Current Information:

Age-42

Vadencourt British Cemetery, Maissemy, France

During February and March, 1917, the Germans made a strategic withdrawal to a new and very strong line running from Arras to Soissons. By doing this they eliminated two large salients and greatly reduced the number of troops needed to man the new defences. As they pulled back to the Hindenburg Line (Siegfriedstellung) they adopted a ‘scorched earth’ policy, systematically destroying everything in their path so as to leave nothing behind that would assist the enemy. Railways and roads were dug up, wells poisoned and even trees chopped down. Mines and booby traps were set to further hinder the British and French troops who followed up behind them until they reached the new formidable defences where one again trench warfare was established.

59th Division was among the formations that followed up in cautious pursuit and on 3rd April, 1917, 178 Brigade undertook a route march to Vendelles, a few miles to the east of Péronne. On the next day, 4th April they attacked the village of Le Verguier. Here they were met by a  heavy artillery bombardment and concealed machine-gun fire and were finally forced back, under the cover of a snow storm, to their starting line. They suffered over one hundred casualties in this failed attack, one of whom was Percy Adams of 2/5th Sherwood Foresters who was killed in action.