LEEDHAM, Aaron

Aaron Leedham was born in Lye and was living in Stourbridge when he volunteered for the Worcesters. He was sent to the 2nd Battalion, which had been involved in all the major battles on the Western Front since the outbreak of war. In the Spring of 1917 they were in the front line again for the later stages of the Battle of Arras. Their position near the village of Croisilles faced a notably strong section of the Hindenburg Line, and this was the objective of the attack on the 20th May. Conditions were favourable at the outset for the whole area was in mist at daybreak, enabling the troops to achieve some element of surprise. The Worcesters attacked in four waves of company strength and the enemy's wire was reached without detection. The first line was taken, while the artillery barrage opened up on the German second line. The smoke of the shells, however, combined with the mist to form a dense fog. The companies lost their sense of direction and only managed to seize isolated portions of the second line of trenches. While a confusing bombing contest went on up and down the trenches, German artillery shelled the whole area behind them and caused many additional casualties. Nevertheless, the old German front line had been won and kept. Only at nightfall on the 21st was the battalion relieved but scarcely half of the men were able to report for parade. The heavy losses were 36 killed, 73 missing and 141 wounded. Among the killed was Private Aaron Leedham who died on the 21st May. He is commemorated on the Arras, Stourbridge, Lye and Wollescote, St. John's church, Stourbridge, and Lye church Memorials.