Current Information:

Age-23

Grafton House, Richmond Hill

Querrieu British Cemetery, France

After a two week period of training, 18th Division returned to the front line on the last day of July, 1918, taking over the sector just to the north of the River Somme. Plans were well advanced for a major British offensive here and further south, due to commence on 8th August, but on 6th August the enemy made the first move on this sector of the front when they launched their own attack against units of 54 and 55 Brigades astride the Bray-Corbie road. The battalions involved were 7th East Kent (Buffs) and 8th East Surrey, both of 55 Brigade and 2nd Bedfordshire and 6th Northamptonshire of 54 Brigade. At first the German attack succeeded in pushing them back from their forward positions which in most cases were a series of individual posts rather than a continuous trench, but after two days of attack and counter attack and some heavy fighting the front was stabilised and the very successful attack on 8th August was able to take place. There were however many casualties sustained over these two days, one of whom was Peter Ackerley of the 8th East Surrey battalion who was killed on 7th August.