Current Information:

Born-Bermondsey

Between the 4th and 11th March, 1915, the 2nd East Surrey battalion of 85 Brigade, 28th Division were holding the line one mile north of Wulverghem in Belgium, with battalion HQ first at Scotch Farm and then in a chalet at Lindenhoek cross roads. During this spell in the front line they had 30 casualties including William Melvin who was killed on 5th March but the battalion diary provides no further information concerning his death. The attrition rate among British soldiers on the Western Front was on average 300 each day and 60% of these were as a result of shellfire. When not involved in an actual battle it was either shell fire or a sniper’s bullet that caused most deaths and injuries.