Current Information:

Age-22

214, Cricklewood Lane

Douchy-les-Ayette British Cemetery, France

The Battle of Albert was a continuation of the Battle of Amiens that had been fought earlier in the month and which had been the start of the Hundred Days Offensive that culminated in the collapse of the German army and the end of the war. On the first day, 21st August, 1918, the British Third Army attacked along a front that stretched over ten miles northwards from the town of Albert as far as Moyenneville and made significant advances everywhere. The following day the British Fourth Army came into action when they attacked the ridge of high ground that lay between the Somme and Ancre river valleys, stretching north from Bray to the town of Albert.

On 23rd August, 56th (London) Division joined the fight on the Third Army front when 168 Brigade, who had arrived at their jumping off point, roughly half way between Arras and Bapaume after an overnight eleven mile march, attacked at 4.55am. They were probably more ready for bed than for battle but that was not an option. The Brigade went forward against the villages of Boyelles and Boiry-Becquerelle with 13th London on the right, 4th London in the centre and 14th London on the left. 13th London met only slight opposition and had reached their objective by 6am, taking a haul of captured machine-guns, trench mortars and prisoners. In the centre 4th London had a tougher time, meeting considerable opposition on both flanks as well as machine-gun fire from Boyelles, but German resistance soon crumbled and the village was taken. On the left, 14th London were equally successful and captured Boiry Trench by 6am. During the morning orders were received to continue the advance to Boyelles and Boiry reserve trenches in order to maintain touch with the Guards Division on their right. 13th London moved off at 1.20pm and at first were held up by machine-gun and artillery fire. However they managed to move round this obstacle and in co-operation with the Guards they rushed and captured the railway embankment. 4th London and 14th London both attacked at 5pm. 4th London occupied Boyelles Reserve with little difficulty but on the left, 14th London had an hour long struggle before they managed to evict the enemy from the eastern part of the Boiry reserve system. That night 168 Brigade were relieved and moved back into divisional reserve around Blairville. Among the casualties on that day was Seward Greenfield of 4th London.