A WREATH of remembrance has been laid in France to mark 100 years since the Herefordshire Regiment suffered its second highest rate of casualties in the First World War.

The curator of the Herefordshire Regimental Museum Colonel Andy Taylor laid the wreath on July 23 at the Raperie Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery in the Aisne region of France where the regiment's casualties are buried.

It was on July 23, 1918 when the Herefordshire Regiment had their baptism of fire on the Western Front and suffered more than 250 casualties.

Colonel Taylor said: "The German spring offensive of March 1918 had met with great initial success, leading to a real threat that Germany could win the war that summer.

"The Allies reorganised and reinforced to counter the threat and this included the move of troops from the Middle East to the Western Front; this included the Herefordshire Regiment."

The battalion sailed from Egypt, landed in Italy and then travelled by train for eight days to join the British Army in France.

Colonel Taylor said: "The Herefords formed up and stepped off at 7.40am on the 23 July, within minutes they had their first experience of the hail of German machine gun fire.

"They advanced through high wet standing corn which considerably hampered their movement; the troops were decimated and the battalion suffered over 30 fatalities and other 230 casualties and could only advance some 1,100 metres, before they established a defensive line which they held until nightfall when they were relieved."

The battalion went into reserve until the 29th when orders were received to take part in a further assault in support of the French.

On the 30th the battalion came under artillery attack and for the first time experienced a German gas attack; five men were killed and 14 wounded.

At 5.15am on August 1 the battalion assaulted and made good progress but were held up by German machine gun fire. They established a defensive line until relieved at nightfall.

Colonel Taylor said: "Overall the French assault had been successful and the Herefords moved to join the main British Forces in the Ypres area on August 6."

Overall the battalion suffered the loss of three officers and 49 other ranks. More than were 290 wounded out of a strength of about 750.

Among the soldiers lost were: Major Whitehouse, from Hereford, LCpl John Bertram Symonds, from Hereford, Pte Adams from Brimfield, Capt John Sworder and Captain Haddo Drummond-Fraser.

After the Armistice on November 11 the regiment formed part of the Allied Army of occupation in the Rhineland, before gradually returning to civilian life.