Family :

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

The Battle of the Somme 1st July - 18th November 1916 is inevitably characterised by the appalling casualties (60,000) on the first day, July 1st 1916. Having failed to break through the German lines in force, and also failed to maximise opportunities where success was achieved, the battle became a series of attritional assaults on well defended defence in depth. The battle continued officially until 18th November 1916 costing almost 500,000 British casualties. German casualties were about the same, and French about 200,000. The Somme could not be counted a success in terms of ground gained or the cost, but it had a strategic impact as it marked the start of the decline of the German Army. Never again would it be as effective whilst the British Army, learning from its experience eventually grew stronger to become a war winning army. The German High Command recognised that it could never again fight another Somme, a view that advanced the decision to invoke unrestricted submarine warfare in an attempt to starve Britain of food and material, and in doing so accelerated the United States declaration of war thus guaranteeing the eventual outcome. 287 Brethren were killed on the Somme in 1916.

Detail :

15639, Sergeant John Joseph Abbott, Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action at the Somme.

XV Corps attack on the Transloy Ridges: During 1/2nd October 1916 the 35th Brigade of 12th Div was in reserve in Bernafay Wood. By 10th October the Brigade was holding the front line near Guedecourt. The 7/Norfolks held the front line with other battalions. On 12th October the Brigade mounted an attack on Bayonet Trench at around 5pm. This trench ran from the NW of Guedecourt across the Ligny-Thilloy Road and then slightly SE. The first objectives were to take Bayonet Trench and Scabbard Trench and secondly to capture Luisenhof Farm which was adjacent to the Flers Road. To the left the 7/Norfolks secured 100 to 200 yards of Scabbard Trench but came under severe counter attack fire from the Germans and together with men of the 7/Suffolks lay out in front of Bayonet Trench until dark as the wire was intact and could not be penetrated. They were obliged to withdraw under the cover of darkness. During this action Sergeant ABBOTT was killed. See EBSARY Samuel Joseph, 1/Newfoundland Regiment for another account of this action. Sources Official History Military Operations France and Belgium 1916 Vol II., Miles The Battle of the Somme; A Topographical History, Gliddon

He was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory medal, but they appear to have gone unclaimed.

John is commemorated at his father and mother's gravestone at St. Cuthbert's Church, Clifton, Penrith. See: Facebook WW1 Inscriptions.

Masonic :

Listed as a 28 year old accountant and resident of Norwich at the time of his initiation into Cabell Lodge, Norwich in 1913. Two years of war service is shown in the contribution register followed by "Killed in action 1917."

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• The (UK) National Archives
• Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
• ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Additional Source:

• Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
• Researcher : Bruce Littley