Current Information:

Age-32

52, Alexandra Road, Mortlake

Things changed, often dramatically, for the artillery during the German offensives during the first half of 1918. When the line was more static, as it had been for the previous three years, the guns were usually sited at a distance behind the trenches where their main danger, which was considerable, came from the enemy’s artillery fire, much of which was directed on them. But when the breakthrough happened after 21st March on the Somme and then again on 9th April, further north in Flanders and the German infantry poured through the gaps that had been created in the British line, the artillery now found themselves very much in the front line. Every effort was made to get the guns away but this was not always possible and many batteries were lost to the enemy, while the gunners suddenly found themselves taking on an infantry role and relying more on their rifles than the big guns as they staged last ditch attempts to pull back. Not surprisingly, casualty figures among all branches of the artillery were high.

285th Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery were attached to 57th Division which had arrived in France in 1917 and which was in general reserve when the Germans launched their attacks in March and April 1918. Their artillery however were engaged in the Battle of the Lys which began on 9th April, the day during which Mark Whiting was killed. As yet there is no more information concerning his death.