Remember today 28th April

[allanp]

?? Lance Serjeant, George William ?/?, 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, Killed in Action 28th April 1916 at Vimy Ridge. Remembered with Honour at Arras Memorial.

[Mike Jones]

Morning Allan,
Tonight I shall drink a toast to the memory of a brave man, Sgt. George William Hill. You have done your bit to preserve his memory, good work! A little bird told me you were planning to visit Vimy Ridge in his honour. Did you make it? For those who may read this and be confused at the question mark by George's regimental Number. If I remember it right Allan, "Soldiers Died in the Great War" have got his number wrong. They say his number is 21631 but your research shows it to be 12631.
Best wishes Mike

[allanp]

Hi Mike. I'm sure that George will be looking down and savouring that drink with you tonight. I did go to Vimy Ridge a couple of weeks ago. I managed not only to find his name at the Arras Memorial but got a close as possible to where I think his was killed. A very rewarding and poignant time. Thank you to all who have viewed by posting.
Regards Allan

[CPLCLIVE]

Alan
I f only we had more people like yourself who remember the terrble conditions these brave men faced to remember is the only way we shall neve let it happen again I too will be having a drink in rememberence of all the men who fought in that terrible conflict my own father among them
CPLCLIVE

[Edwin Astill]

You might be interested in the following extract from Alexander Johnston's diary (to be published in July, editor's proceeds to the Worcs regt Trust.) By 'The Regiment' he means 3rd Battalion:

April 28th
Round the trenches all the morning with the Gen and Birch. At 7.30PM again the earth was shaken to its foundations, and we knew that yet another mine had gone up. We soon heard that it was at the end of the line where the left company of the Regiment was. Apparently the 13th Cheshires on the left were pushed out of their trenches, and our left was consequently in the air. The Regiment therefore double blocked the Centrale and started to bomb from right to left along the outpost line. It was however so wrecked by the mine explosion and shelling that they could not have stayed there, and having bombed the Huns out they came back to a trench of ours about 30 yards behind where they had the situation well in hand though they got rather badly shelled. The battalion on our left had gone back to their support line and by 1AM things had quietened down and the Bosche had certainly had enough of it. As however the new crater was alongside of the other crater at the head of Centrale, and the two made a sort of wall looking down this main communication trench, which would be very serious if the Huns got our M.G. or a snipers post on it. The Division therefore ordered a counter attack to be made in conjunction with the 74th Inf Bde on our left: there was a lot to arrange and the latter are a very long way away so that in the end the counter attack, which could not have started before daybreak, was postponed.


Regards

Edwin

[allanp]

Hi Edwin

Thank you so much for your post. I have this information from "The Worcester Regiment in the Great War" by Cpt Stacke BUT to have confirmation from someone who was actually there is fantastic. As you have probable already realised this is where I beleave George was killed.

I, and probable a lot of other people would be grateful if you could let us know when Alexander's diary is avilable and the publisher.

Regards Allan

Thanks to CPLCLIVE for his kind comments

[Edwin Astill]

Thank you. The book should be out in July, not sure of the exact date. Pen & Sword are publishing. Its £19.99 but you can get it a lot cheaper on Amazon. The Pen and sword site has a description and shows the cover. I am hoping to have an informal launch in Worcester at some time.

Edwin