Current Information:

Age-17

40, Sparsholt Road, Crouch Hill

Bethune Town Cemetery, France

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 three kilometres 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.

The 19th London battalion arrived in France in March 1915 and became part of 141 Brigade, 47th Division. After the necessary period of trench training, 47th Division took over the line around Vermelles in northern France, where they stayed for most of the summer. On 13th May, 1915, the battalion moved into the front line and when, on 15th and 16th May, the Division on their left attacked the enemy trenches, 19th London supported them with machine gun and rifle fire. On 17 May, the Germans exploded a mine in front of the trenches held by 19th London but casualties were light. For the next four days, 18th-21st May, the battalion was subjected to a heavy bombardment, probably in retaliation for the attack by 9th Division. Their casualty list rose accordingly and included Arthur Edwards who died from wounds on 20th May. Relief finally came on the evening of 21st May and they moved back to billets in Beuvry.