Current Information:

Born-Bow

Bethune Town Cemetery, France

The 17th London battalion went to France in March, 1915 and in May of that year they became part of 141 Brigade, 47th Division. During April, 1915 they went underwent training before going into the trenches at Le Plantin, near Festubert on 19th April until relieved on 23rd April. Stanley Hillman died from wounds on 24th April the battalion diary provides no further information concerning his death. The attrition rate among British soldiers on the Western Front was on average 300 each day and 60% of these were as a result of shellfire. When not involved in an actual battle it was either shell fire or a sniper’s bullet that caused most deaths and injuries.