Current Information:

Age-21

26, Balham New Road, Balham

Born-Strand

Varennes Military Cemetery, France

On 30th June, 1918, the 6th East Kent (Buffs) battalion supported an attack made by 37 Brigade, 12th Division on a 1,100 yard stretch of the German lines opposite the front line near Bouzincourt, just to the north-west of the town of Albert and on the following day, 1st July, C Company was sent forward under shell fire in closer support. On 2nd July the whole battalion moved forward and relieved 6th Royal West Surrey (Queens) in the trenches they had captured. That evening at half past nine the inevitable German counter attack was launched and 6th Royal West Kent on their left and units of 18th Division on their right were forced back, leaving 6th Buffs isolated and in danger of being surrounded. As a result of this, at 6 o’clock on the next morning, 3rd July, 6th Buffs were ordered to withdraw, a task that was made difficult by the clear visibility that afforded the enemy a good view of the proceedings which they did their best to disrupt, including sending a bombing party against the rearguard. Over these four days, 6th Buffs suffered a number of casualties one of whom was Arthur Borley who lost his life on 1st July.