JUST over 100 years ago after the great German offensives of 1918 ran out of steam, allies on the Western Front had an opportunity to catch their breath and reorganise and prepare for their own counter-offensive.

This opening phase of the Hundred Days Offensive is known as the Battle of Amiens and ultimately led to the end of the First World War.

The initial attacks were made by the Americans and French in July in the South of the Front, while the British launched a number of diversionary attacks, but the main British blow fell on August 8, 1918, at Amiens with 15 Divisions, 430 tanks and 1700 aircraft. The Germans were shattered and in what became known as the Black Day of the German Army, whole Divisions abandoned their trenches and surrendered or retreated under the onslaught. By the end of the first day, the British had advanced eight miles!

Looking Back regular Greg Schofield has researched the following Weymouth men who died in this campaign:

• William CLARKE , Serjeant, Royal Garrison Artillery, Died of gas poisoning 04/07/1918, aged 36. Lived 58, Emmadale Road, Weymouth.

• Walter James CROAD Lance Bombardier, Royal Garrison Artillery. Died 19/07/1918, aged 23. Son of James & Mary Croad. Lived 111, Chickerell Road, Weymouth

• Gerald Arthur HAWKES, 2nd Lieutenant, Royal Garrison Artillery, Died 03/07/1918 of severe gas poisoning, aged 25. Educated at Hardye’s School, Dorchester, matriculated at 16. A notable athlete, he won the Dux Ludorum at London University. Served in H.M. Office of Works at Westminster, at first refused permission to join up, so served in the AA Corps of the RNVR on searchlights. June 1915 enlisted in ‘Queen’s Westminster Rifles’ and arrived in France in November. Wounded in the Somme battles of 1916, then commissioned in the RGA. Returned to the front in 1917, then gassed at Armentierres in July. Selected for Household Seige Battery. Returned to France April 1918. Gassed 24th June, died 3rd July. Youngest son of Mr & Mrs T. Barling Hawks, his father a magistrate. Married Frances Bessie Hawkes 21st November, 1917. Lived ‘Savernake’, Rodwell, Weymouth

• William John MARTIN Private, Royal Army Medical Corps. Killed in action 30/07/1918, aged 27. Son of Inspector Eustace & Mrs Lillian Martyn. Lived 98, Dorchester Road, Weymouth.

• E. S. SIMMONDS Corporal, 9th Royal Fusiliers. Died 10/08/1918, aged 23. Son of Ellan and the late Edward Simmonds. Lived 6, Little George Street, Weymouth. On the 11th August the 1st Dorsetshire Battalion wasinvolved in particularly heavy fighting in the Artois region, during which the following Weymouth men died:-

• Arthur Buckenham FISH Private, 1st Dorsetshire Regt. Died 11/08/1918, aged 20. Son of Rev. John W. Fish.

• Frederick Charles LEWIS Serjeant, 1st Dorsetshire Regt. Died 11/08/1918. Reported wounded and missing 11/08/1918, confirmed dead June 1919.

• William RIGGS Private, 1st Dorsetshire Regt. Killed in action 11/08/1918, aged 26. Son of Thomas & Emily Riggs. Lived 6, Avenue Road, Weymouth.

• W. SIDDONS Private, 1st Dorsetshire Regt. Died 11/08/1918.

• Frank WEBBER Private, 1st Dorsetshire Regt. Died 11/08/1918