PLANT, John

John Plant came from Blackheath and enlisted in the Staffords. He was sent to the 2nd Battalion which had fought since 1914 at Mons, Loos, the Somme and Third Ypres. They faced the first German Spring offensive of 1918 in the second line, where they had to put up a stout defence and then retreat across the old Somme battle-field. The Advance to Victory was quite different. They returned at the start of September to the Somme battle-field and drove the German forces back to Arras. It was a huge gain and casualties were low. However, among the dead was Private John Plant. He was seriously wounded and died on the 4th September. He is buried at Bac-du-Sud Cemetery, Bailleulval, near Arras (IV A 19) and commemorated on the Blackheath and Halesowen Memorials.