Current Information:

Born-Mile End

Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, France

7th Division, which included the 2nd Border battalion of 20 Brigade, had been heavily involved in the fighting associated with the First Battle of Ypres in October-November, 1914 but on 5th November they were withdrawn from there and sent further south to Sailly-sur-la-Lys in France where they remained for the rest of the year, either in the front line or in support or reserve.

On 18th December, to comply with Marshal Joffre’s request that demonstrations be made in support of a French offensive near Arras, attacks in various forms ranging from two companies to two battalions were made by IV Corps. As part of that, at 6.15pm, along with the 2nd Scots Guards, also of 20 Brigade, 2nd Border launched an attack on the German trenches along a front that ran from a road running south-east of La Cordonniere Farm, to the Sailly-Fromelles road. No-man’s-land was 150 yards wide at this point and they were fired on all the way across it and also had to contend with British shells, falling short and landing among them. The attack faltered, they fell back 50 yards where they lay down and awaited new orders. One hour later they advanced again but the attack failed and they returned to their own lines. The remnants of A and C Companies were collected together and along with two platoons of B Company advanced again and halted in a ditch near the German wire. Three wire cutters were brought up but Brigade HQ then ordered a withdrawal. 2nd Border suffered 130 casualties in this operation, one of whom was William Dunning who was killed in action.