Robert Elgar Datlen

 

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George Edward Datlen
Lance Corporal G/9046 - Royal Sussex Regiment
Report by Shaun Griffiths - “The Datlen World War One Project”
Originated November 2000    Last reviewed - June 2006

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Born: 1893
Father: Charles George Datlen
Mother: Jessie Ann Vane
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George Edward Datlen was born in Dover in 1893 the last of five children of Charles George Datlen and Jessie Ann Vane. Charles, a fish dealer, died of dropsy in 1900 when George was only seven years old. Jessie married Albert John Blythe in August 1903 and the family moved to Wateringbury near Maidstone. On 19th February 1916 at the age of 23 George enlisted at Maidstone into the Royal Sussex Regiment.  Records show that he had previously served with the 3rd Battallion, Royal Sussex Regiment and in May 1912 had purchased his own discharge at the cost of £3.  The onset of war though, forced his recall and this time the cost would be far greater.

His papers describe him as 5 foot 6 inches tall, weighing 140 lbs, with a 35 inch girth. He had one vaccination mark in his left arm and three in his right arm all made in infancy. His vision was tested as 6/6. His address was Pozen Well in Wateringbury, his trade was recorded as general labourer and religion as Church of England.

On the 1st March 1916 he was posted into the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment and half his purchase money, £1.10 was returned to him. These first months he would have received intense training and on the 19th of March he was taken ill with influenza and was admitted to Newhaven Hospital for 10 days.

On the 20th July George was sent to France as part of the British Expeditionary Forces and posted to the 7th Battalion at Étaples. On the 28th of July he was posted to 2nd battalion and on the 31st July he was appointed to Lance Corporal. He would have travelled to the front line with his unit by train and finally by marching. The 2nd Battalion were stationed at Henencourt, west of Albert. During the first two weeks of August they occupied themselves with Drill, training, musketry, physical exercises, regimental sports and night time operations, the distant noise of war must have been pounding through their heads, adrenalin pumping as the soldiers knew their day was approaching. On the 9th August a regimental concert was held in Henencourt Wood and the next day they held boxing contests both events were successful in boosting morale and easing the nerves.

Early evening on the 13th of August the battalion left Henencourt and marched via Albert to Becourt Wood where they camped for the night. The next day at 1pm the Battalion marched off from Becourt Wood and proceeded via Mametz Wood to High Wood. Here they relieved the 11th Suffolk in the firing line. The situation was then quiet.  I can only imagine the conditions that George would have had to ordeal there in the trenches. The battle of High Wood had already lasted a month and would continue for another month until finally being taken by the 47th Division, III Corps on 15th September 1916. Apparently at the start of the attack on the 20th July, news came back that the woods were clear of any German presence but the British failed to capitalise:

High Wood

“Moving slowly and carefully, the officers reached the edge of High Wood. No enemy troops were seen; anxious to take full advantage, these officers lodged a request with XV Corps to push ahead.  Orders came back that they were to wait until the cavalry arrived.  General Rawlinson and General Haig believed that cavalry was the key to consolidating any further advance. Unfortunately, the Indian Cavalry did not arrive until later in the evening, having had to negotiate several miles of shell-churned earth. By the time they had arrived, reports had begun to filter back that the area between Longurval and Bezentin le Grand had been fully wrestled from German hands.  It was decided to hold the cavalry back and wait.

Slowly, the Germans moved back into High Wood, amazed at their good fortune.  In a day of confusion, the only orders that came were to wait until the following day, after the cavalry had swept through the wood and the surrounding areas.  The Devon Horse and the Dragoon Guards accompanied the infantry moving towards the northern corner of High Wood, led the charge. The timing, however, was poor; it was seven in the evening and the British were only now attacking twelve hours after their initial advance”.

The Germans held their ground until it was taken on 15th September, “almost two months after it had been sitting open and available. Perhaps if the 3rd and 7th division had been given permission to carry on their advance of 20 July, many thousands of lives might have been saved”.
(The Somme Association, www.irishsoldier.org)

On Monday 14th August 1916, George Edward Datlen was waiting in the trenches with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. On their left were the 1st Brigade and to their right, the 1st Middlesex (33rd Division). At 11pm the Germans shelled their trenches in response to an earlier artillery bombardment. Several casualties were reported that night….

For most of the next day the batteries remained very active and the German guns replied with occasional shelling. At 9.50pm a Patrol was sent out to report on the western portion of the trench running south west from High Wood. The patrol returned about midnight reporting that the line was not wired making attack feasible.  At 2.30am the plan was initiated with B Company moving out on the right and One Company Northampton on the left. There was no artillery preparation and the enterprise was unsuccessful principally owing to loss of direction. Lieutenant Collins was killed with 30 other casualties.

 On Wednesday there was more occasional shelling throughout the day. It was decided that a further attack on the German lines would be made that night with the Royal Sussex Regiment accompanying One Company Northants. At 10pm George Datlen prepared to move out with the Royal Sussex. This time the raid was to be successful. Under intense bombardment the enemy trench was taken with few casualties. 12 prisoners were captured. George survived and remained in the captured trench.

On the morning of Thursday 17th August, the Germans made a determined counter attack. They came forward with a Flammenwerfer and hand grenades, considerable confusion ensued. 2nd Lieutenants Atkinson, Sainton and Jolmson were among the casualties. The sole officer 2nd Lieutenant Wright was able to maintain himself along with a small party in the captured trench. The enemy bombarded all day and about 8pm the Loyal North Lancs. began to relieve the Battalion which moved into Brigade reserve in Mametz Wood.

George Edward Datlen was killed that fateful day. His body was not recovered. His remains still lay buried in High Wood along with 8,000 other men. He is forever remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, France, Pier and Face 7 C.
 

In Memory of
Lance Corporal GEORGE EDWARD DATLEN

G/9046, 2nd Bn., Royal Sussex Regiment
who died aged 22
on Thursday, 17th August 1916.

Son of Jessie Ann Denton (formerly Datlen), of 2, Springdale Terrace, Nettlestead, Wateringbury, Kent
Remembered with honour
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL

Thiepval Memorial
 Commemorated in perpetuity by
the Commonwealth War Graves Commission


George was awarded the following medals:-

British War Medal
Victory Medal
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Sources:
Civil Registration index of births, marriages and deaths for England and Wales
 “The Datlen Family Tree” book by Andy R Datlen, first edition March 1999
WW1 Service Records for George Edward Datlen
War Diary of the 2nd Batallion, Royal Sussex Regiment 1st August - 19th August 1916
Trench Map 57cSSW3-2E Longueval, dated 15 Aug 1916
The Somme Association, www.irishsoldier.org
Commonwealth War Graves Commission www.cwgc.org
The Somme Association “The Battle of the Somme” http://www.irishsoldier.org
 


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