Current Information:

Age-26

34, Sandy Hill Road, Plumstead

Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez

The Indian Army Corps and IV Corps attacked the village of Neuve Chapelle in the Artois region of France between 10^th and 13^th March, 1915. During the winter of 1914-1915, reinforcements had arrived from Britain and this was seen as an opportunity to use them to break through the German lines.

It started well. At 7.30am on 10^th March, a 30 minute hurricane bombardment destroyed the German wire and front line trenches and at 8.05am the infantry went in. Neuve Chapelle was captured and over a mile of the German line taken. But that was the end of the success.  The British chain of command was weak and their communications poor, which was hardly surprising given that many of the troops had no previous experience of battle. The Germans re-organised and reinforced during the night and no further gains were made. British casualties mounted to 12,000 by the time the offensive petered out on 13^th March.

On 10^th  March at Neuve Chapelle 7^th Division attacked with 21 Brigade. They assembled between the Orchard and the Moated Grange. and at 2pm, the two leading battalions, 2^nd Royal Scots Fusiliers and 2^nd Yorkshire moved forward to their positions.  Meeting no opposition they moved further forward some 200yds beyond the Armentieres road where they waited for the general advance.  Between 5.30-6pm the advance finally began but  2^nd Royal Scots Fusiliers and 2^nd Yorkshire were soon halted by frontal and flank fire.