Current Information:

Enlisted-Whitehall

HAC Cemetery, Ecoust-St Mein, France

On 24th August, 1918, after their involvement in the Battle of Albert, the 4th Royal Fusiliers battalion of 9 Brigade, 3rd Division moved back to Ayette for a few days rest and reorganisation. On 27th August they moved to Boiry St Martin and two days later to the Mory Switch system, in divisional support. They took up positions in the front line at Ecoust-St Mein during the night of 30th/31st August in preparation for an attack the following morning. At 5.45am on 31st August, 4th Royal Fusiliers began their assault on the German lines but after advancing five hundred yards they were confronted by machine-gun fire coming from a sunken road and the attack was held up. The tank accompanying them broke down before the machine-guns could be dealt with and it was not until the evening when 1st Northumberland Fusiliers moved up from Ecoust-St Mein that the problem was eradicated and the advance could begin again. Their objective was finally reached at 4.30am on 1st September. At 5.55am there was a further drive forward behind an artillery barrage which resulted in W and Y Companies capturing the Noreuil Switch Trench, just north of Noreuil, where they captured about seventy prisoners. They remained in these forward positions, having to contend with periods of hostile shelling until relieved on 3rd September when they made their way back to Hamelincourt. One of those who did not make it back was George Shaw who was killed in action on 31st August.