Current Information:

Age-29

104, Faraday Street, Walworth

20, Myatt Road, Brixton

The Battle of Nonne Bosschen 

The battle of Nonne Bosschen  on 11th November, 1914 was the final German attempt to break through the British lines around Ypres. They threw twelve and a half divisions into an attack against a nine mile front, stretching from Messines to Reutel (close to Polygon Wood). The main thrust of their attack was either side of the Menin Road where two fresh divisions, numbering around 10,000 men were thrown against eleven tired and depleted British divisions of around 4000 men. The attack was launched at 9 am after the heaviest artillery barrage yet seen and was protected by early morning mist. Astride the Menin Road the defenders were forced to give ground but more critical was the attack that penetrated the Guards Brigade line just to the north and allowed the Germans to get into Nonne Bosschen woods and threaten the artillery line. This threat was averted in the afternoon when a counter attack cleared the Germans from the wood. There was now no chance of a breakthrough and although the Germans made a few minor attacks over the next few days the First Battle of Ypres was finished.

At 9am on 11th November, the 2nd Highland Light Infantry battalion of 5 Brigade, 2nd Division, were ordered to move to the north-eastern corner of Polygon Wood where they found that the trenches 1st Brigade had lost earlier in the day had been retaken by 2nd Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry and other units. On the following day, 12th November, part of the line held by French troops was breached and 2nd Highland Light Infantry were sent to some dug-outs to help with the situation and that evening they occupied some nearby trenches where they stayed, under heavy shell fire until relieved on14th November. Charles McLean was killed here on 13th November.