Current Information:

Age-20

108, Dartmouth Road, Cricklewood

Croisilles British Cemetery, France

On 1st April, 1917, the 2nd Royal West Surrey (Queens) and 21st Manchester battalions of 91 Brigade, 7th Division, moved forward from Courcelles to take part in an attack the following day, on Longatte, Ecoust and  Croisilles, near Arras which would prepare the ground there for the major offensive that would commence a week later. Their objective was to capture the Factory Road at Croisilles and to establish a forward line of posts there from which further advances could be made. The attack was launched ‘at 5.15 am but almost immediately was met by machine-gun fire from a railway embankment and cutting on their left and it was not until two Lewis gun sections arrived on the scene and returned this fire that further progress was possible. Despite suffering more casualties from their own ‘protective’ artillery barrage, the first objective was reached and the posts were established. From these more advances were made later in the day and Croisilles was captured. Among the casualties sustained by 21st Manchester in this operation was Ernest Richards who was killed in action.