Current Information:

Age-20

31, Oakfield Road, Penge

With an end to the fighting on the Eastern Front after the Russian Revolution, Germany was able to bring its troops from there to France and launch a series of offensives in the Spring of 1918, designed to bring the war to a swift conclusion. Four times between March and July they attacked in strength and on each occasion they broke through the British and French lines and made spectacular gains but in each case they over extended themselves and without adequate supplies keeping up with their rapid advances, they could go no further.

The first of these attacks, Operation Michael, was made on 21st March by 63 specially trained divisions, attacking along a 60 mile front held by 26 British divisions, many of them in a weakened state At 4.40am the German artillery opened up with the most ferocious and concentrated bombardment of the war, the likes of which the British had never experienced before. The Forward Zone, consisting mainly of individual posts was blown away. Very few of the men there made it back. Many were killed and many more were taken prisoner. The Battle Zone was also battered as were the British guns, firing from positions just to the rear. Brigade and Divisional HQs were targeted as well and then, from out of the thick mist came the German storm troopers. Moving fast, they skirted round the few remaining strongholds and penetrated deep into the British lines, including those of the Battle Zone, causing the utmost confusion. There were many cases of heroic stands being made but the relentless pressure forced the British back everywhere and there then began a general retreat that went on for two weeks and which ceded to the Germans a huge amount of territory, including all of that that had been won at such great cost during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

On 21st March, 18th Division were in the southern part of the line held by Fifth Army with the village of Vendeuil in front of them and the Crozat Canal behind. The Forward Zone of 55 Brigade, which ran from Travecy to a point one mile north of Vendeuil a distance of some 4,000 yard, was held by the 7th East Kent (Buffs) battalion with 7th Royal West Surrey (Queens) in support in the Battle Zone. Spared the worst of the fighting that day, 7th Queens, in alignment with the rest of the brigade withdrew behind the Crozat Canal that evening and remained there the following day under pressure from the German advance. The next day, 23rd  March was one of very heavy fighting for the battalion. In the morning two French battalions came forward to their lines held  to counter attack and re-take the village of Tergnier with 7th Queens lending flanking support. But the thick morning fog still prevailed and in the confusion the attack did not take place. As the fog gradually cleared it became evident that the Germans had worked their way through Hallett Wood and were making their way down the Tergnier-Rouez road. There followed a period of fierce fighting in both these locations which decimated the ranks of the battalion. Very few men from A, B and D Companies were able to make it back and rally at Battalion HQ but they were later joined by most of C Company and  a defensive position was established along the western side of the road, running north and south through Frieres Wood. Here the enemy were held for the rest of the day. That evening, French troops arrived and the remnants of 7th Queens withdrew to the Chauny - Villequier-au-Mont road and later that night back to Bethancourt and billets. The battalion had suffered many casualties during the day, with over sixty men killed and many more either wounded or captured. One of those who lost their lives was Richard Kenward.