Current Information:

Born-Vauxhall

Dranoutre Military Cemetery, Belgium

On 18th June, 1916, 9th East Surrey of 72 Brigade, 24th Division moved into the front line trenches at Wulverghem, in Belgium. While in these positions their trenches were subjected to daily shellings by the enemy but that of 23rd June, 1916, was particularly intense, both in the morning and the evening. All sorts of shells and trench mortars were used against them including the much feared large trench mortars or minenwerfers, known to the British as “minnies”. In many places the parapet was blown in and machine gun posts were destroyed, burying those who manned them. Casualties for the day amounted to nearly forty officers and men and included William Gresty who was killed in action.