12745. Lance Corporal Frederick Arthur Sherwood

3rd. Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, 75th. Brigade, 25th. Division, Third Army. Born in Battersea, London. Enlisted on 4th. November 1911 in London. Lived in Wandsworth, London. Killed in Action on Thursday 1st. June 1916, during the fierce crater fighting, in the attempt to capture Vimy Ridge. Buried in Ecoivres Military Cemetery, Mont-St. Eloi, Pas de Calais, France, Plot III, Row A, Grave 1. 7 of Frederick’s Comrades from the Battalion were also Killed in Action on the same day, including:

8247. Drummer William Henry Dowse

The Battalion War Diary notes:

“Bn relieved from trenches by 8th SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS. Heavily shelled all day and night. Relief delayed considerably. On relief Battalion proceeded to ECOIVRES. Casualties - Officers 2 wounded. Other Ranks 7 killed, 9 wounded, 1 missing.”

“The Worcestershire Regiment in The Great War” notes:

“CRATER FIGHTING ON THE VIMY RIDGE

The fighting on the Vimy Ridge from April 26th to the 1st of June had cost the 3rd Worcestershire over three hundred of all ranks, including eleven officers.”

Barry Jenkins