Current Information:

Age-20

28, Bromar Road, Camberwell

The Battle of Festubert (15–25 May 1915)

This followed quickly on the heels of  the Battle of Aubers Ridge and was an offensive operation by the British Army in the Artois region of France in conjunction with a French attack further south.  Initial success soon ground to a halt and although there had been an advance of two miles in some places the end result was not the hoped for breakout but merely more muddy trenches which became the front line. British casualties over the ten days amounted to nearly 17,000, three times as many as inflicted on the Germans.

On 18th May it was the turn of 4 Brigade, 2nd Division to enter the fray. On the previous evening they had moved up from Le Touret to positions along the Rue des Cailloux ready for the attack. That evening, undetected by the British, the enemy had moved back to newly prepared defences and had reinforced their lines so when,  at 3pm on 18th May, the preliminary bombardment of the German positions began,these new positions were not touched. When 1st Irish Guards attacked at 4.30 near Ferme Couer d’Avoue, they were immediately hit by enfilade fire from Adalbert Alley. Half their number fell in the first 100 yards and as there was no hope of covering the next 500 yards, the attack was called off but by this time 1st Irish Guards had suffered nearly 450 casualties.

Further information about Cecil Dean has been forwarded by Clare Hanna.

He was the son of William Alfred and Ada Hannah Dean of 28 Bromar Road, Dulwich. He was a supporter of Chelsea and more information about his war experience is recorded in "Over Land and Sea. Chelsea FC in the Great War" by Alexandra Churchill