Current Information:

Age-28

64, Chisenhale Road, Old Ford

The Battle of Festubert (15–25 May 1915)

This followed quickly on the heels of the Battle of Aubers Ridge and was an offensive operation by the British Army in the Artois region of France in conjunction with a French attack further south.  Initial success soon ground to a halt and although there had been an advance of two miles in some places the end result was not the hoped for breakout but merely more muddy trenches which became the front line. British casualties over the ten days amounted to nearly 17,000, three times as many as inflicted on the Germans.

17th London (Poplar & Stepney Rifles) arrived in France in March 1915 as part of  141 Brigade, 47th Division. On 13th May, 1915 they moved into the front line at Pont Fixe, Givenchy in northern France. Although other records show that Daniel Blyth was killed on 26th May, the Battalion Diary records his death as being on 25th May when he was shot through the neck.