Current Information:

Age-28

115, Alpha Road, Millwall

29, Manilla Street, Millwall

On 15th November, 1917, 8th West Yorkshire of 146 Brigade, 49th Division took over the defence of the Broodseinde sector on a two kilometre front running from north of the Broodseinde-Zonnebeke road to Molenaarelsthoek. The Battle of Passchendaele had just come to an end but there was still a considerable amount of action taking place, especially by the artillery of both sides. They also had to contend with some diabolical wet and wintry conditions and even without the dangers of shelling and sniper fire the four days that they spent here were truly awful. It was graphically summed up by an officer of 6th West Yorkshire who were also in the front line here alongside 8th West Yorkshire. He wrote, “…aggravated by incessant shelling and extreme discomfort of ‘shell hole’ existence…small groups of 4 or 5 men lived in shell holes under the direct observation of the enemy from the Keiburg Spur opposite…all movement impossible except by night.  It was useless digging shell holes deeper as they filled with water.  If one tried to make them any larger they attracted the attention of the enemy.  Almost every attempt at digging resulted in the disturbance of dead bodies in every state of decomposition.  No fires could be lit, no hot food brought up from behind, water was very scarce owing to the extraordinary difficulties of the carrying parties in such a sea of mud and the only chance of a hot drink depended on the inhabitants of the shell hole being in possession of ‘Tommies Cooker’”

John Gillham lost his life here on 15th November and the only positive thing that can be said about that is that at least he did not have to endure the full four days here before being killed.