Current Information:

Age-19

97, Chingford Road, Walthamstow

Chocques Military Cemetery, France

Battle of Aubers Ridge

On 9th  May 1915 the British attacked north at Arras as part of the British contribution to the Second Battle of Artois, a Franco-British offensive. Their objective was the capture of Aubers Ridge but it turned into an unmitigated disaster. The German defences had been much improved since the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in March and the British  artillery was in a parlous condition and failed to destroy the German defences during the short and insufficient 40 minute bombardment that preceded the attack. Extra artillery had been requested but further to the north, the Second Battle of Ypres was being fought on a ferocious scale and none was forthcoming. The few initial gains could not be held and by the evening, all the British forces were back where they started, except of course the dead who littered the battlefield. There were 11,000 casualties for the British Army.

The 3rd London Battalion arrived in France in January, 1915 via Malta. Once in France they were attached to  Garhwal Brigade, Meerut Division of the Indian Corps and they saw action at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in March, 1915. On 9th May, 1915 they were in reserve when the Meerut Division attacked in the southern part of the battlefield. At 2am they moved to trenches just outside Croix Barbée and at 11am they were ordered up to the old front line. Whilst passing throught the breastworks at Rue du Bois and in the communication trenches they were hit by very heavy shell fire which resulted in thirty casualties. They reached the trenches and remained there until Sunday, 16 May.