Current Information:

Age-19

6, West Sheen Vale,  Richmond

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, 41st Division attacked in the northern part of the battle front with its first objective being the Damstrasse, a road that ran from St. Eloi down towards Wytschete. At 3.10am, the mines were blown all along the front and greatly assisted by the one at St Eloi and by accompanying tanks, the assaulting waves of 123 and 124 Brigades went over the top. The demoralised German defences were swept aside and by 5.00am the whole of the Damstrasse was in their hands. This was the signal for 122 Brigade to move forward and continue the attack. By 6am they were also on the Dammstrasse and fifty minutes later they began their move, easily crossing the 500 yards of flat ground on 41st Division’s front and gaining their objective on the back crest of the ridge, overlooking the Roozebeek valley after which 24th Division passed through them to continue the attack. The task of 12th East Surrey was to follow up close behind mopping up and clearing the German trenches in Pheasant Wood and Denys Wood which they did, capturing many prisoners in the process. The main danger to the battalion came from the artillery, both the German and their own. In the early hours of the morning while moving forward to their assembly positions the enemy artillery had caused a number of casualties among their ranks and later the British artillery, firing short, caused further death and injury. One of those killed was Frederick Wyatt.