WESTWOOD, Harry

Harry Westwood was the son of Harry and Louisa Westwod of Halesowen Road, Netherton, and volunteered for the Worcesters. He joined the 3rd Battalion which was in action for the opening Battle of Mons on the 23rd August 1914, on the Aisne in September and spent the winter of 1915 in Artois. In June 1915 during the Second Battle of Ypres they attacked the Bellewaerde ridge and in the Spring of 1916 they were at Vimy ridge. They moved to the Somme area for Haig's big push of 1916. They remained in reserve for the famous 'first day' but on 3rd July moved into Aveluy Wood with 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, and held on for four days. Another attack was then made on the neighbouring village of Ovillers when a vital part was played by Lieutenant James Mould, a Dudley officer who was awarded the DSO. In August the Worcesters returned to the Leipzig salient and on the 24th led an assault on the enemy trenches. In close quarters combat there were heavy casualties, one of whom was Private Harry Westwood who was killed on the 25th August. He was 26 years of age and is buried in Puchevillers Cemetery (III E 24) and commemorated on the Dudley and NethertonMemorials.