Current Information:

Age-37

The White Cross Hotel, Richmond

2nd Honourable Artillery Company, an infantry battalion despite its name, arrived in France on 2nd October, 1916 and became part of 22 Brigade, 7th Division. Their first experience in the front line came just over a week later, on 11th October, 1916,  when they took over the trenches in part of Ploegsteert Wood, just across the Belgian border from Armentières. They remained in this sector throughout October and most of November before moving south to the Somme for the rest of the winter.

During January, 1917, they were either in the front line or support or reserve at Beaumont-Hamel and sustained a number of casualties due to the heavy shelling there. By March 1917 the Germans were withdrawing all along this part of the front, back to the Hindenburg Line and at the beginning of the month 7th Division had also moved forward, keeping in contact with the enemy. On 13th March 2nd Honourable Artillery Company moved into support positions at Puisieux and the following day took over the front line there. At 2pm on 15th March, two strong patrols were sent forward towards Bucquoy but an hour later they were met with very heavy rifle and machine-gun fire and only a few of their number managed to reach the German wire, let alone get beyond it. The only positive thing about this operation was that it confirmed that the Germans were still holding Bucquoy but the cost of this information however was the death of twenty men with many more wounded. One of those who died was William Vizer.