Current Information:

Born-Bermondsey

Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery, France

In August, 1915,  5th Division moved to the Somme, an area of the front line recently taken over from the French. For the rest of that year, 1st East Surrey of 14 Brigade were either in the front line trenches near Maricourt or in billets in Suzanne or Maricourt village.

On 12th December, 1915, 1st East Surrey moved into the Maricourt front line trenches which, because of the weather, were in a very bad condition. The main communication trench leading to the firing line was blocked by mud in places and food and supplies could only be brought forward under the cover of darkness. During 13th December, the reserve company was at work clearing the main communication trench, Maricourt Avenue, and when one of the men got out of this trench to avoid the mud he was killed by a sniper’s bullet fired from over 600 yards away, As Private McCarthy was the only man from the ranks of 1st East Surrey to be killed on this day it can be presumed that he was this unfortunate soldier.