Current Information:

Born-New Southgate

Enlisted-Islington

Savy British Cemetery, France

Artillery men faced many dangers and during the course of the war nearly 50,000 of them were killed. Their gun batteries were targeted by the enemy’s guns which accounted for many of their casualties. Others were sent forward to act as ‘spotters’ which meant going forward to the front line and signalling back to the guns necessary changes in target and other vital information. Keeping the batteries supplied with ammunition was a dangerous task as the enemy guns would target the known supply routes, especially at night. Brigade Diaries rarely shine any light on casualties sustained, unless of course they were officers and even then information is sparse.

In the spring of 1917, the 1/1London (Heavy) Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery were in action as the enemy withdrew from the Somme battlefield and fell back to the Hindenburg line. On the night of 4th April, Sidney Hankins was one of four men from the battery killed by a German shell that fell among them.