Current Information:

Age-28

295, Wick Road, Homerton

On 2nd December 1914, the 2nd West Yorkshire battalion of 23rd Brigade, 8th Division went into the front line from Pont Logy to Chapigny, a mile north of Neuve Chapelle and for the next three weeks spent three day spells in the trenches here followed by three days in billets in reserve. The first seventeen days here were largely uneventful until 18th December when they were involved in a Brigade attack on Neuve-Chapelle during which 2nd Devonshire and part of 2nd West Yorkshire captured some German trenches. That evening 2nd West Yorkshire moved into these trenches and spent the night consolidating them. The following day 19th December, the Germans launched a strong bombing attack on the battalion and one platoon was immediately knocked out.  The German bombs, or grenades, were round, fitted with time fuses and had an effective range of 40 yardsThey were far superior to than the British ‘jam-tin’ bombs which were difficult to light and on this occasion refused to light at all. As a result 2nd West Yorkshire had no answer to them and were forced back to their original line. They suffered over 120 casualties, mostly sustained during the retirement. One of their casualties was Michael Donovan who was killed on 19th December.