Current Information:

Age-48

2, Laytons Grove, Borough High Street

Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium

On 9th August, 1918 a company from the 12th East Surrey battalion of 122 Brigade, 41st Division, joined 18th King’s Royal Rifle Corps in the front line trenches at La Clytte, just to the south of Ypres in Belgium. The artillery on both sides was very active and often quite heavy and it was behind one of these bombardments that the enemy attacked early in the morning of 10th August and captured three posts and inflicted a number of casualties among those in the front line. The following night the other three companies of 12th East Surrey relieved 18th King’s Royal Rifle Corps and during the relief the Germans attacked again and a further two posts were captured and more lives were lost. They remained in these positions until relieved on 16th August during which time they dug new posts, fought off subsequent German attacks, went out on patrol and had to contend with persistent shelling. Among the casualties they suffered was James Hammond who died from wounds on 15th August.