Current Information:

Age-18

39, Chippenham Mews, Harrow Road

Beacon Cemetery, Sailly-Laurette, France

After having been on the defensive since March 1918, by August of that year the Allies were ready to move to the attack and on 8th August, The Battle of Amiens began, a battle that marked the beginning of what came to be known as the Hundred Day Offensive that culminated in the collapse of the German army and the end of the war. British, Australian and Canadian troops attacked on a wide front that stretched about eighteen miles from Morlancourt, north of the River Somme to the Amiens-Roye road while the French launched their own offensive to the south in the Battle of Montdidier. At 4.20am  on 8th August, aided by early morning mist and backed by 900 guns, 600 tanks and 2000 aircraft the assault was unleashed on the unsuspecting Germans many of whom surrendered straight away. Their resistance stiffened as the day progressed but despite this the Allied forces advanced about 7 miles by nightfall and further, but far less spectacular, gains were made over the next three days until the battle ended on 11th August. Losses had been enormous on both sides. British, Australian and Canadian casualties amounted to 19,000 but the Germans lost 26,000, including 12,000 taken prisoner, an awful blow that prompted Ludendorff, the German supremo, to call it the ‘Black Day’ of the German Army.

III Corps, north of the Somme had the task of protecting the flank of the Australians, keeping pace with their advance and securing the high ground overlooking the passages of the Somme. They attacked from right to left with 58th, 18th and 12th Divisions but despite having a more modest role than the Australians and Canadians they were unable to achieve the same measure of progress as them and on the opening day of the battle only managed to reach their first objective. This was due to the difficulty of the ground over which they attacked and the fact that they had all been heavily involved in the earlier battles of 1918 which meant that not only was there a shortage of officers and NCOs but that their ranks were filled with young, inexperienced recruits. To add to their problems, on the night of 7/8th August, before the attack began, this area, north of the Somme was subjected to heavy enemy shelling, including many gas shells, which not only caused casualties but hindered their progress to their starting lines as well.

On 8th August, 1918,174 Brigade of 58th Division attacked Malard Wood and at 8am, despite some determined resistance from the enemy, it was in their hands. The next objective for 58th Division was the Chipilly ridge and 173 Brigade moved up to Malard Wood for this task. The 3rd London and 2/4th London battalions led their attack but as soon as they emerged from the cover of the wood they were met such heavy fire that they were unable to advance and the ridge remained in enemy hands. It is possible that some men did manage to move forward and there were reports that a handful had reached the ridge but that hardly constituted capturing the objective. During the afternoon reserve units renewed the attack but with the same results. By the evening, 2/4th London were holding a line along the eastern edge of Malard Wood, where they remained overnight. During the following morning, 9th August, after it had been reported that the enemy had fallen back, patrols were sent out to confirm this. They encountered some German patrols but these were quickly seen off and the battalion was able to advance to the Chipilly Ridge, which had been their objective on the previous day. Here they encountered more determined opposition and 2/4th London suffered nearly 150 casualties during the day. On 10th August they were relieved by Australian troops and moved back to a valley where they were still subjected to shell fire and it was not until the afternoon of 11th August that they withdrew completely and made their way back to Heilly. Among their casualties was Ernest Bird who was killed in action on 9th August.