Clive Ward - Trench 31

If so, can you give me the name and address of this man, as I should very much like to communicate with him and thank him for carrying my son out of the trench, and also to see if it is possible to obtain any further information regarding place of death and burial.

My Great Grandmother never received a reply to her letter and she died not knowing where her son’s final resting place was. Bertram’s name, along with so many others is inscribed on the Menin Gate.

The plan to retake the Bluff and Trench 31 started on the 29 thof February 1916. All troops were equipped with the new steel helmets but the severe bad weather forced a change of plan. The bombardment eventually began on the 1 stof March. By ten past five that morning, the infantry had captured all objectives. Counter attacks were made by the enemy, but the attacks were beaten off by British bombs. British casualties incurred during the recapture of the position amounted to 1,622.

In 1917 the order was given for twenty mines to be placed under German front lines positioned in Messines. It took nearly six months to complete and more than eight thousand metres of tunnels were dug. Six hundred tons of explosives exploded simultaneously at ten past three on the morning of the 7 thof June, killing around 10,000 soldiers. The blast was so powerful it could be heard as far away as London.

On the 4 thof August 1914 Britain and much of Europe were pulled into a war which would last 1,566 days, cost 8,528,831 lives and 28,938,073 casualties or missing on both sides.

The Sherwood Foresters Regiment raised thirty-three Battalions and was awarded fifty-seven Battle honours and nine Victoria Crosses, losing 11,410 men during the course of the war.

Lest we forget

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