Current Information:

Age-27

161, Marlborough buildings, Walton Street, Chelsea

In the early hours of 10th January, 1918, two raids were carried out by units from 111 Brigade, 37th Division against a series of dug-outs at the cross roads, 1500 yards north of Zandvoorde, in the southern part of the Ypres salient. The first was made by 13th King’s Royal Rifle Corps at 12.30am and the second by 13th Rifle Brigade at 4.30am.  Both raids were met by heavy machine-gun fire but after penetrating the wire they came across breastworks (shallow trenches consolidated with sand bags) which the enemy were holding in strength and a bombing (grenade) fight ensued. Although considerable damage was inflicted on the Germans it proved impossible to capture the dug-outs and on both occasions the raiders withdrew to their own lines. Both battalions suffered casualties, one of whom was Edgar Howe of 13th King’s Royal Rifle Corps.