Current Information:

Age-24

119 Clarendon Road, Putney

Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy, France

19th London (St. Pancras) had 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, The German artillery was active and one man was killed during the relief. During 15th and 16th May, 9th Division on their left attacked the enemy trenches and 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 and their casualty list rose accordingly. The battalion diary records that Lieutenant Bantick was in a dug out when a shell hit it and killed him and another officer. Relief finally came on the evening of 21st May and they moved back to billets in Beuvry.