Current Information:

Enlisted-Mitcham

By the beginning of April, 1917, pressure was being applied to the Germans around Arras in preparation for the major offensive that started there on 9th April. One example of this was the attack by 21 Brigade of 30th Division on 2nd April when the 2nd Yorkshire (Green Howards) battalion and two companies of 19th Manchester attacked and captured Hénin sur Cojeul. The fight for the village ebbed and flowed all morning but the Germans held on to the Mairie until 3pm when a Stokes mortar bombardment cleared that building after which the whole of Hénin was in British hands. The fighting had been fierce and 21 Brigade suffered over 170 Casualties. One of these was Harry Williamson of 19th Manchester who was killed in action.