Ex Magpie Progress 25 - 2nd Battle of Ypres

 On the afternoon of 22nd April 1915 the Germans released chlorine gas East of Ypres, the first action in the Second Battle of Ypres, and the first use of gas on the Western Front. 

Gas attack Ypres 22nd April 1915

Their aim was to  breakthrough and capture the Channel ports severing British logistic support. The gas attack occurred in the French Sector and caused a immediate withdrawal to escape the effects of the gas. British troops conformed and also withdrew.  

Second Battle of Ypres
Area lost during Gas Attack

At the beginning of the attack the British front line was North of the village of Langemarck where the German cemetery is located.

German Cemetery Langemark

German Cemetery Langemark

German Cemetery Langemark

German Cemetery Langemark Cenotaph

German Cemetery Langemark Cenotaph

Thanks to the resolute defence of the Canadian Division, who improvised gas protection, the German onslaught was held.

Second Battle of Ypres

The Brooding Soldier Monument unveiled in July 1923 commemorates the Canadian First Division's participation in the Second Battle of Ypres. 

It was located in the area where the German assault after the gas attack was halted.

Brooding Soldier Memorial

Brooding Soldier Memorial

The battle would grind on another four weeks.       

The Germans were unable to exploit the momentum of the initial gas attack. They did force a British withdrawal from the higher ground, but the desired breakthrough and the capture of Channel ports was not achieved.

Ex Reflect Somme - 2nd Northumbrian Brigade RFA

2nd Northumbrian Brigade RFA
Ypres Extension Cemetery

On the 24th May 1915 the 2nd Northumbrian Brigade RFA were at Potijze, two miles NE of Ypres. The Brigade had deployed one month earlier as part of the Northumbrian Division and was immediately engaged in the 2nd Battle of Ypres.

The Germans had released gas and tried to breakthrough the British lines, but were held by gallant actions of Canadian and British troops.

Gas Attack 2nd Battle of Ypres

The 50th Northumbrian Division were used to reinforce formations fighting in the Salient. The 2nd Northumbrian Brigade RFA deployed in support of 28th Division.

2nd Northumbrian Brigade RFA Location 24th May 1915

It was on the 24th May the Germans renewed their attack on this date in an attempt to
capture the Bellewaarde Ridge. The Brigade War Diary of records intensive artillery fire from the early morning.

At 7pm a German shell exploded on No. 1 gun killing 5 of the detachment and severely wounding the No 1. The war dairy records the loss of;

Corporal JA Carr and Gunners JW Clarke, G Robinson, JW Rowbottom, AW Venus.

At 08:30 Driver Wilson was killed.

The six men were buried at 11:20

 The Gunners remains were discovered  in 2013. They were identified from their shoulder titles which identified them as members of the North Riding Battery from the 2nd Northumbrian Brigade RFA.  Two of the six men could be identified; Gunners JW Rowbottom, AW Venus.

They were all reinterred on April 20th 2016 at a ceremony held in Ypres Town Cemetery Extension Cemetery. In the presence of the British Ambassador to Belgium and families, a burial party from 4th Regiment RA finally laid the men to rest.

World War One Soldiers laid to rest - a farewell for six fallen heroes

Ypres Town Cemetery Extension Cemetery

The opportunity was taken whilst in Ypres to visit the graves.

North Riding Battery Graves
Ypres Town Extension Cemetery

The six men are buried in Plot F II - Graves 33 to 38



F II Grave 33

A SOLDIER OF THE GREAT WAR
Royal Field Artillery

F II Grave 34

A SOLDIER OF THE GREAT WAR
Royal Field Artillery

 F II Grave 35

1308 Gunner
A.J. ROWBOTTOM
Royal Field Artillery

F II Grave 36

A SOLDIER OF THE GREAT WAR
Royal Field Artillery

F II Grave 37

A SOLDIER OF THE GREAT WAR
Royal Field Artillery

 F II Grave 38

1817 Gunner
A.W. VENUS
Royal Field Artillery






At the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate on the eve of the 1st July 2016 I laid a wreath in memory of the men of the 6 Gunners of the 2nd (Northumbrian) Brigade Royal Field Artillery.

Ex Reflect Somme - Menin Gate 1st July 2016

 

Menin Gate
1st July 2016



Ypres 2016 - Brooding Soldier Canadian Memorial



Canadian Flag 1914

The Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) was raised following the British Governments acceptance of an offer by the Canadian Government to recruit 20,000 men. Men from all over Canada answered the call to arms, and by September 1914 a Division had been raised, together with a reserve formation.

Canadian Expedition Force 1914

The CEF left Canada on the night of 23/24 September 1914 in 33 liners protected by the Royal Navy en route to Plymouth and Devonport, arriving the evening of 14th October . In England, the Division occupied camps on Salisbury Plain,  Bustard, West Down South, West Down North, Pond Farm, Lark Hill, and Sling Plantation. They trained and prepared for deployment to the Western Front.

The Canadians movement to France commenced 4th February 1914, the last transport reaching the port of St Nazzaire on 16th February. The Canadians first action was in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle 10-12 March 1914. After being relieved and a period of rest, they took over an area to the NE of Ypres from the French Army 15th - 17th April.

At around 17:00 on April 22, 1915, the German Army released one hundred and sixty eight tons of chlorine gas over a 5 mile front on the part of the line held by French.

The effect was devastating. Around 6,000 French and Colonial died within 10 minutes. The remainder abandoned their positions creating an 8,000 yard gap. As the Germans sought to  to exploit the gap, the Canadians fought fiercely to block German penetration. Reinforcements and ad hoc formations, including elements of the newly arrived Northumbrian Division, established defensive positions, though a great deal of ground was ceded to the Germans. Despite another gas attack on the 24th April, the Germans were unable to break though.



Gas Attack Ypres - 22nd April 1944



To commemorate the action of the 1st Canadian Division and the loss of 2,000 lives, the 'Brooding Soldier' memorial at Vancouver Corner was built as a memorial to the Canadian Troops.

Brooding Soldier
Vancouver Corner Ypres



Commemoration to Canadian Forces



Vancouver Corner
Ypres 2016