An extract from ‘Forged by Fire’, a history of the 7th Somerset Light Infantry. 

 ‘ … The Battalion remained in these trenches until 15 October mostly following the same routine.  The only event of note during this time was an unfortunate incident with a patrol on 12 October. 

Leiutenant McMurtrie wrote – 

“A patrol went out from a certain post and as usual warned the whole front line that they were out.  It came in too soon and was sent out again by the second in command, but did not warn the rest of the front line.   When they came in the second time, the sentry, not knowing that a patrol was out, saw them coming towards the front line, didn’t wait to challenge, & fired and killed one of them. The dead man was Private Milton Parsons.”

Leslie Parsons