Arthur, I am not aware of the precise circumstances of your death, nor what caused it, although so many of your comrades must have been blown to smithereens in the German artillery defensive barrage. As a former soldier in the 1st Lincolns myself, doing my National Service in peacetime in 1950, I am pleased to be given this opportunity to salute you as a brave young NCO who lost his life in the service of his country. You were one of the 336 members of our regiment who were either killed in action or were mortally wounded on the first day of the Battle of the Somme when the 10th Service Battalion and other units of the Lincolns with bayonets fixed began the attack at 07.30 with the 8th and 34th Divisions who together lost 11,000 men that day. It must have been absolutely terrible to have to face the fire of the German machine guns and the explosions of the heavy artillery shells and mortars. I can but quote the memorial hymn again, “All you had hoped for, all you had you gave to save mankind – yourself you scorned to save.”  Your remains, and those of most of your comrades, were not recovered from the field of battle and you and they are therefore commemorated on the Memorial at Thiepval, where 246 Lincolns are commemorated, and the rest were commemorated elsewhere. I also trust that you were commemorated on your home town war memorial. But you are also remembered every year at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance, when the parade is at the attention while the Queen’s Colour and the National Standard are dipped in salute as the Last Post is sounded. I offer my sympathy to your parents and other relatives who mourned your sacrifice.  Rest in Peace.  Harry.  

Henry Harrison