Military History

Wilfred is listed as being killed in action on 21st August 1918. The 1st Battalion war diary entries for the 20th to 22nd are transcribed below.

St. Amand – 20/8/18: The day was spent in final preparations for the attack. At 8.15pm the Battalion left St. Amand in lorries going via Pommier to Monchy where it debussed and marched to the jumping off positions in front of the Ayette-Bucquoy Road.

Near Ayette – 21/8/18: The Battalion was in position by 1.30am. B & C Coys were to capture the 1^st Objective, A & C Coys to pass through them and capture and consolidate the 2^nd Objective. Six Tanks (Mark IV) to assist in the attack.

At 4.55am the attack commenced in conjunction with troops on the right and left. The morning was very misty and it was difficult to keep direction. The Tanks especially were soon in trouble and were of little assistance to the Battalion. However all objectives were captured up to time with little resistance except from isolated M.G’s and the 3^rd Division passed through to capture Courcelles and the railway beyond, Battn HQ were established at F.18.a.9.0 and at 7am communication was open with Brigade HQ via the old Battn HQ at F.16.b.8.0.

At 7pm orders were received that the Brigade was to be relieved by 75^th Infantry Brigade and would move to Quesnoy Farm and the purple line.

Quesnoy Farm – 22/8/198: The relief was finally completed at 6.40am and BN HQ and D Coy reached Quesnoy Farm by 8.30am. The men slept and rested during the day and orders were given for salvaging to be carried out in the evening. However at about 7pm the B.G.C. arrived at Bn HQ and stated that the Battalion was to come under the orders of 6 Inf Bde and be prepared to carry out an attack on Ervillers the next morning…