Current Information:

Age-33

Born-Southwark

Poperinghe New Military Cemetery, Belgium

On December 18th, 1915, the Germans began a heavy bombardment all along the Ypres salient and on the following day, 19th December, 1915, they used phosgene gas for the first time. 11th Essex of 18 Brigade, 6th Division were in Poperinghe at the time but were soon ordered forward to the Goldfish Chateau on the railway embankment running from Vlamertinghe to Ypres. There was a 30 foot gap in this embankment as a result of a direct hit by a huge shell. By now the gas was beginning to affect the men of 11th Essex, three of whose companies were distributed among the various dug-outs and trenches around the chateau. “A” Company received a direct hit and suffered a number of casualties. A platoon sent to the left of the gate of the chateau had only just arrived there when a shell fell among them, killing 3 and wounding 10. Another 4 men were killed when a dug-out received a direct hit from a shell hit which pierced 5 feet of earth and timber and buried several men.

Only a few parties of German infantry made an attack, most being hit by British fire as they crossed no man’s land. Some did get into the front trenches, where they were soon dealt with, but none made it as far back as Goldfish Chateau which was on the western side of Ypres.