Military History

Harry is listed as being killed in action on 30th November 1917 having originally been reported as missing in action with scores of other men in the 10th Battalion war diary. The war diary entry for the 30th is transcribed below but in short on 30 Nov 1917 the battalion were in the newly recaptured trenches at La Vacquerie when at about 8.00am they were subject to a heavy artillery barrage followed by a counter attack by German forces forcing them to retire to the La Vacquerie and Cambrai Roads where they made a stand and held the enemy in check. Harry was went missing during these events and was later confirmed as having been killed.

30th November 1917 - Counter Attack by Germans

Owing to the fact that all Headquarters Officers became casualties, the actual events are uncertain by the following is an account as gathered from Company Officers.

At 8am on S.O.S message sent by 12th Division, on the right was received and transmitted to Coy's. A certain amount of shelling was observed on our front line but it did not appear sufficient to indicate an enemy attack. The shelling seemed to be mostly on the right flank. At the same time enemy aircraft appeared to be very active.

Companies were in the act of "standing to" when it was observed that the enemy had broken through on the right flank and were seen to be about 100 yards behind it and our men were falling back. About this time severe casualties were being inflicted on our Battalion by machine gun fire from many low flying hostile aircraft. As our flanks had apparently beenm turned, the men were rallied and withdrew to the Vacquerie Sunken Road making a partial stand on the way at the main Cambrai Road.

The remainder of the Battalion under Capts Henderson, Peglar and Ashwell then went forward about 100 yards, Capt Henderson being killed and Capt Ashwell wounded. The party then withdrew across the Vacquerie Road making a stand on the ridge behind. Here Capt Peglar, who by now was Commanding the Battalion met a party of the D.C.L.I [Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry] under the Command of Colonel Jansen. At this point the enemy was held in check. This trench was held until 9pm when Capt Peglar obtained permission to rejoin his own Brigade. Thus he, with 2nd/Lts Scott, Dewar, East & Johnson and 20 men returned at 2am on the 1st [December] and reported to Lt. Col ? of the 11th Battlion KRR [King's Royal Rifle Corps]. END