Current Information:

Born-Lewisham

Savy British Cemetery, France

During February and March, 1917, the Germans made a strategic withdrawal to a new and very strong line running from Arras to Soissons. By doing this they eliminated two large salients and greatly reduced the number of troops needed to man the new defences. As they pulled back to the Hindenburg Line (Siegfriedstellung) they adopted a ‘scorched earth’ policy, systematically destroying everything in their path so as to leave nothing behind that would assist the enemy. Railways and roads were dug up, wells poisoned and even trees chopped down. Mines and booby traps were set to further hinder the British and French troops who followed up behind them until they reached the new formidable defences where one again trench warfare was established.

32nd Division was one of those units following up behind the Germans and on 1st April, 1917, the 16th Lancashire Fusiliers of 96 Brigade moved to Chateau de Pommery, south of Etreillers where, at 3pm, 96 Brigade attacked Savy Wood. They advanced 5000 yards across open country exposed to machine-gun fire from both flanks which, added to the German artillery fire, caused many casualties. When they reached the wood, barricades of fallen trees made progress slow but eventually, by 8.30pm, they reached their objective, the railway running to St Quentin, and established a series of posts along the edge of the wood. 16th Lancashire Fusiliers suffered over 120 casualties in this operation one of whom was George Hearnden.