Most of the territorials on the Ibstock memorial served in the 46th (North Midland) Division, but two others found themselves in the 1st/1st battalion of the Cambridgeshire Regiment. For nineteen year old George Burton and twenty four year old George Sharpe the war was to be short and intense.

Burton and Sharpe were just two of a group of miners from Ibstock, and its surroundings, who were processed at Leicester's Market Place recruiting office in March and April of 1918. Harry Harrison and John Luther King, both from Ibstock, along with Edwin Johnson from Ellistown had all joined on 13/04/1918. While George William Smith of Ibstock joined on the 15/4/1918, and there were others from Hugglescote, Whitwick, Measham and Coalville. They were all posted to the 3rd Leicesters at Halsham and had soon entered basic training.

It's a time of crisis for the Allies on the Western Front and Burton and Sharpe must have wondered if the war might be over and lost before they ever set foot in France. As their training nears completion influenza becomes a problem at the camp, and at least three of this group are hospitalised for a week before returning to duty. In the second week of August 1918 news comes of their eminent departure to France and in a last taste for freedom individually, or in small groups, several overstay their passes on 14/8/1918. Three days later they had arrived at the South Coast ready to embark from Dover on the 17th August 1918. Their first destination in France is the “K” Infantry Battalion Depot.

The tide had begun to turn on the Western Front and the enemy was once again retreating to the Hindenburg Line. The mood had changed to cautious optimism, could the end of the war really be in sight? In the fluid situation this large draft of men from the Leicesters found themselves transferred to 1/1st Cambridgeshire, a battalion that had suffered high casualties in its advance from Morlancourt to the Maltz Horn Ridge on the Somme in early August. Within a week of arriving in France all the Liecester men were renumbered on the 24.8.1918 and they had joined their new battalion in the field just five days later on 29/8/1918.

Burton and Sharpe and the others would never experience some of the worst horrors of the trenches, the Army's organisation, tactics and all-arms cooperation and evolved and improved by 1918, but the enemy's machine guns and artillery were still capable of inflicting serious losses amongst troops on the offensive.

Within just six days of joining the 1/1st Cambridgeshire, and with no prior combat experience, Burton, Sharpe and all the others, were to be in the thick of battle. The 12th Division had been given the task of attacking the enemy trenches and positions around Nurlu Village. Zero hour was 6.45 am on the 5th September and the attack was launched with two brigades. There was strong resistance and formidable wire, after the Sussexs and Norfolks were unable to get through the obstacles the 12th Division's history says:

The fighting lasted more that than 24hrs before the position was carried. Amongst the long list of casualties is William Hunt from Ibstock who is wounded in the leg and is evacuted to the UK three days later. His war is over. George Sharpe is one of the many killed in action that day. He is buried at III. M. 37. Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension with many other 1/1st Cambridgeshire men, including Second Lieutenant George Goodwin Rudgard Nock at V. M. 3 who had been gazetted on 28 March 1917 and first attached to the Suffolk Regiment.

The pursuit of the enemy continued for several miles until on the 8th September when fire from the Epehy area caused troops to dig in. It's then that the 1/1st Cambridgeshire were relieved. There was only a short respite before the 12th Division was to attack Epehy, a strong outpost of the Hindenburg Line. Troops from three brigades are used, with the 1/1st Cambridgeshire for the capture of Epehy itself. In heavy rain, and harassed by fire and gas shells, the troops assembled for attack on 18th September. After heavy fighting the southern end of Epehy was taken by the Norfolk and Essex. The Cambridgeshire was then order to make a fresh advance through the village. The 12th Division's history says:

Enemy strongholds at nearby Malassise Farm and Fishers Keep held on stubbornly and caused heavy casualties but gradually resistance was overcome. Over the next few days further attacks were made against heavily defended posts and trenches; fighting was intense and progress slow.

George Burton is just one of many casualties in this attack, he was killed in action on the 18/9/1918 and is buried at ii.c.18 Epehy Wood Farm Cemetery, Epehy along with many others from the 12th Division.

The 1/1st Cambridgeshire go on to be involved in the Battle of the St Quentin canal and the Final Advance in Artois.

George William Smith of Ibstock is reported missing on 7/10/1918. He was taken prisoner and is repatriated on 3/12/1918. The other survivors are promptly released from the Army in December 1918 and early January 1919, to return to their jobs in the mines.