Family :

Education & Career :

University of London. Solicitor (1898-1902) Admitted to the Law Society 1894. Member of Caddick & Walker, of West Bromwich and Birmingham.

TF Soldier

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 :

"Record of service of solicitors and articled clerks with His Majesty's forces, 1914-1919 - ALFRED ARMSTRONG CADDICK. Admitted .Tuly 1 894. Member of Caddick & Walker, of West Bromwich and Birmingham. Served as Major, 8th Batt. Royal Warwickshire Regt. (T.). Once mentioned in Dispatches. Trained in England from Aug. 1, 1914, went to France in spring of 1915, and remained until killed in action at the Battle of the Somme July 1, 1916.

War Diary Extract: 1/8th Royal Warwickshire Regt

1st July

2.0 a.m. Battalion reported present in forming up trenches.

4.3 a.m.-7.0 a.m. Reported that everyone had a good breakfast. Artillery bombardment was intense and not a lot of retaliation from Bosch. Artillery increased in intensity. Enemy replying with field guns and 15 cm.

7.0 a.m. Very intense artillery on both sides.

7.25 a.m. Enemy machine guns opened all along line. Three minutes later our troops are lying on parapet ready to advance.

7.30 a.m. Advance begins. Enemy first line reached and passed very quickly also was the second. Only in one or two cases were any enemy seen in these two lines. Having plenty of casualties from machine gun fire in enemy third and fourth lines. At the third line we were temporarily held up my machine gun fire but took it by rushes. From this point the fighting was all with bombs along trenches. We reached our objective probably 35-40 minutes from zero hour (7.30 a.m.) and at once commenced consolidating and cleaning rifles under the direction of Capt Martin and 2nd Lt Turner. By this time the next battalion was arriving but had had so many casualties that they could not go through us so helped consolidating. This happened with all battalions following us. Many times we were bombed from this position and regained it until bombs ran out. We had to retired to their 3rd line parapet and hold on with machine and rifle fire. Parties were detailed to collect as many bombs as could be found (both English and German) and when we had a good store we again reached our objective. No supply of bombs coming from rear so could not hold on and returned again. Enemy machine guns and snipers were doing a great amount of damage all the while. Enemy artillery opened but fortunately their range was over. Held on to this position until relieved by a battalion from the rear. All through the action no troops were seen on our right or left. This had a great deal to do with the inability to push past our objective.

11 p.m. Arrived at Mailly Maillet and were put into billets.

2nd July

Resting except Roll Call. Casualties arrived at from Roll Call.

Officer casualties: Maj A A Caddick (amongst 10 other Officers Killed and a further 10 wounded, 1 wounded and missing and 1 wounded POW:
Other Ranks: Killed 57 : Wounded 255 : Missing 251)


"I would like to record and remember MAJOR ALFRED ARMSTRONG CADDICK, 8th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment who died aged 44 on this day 100 years ago, 1st July 1916. He is remembered with honour on the Thiepval Memorial. He had been on active service since the outbreak of the war serving in France since April 1915. He had two brothers who were also serving in different areas at the same time. They achieved what was probably a unique distinction in that all three were mentioned for "Distinguished Conduct" in the same dispatch in January 1916. In civilian life he was in practice as a solicitor and Deputy Town Clerk of West Bromwich. He was a member of Sandwell Park Golf Club who lost five other members in the conflict, Lieut. R. STANDEFORD PULLEN [on this roll], Lieut. H.G.NEVILLE, Capt. G.F. SILVESTER, Lieut. R.MAXWELL TRIMBLE, and the club professional, Cpl. J.E.EDWARDS."

Masonic :

Past Master. His mother Lodge was Dartford Lodge No. 662, West Bromwich. Petitioning and Founder member of Legge Lodge No. 2784, West Bromwich at its consecration 5th August 1899. Further joined Warden Lodge No. 794 at Sutton Coldfield on 7th October 1902.

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