Current Information:

Age-35

Kingswood Place, Lee

Born-Hackney

On 29th June 1918, the 6th Royal West Surrey (Queens) battalion of 37 Brigade, 12th Division moved into the front line near Bouzincourt, just to the north-west of the town of Albert. The following night, along with 6th Royal West Kent, also of 37 Brigade and 2nd Bedfordshire of 21 Brigade, 30th Division, they attacked a 1,100 yard stretch of the German lines opposite. Zero hour was 9.35pm on 30th June and despite an enemy artillery barrage which began ten minutes later, all objectives were reported taken by 11.40pm and that consolidation had begun. They were in touch with 6th Royal West Kent on their left but not with 2nd Bedfordshire on the right. However it had not been all plain sailing for 6th Queens. Before they reached their objectives they had met stubborn resistance and suffered many casualties. At 7.30am on the following day, 1st July, they launched a small bombing (grenade) raid and in so doing made contact with 2nd Bedfordshire in the enemy support line but at 8pm the enemy counter-attacked and 6th Queens were forced back to the German front line where once again they were in contact with the other two battalions and where the new line was stabilised. On 2nd July, they were relieved and moved back to the reserve line in front of Bouzincourt. Among the many casualties sustained by 6th Queens during this operation was Ernest Barlow who was killed on 30th June.