Current Information:

Age-20

54, Upper Richmond Road, East Sheen

Born New Cross

Chocques Military Cemetery, France

On 25th January, 1915, the Germans launched a strong attack, the First Action of Givenchy, against 1 Brigade of 1st Division, both north and south of the La Bassée canal during which they penetrated Givenchy and were only stopped at the keeps or strongholds behind the support line, The reserves of 3 Brigade counter attacked straight away and were instrumental in recapturing the lost trenches. The 2nd Royal Sussex battalion of 2 Brigade were ordered forward from their billets in Bethune and moved up to Cuinchy where they relieved some of the troops of 1 Brigade and where they remained until relieved on 30th January. At 8am on 29th January the enemy launched a strong attack on the Keep, a stronghold in the line held by 2nd Sussex, and on the trenches either side of it. They employed heavy trench mortars or minenwerfer (minnies) and 15 minutes later sent in their infantry who had been massing behind the brickstacks. The fighting was fierce but the line did not break and the Keep remained in Sussex hands. At 12.30pm shelling and fighting finished and once again things became quiet. There were of course a number of casualties for 2nd Sussex and John Mohr, who died from wounds on 4th February, was probably one of them.