Current Information:

Age-31

61, Lucien Road, Tooting Common

Born-Marylebone

On 13th March, 1915, the 2nd Cornwall Light Infantry battalion of 82 Brigade, 27th Division, moved into front line at St. Eloi in the southern part of the Ypres salient. At 5pm the next day, 14th March, the Germans opened a very heavy bombardment on the trenches in front of St Eloi, the village itself and the approaches. Just south of the village was a large artificial mound, 10 metres high, and there the Germans blew two mines burying the machine gun team stationed on it. Two other mines were then blown underneath two of the trenches and this was followed by an infantry attack against the positions held by 2nd Cornwall Light Infantry.  A and C Companies were bombed out of their trenches but the other two companies hung on. At 6pm the Germans attacked the Mound and the trenches either side of it forcing the defenders to withdraw. All except B Company of 2nd Cornwall Light Infantry were relieved at midnight and moved back to Dickebusch. Later a counter attack by 80 Brigade recaptured some of the trenches but not the Mound. 2nd Cornwall Light Infantry suffered nearly 150 casualties as a result of this action, one of whom was John Stent.