Current Information:

Age-27

20, Melbourne Road, Walthamstow

Born-Camberwell

Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, France

When the major attack by the British Army on the Somme was launched on 1st July, 1916, a number of diversionary raids and demonstrations took place the length of the front held by the BEF (British Expeditionary Force). One of these occurred in the sector held by 2nd Division just to the north of Arras, near to Souchez and Divion. During the night of 1st-2nd July, 100 officers and men from 13th Essex of 6 Brigade raided the stronghold at the junction of Vincent Street Trench and the German front line. It was a very successful raid inasmuch as a number of the enemy were killed or captured but at the same time there were over 40 casualties among 13th Essex.  In another sad footnote to this incident, on the day before the raid and whilst practicing for it at Berthouval, 4 men, including Albert Giles, were killed in a bombing accident.