Military History

George is listed as dying of wounds on 25th October 1918 at the 55th Casualty Clearing Station, Premont. The 1st/8th Battalion war diary entries for the period 23rd to 26th are transcribed below and it is likely that Richard was wounded on the 20th, 23rd or 24th October.

Honnechy - 20 Oct 1918: D Coy were withdrawn from the Worcesters and joined A & B Coys at Riga. At 20.30hrs the Battalion war relieved and marched out to St. Benn. Casualties during the tour 3 OR killed and 27 OR wounded.

St. Benn - 21 Oct 1918: Here the unit rested and reorganised.

St. Benn - 22 Oct 1918: In the evening of this day the Battalion, which had been attached to the 7th Brigade for the attack on the Richemont line. moved up to its forming up position along the Railway in R.2.c&d.

Pommereuil - 23 Oct 1918: The attack commenced at 01:30 hours the battalion moving in rear of the 9th Devons and the battalion was to be used to help to mop up Pommereuil if necessary or if this necessity did not arise to pass through the 7th Brigade and carry the intermediate objective which was the road in L.22.a.d. Owing to heavy fog the attacking units of the first wave became rather mixed up and the situation was for some time obscure but on Capt. Montmorency, M.C. (who was commanding the Battalion at this time) going out and taking command of troops of all units and organizing attacks on enemy M.G. posts which had been missed by the first wave owing to the fog. The situation rapidly cleared and all objectives were gained.

Flaquot Brifaut - 24 Oct 1918: The 74th Bde continued the attack through Bois L’Eveque and the battalion was ordered to concentrate in the vicinity of Flaquot Brifaut in L.15 d. This move was completed by 10.53hrs and the battalion remained here until units of the 7th Bde passed through our line whereupon the unit marched out to billets in Pommereuil.

The casualties during the tour [22nd to 24th] were Killed 13 OR, Missing 5 OR, Wounded Officers 3, O.R. 40.