The Kaiser's Battle

Today marks the 97th anniversary of The Kaiser's Battle. On 21st March 1918 the Germans launched Operation Michael and began pushing through Allied lines.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records that 8,479 British and Commonwealth lives were lost this day, the vast majority as a result of Operation Michael. The Imperial War Museum has published a podcast of veterans from both sides talking about the Spring Offensive. Click on the IWM link to go to this Podcast. I have also borrowed the image on this post from this page.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

2nd Leicestershire Regiment - 11th March 1915

There are 839 deaths recorded on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website for 8th March 1915. Seven of these men were serving with the Leicestershire Regiment and their names are recorded below:

8342 Private R A Claybyn
11187 Private H E Davenport
9833 Private William Dingley
11902 Private C Genders
Second Lieutenant William Murphy
8732 Private Percy Robinson
9701 Private J Snow

All of the men died whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion and with the exception of Private Davenport who had joined the Special Reserve in 1913, all of the men were regular soldiers. The oldest hand was Private Claybyn who had joined the regiment in 1908 whilst the most recent recruit was Private Genders whose number dates to August 1914.

Three of the men are buried in Merville communal cemetery, depicted in the image on this post (courtesy of map-france.com).

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

1st Northumberland Fusiliers - 1st March 1915

Remembering the following 14 men who were all serving with the 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers when they lost their lives one hundred years ago today on the 1st March 1915. Only four of the men have known graves, the other ten all remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres.

7114 Private Thomas Ballantyne
4826 Private Edward Conroy
7634 Private Coombes
3/7874 Private Albert Fanning
7931 Private Henry Graham
8579 Private Henderson
9454 Private John Thomas Innis
1212 Private Jones
9306 Lance Corporal Albert Victor Pettitt
7914 Private Pickett
8190 Private John Scrimshaw
891 Private Arthur William Shearman
6011 Private Thornton
798 Serjeant Thomas Wadsworth

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

The image above, depicting the construction of the Menin Gate Memorial is copyright of the Government of Australia.