Page 222 - ATKCM_30.04.15
P. 222
t Regiment, presumably at the end of his training.
He went to France on 12th September 1916 and joined that
Battalion, which had been on the Western Front since June.
He arrived at a relatively quiet time for the Battalion, but by
early October they were involved in a savage attack on Bayonet
Trench. There were many casualties and little was gained.
Jack obviously survived this encounter, as, on the 14th of
October, he was sent on a two-week Lewis Gun course. He re-
joined the Battalion on the 28th.
By the time he returned the Battalion had moved to Arras, a
relatively quiet sector and, just before Christmas, they moved
out of the line – their first break for six months.
After three weeks of rest they returned to the front near Arras
and stayed there for the rest of 1917 and were involved in battles
at Arras, Aieux, the 3rd battle of the Scarpe and the Cambrai
operations.
On 23rd November Jack was granted 11 days leave in England,
and returned in early December.
In March 1918 he was promoted to acting Lance Corporal.
In 1918 the Germans moved many divisions from the Eastern
Front, where hostilities had ceased, to the Western Front and,
with this increased strength, were pressing the Allies hard.
On 2nd April the 6th West Kents had just been moved back into
the line resisting concerted enemy attacks and over two days
incurred 1,285 casualties.
Jack was wounded in this defence. He had gunshot wounds to
his left knee, right thigh and back. He was taken to the nearby
13th Australian field hospital but died of his wounds on 3rd April
1918. He was 21 years old.
He is buried at the Warloy Baillon Communal Cemetery
Extension, grave V111.E.25.
In July of 1918 his personal effects were returned to his father,
Robert. These included letters, photos, cards, a religious
medallion, a knife, cigarette case and his Lewis Gun badge.
The Stamford & Rutland News of 17th April 1918 reports:-
220
He went to France on 12th September 1916 and joined that
Battalion, which had been on the Western Front since June.
He arrived at a relatively quiet time for the Battalion, but by
early October they were involved in a savage attack on Bayonet
Trench. There were many casualties and little was gained.
Jack obviously survived this encounter, as, on the 14th of
October, he was sent on a two-week Lewis Gun course. He re-
joined the Battalion on the 28th.
By the time he returned the Battalion had moved to Arras, a
relatively quiet sector and, just before Christmas, they moved
out of the line – their first break for six months.
After three weeks of rest they returned to the front near Arras
and stayed there for the rest of 1917 and were involved in battles
at Arras, Aieux, the 3rd battle of the Scarpe and the Cambrai
operations.
On 23rd November Jack was granted 11 days leave in England,
and returned in early December.
In March 1918 he was promoted to acting Lance Corporal.
In 1918 the Germans moved many divisions from the Eastern
Front, where hostilities had ceased, to the Western Front and,
with this increased strength, were pressing the Allies hard.
On 2nd April the 6th West Kents had just been moved back into
the line resisting concerted enemy attacks and over two days
incurred 1,285 casualties.
Jack was wounded in this defence. He had gunshot wounds to
his left knee, right thigh and back. He was taken to the nearby
13th Australian field hospital but died of his wounds on 3rd April
1918. He was 21 years old.
He is buried at the Warloy Baillon Communal Cemetery
Extension, grave V111.E.25.
In July of 1918 his personal effects were returned to his father,
Robert. These included letters, photos, cards, a religious
medallion, a knife, cigarette case and his Lewis Gun badge.
The Stamford & Rutland News of 17th April 1918 reports:-
220
