Harold H. Hills

Harold H. Hills was a private in the 2nd/5th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment). He died 21st March 1918 aged 35. He is commemorated at the Arras Memorial, Oas de Calais.

Harold was born in Epping in 1883, the son of Joseph Hills, who ran a grocers and drapers shop in the High Street. He was wounded while serving with the Sherwood Foresters in 1917, and around the same time his brother Percy was gassed while serving with the Essex Regiment. Harold recovered from his wounds and rejoined his Regiment. He was killed in action, on the 21st March 1918, aged 35, whilst holding the line near Noreuil, France on the opening day of the German Spring Offensive or (Kaiserschlact)

The 1891 census shows the Hills family as living in Epping High Street. The head of the household was Joseph Hills aged 52, he his down as being a grocer and draper. He has wife Elizabeth A. aged 39. They have three sons Augustus I. aged 13, Percy W. aged 11, Harold H. aged 7, they also have a daughter Mary C. aged 6. Also at the address were two boarders Mary Sanderson aged 41 a drapery assistant and Robert L. Rist aged 23 a grocer’s assistant. Additionally they had two servants, Eros Smith aged 18 and Louisa Hammond aged 16.

The 1901 census again gives Joseph Hills as head of household aged 62, his wife Elizabeth A. aged 49, they have three sons Augustus J. aged 22 is a grocer, Harold H. aged 17 now showing as a grocer, Leslie F. aged 9. They now have three daughters Florence E. aged 19 is shown as a draper, May C. aged 15 and Gladys M. aged 6. A Mary Sanderson is listed as an assistant, and then there are two servants Rose Glasscock aged 22 a general domestic and Blanche M. Glasscock aged 16 nurse housemaid, presumably sisters. One son Percy is not on this census.

The 1911 census still has the Hills family in Epping. Joseph Hills is head of household but is now a widower aged 73, occupation shown as still a grocer, Augustus Joseph aged 33 single is down as working in shop, Percy William aged 31 single is a draper, Harold Herbert aged 27 single is working in the shop, May Clara aged 26 single no occupation is given, Leslie Frank aged 19 single is a motor engineer, Gladys Mary aged 17 single no occupation given, Anna Louisa Flood a visitor aged 40 single is a music teacher.

Battalion Report of 2/5th Battalion The Sherwood Foresters. (Notts. And Derby)

MARCH. 1918.

S. OF CROISILLES – MORY – NOREUIL.

1/10th Battalion relieved in left sub-sector by 25th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS and proceeded to MORY SOUTH Camp, 2/3. At MORY SOUTH; Training in progress and test standing to. All-night working parties every 3rd night at NOREUIL Camp improvements. (See App. “A”).

Battalion relieved 2/6th NORTH STAFFORDS in right subsector of right Brigade Front.
B Company – Right Front. (see App. “B”)
A :: – Centre Front and D
C :: – Left Front Support.

Battalion H.Q., sunken road, C.11.c.65.90. (57.C N.W.).

17th. Battalion relieved by 7th Sherwood Foresters, and proceeded to Brigade Support.
Battalion H.Q., ECOUST – NOREUIL Road.

NOREUIL – ERVILLERS.

21st. (See App. “C”) Morning: Four hours bombardment followed by attack in force by the enemy (mass formation) who took 8 hours to penetrate 2000 yards. The Battalion was eventually surrounded and cut off. Full report of this action is attached.

Afternoon: Transport moved to COURCELLES, thence to camp at F.17.d.2.2.

22nd. 3 O.R’s under Captain QUIBELL sent up to right of MORY and remained there in opposition to counter-attacks.

SENLIS.

23rd. Transport to SENLIS. Draft of 23 O.R. arrived.
24th. Reinforcements and survivors rejoined.
25th. Transport to BAVELINCOURT.

BAVELINCOURT.

26th. Transport to FIEFFES.

FIEFFES.

28th. Transport by train to CAMBLIGNEUL.

CAMBLIGNEUL.

30th. Morning:- Visit to Battalion of His Majesty, KING GEORGE V.
Afternoon:- Inspection by G.O.C., 59th Division.
Effective Strength of Battalion on 1/3/1918:-
48 Officers. 950 Other Ranks.
Ration Strength of Battalion on 31/3/1918:-
6 Officers. 204 Other Ranks.

Battle of Noreuil March 21st 1918

From the British Official History:

‘In the Battle Zone, where the fog had completely lifted, an attack on the defences covering Noreuil, held by the 2/5th Sherwood Foresters and an R.E. [Royal Engineers] detachment, began as early as 10.40 am, being preceded by a heavy barrage. Met by fire from the defences and the covering batteries, the enemy ceased his frontal attack to wait for the effects of the advance around both flanks of the position, that in the Hirondelle valley being already perceptible. To meet these turning movements, the right flank of the defence was thrown back, whilst, on the left, a line was manned along the road from Noreuil towards Longatte. The movement up the Hirondelle valley gained ground so rapidly, however, that the right flank of this position was soon driven in, Noreuil was captured, and the men still holding trenches in front of it were cut off.

At noon, the 2/5th Sherwood Foresters, reduced to 150 men, was still clinging on near the south-west corner of Noreuil, with its right flank thrown back fronting the Hirondelle valley, and its left flank on the Longatte road, facing north-east. It was well supported by batteries of 295th Brigade RFA, which however found difficulty in selecting targets, as British and German parties kept appearing alternately only some 300-400 yards apart. At this time the German infantry, although its detachments constantly advertised their position by means of white Very lights, had not effective help from the artillery, which put down a barrage on the western edge of Noreuil, some thousand yards in rear of the advanced troops. About 12.30 pm a message reached the Sherwood Foresters, stating that supports were being moved up to a trench 500 yards behind Noreuil, and a runner arriving from the rear at that moment reported that he had seen men in the trench. Lieut-Colonel HR Gadd thereupon decided to fall back on this support. It was just too late, the greater part of the survivors were surrounded from the north and cut off. Some held out until 3 pm but only a few managed to join the supporting force which had moved forward from behind Vraucourt about noon.’

On the 21st March, C Company of the 2/5th Battalion, were in Reserve at Noreuil on the extreme right of the 59th Division frontage. They were quickly over whelmed and outflanked by the German forces proceeding down the Noreuil Valley.