By 1916 Harold was fit again and training to return to his Battalion, which he finally achieved on
7th February 1916 – 5 days later he was posted to the 3rd Entrenching Battalion and rejoined the
2nd Bedford’s on 4th June. He was left out of the 1st Somme offensives and became Commander
of B Company when Captain Pearse sprained his ankle on 10th July, just in time for the attack on
the infamous Trones Wood the following day.
On 11th July 1916 at Trones Wood the Battalion were in position by 1.30am, formed up in lines of
half companies with an interval of five paces between the men and distance of 150 yards between
platoons. Harold reached the N.E edge of the Wood and commenced to dig in. As no British troops
were holding the Northern end of the Wood, they became isolated. Great difficulty was experienced
in the Wood owing to casualties and denseness of undergrowth but the Battalion managed to hold
their own and dig themselves in. “A” and “B” companies, which were part of the advance guard,
suffered extremely heavy losses in the Wood.
On 22nd July orders were received that the Brigade would attack between Guillemont and
Falfemont Farm the following day. Later that day orders received – attack postponed. On 23rd July
orders received: must be ready to leave within 30 minutes. On 29th July attack on Maltz Horn
Farm. On the march up to this position the Battalion suffered from Lachrymatory, Tear and
Poisonous gas shells, Smoke Helmets had to be put on. A number of men suffered from the effect
of gassing.