Current Information:

Age-32

11, Loanda Street, Haggerston

Perreuse Chateau Franco-British National Cemetery, France

The Great Retreat  of the British Amy finally came to an end on 5^th September after thirteen days of continuous falling back whilst fighting rearguard actions from Mons in Belgium to the River Marne. Over the next four days the decisive Battle of the Marne took place and as a result the French army, assisted by the much smaller British Army forced the Germans back to the River Aisne.

On 8th  September, 1914, 19 Brigade moved on towards Signy-Signets with the 1st Middlesex battalion as advance guard. When they reached the high ground overlooking the Marne they came under German artillery fire which knocked out the battalion transport. Three men were killed and thirty were wounded. Nine horses were also killed. British guns soon opened up to silence the German fire. William West was one of the battalion’s casualties on this day