Current Information:

Age-35

 32, The Avenue, Norwood

Born-Dulwich

Throughout the winter of 1915-1916, a particularly cold and wet one, 7th East Surrey of 37 Brigade, 12th Division  had been in the line in northern France, mainly in the Loos sector where there was still much aggressive action by both sides following the Battle of Loos in September and October of 1915. One particularly hotly contested spot was the infamous Hohenzollern Redoubt which consisted of the Chord Trench and the nearby craters, just to the east of the village of Vermelles and on 30th March, 1916, 7th East Surrey moved into the front line here. The following day, 31st March, started quietly but come the evening, the enemy blew three mines near the Hairpin, doing considerable damage to the trenches held by 7th East Surrey. However, subsequent attempts by the Germans to try to bomb their way up these trenches failed. The incident was not without casualties one of whom was George Footer.