George’s Battalion moved into the assembly trenches near Roeux in the very early hours of 3 May. His company, ‘B’ Company, were in position south of a railway embankment, and they began to move forward when the artillery barrage began at 3.45am. It was a very dark night but ‘B’ Company were quickly able to take all of their objectives. Unfortunately, the companies to the north of the embankment failed to progress and, owing to the darkness and height of the railway embankment, were unable to link up with the companies to the south. Few men were killed in the attack, however, more than 140 were posted as missing, many, including George, becoming prisoners of war.

He died 18 months later of a lung infection in the prison hospital at Hamm, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Robin Marriott