfield
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/09/1916
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
22917
Bedfordshire Regiment
8st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2C
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial,
Holy Saviour Church War Memorial, Radcliffe Rd., Hitchin,
St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin,
Hitchin British Boys' School Memorial, Hitchin,
St Faith's Church War Memorial, Walsworth
Pre War
He was born in Hitchin, was resident in Walsworth. He attended the Hitchin British Boys' School. John was the husband of Emily
Camfield, of 58, Summer Rd., East Molesey,
Wartime Service
He was allocated Regimental Number 22917 in the 8th Battalion of the Regiment and was killed in action in France.
The 8th Battalion attacked a strongpoint known as the ‘Quadrilateral’ opposite Ginchy and Bouleaux Wood on the 15th September 1916. Of the tanks that were supposed to have been in advance of the infantry, only one appeared and that immediately stuck in the mud. In the attack they were assisted by the Heavy Section of the Machinegun Corps. Zero hour was 6.20am in three assault waves. Quadrilateral on the left flank with ‘B’ Company attacking the trench leading to it. At 6.00am heavy artillery opened a slow barrage on the line Morval to Les Boeufs. At zero hour the barrage became more intense but was cut short leading to numerous casualties. At 6.00pm they were relieved and put into Brigade Reserve. The attack had failed and the casualties were numbered in hundreds.
He has no known grave and is remembered on Face/Pier 2C of the great Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme in France.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
