Lance Corporal GEORGE SHEAD
2nd Battalion Essex Regiment
Né en Angleterre en 1890
Mort au combat à Arras (France) le 28 mars 1918
© Rodney Hornby
Pour la Bataille d'Arras, le bataillon de George est intégré à la 4th Division. Le 9 avril 1917, la 9th (Scottish) Division perce la ligne de front jusqu’à Athies et la 4th Division poursuit la progression en direction de Douai en capturant le village de Fampoux. Au soir de ce premier jour de combat, ces deux divisions ont accompli une avancée spectaculaire de 5.5 km, la plus importante enregistrée au cours de la bataille. En mars 1918, George rejoint à nouveau le secteur d'Arras où il meurt lors de l'opération Michael, la dernière grande offensive allemande de la Première Guerre mondiale sur cette partie du front. Sans sépulture connue, son nom figure sur le Mémorial d’Arras. Sur la photo George est entouré par deux de ses amis le jour de leur engagement.
For the Battle of Arras, George's battalion was incorporated into the 4th Division. On 9th April 1917, the 9th (Scottish) Division broke through the front line as far as Athies and the 4th Division furthered the advance towards Douai by capturing the village of Fampoux. By the evening of the first day of battle, these two divisions had achieved a spectacular advance of 5.5 km, the biggest recorded during the battle. In March 1918, George returned to the Arras sector where he was killed during Operation Michael, the last major German offensive of the First World War on this part of the front. With no known resting place, his name appears on the Arras Memorial. On the picture George is surrounded by two of his friends the day they enlisted.
© Rodney Hornby
George Shead pose aux côtés de sa femme, Beatrice, et de leur fille unique Ada, alors âgée de quelques semaines.
George Shead with his wife Beatrice and their only child Ada, who was barely a few month old on the picture.
© Rodney Hornby
George et sa fille Ada.
George and his daughter Ada.
© Rodney Hornby
2nd Battalion Essex Regiment. George apparaît debout au premier plan, le deuxième soldat en partant de la droite.
2nd Essex Regiment. George is standing at the front row, second soldier from the right.