Frederick Hall

The German Spring Offensive began on 21 March 1918 with a massive strike against 5th Army and pressure put on 3rd Army. The weight of attack was immense and the British armies fell back and sustained heavy casualties. At this time the 1st Battalion was on the Ypres front and in training. At 6 pm on 21st orders were received to move south via St Omer to Nesle. At 8.30 pm on 22nd, they arrived but were warned that the enemy were close by. The battalion marched off with flank guards at the ready and moved towards Athies where they should have gone into camp. During the march, further orders arrived directing them to dig in on the west bank of the Somme, the left flank at St Christ and the right 2,500 yards away. The whole division was allotted 16,000 yards and told to 'stay put'. At Midday on 23rd, 23rd Division, which had been holding the line came through the new line and went into support positions. The Royal Engineers then made three attempts to blow the bridge at St Christ but it it still remained usable. On the night of 23rd - 24th, the enemy attacked in force and temporarily gained a hold on the west bank but counter attacks by the Foresters, saw the enemy thrown back. At this point the Commanding Officer of the battalion was killed whilst leading the counter attack. Throughout the 24th, the enemy pressed all day and a 6pm, succeeded crossing the Somme at the junction of 8th and 20th Divisions. During the night of 24/25th, the enemy continued its efforts to capture the ruined bridge at St Christ. The successful attempts met with ferocious fire from the Foresters and only the dead, wounded, drowned or captured remained on the west bank. On 25th 'D' company, on the battalion's right hand side recaptured two of the posts and killed many enemy. They held the enemy off for the remainder of the day. He is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial.

Soldiers effects - Death presumed 25/3/1918. £19-14s - 5d (Including War Gratuity £14).