ROUGHTON, Bert

Bert Roughton volunteered for the Worcester Territorials and served with the 1/7th Battalion who went to the Western Front in March 1915. They were stationed at Hébuterne on the quiet sector of the Somme during the rest of 1915 where their task was to prepare for the 1916 Battle of the Somme. They went into the front line for its second phase and on the 13th August they took over trenches at Ovillers including the important Skyline Trench which had been much fought over. Their main attack occurred on the 21st August when the fighting continued into the night without gaining new ground. Private Bert Roughton was severely wounded and died the next day. He is buried in Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension (VII D 19)) and commemorated on the Brierley Hill, Pensnett and Brierley Hill church Memorials.