Private Leonard Shaw of the Otago Infantry Regiment arrived in France from Britain in time for the "Big Push" - the Somme offensive of 1916. This time they had it right, the generals thought; plenty of guns, plenty of shells, and plenty of fresh troops. They would tear a hole through German lines and the cavalry would ride through and range around the enemy's back lines. It would be the breakthrough they were waiting for.
But the Germans were also waiting. They had built strong underground shelters. Concrete lined and safe, where their troops waited while the shells rained down. When shelling stopped, it was time to mount and ready the machine guns. One day, the British would come.
The men who attacked on the Somme were expecting to walk through wrecked German lines without opposition. They were in for a nasty surprise.
MEN WHO FELL
KILLED.
Private Leonard Gladstone Shaw (killed in action on September 26) was a member of the-13th Reinforcements. Prior to enlisting, he followed the occupation of a fruit farmer at Clyde, leaving there to proceed to Trentham Camp. He leaves a wife and three children. -Evening Star, 17/10/1916.
The 26th of September, the day of Leonard's death, was after his unit had made an advance over German lines and were waiting to move further. There was no particular action on that day and I can find not cause of death other than the words "killed in action."
IN MEMORIAM
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