Current Information:

Age-21

83, Tunstall Road, Addiscombe

Battle of St Julien (24 April – 4 May 1915)

Spurred on by the success of their gas attack on 22nd April, the Germans struck again two days later on the northern sector of the Ypres salient at St. Julien.  Once more chlorine gas was used and despite a resolute defence the British and Canadians were pushed back and St Julien was lost. For nearly 2 weeks the fighting continued on this front. The Germans persisted with their attacks, the British fought desperate rear guard actions and launched many counter attacks but gradually they were pushed further and further back. Eventually, during the night of 3rd & 4th May the British forces were withdrawn from their forward positions and took up a new defensive line closer to Ypres.

On 29th April, 1915, the 3rd Canadian battalion of 1 Brigade, 1st Canadian Division were relieved from the fighting here and moved to bivouacs at Vlamertinghe. On the evening of May 2nd, the day on which Fred Chambers lost his life, they were sent forward to the front line again but returned to their bivouacs the next day.