More than 11,000 casualties were sustained on 9th May 1915, the vast majority within yards of
their own front-line trench. Mile for mile, Division for Division, this was one of the highest rates of
loss during the entire war.
There is no memorial to the attack on Aubers Ridge. 256 of the 2/nd Welsh, of which 11 officers
were lost, in the First wave of the 3rd Brigade. 1/South Wales Borderers lost 233 men, of which 9
were officers, in the afternoon attack of the 3rd Brigade. Among the high ranking officers who were
killed was Lt. Colonel Frederick France-Hayhurst, Officer Commanding, Royal Welsh Fusiliers,
who is buried at Cabaret Rouge Cemetery, Souchez.
(Lt Col Frank Heywood Hurst)
The battle was an unmitigated disaster for the British army. No ground was won and no tactical
advantage gained. It is very doubtful if it had the slightest positive effect on the outcome of the war.
George Mckay Wilson died on 9th May 1915 when the Welsh charged the Germans. He was killed
in action
George’s father received a letter of sympathy from Corporal W Reed who said
“We were two chums together since we enlisted first ....always shared his parcels with me, and I did
the same with mine.......in...big battle....biggest part of the regiment got cut up, and it is a wonder
any of us came out alive..
George was 19 years old. He is remembered in Le Touret Memorial, Pas de Calais, France