POOLE, George

George Poole was the son of Henry and Louisa of Brierley Hill and lived at Hartshill, Brierley Hill. He volunteered for the Worcesters and joined the 3rd Battalion on the Western Front. In 1915 they fought in the Ploegsteert sector at Spanbroek Mill and in March 1916 they moved to Arras. On the 26th April they took over the front line half way along the Vimy ridge and began a dangerous contest among the craters and pits of this much tunnelled area. On the 28th the enemy exploded a huge mine beside the British line causing many casualties. The line was only saved after much frantic fighting. A counter-attack was made the next day but further German mines were detonated in the next few days. After a break they returned on the 9th May and experienced another great explosion. They left the front line on the 17th May but it was on this day that Private George Poole was killed in action. He was 21 years of age and is buried in Ecoivres Military Cemetery at Mont St. Eloi (I L 24) and commemorated on the Brierley Hill and Brierley Hill church Memorials.