Richard KIRKHAM (1890?-1916)

Richard Thomas KIRKHAM , son of William KIRKHAM (1847- ) and Ann WADE (1851?-1906), was born in 1890 (approx.) in Samlesbury, Lancashire, England. ¹ In 1891 he was resident in Lower Hall, Samlesbury, He emigrated from London, England to Sydney, Australia on 22 March 1895. In 1896 he was resident in Coolup, WA, Australia, He died on 3 September 1916 in France.

Military service: 28th Battalion, 8th Reinforcement.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission details:

Name: KIRKHAM, RICHARD

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Private

Regiment/Service: South Lancashire Regiment

Unit Text: 2nd Bn.

Date of Death: 03/07/1916

Service No: 2929

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 7 A and 7 B.

Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL

The Battle of the Somme

On 1 July 1916, supported by a French attack to the south, thirteen divisions of Commonwealth forces launched an offensive on a line from north of Gommecourt to Maricourt. Despite a preliminary bombardment lasting seven days, the German defences were barely touched and the attack met unexpectedly fierce resistance. Losses were catastrophic and with only minimal advances on the southern flank, the initial attack was a failure. In the following weeks, huge resources of manpower and equipment were deployed in an attempt to exploit the modest successes of the first day. However, the German Army resisted tenaciously and repeated attacks and counter attacks meant a major battle for every village, copse and farmhouse gained. At the end of September, Thiepval was finally captured. The village had been an original objective of 1 July.

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