Albert Leslie Bardill

He enlisted at Mansfield into the Sherwood Foresters and was posted to 9th Battalion. He went with them to Gallipoli and was probably wounded there. On recovery he was posted to France with 1st Battalion which had taken part in heavy fighting on the Somme during the German Spring offensives. It was in need of rest and therefore was sent to what was termed 'a quiet place on the Aisne' However, the Germans decided to attack this sector next. The ridge was held by four divisions. 1st Battalion was in 8th Division which held 10,000 yards of front line. The Battle of the Aisne lasted from 27 May until 6 June. The enemy attacked in force and rear guard actions were taking place all over the front line. At 9 am on May 27th all the men of 24th Brigade (1st Battalion's) who could be collected - 3 officers and 69 men were ordered to hold a trench near Roucy. Second Lieutenant Greaves (later DSO, MC and 2 Bars, brother of Fred VC) with details of men had been ordered up to Ventelay. By 7 pm, during a retreat back to the River Aisne, the situation became critical and assaults were made by the enemy throughout the night. Albert was killed one of 669 all ranks killed or missing during the May/June 1918 Aisne fighting. Drafts arriving later in June amounted to 22 officers and 658 other ranks.

Soissons Memorial France