On the 29/05/1916 the 1/5th Battalion merged with the 1/6th Battalion to become the 5/6th Battalion and were part of the 33rd Division. Edward received his wounds during the actions on the Hindenburg Line, 20th May - 16th June 1917. This was part of the Arras offensive (Battle of Arras), 9th April -16th June 1917 : Once again the British are called upon to launch an attack in support to a larger French offensive : the Battles of the Chemin des Dames and the hills of Champagne. The opening Battle of Vimy and the First Battle of the Scarpe are very encouraging, but once again the offensive - often known as the Battle of Arras - bogs down into an attritional slog. Final attempts to outflank the German lines at Bullecourt prove terribly costly. From April 1917 to March 1918, the village of Achiet-le-Grand was occupied by the 45th and 49th Casualty Clearing Stations. Achiet station was an allied railhead. The Communal Cemetery and Extension were used by Commonwealth medical units from April 1917 to March 1918. Grave photo kindly donated by Mick McCann at the British War Graves website who supply photos FREE OF CHARGE
here. Edward is also remembered in the St. Augustine's Parish (book) Roll of Honour. See photos for Edward's Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report, Achiet-le-Grand Communal Cemetery Extension, Edward's Pension Records x 3 and the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Cap Badge.
