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Age-20

London EC1

The Battle of Messines was a successful British offensive between 7th-14th June, 1917 that dislodged the German army from the Messines Ridge, a salient jutting into the British lines, that they had held since 1914. The front attacked ran south for nine miles from Mount Sorrel, through the villages of Messines and Wytschaete, down to Ploegsteert and its capture gave the British control of the high ground to the south of Ypres. This greatly facilitated their attack further north the following month which became known as the 3rd Battle of Ypres or Passchendaele. The success at Messines was a result of some careful planning and the explosion of nineteen large mines at zero hour on 7th June, along the length of the ridge. Twenty two mine shafts had been constructed but one was discovered by the enemy and destroyed and two failed to explode. Nevertheless the resulting explosion was so loud that it could be heard in London and so powerful that 10.000 German soldiers were killed. Nine British, Australian and New Zealand divisions then attacked behind a creeping artillery barrage and all first day objectives were soon taken. Over the next few days  German counter attacks were repelled and by 14th June the whole of the ridge had been captured.

On 7th June, 1917, 47th (London) Division attacked astride the Ypres-Comines canal in the northern section of the battle zone. Assisted by the great explosions of the Hill 60 and Caterpillar mines the attack was made successfully, by 140 and 142 Brigades with 141 Brigade in reserve. 140 Brigade moved forward south of the canal with their immediate objectives being the White Chateau and the stables to the south of it plus part of of the Damm Strasse trench. The Damm Strasse was a mile long, straight driveway from the St Eloi road to the White Chateau. Leading the attack at 3.10am were 7th London and 8th London with 6th London and 15th London later passing through them to the final objective. At 5.30am 6th London moved from their assembly point, across no-man’s-land to the captured enemy third line trench with only a few casualties. Here it was found that the White Chateau had not been taken and German machine-guns in the grounds were able to fire into the flanks of 6th London as they advanced. This problem was largely dealt with by Company Sergeant Major C Bitten who, acting on his own, dispersed the machine-gun crews with grenades and when these ran out, bricks. This allowed the others of the battalion to continue their advance and take the final objective, Opal Reserve Trench. This successful operation did not come without a price. 6th London, along with all the other battalions involved, suffered many casualties one of whom was William Mills.