Current Information:

Enlisted-Camberwell

When the Germans retired to the Hindenburg Line in January 1917, the British moved their line up as well and during the next few months, before the major offensive around Arras in early April, launched a number of local attacks to probe the German defences and search for any weaknesses, or to improve their own position

59th Division, which included the 2/6th North Staffordshire battalion of 176 Brigade, had only recently arrived in France and this was their first taste of battle. At the beginning of April they were pushing forward to the east of Péronne. On 10th April, 1917, the day on which Ernest Butcher was killed, 2/6th North Staffordshire left Hervilly took up positions in Grand Priel Wood, but the battalion diary makes no mention of casualties. The attrition rate among British soldiers on the Western Front was on average 300 each day and 60% of these were as a result of shellfire. When not involved in an actual battle it was either shell fire or a sniper’s bullet that caused most deaths and injuries.