Current Information:

Age-21

7 Midland Brent Terrace, Cricklewood

Carnoy Military Cemetery, France

On 25th June,1916, 11th Royal Fusiliers of 54 Brigade, 18th Division, moved to reserve positions at Carnoy, in preparation for the part they were to play when the Somme offensive began a few days later on 1st July. At this time the British artillery was engaged in the week long bombardment of the German positions prior to the infantry attack and the shelling was almost continuous. Naturally the enemy replied in kind and the infantry battalions, gathering for the attack, were subjected to the destructive power of the German guns. During their stay at Carnoy, 11th Royal Fusiliers sustained over fifty casualties as a result of the enemy barrage, eight of whom were killed. 26th June, 1916, was particularly bad for them with four men killed, one of them being Thomas Kilburn.