Current Information:

Age-22

25, Walnut Tree Walk, Kennington

On 8th  December, 1914, the 2nd Royal West Surrey (Queens) battalion of 22 Brigade, 7th Division, marched to trenches at La Bouteillerie, near Fleurbaix, where they stayed until relieved on 15th December. The communication trenches leading to the front line here were in a very bad state with mud up to one’s knees in places. So bad were these trenches that men preferred to make their way forward above ground and risk being shot rather than get stuck in the mud in these ditches. There was also plenty of sniper activity and shell fire to contend with and the battalion suffered casualties on a daily basis. One of these was Henry Atkins who was killed on 12th December.