Pozieres Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Septimus Colin Finch was born 1887 at Felling, Gateshead, County Durham. Earliest viable records state he was living in 1901 at 22 South View Terrace, Heworth at the age of 14 working as a cycle shop errand boy. Head of the family was his brother Samuel (25) employed as a manufacturer’s clerk, he was also looking after his younger brothers, John Hudson (23) a bricklayer’s labourer, Edward (20) a bricklayer and Frederick (17) employed as a merchant’s clerk, parents deceased. By 1911 Samuel was an agent working on commission, John Hudson was labouring for an engineering firm and Septimus was a quarryman. Mary Forester aged 52 years was employed by them as a general servant, they were still living at South View Terrace.
Septimus Colin Finch enlisted, on date unknown, at Gateshead, firstly assigned as Private 5174 1/9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, transferred as Private 35018 10th Battalion King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and finally to the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment as Private 40491 rising through the ranks to Lance Corporal. His military record no longer exists one of the 70% destroyed during the blitz of WW2, it is therefore impossible to follow his movements during the conflict of WW1. In the final month prior to his demise the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment in January and February 1918 were sent to Passchendaele Ridge around Ypres in Belgium passing short periods among the shell holes in the front line, followed by periods of heavy work at labour camps in the salient and periods of rest in camps west of Ypres. The first sign of the great German attack prompted an urgent warning March 21st that all units of the 24th Brigade were to be ready to move at five hours' notice. The order came and the next morning the 1st Worcestershire marched to St. Omer and at midday entrained for the front to the Somme area. At 2.30 a.m., the following morning they reached the station of Nesle and orders were for the 8th Division to take up a defensive position along the River Somme from Bethencourt to Brie. The 1st Worcestershire was deployed to the right of Pargny and their orders were to hold the line of the river at all costs. The morning of the 23rd they dug themselves into the cover of the river bank whilst the enemy fire could be heard nearer. The retreating troops of the Fifth Army came through the line followed by the pursuing Germans who came under the fire of the Worcestershire Regiment and the counter attack continued during the following days until at dawn March 27th saw their participation at the Battle of Rosieres which lasted until April 5th 1918. During the battle the 1st Worcestershire Regiment lost 19 officers, killed wounded or missing and 404 N.C.O.’s and men, 24 killed, 180 wounded and 200 missing.
During the period of March 23rd to April 1st 1918 Lance Corporal 40491 Septimus Colin Finch, 1st Worcestershire Regiment was reported missing and subsequently declared to have been killed in action, the date of April 1st 1918 adopted as the date of his demise. He was 31 years old and single. His sacrifice is recorded on panel 41 of the Pozieres Memorial to the Missing which is the back-drop to Pozieres British Cemetery, Somme, France and commemorates those who died in the sector of the Somme battlefields March and April 1918 and who have no known grave.
His brothers Samuel and Frederick received all monies due to him and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal. After probate the sum of 217 pounds 12 shillings 10 pence was also awarded to Frederick listed as a commercial clerk.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Septimus Colin Finch is remembered at Heworth on H92.03 and at Gateshead on G39.004
