Current Information:

Age-26

1, Chelmer Road, Homerton

Cojeul British Cemetery, St Martin-sur-Cojeul, France

The Battle of Arras was a series of offensives by the British Army between 9th April 1917 and 16th May 1917. It had been planned in conjunction with the French who would attack in Artois and between them the Allies would force the Germans out of the large salient they had held since the line of trenches was first established. But the Germans had spoiled this plan by falling back to the new and very strong Hindenburg Line in January 1917 and the salient no longer existed.  For the want of an alternative plan the attack went ahead anyway. It all started well for the British who made substantial gains on the first two days but then the offensive ground to a halt and by the end their losses amounted to over 150,000.

At the beginning of April, 1917, 33rd Division, including the 20th Royal Fusiliers battalion  of 19 Brigade, were out of the line near Amiens undergoing training, but soon began their move eastwards to play their part in the Battle of Arras. By 11th May, 20th Royal Fusiliers had reached Boisleux-au-Mont and on 12th April they moved into the new front line near Héninel, where on the following day, 13th April, George Ansell was one of the five men from the battalion killed, most likely as a result of shell fire.