Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of David, a General Labourer and his wife Susan. David had previously seen service with the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman (197348) serving on HMS Renown. The War Diary for the 19th April 1917 records. At 07.00am The Battalion was formed up behind MANSURA RIDGE ready to attack BEERSHEBA ROAD. “C” Company on right, “D” Company in centre, “B” Company on left, “A” Company in support. At 7.30am First line went forward and was followed at two minute intervals by succeeding lines. The Battalion moved to start with in artillery formation of lines of sections through heavy barrage of gun fire and opened into extended order about 600 yards from Ridge as soon as it became under machine gun and rifle fire when the majority of the casualties occurred. At about 9.00am a thin front line reached to a distance varying at different parts of the line from 500 yards to 120 yards from the Turk trenches when it became certain that no further advance could be made without very strong reinforcements. The Battalion was subject to very heavy gun fire both shrapnel and high explosive throughout the day from direction of ALI EL MUNTAR. As this fire was enfilade, it followed the Battalion right up to 200 yards of Turk trenches. During the morning, owing to failure of adjoining Division to link up, the 10th LONDON REGT adjusted their line which left our left flank in the air. About noon a small counter attack was preparing on left flank of Battalion. This was disposed of with Maxim and Lewis gun fire. The Battalion received orders to hold the position at all costs and the position was maintained until a fresh line was taken up at dusk by 1st/5th BEDFORDSHIRE REGT when it was withdrawn through that Regiment. The Battalion lost in casualties 20 officers and 366 other ranks. The majority of these occurring before 9.00am.