Current Information:

Age-23

13, Westmoreland Road, Barnes

Chester Farm Cemetery, Belgium

On 30th June, 1917, 15th London of 140 Brigade, 47th Division moved into support trenches at the Spoil Bank in the southern sector of the Ypres salient. They remained here until 3rd July when they were relieved and moved back to Murrumbridge Camp at La Clytte. The Battalion Diary gives very little information about this short stay in the support line, other than the number of casualties sustained each day. Those suffered on 3rd July were substantial with eight men killed and another fourteen wounded. One can only assume that they were hit by an enemy artillery bombardment, possibly when they were in the process of this relief and therefore more vulnerable to shell fire. One of those killed was Harry Ockenden.