Current Information:

Age-40

Born-Bermondsey

Enlisted-London

On 7th November, 1914, a strong attack was made against the line held by 4th Division, running 2 ½ miles from Le Touquet to St Yves.  1st Rifle Brigade and 1st Hampshire of 11 Brigade held that stretch of the line between the River Lys and Le Gheer while 3rd Worcestershire, on loan from 7 Brigade, 3rd Division and 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers of 12 Brigade held the line from there, past the eastern side of Ploegsteert Wood to St Yves. At 7.30 am, in thick mist a large group of Germans broke through the centre and right of 3rd Worcestershire and then spread out into the Wood.  Two hours later when the mist had thinned a counter attack stopped any further forward movement by the Germans but they were unable to recover any lost ground.  The wood was cleared by a further counter attack by two companies of 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and a company of 1st East Lancashire expelled the Germans from their other gains except for a group of houses round the White Estaminet north of Le Gheer. On 9th November the battalion moved back into support and reserve trenches in Ploegsteert Wood and on the following day assisted in another attack on those trenches that had been the focus of the fighting three days earlier. They remained in these trenches until ordered to move to Le Bizet at 8.30pm on 11th November, the day on which George Lambert was killed.