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| Hill 60 German bunker IJ |
Hill 60 takes it's name from a spoil heap formed during the construction of the railway line from Ypres - Comines, which opened in opened in 1854.
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| Ypres - Comines Rail Line |
Before World War One the mound left from the digging of a rail cutting was called "La Côte des Amants", Lovers Knoll. The spoil excavated was piled either side of the railway cutting. On the west side, a 270 metre long ridge known as the Caterpillar resulted, on the east side, a mound 60 feet high (18 metres) gave the feature it's name. Hill 60 would provide an excellent view of Ypres and Zillebeke.
To the south west of Hill 60 is St Eloi and the Messines Ridge running 12 km south through the villages of Wystsheate and Messines to Ploegstreet Wood.
The Hill was initially held by the French, however it was captured by the Germans in December 1914 during the First Battles of Ypres. The British took over from the French in the sector on the night of 1/2 February 1915.
The importance of the hill for artillery observation made the feature vital ground and the struggle for control would result in bitter fighting over the next four years. A tunnelling war developed with both sides blowing mines to destroy defences as part of the efforts to secure the feature.
In March 1915 tunnelling work commenced to place five mines underneath Hill 60. These were blown on the morning of 17th April, their effect not only destroyed German defences, it blew the top off the hill reducing it's height to less than 20 feet (6 metres) metres, leaving prominent craters. The 1st West Kents and 6th Kings Own Scottish Borderers quickly overcame the defenders and consolidated their position.
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| Hill 60 Mine Craters |
The hill was retaken by the Germans during the afternoon of 18th April after three attacks, however, by the evening a British counter attack regained the lost ground . An German attack on the 21st April, prior to the Second Battle of April was repulsed. It was during this action that Second Lieutenant Geoffrey H Woolley, serving with Queen Victoria's Rifles [9th (County of London) Battalion London Regiment], was awarded the Victoria Cross, the first VC to be awarded to a Territorial Officer.
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| Defence oh Hill 60 19-21 April |
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2.Lieiut Geoffrey Wooley Victoria Cross Action
Defence of Hill 60 Queen Victoria Rifles - 9th London Regiment
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Hill 60 would once again fall to the Germans in May 1915. A A series of gas attacks starting on the 1st of May and bitter fighting finally resulted in the Germans regaining the hill on the 5th May. British counter attacks on the 7th May failed to remove the enemy defenders.
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| Hill 60 Trench Map August 1916 |
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Hill 60 Front Lines
British Front Line - German Front Line
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| Caterpillar |
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| Hill 60 |
In August 1915 tunnelling operations began on two mines, one under the Caterpillar, the other under Hill 60 to prepare for a future campaign in Flanders.
Hill 60 and the Caterpillar would remain in German hands for nearly two years. This gave the Germans the opportunity to strengthen their positions including the building of strongpoints and bunkers.
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| German fortifications Hill 60 |
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| German bunker Hill 60 |
At 03:10 on 7th June 1917 following a the 12 day preliminary bombardment, mines under Hill 60 and Caterpillar were detonated.
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| Battle of Messines Mines |
The 23rd Division on the extreme left flank of Second Army's assault on the Messines Ridge were tasked with seizing Hill 60 and the Caterpillar. Leading the X Corps attack with axis an on Hill 60, were the 69th and 70th Brigades who were able to seize the shattered remains of the German defences. The 68th Brigade, which included the 10th and 11th Battalions Northumberland Fusiliers, and 12th and 13th Battalions Durham Light Infantry would follow on to consolidate the objectives.
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| Hill 60 destroyed German bunker |
In April 1918 the German Army launched the second of it's Spring Offensive operations, Operation Georgette. The British were pushed back to the River Lys and once again Hill 60 changed hands and it was back under German control. On the 11th April 1918 Field Marshall Haig issued his 'backs to the wall' message urging no further retreat of British Forces, and the German advance faltered. Despite further German attemps to breakthrough, notably on the River Aisne, the Spring Offesive failed.
In August 1918 the Allies went on the offensive forcing the Germans into a retreat. An Army Group commanded by King Albert of the Belgians launched an offensive in Flanders in September, and on the 28th September Hill 60 was regained by the Aliies, and would remain in their hands till the Armistice, November 11 1918.
A memorial plaque on Hill 60 records the fight for control over four years of war.
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| Hill 60 Commemoration Stone |
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| Hill 60 Commemoration Stone |
Hill 60 had seen many major actions over the four years of war resulting in thousands of casualties, many of whom remain buried in the ground of the hill as it was pulverised by artillery and mine explosions.
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| Hill 60 WW1 |
The site is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and regarded as a war grave as remains of those killed during the bitter fight still lie beneath the land.
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| Hill 60 2020 |
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| Hill 60 Donkeys |
