Current Information:

Enlisted-Kingston

When the German Spring Offensive began on 21st March with such devastating impact, 18th Division held a nine thousand yard front from La Fère to Moy south of St Quentin and right in the path of the German onslaught. The pressure was relentless and overwhelming and over the next week 18th Division, along with the rest of the British Fifth Army were pushed back almost to Amiens. The 8th East Surrey battalion of 55 Brigade, reached the village of Boves, three miles south-east of Amiens, on 29th March and then moved to positions one mile west of Marcelcave where they spent the next three days strengthening the defences.

At 5am on 4th April the front here was hit by a heavy artillery barrage which was followed an hour and a half later by an infantry attack. It was a very wet morning and everything, including the rifles and machine-guns became clogged with mud. Nevertheless, in the fierce fighting that then took place, 8th East Surrey held their line despite the many casualties they sustained. Things did not work out so well in the afternoon when there was a further enemy infantry attack which this time forced them back to a line two hundred yards west of the Villers Bretonneux – Hangard road. They were relieved the next day, after having suffered yet more casualties, and ended the day manning strongpoints near the Bois de Hangard. The battalion had suffered heavily in this engagement and among their casualties was John Alloway who was killed on 5th April.