1897 Private Andrew James BLACK was born in Eastbourne in 1888, the son of Mr. & Mrs. Andrew James BLACK of 9 Northwick Terrace, Cheltenham. Private BLACK served with the 1/5th (Territorial) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment from late 1913 and was drafted to France on 29th March 1915. He was killed at the battle of Pozieres on the Somme and has no known grave being commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. At 6pm on the 19th July the battalion relieved the 1/6th Battalion Warwickshire Regiment and took up positions in trenches captured from the Germans located northeast of Ovillers La Boiselle. The following day these trenches were heavily shelled by the enemy and it was also reported that the battalion made exploratory forays against the enemy lines. That evening 'C' Company (including Private BLACK) which had been in support was brought into the front line. The battalion was ordered to carry out an attack on the German positions in Sky Line Trench. At 11.30pm on the 20th July 'A' Company attacked on the right and 'C' on the left. The attack was met with heavy shell and machine gun fire and both companies failed to take their objectives. The battalion diary reports the following casualties:- missing believed killed Lieutenant FREAM, 2nd Lieutenant PUCKRIDGE, and 2nd Lieutenant FARRIMOND; 45 other ranks missing, 5 killed and 59 wounded. Private BLACK was almost certainly killed during these attacks.
Memorials: Cheltenham Borough Cenotaph, St Mary, Charlton Kings & St Stephen', Cheltenham.
L'est we forget
