Cifford Stanley Batt

Memorial: Staple Hill - Page Park

Regiment: Somerset Light Infantry

Medals: British War Medal, Next of Kin Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1921, Victory Medal

Rank and number: Private 20582

Parents: James and Elizabeth Batt (nee Turner)

Marital status: Single

Home address: 44 Park Crescent, St. George, Bristol

Pre-war occupation: Lithographic Printer's Assistant

Date of birth: 1894

Place of birth: St. Mark's Road, Easton, Bristol

Date of death: 16/09/1916

Buried/Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial (Pier and Face 2. A.), Departement de la Somme, Picardie, France

Age: 22

Further information:

Clifford was baptised 30th December 1894, St. Lawrence, Easton He served with the 6th (Service) Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry. On 15 September 1916, in the latter stages of the Battle of The Somme, the tanks rumbled into battle for the first time in history at the village of Flers in Northern France. The next day the 6th and 7th (Service) Battalions of the Somerset Light Infantry attacked the German trenches just north-east of Flers, to drive the battle forward. These two Battalions were the Somerset's equivalent of the ‘Pals’ Battalions, where men joined up together and served together, many from the same families and villages. On the 16th September the 6th Battalion prepared to charge a German Trench on the far side of a slight ridge. As they went over the top, they were mown down by machine gun fire. The casualties were truly terrible. Every officer who went over the parapet (17 of them) became a casualty. Three were killed, 12 wounded and two missing. In Other Ranks the Battalion lost 41 killed, 203 wounded and 143 missing, one of which was Clifford Stanley Batt. He is recorded as 'missing, presumed dead'. Needless to say the objectives of the attack were not achieved. His body was never recovered but he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial To The Missing, Somme, France. The Register of Soldiers' Effects shows that Clifford Batt's possessions amounted to £2.6s.2d which was sent to his father on 27th October 1917. A War Gratuity of £3.0s.0d was also sent to his father on 15th December 1919. This indicates that he enlisted on 17th September 1915

By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):

Forces War Records, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Soldiers Died In The Great War, Find A Grave index, England Select Births & Christenings, Free BMD, Medal Rolls Index Card, UK Censuses, David Blackmore – Mangotsfield Residents Association