Current Information:

Age-31

10 A Block, Guinness Building, Hammersmith

Battle of St Julien, 24 April – 4 May 1915

Spurred on by the success of their gas attack on 22nd April, the Germans struck again two days later on the northern sector of the Ypres salient at St. Julien.  Once more chlorine gas was used and despite a resolute defence the British and Canadians were pushed back and St Julien was lost. For nearly 2 weeks the fighting continued on this front. The Germans persisted with their attacks, the British fought desperate rear guard actions and launched many counter attacks but gradually they were pushed further and further back. Eventually, during the night of 3rd & 4th May the British forces were withdrawn from their forward positions and took up a new defensive line closer to Ypres.

4th Division had spent the winter holding the line at Ploegsteert, but on 24th April 1915, they were rushed north to Ypres at short notice, to reinforce the hard pressed defenders facing the German gas attacks there. On 2nd May all three brigades of the division were holding the northern and critical face of the Ypres salient from Berlin Wood to Turco Farm. At noon the enemy opened up a violent bombardment and at 4pm gas shells began falling on the British lines. Half an hour later gas was released on a three mile front across a no-man’s-land that was 100-150 yards wide and in its wake came the inevitable infantry attack. The gas took 2-3 minutes to reach the British line and then 15 minutes to pass over. The 1st Royal Lancaster battalion of 12 Brigade were in the line and when some of 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers and 2nd Essex, on either side of them were driven back from their trenches. However 1st Royal Lancaster in the centre, were able to hold off the attack but one of their listening posts in a farmhouse was captured by the Germans before being retaken later. Following this the reserves moved up and the German attack was contained.  Ond of the battalion’s casualties on this day of heavy fighting was John Howard who was killed.