British War Medal 1914 - 20.
Victory Medal.
4892 Pte. H. Blyth, 2nd London Regiment.
Henry Blyth was born in 1896, the son of George Blyth, a greengrocer. Henry's mother must have died soon after his birth as his father is recorded on the 1901 Census as a widower, living at 40 St Leonard's Street, Bromley, with his six children: Emily (21), Albert (16), Fred (12), Edith (11), Ernest (9) and Henry (4).
Soon after the First World War broke out, Henry, now aged 18, found work as a warehouseman at Kearley & Tonge's warehouse in Durward Street, Whitechapel. Consisting of 130,000 square feet, this warehouse was one of the largest in the UK. The company was involved in the importing of tea and other provisions. The manufacture of cakes, biscuits, jams and sweets was also carried on at the Durward Street premises. Incidentally, over 20 years earlier, Durward Street, then known as Bucks Row, had achieved a certain notoriety when the body of Mary Ann Nicholls, Jack the Ripper's first victim, had been discovered there on 31st August 1888.
After nine months of working for Kearley & Tonge and two days after his 19th birthday, Henry Blyth enlisted in the army, joining the 2nd City of London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), on 11th August 1915. His Service Papers describe him as being just over 5' 8" in height, with grey eyes, brown hair and a fresh complexion. His period of training lasted five months and, at the end of January 1916, he sailed from Southampton on the "SS King Edward", disembarking at Rouen on 2nd February, and joining his unit in the field some three weeks later. The 1/2nd Londons had recently become part of the newly-formed 56th (London) Division and were enjoying a period of training away from the rigours and hardships of front line service. Soon, however, they would be called upon to play their part in the Battle of the Somme.
Soon after the First World War broke out, Henry, now aged 18, found work as a warehouseman at Kearley & Tonge's warehouse in Durward Street, Whitechapel. Consisting of 130,000 square feet, this warehouse was one of the largest in the UK. The company was involved in the importing of tea and other provisions. The manufacture of cakes, biscuits, jams and sweets was also carried on at the Durward Street premises. Incidentally, over 20 years earlier, Durward Street, then known as Bucks Row, had achieved a certain notoriety when the body of Mary Ann Nicholls, Jack the Ripper's first victim, had been discovered there on 31st August 1888.
After nine months of working for Kearley & Tonge and two days after his 19th birthday, Henry Blyth enlisted in the army, joining the 2nd City of London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), on 11th August 1915. His Service Papers describe him as being just over 5' 8" in height, with grey eyes, brown hair and a fresh complexion. His period of training lasted five months and, at the end of January 1916, he sailed from Southampton on the "SS King Edward", disembarking at Rouen on 2nd February, and joining his unit in the field some three weeks later. The 1/2nd Londons had recently become part of the newly-formed 56th (London) Division and were enjoying a period of training away from the rigours and hardships of front line service. Soon, however, they would be called upon to play their part in the Battle of the Somme.
At 7.00am on the 1st July 1916, the Battle of the Somme began as British troops climbed out of their trenches and began to advance across No Man's Land. The 2nd Londons were in positions opposite the Gommecourt Salient at the northern end of the battlefield. In reserve during the morning, the Battalion was called upon to go forward at 2.00pm, advancing through a heavy barrage and meeting murderous machine gun fire from Gommecourt Park. By the end of the day, they had sustained over 200 casualties. In the words of the Regimental History: "At Gommecourt the 1/2nd Londons failed, but failed gloriously in circumstances that cannot but reflect on the highest credit on the Regiment."
A spell in reserve followed but the Battalion was soon back in action. They were in support for the 169th Brigade's attack in the vicinity of Leuze Wood on September 9th, but 'A' Company suffered heavy casualties the following day when their bombing attack on Loop Trench was repulsed. A week later, on September 15th, another advance was planned along part of the Somme front line. This attack was particularly notable as being the first time that tanks were used in battle. Three tanks had been allotted to the 56th Division and one of these was to cooperate with the 2nd Londons in their second attempt to capture Loop Trench. This time the objectives were taken and, despite desperate German counter-attacks, held and consolidated.
A spell in reserve followed but the Battalion was soon back in action. They were in support for the 169th Brigade's attack in the vicinity of Leuze Wood on September 9th, but 'A' Company suffered heavy casualties the following day when their bombing attack on Loop Trench was repulsed. A week later, on September 15th, another advance was planned along part of the Somme front line. This attack was particularly notable as being the first time that tanks were used in battle. Three tanks had been allotted to the 56th Division and one of these was to cooperate with the 2nd Londons in their second attempt to capture Loop Trench. This time the objectives were taken and, despite desperate German counter-attacks, held and consolidated.
During this attack, Henry Blyth was wounded in the right arm, the bullet passing through his forearm and fracturing the bone. He was taken to the 48th Casualty Clearing Station and then to the 5th General Hospital. On 18th September, he was evacuated to England, where he spent four months in the South African Hospital at Richmond. On 18th September 1917, Henry was discharged from the army as "being no longer physically fit for war service". He had served a total of 2 years and 39 days. His intended place of residence was given as 7 Priory Road, Barking Road, East Ham, London.
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