Current Information:

Age-27

SDGW-07/04/16 

Born-Essex

Enlisted-Kingston

Englebelmer Communal Cemetery, France

On 4th April, 1916 the 1st Border battalion of 87 Brigade, 29th Division moved into the front line near Englebelmer, a few mile north-west of Albert on the Somme. Leading out into no-man’s-land from their front line was ‘Rodney’ sap, a dangerous and isolated position that acted as a listening post and gave early warning of an attack and was therefore always manned. During the night of 5th/6th April a patrol of one officer and five men were out most of the night. One of the men did not return but the Battalion Diary gives no information about his fate. Then, during the evening of 6th April a raiding party of the enemy attempted to bomb their way into ‘Rodney’ sap. At the same time there was heavy artillery and machine-gun fire on the communication trenches leading up to the front line held by 1st Border. This was kept up for over an hour but was not followed up by an infantry attack. There were however a number of casualties for the battalion, one of whom was Cecil Bull.