Current Information:

Military Medal

Born-Penzance

Enlisted-Mill Hill

Haringhe (Bandaghem) Military Cemetery, Belgium

Throughout October 1918, the last full month of the war, the Allies were advancing all along the Western Front against a demoralised and drastically shrinking German Army which could do little other than fight, often desperate, rear guard actions. These continued to take a heavy toll of both sides, but failed to halt the forward momentum. Towns, villages and whole areas, which had been under German occupation for four long years were now liberated in a series of operations.

On 1st October, 1918, the 12th East Surrey battalion of 122 Brigade, 41st Division, moved, as the advance guard of the division, towards Menin from Ypres. 1000 yards short of the village of Gheluwe they were held up by a strong line of machine-gun posts. Attempts to advance were only partially successful and on the next day, the two other battalions of 122 Brigade passed through their line and continued the attack. A company from 12th East Surrey also moved forward to ‘mop-up’ part of Gheluwe and at 6.30pm there was a counter attack on the right flank of the Brigade front that the battalion played a part in repelling. Gordon Donaldson died from wounds on 2nd October.