Current Information:

Age-28

17, Lamb Street, Spitalfields

La Chapelette British & Indian Cemetery, Péronne, France

When, in the Spring of 1917, the Germans began their strategic withdrawal east from the Somme area, 59th Division was among the formations that moved into the areas that they vacated.

On 3rd May, 2/5th Sherwood Foresters of 178 Brigade took part in a successful attack on Malakoff and Cologne Farms near Hargicourt, halfway between Cambrai and St Quentin, in which the final objectives were taken with bayonets and grenades. On the following day, 4th May the consolidation of Malakoff Farm was made difficult because the trench captured on the previous day was very shallow and under enfilade fire from both north and south. In the evening the enemy were seen massing east of the farm and at 7.30 pm heavy artillery fire opened up on both the farm and nearby woods. This was followed at 9.45 pm by an infantry attack in force when five hundred of the enemy swept round the flank of 2/5th Sherwood Foresters. Fire posts and forward trench were evacuated, and they were driven back first to a sunken road and then to the switch line at a cost of one hundred and fifty casualties.

On 5th May there was an unsuccessful attack to extend their positions beyond Cologne Farm. The Germans were quick to react and their artillery barrage started five minutes after the British barrage and caused many casualties. Advancing troops met heavy rifle and machine-gun fire from the flanks and from in front and the gaps in the wire, which had been made the previous evening, were covered by enemy machine-gun fire and only two or three men from the four attacking waves reached the wire. To add to their problems, reserve platoons in the quarry were hit by shell fire. In the end the survivors withdrew and went back to billets in Hesbecourt and Hervilly. Among the many casualties suffered by 2/5th Sherwood Foresters during these three days was Joseph Becker who  died from wounds on 4th May.