No.G/11825, Private Harry HURRELL
Aged 29
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Harry was born in Whepstead (1st qtr 1889 Thingoe 4a/692, son of Daniel and Kate HURRELL (née FARROW).
1891 census...Aged 2, he was in Whepstead with his father Daniel HURRELL [30] a farm labourer; his mother Kate [37]; brother Ernest [6]; sisters Maud [4] and Magdelene [8 months] plus his aunt Ada FARROW [13]. All were born in Whepstead.
1901 census...Aged 12, he was in Chedburgh Road, Whepstead, with his parents (mother and brother Ernest now recorded as born Gt Welnetham; sisters
Maud, Grace (Magdelene) [10], Ethel [6], Edith [3]and brother Frank[1]. All except his mother and brother Ernest were born in Whepstead.
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He enlisted in Bury St. Edmunds The 7th batlion war diary has:- Vendeuil Sector..sheet 66.C.S.W. 23rd 6 am Two battalions of French came forward to counter attack but were disorganised in the thick fog Lt.Col.Bushell D.S.C. went forward to ascertain the situation and to lend flanking assistance to the French. He was wounded in doing so but rallied French and English troops and led them forward to counter attack. Large bodies of the enemy were seen on the left flank and our men were compelled to withdraw to their original positions.From that time 2/Lt A.F.A.Hay "B" Coy who had gone forward to reconnoitre jumping off positions for the French and fell into Germans hands as a prisoner. As the mist gradually cleared it became evident that the enemy had worked through HALLETT WOOD and were proceeding in large numbers down the Ternier-Rouez road. In the latter position, "A" Coy were heavily engaged. No officers and only one or two men escaped from "B" or "D" Coys and one officer and a few men of "A". Later, 2 officers and a fair number of men from "C" Coy rejoined. A defensive position was arranged on the western edge of the road running N and S through FRIERES WOOD. The Battalion HQ details manned trenches in S.22.c and collected remnants of Coys and other Battalions as day came through. Here the enemy were held throughout the day A French Battalion came forward here to attack through this positon but meeting with intense enemy machine gun fire were compelled to withdraw and were immediately followed by the enemy Major TORTISE, the French Commandant and other officers of this battalion rushed forward to rally the withdrawing troops. Returning to the attack the enemy were then driven back. As dusk grew on the whole line withdrew, and the remnants of the Battalion re-assembled in LE BOSQUET WOOD. Here Major TORTISE was found and orders were received from Lt.Col.RANSONE D.S.O.. 7th to withdraw to the CHAUNY- VILLEQUIER-AU-MONT road. Here the French troops took over the front and the troops of 55 Brigade were withdrawn to BETHANCOURT where billets were taken over at 2 am 24th.
All this was taking place during the Kaiserschlacht, the Germans last fling at ending the war, which pushed the Allies miles back from their
positions.
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