Corporal Roger Garrod’s Headstone
When the research for the book about Bramford’s World War One casualties was carried out no soldier by the name of “Roger” Garrod could be traced although this is the name used on the memorial itself. It has since come to light that when the memorial was created it was acknowledged that mistakes were made concerning the details of the men. No detailed information of these mistakes has been found but it was recorded that these “slight errors” would not be corrected. It is thought that this mans name should be Harold John Garrod, who fits the profile in all other respects in that he was in the 2nd Suffolk’s, a Corporal and lived in Bramford.
The Battle of Arras (First Battle of the Scarpe – 9th to 14th April 1917)
The British Army is, once again, called on to launch an attack in support of a larger French offensive taking place at the Chemin des Dames and the hills of Champagne. The British attack was centred on the town of Arras.
On the 9th April 1917 the 2nd Suffolk’s were in support of the 4th Royal Fusiliers – their objective being a part of the German trench system (shown in red) called The Harp:
Scarpe Trench Map – the Harp
Extract of map from McMaster Univeristy Digital Archive
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/
The initial attack went well and the objective was quickly taken. The following day was spent reorganising and waiting for orders but it was not until nearly midnight that they advanced further to a position about five miles further on over battered trenches and tangled barbed wire.
With only short notice on the 11th April they were ordered to attack the village of Guemappe but this did not go so smoothly and the battalion suffered many casualties among which was Harold Garrod.
He is buried in the Tilloy British Cemetery.
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