This site has two objectives. Firstly remembrance. Secondly to provide the visitor with a unique visual tour of the movement of 2 Regt South African Infantry on the Somme and in Delville Wood , for those who might have never travelled there. There is also a complete listing of the men and NCO`s of B Coy 2nd Regiment, in a manner never compiled before, for those who may have had relatives that fought in that unit.

And so, this narrative represents the results of my efforts. It is a story that was typical of so many young Victorian Englishmen of that doomed generation.  It was a time of optimism – of Biggles and “ Derring do “ for most young men of the realm.  It is difficult to illustrate at this present time – just how much more positive and adventurously minded young men were 100 years ago. It was the apogee of the public schoolboy mentality –  the world was a British oyster ! To many young Englishmen, the Empire represented truth and light – it was a force for good, civilising the world in a British manner. That was their firm conviction – and they had no intention of apologising for it either. The German empire on the other hand represented brute force and injustice.  Consequently it was the basic duty of every British male worth his salt, to take up arms and defend the empire to the death – “ for King and country “.

Locating  records of the last  two years of Aubrey`s life was not always a simple exercise.  Immigration documents and shipping records are either non existent – or incomplete at best. The accessibility of personal documentation in the UK, is good.  Records in South Africa in general –  are erratic and not computerised. As far as I could ascertain, the Hutchinson family has died out, except for a branch by Eirene`s first marriage by the name of Buchanan – I am unable to ascertain any further details.

Inevitably, trying to complete this story meant that I also had to try to decipher events in Delville Wood on the fateful opening day, of 15 July 1916 – to a much greater degree than is generally discussed in contemporary histories on the matter. And this in turn meant that I had to rely on conjecture and logic in parts – because no record to the contrary is evident at present. But my purpose was to cover Aubrey`s  life –  of which the battle of Delville wood represented the final curtain.

There are many fine works and documents about the South African brigade in Delville wood, that adequately cover the whole panoply of the battle and it`s sacrifice. I have no intention of competing with any of these, or being in any way a rival chronicler. My emphasis is solely the happenings that surrounded B Coy of the 2^nd regiment, on the day of 15 July 1916. Others have covered the whole saga of the first South African Brigade there, and elsewhere, better that I ever could.

UPDATE: A new chapter on the men of B Coy 2 Regiment that survived WWI has been added

UPDATE: Listings of the survivors of A Coy and D Coy 2 regiment have also been added to the chapter the living and the dead.

If this work should lead in any way to remembrance of Aubrey Hutchinson, or any men of the South African Infantry Brigade in WW1 – then mission accomplished.

Acknowledgements

In completing this I have many person`s and organisations to thank.

• Google maps for permitting use of their excellent software
• Audrey Portman and associates for the many, many hours researching various archives in South Africa and elsewhere.
• Steven Trinder – Smith for his illuminating comments about the history of DeWetsdorp, and fascinating photographs.
• SADF and SAMMH archives for much information , which even though in the public domain, was not always easy to locate.
• Ian Uys for sage advice and permission to quote his notable works on Delville Wood.
• Richard Porter for his help with our battlefield tour as well as superb drone photographs.
• Kevin for his untiring efforts to correct my amateurish use of software.
• The National Archives in Kew, London.
• Pam McFadden, Curator of the Talana Museum in Natal for the excellent photographs of No 7 and no 8 platoons B Coy, 2^nd Regiment – and much other interesting background.
• Peter and Beverley Moss
• Ken and Eleanor Garvie
• The ever helpful Riana Le Roux (eGGSA)
• Teresa Elford of Sudbury Mayors office
• Ann Ferreira of Broad Chalke
• Broad Chalke Archives

Any mistakes or oversights are mine alone.

All rights reserved.