Military History

john is listed as being killed in action on 10th March 1917. The 1st Battalion war diary entries for the period 9th to 11th March 1917 are transcribed below.

Near Pys - 09 Mar 1917: Preparations for the forthcoming attack during the morning. At 10 pm the Battalion moved up into assembly position.

Front Line at Irles - 10 Mar 1917: At 5.15 am the Battn attacked Grevillers Trench in conjunction with the 1st KRRC on the left. The trench was captured at once and a line of posts established in front to facilitate the digging of a new assembly trench for a future attack. A Company were on the on the right and established a defensive flank. 100 prisoners (including 1 Officer) 3 Machine Guns* and 2 light trench mortars were captured.

Casualties LT Brazies killed, 2/Lt Lavers and 2/Lt Denham wounded. Other Ranks. 10 Killed, 75 wounded and 9 missing. The enemy commenced shelling the captured line at about 12 noon and continued throughout the day, but made no effort to recapture the position.

* Numbers of Machine Guns 8248, 3395. The third was not brought out of the line.

Grevillers Trench - 11 Mar 1917: The enemy continued to shell Grevillers Trench and the line of posts throughout the day. Patrols were sent out at night to report on the state of the enemy's wire, and found that it had been badly damaged by our artillery fire. The Battalion was relieved at night and returned to billets in Albert arriving there at about 4 am 12/3/17.

Casualties Other ranks 1 killed 12 wounded.