Current Information:

Age-28

91 Ifileld Road, West Brompton

Aubers Ridge British Cemetery, Aubers, France

Action of Pietre

With the aim of diverting German troops away from Loos when the British attack went in there on 25th September 1915, there was an attack by the Meerut Division of the India Corps along a 1500 yard front against the German salient west of the Moulin du Pietre with the possible objective of gaining a foothold on the Aubers ridge in which case the Lahore Division  would attack through the Bois du Biez.  As at Loos, gas and smoke were used but this handicapped the attackers more than the defenders, especially when German shells destroyed some of the cylinders.  Zero was at 6am and on the right, 2/3rd Gurkha Rifles and 2nd Leicestershire of Garhwal Brigade stormed forward. However, very little artillery ammunition had been made available for the diversionary attacks and here the German wire was still largely intact.  This resulted in severe losses for these two battalions who got no further than the dykes in front of the German line. 

On the left all five battalion of the Bareilly Brigade had more success. The wire had been dealt with here and they stormed the front line with bayonets taking over 200 prisoners.  They pressed on to the support trench and the three leading battalions, 4th Black Watch, 96th Punjabis and 2nd Black Watch continued the advance up to the windmill which they reached but without capturing the buildings there.  At this stage 12th Rifle Brigade, 60 Brigade, 20th Division, moved up in support. At 8.25am three of their companies moved across to the German positions captured by the Bareilly Brigade whilst the fourth company began digging a communication trench across no-man’s land and in the process suffered heavy casualties from enfilade German fire. Battalion HQ moved forward but twice received direct hits, killing and wounding many. 12th Rifle Brigade worked their way forward to the Moulin but by this time the impetus of the attack was fading and the German counter attacks were beginning. The order for a withdrawal was issued and shortly after midday 12th Rifle Brigade were back in their own lines. Their casualties for the day amounted to 330 officers and men.