Current Information:

Age-23

65, Fawcett Street, West Brompton

Born-Fulham

Rue-David Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, France

Battle of Aubers Ridge- 9th May, 1915

On 9 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, which was in a parlous condition, 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 of 9 May, 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.

Although 8th Division played a leading role in this battle, the 2nd West Yorkshire battalion of 23 Brigade were in divisional reserve and were only involved in a support capacity. Nevertheless they sustained twenty casualties, including William Hurd who was killed, most likely by shell fire.