Current Information:

Age-26

Born-Haggerston

21 Berwick Street, Pimlico

Le Trou Aid Post Cemetery, Fleurbaix, France

Battle of Aubers Ridge

On 9th  May 1915 the British attacked north at Arras as part of the British contribution to the Second Battle of Artois, a Franco-British offensive. Their objective was the capture of Aubers Ridge but it turned into an unmitigated disaster. The German defences had been much improved since the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in March and the British  artillery was in a parlous condition and failed to destroy the German defences during the short and insufficient 40 minute bombardment that preceded the attack. Extra artillery had been requested but further to the north, the Second Battle of Ypres was being fought on a ferocious scale and none was forthcoming. The few initial gains could not be held and by the evening of 9 May, all the British forces were back where they started, except of course the dead who littered the battlefield. There were 11,000 casualties for the British Army.

8th Division attacked towards Fromelles, 6000 yards to the north of Aubers Ridge. Their attack went in astride the Fromelles road with 24 Brigade to the south of it and 25 Brigade to the north. As they went over the top, two companies of 2nd Middlesex, 23 Brigade moved up from reserve to man the front line, first of all covering the attack with rifle fire and later covering the withdrawal after the attack had failed. All through the day the German artillery targeted the British front line to prevent reserves moving up and 2nd Middlesex ended up with 80 casualties, 14 of who were killed.