Current Information:

Age-21

3, Gladwell Road, Stroud Green

Varennes Military Cemetery, France

On 5th February, 1917, 1st Honourable Artillery Company of 190 Brigade, 63rd Division, moved into the Puisieux Line, River Trench and Cliff Trench near Beacourt-sur-l’Ancre, on the Somme battlefield. Not only was this a dangerous place to be because of the ever present threat of the enemy artillery, but it was also freezing cold. Rather than a continuous trench, the front line here was a series of posts, some no more elaborate than a large shell hole and often with no adequate communication trench leading back to safety, or rather relative safety. At 11pm on 7th February, they launched an attack on the sunken road in front of them as far as its junction with Miraumont Alley and Baillescourt Farm. By 11.35pm, all objectives had been secured and consolidation had begun. The fight continued through to the next morning. By 2am the enemy had been cleared from Miraumont Alley and later A Company attacked Baillescourt Farm and captured posts there. 1st Honourable Artillery Company now began the task of consolidating their gains but of course, the Germans were not going to make this easy for them and over the next few days shelled these new positions constantly, so much so that the height of the parapet was reduced by two feet.  By the time they were relieved on 14th February, the condition of men was pitiable. The casualty figure was way over 100  and it was  only possible to relieve the forward posts every 48 hours. Arthur Tye died of wounds on 20th February. and it is likely that he was wounded during this period in the line.