Current Information:

Age-35

11, Cornwallis Grove,  Lower Edmonton

Born-Westminster

SDGW-BRANNON

On the night of 28th-29th May, 1917, 16th Middlesex of 86 Brigade, 29th Division took over the right sector of the Brigade front and moved into Hook and Dale Trenches in the Monchy defences, near Arras. In front of them and still a thorn in the side of British Command was Hill 100, also known as Infantry Hill and on the night of 30th-31st May it was attacked again by 16th Middlesex and 1st Lancashire Fusiliers from 86 Brigade, 29th Division and 8th East Lancashire from 37th Division. The objective this time was not to capture the hill but, as a preliminary to doing so, to capture the enemy’s first line, Hook Trench, on a frontage of 1,500 yards astride the Monchy-Boiry road. At 11.15pm the first wave of troops left their trenches to lie down in front of them and await zero, 15 minutes later. Unfortunately it was a moonlit night and the Germans evidently saw this premature movement and were ready and waiting when the attack was launched at 11.30pm. The British never really stood a chance. Hit by artillery and machine-gun fire the attack soon broke down. On the flanks of the assault the two Lancashire battalions were unable to get near Hook Trench but in the centre, a party of just over 30 from 16th Middlesex did make it and managed to hang on in there until midday on 31st May when a lack of grenades and ammunition forced them to surrender. Those left of the rest of the battalion got back to their own lines as best as they could. There were many casualties for 16th Middlesex, one of them being Edward Brannan.