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Born-Lambeth

Throughout the winter of 1915-1916, a particularly cold and wet one, 6th East Kent (Buffs) of 37 Brigade, 12th Division  had been in the line in northern France, mainly in the Loos sector where there was still much aggressive action by both sides following the Battle of Loos in September and October of 1915. One particularly hotly contested spot was the infamous Hohenzollern Redoubt, just to the east of the village of Vermelles and on 6th March, 1916,  C Company of 6th Buffs were detailed to to capture the ‘triangle’ crater  and some trenches there. The attack was divided into 3 parties and should have gone off at 6pm but 2 of the parties were held up by a barrage of bombs and the 3rd by heavy ground, the mud being knee deep.  When the attack was finally made the group on the left  reached its objective but being the only ones to get that far forward they were isolated and were forced to retire.  At 7.30pm and despite the enemy launching their own attack, another attempt was made. Despite the confusion some progress was made but within half an hour those in the furthest forward positions were making urgent calls for more ammunition, particularly grenades.  Other units moved up in support but in the end they all retired to their original lines except for the 28 men of 6th Buffs who lay dead on the battlefield. One of these was William Sweetman.