Current Information:

Born-Shoreditch

On 8th January, 1915, the 1st Royal Berkshire battalion of 6 Brigade, 2nd Division, left there billets in Le Touret and moved into the front line near Festubert where heavy and persistent rain fall had resulted in water-logged trenches the sides of which were in constant danger of falling in. The enemy often seemed to know when an inter-battalion relief was taking place in the front line opposite them and then did as much as they could to disrupt it. This meant targeting the approach communication trenches with their artillery and keeping up a high level of machine-gun and rifle fire. Reliefs therefore were times of extra danger and many a soldier was killed or wounded during them. This may have been the fate of James Cladingboel who was killed on this day.