Current Information:

Age-22

57, Edithna Street, Landor Road, Stockwell

Born-Holloway

Battle of Frezenberg Ridge (8 May-13 May)

In April 1915 the Germans, using gas for the first time, launched an all out attack on the salient around the Belgian town of Ypres. It became a gargantuan struggle that lasted well into the next month and at the end of it, the salient, though drastically reduced, still stood.

The name is deceptive because the Frezenberg ridge, which lay to the north-east of the town rose to only 50 metres above sea level and was one of a series of low ridges that ran in a generally westerly direction and branched off the main ridge that ran north-easterly from Kemmel to Passchendaele. Nevertheless, it gave a commanding view down on to the town of Ypres and for that reason it was strategically important.

27th Division had been heavily involved in the defence of Ypres and on May 3rd, 1915, 81 Brigade, including 2nd Gloucestershire had pulled back to the eastern edge of Sanctuary Wood. These new positions needed consolidating and this had to be done over the next few days whilst they came under very heavy artillery fire from an an enemy who was building up to a further attack, launched on 8th May.