Current Information:

Age-33

142, Ramsden Road, Balham

Berles-au-Bois Churchyard, France

From 24th-30th June, 1916, the 13th King’s Royal Rifle Corps battalion of 111 Brigade, 37th Division, were in the front line near Bailleuval, a few miles to the south-west of Arras. At 4.30 am on 29th June over seventy of the battalion, divided into two parties, launched a raid on the enemy lines opposite.  They met stout resistance particularly the left party who were compelled to retire but the right party entered the German lines and, according to the Battalion Diary, ‘did great damage with bomb, bayonet and rifle’ before returning to their own lines. However, not all of them did return. There were casualties among the raiders, one of whom was Tom Bottomley.