HILL, Arthur Chamberlain

Arthur Chamberlain Hill served as Arthur Chamberlain in the Worcesters. He was the son of Mrs Hill of 42 Worcester Street, Stourbridge, and enlisted as a volunteer and joined the 3rd Battalion. They were involved during 1916 in the capture of Vimy Ridge and the Battle of the Somme. The battalion remained in reserve for the famous 'first day' of the Somme. On 3 July they moved into Aveluy Wood and received orders to attack the notorious Leipzig Salient protecting the approaches to Thiepval. British forces had broken through the first line of German trenches but had failed against its complex fortifications. Two companies of the Worcesters were ordered to fight their way up the steep wooded slopes of the river Ancre under intense artillery and heavy machine gun fire. They did not succeed but held on for four days until 8th July. It was amazing that they only lost 2 officers and 19 men killed. One of these was Pte Arthur Hill who was killed on the 5th July by a German sniper in a trench captured from the Germans. He is commemorated on the Thiepval, Stourbridge, St. John's church and the Methodist church Memorials.