Lives of the First World War

18th May 1918

Charles was one of six men killed on 18th May 1918 during a trench raid by his company on the German third line trench (Trench Hilda) near Hulluch in France. The ground between the enemy’s second and third lines was badly broken up, but no serious obstacle was encountered until they got to the third line which was strongly held. In several cases, the enemy were caught coming out of their dug-outs. These refused to surrender and there was fierce fighting with bayonets. In some cases the Germans refused to come out from their dug-outs so these were destroyed. In addition a party of Germans attempting to escape to their right rear was caught by rifle fire, while the Lewis gun on the right flank of the second wave caused considerable casualties to a party of Germans which attempted a counter-attack. The raiding company, having finished their work, withdrew through Hay Locality posts and passed into the tunnels, moving carefully in waves through the enemy’s light barrage.

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