Current Information:

325, Ivydale Road, Nunhead

Guizancourt Farm Cemetery, Gouy, France

Throughout October 1918, the last full month of the war, the Allies were advancing all along the Western Front against a demoralised and drastically shrinking German Army which could do little other than fight, often desperate, rear guard actions. These continued to take a heavy toll of both sides, but failed to halt the forward momentum. Towns, villages and whole areas, which had been under German occupation for four long years were now liberated in a series of operations.

On 3rd October, 151 Brigade of 50th Division joined in the attack by Third Army on the Beaurevoir Line, the extension of the Hindenburg Line to the south. Their task was to capture Prospect Hill and the villages of Gouy and Le Catelet and form a defensive flank for the Fourth Army attacking to the north. The operation by 151 Brigade was led by the 6th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and 4th King’s Royal Rifle Corps battalions both of which were met by fierce opposition from the enemy. 6th Inniskilling was hit by heavy machine-gun fire from Gouy while making their way to Prospect Hill and suffered severe casualties. At this stage the third battalion of 151 Brigade, 1st Yorkshire Light Infantry, moving up in support took over the attack on Prospect Hill which was captured by 8am. Meanwhile 4th King’s Royal Rifle Corps and the remnants of 6th Inniskilling fought their way into Gouy and Le Catelet where some of the defenders ran away while others held out in cellars and dug-outs inflicting many casualties on both battalions. However by 9am both villages had been captured and by 10.30am nearly all resistance had been overcome. It had been a successful operation but success had come at a high price in terms of casualties. Among these was Ernest Norman of 4th King’s Royal Rifle Corps.