Somme Stories - City of Londonderry

Second Lieutenant Hugh (Hubert) Arbuckle

Hubert Arbuckle was the third son of Hugh and Annie Arbuckle and was a member of Churchill LOL No. 871. He served with the 10th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

A short time after the Somme advance of 1 July 1916, Hubert wrote to his mother to tell her that he was in hospital as he had been wounded in the left knee by shrapnel. After being detained for six days he was sent back to England.

It was not long until Hubert was again posted in 1917 to the Royal Irish Regiment and returned to France. He had only returned three months when he was Killed In Action, and was later interred in Queant Road Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.

Corporal Ernest Wilson Boyd

Ernest Wilson Boyd was the second son of Hugh and Jane Boyd. He was a member of City of Derry Temperance LOL No. 1007 and a member of the Murray Parent Club of Apprentice Boys of Derry.

On the outbreak of war Ernest served in ‘B’ company, 10th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Corporal Boyd took part in the great Somme push of 1 July 1916 and was Killed In Action. In forwarding the news of his death Lieutenant S. MacIntosh said: ‘…he was a soldier of the best type, always willing and cheerful…’ Corporal Boyd’s name is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.

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