Current Information:

Age-34

1, Maley Avenue, West Norwood

Etaples Military Cemetery, France

The Battle of Arras was a series of offensives by the British Army between 9th April 1917 and 16th May 1917. It had been planned in conjunction with the French who would attack in Artois and between them the Allies would force the Germans out of the large salient they had held since the line of trenches was first established. But the Germans had spoiled this plan by falling back to the new and very strong Hindenburg Line in January 1917 and the salient no longer existed.  For the want of an alternative plan the attack went ahead anyway. It all started well for the British who made substantial gains on the first two days but then the offensive ground to a halt and by the end their losses amounted to over 150,000. 

Harry Hillier died from wounds on 13th May, 1917 while serving with the 9th London battalion of 169 Brigade, 56th Division at Arras. Mick Huggett has provided the following information: 

Harry Hillier would have enlisted in Camberwell during August 1916, being posted to the Queen Victoria Rifles. He first went to the Western Front on Christmas Day, 25th December, 1916 to join the 1st Battalion who were at that time stationed in the Neuve Chapelle area. Hillier was wounded in action probably between 1st and 4th May 1917 when his battalion was involved in heavy fighting in Cavalry and Lanyard Trenches during the Battle of Arras, during that period his battalion suffered 100 casualties. Hillier was sent back to a General Hospital at Etaples but died from those wounds on 13th May 1917. He was buried in Plot XVIII, Row M, Grave 22 of Etaples Military Cemetery, France.