Current Information:

Dickebusch New Military Cemetery, Belgium

During the evening of 1st March, 1915, the 4th King’s Royal Rifle Corps battalion of 80 Brigade, 27th Division left their billets in Dickebusch and moved to St Eloi, just to the south of Ypres, to carry out an attack on the enemy lines there. They were ordered to attack and capture the section of trenches opposite the Brigade line which they would then hand over to 3rd King’s Royal Rifle Corps, who were holding the line there. There was some initial success but it was short lived when they came up against well constructed defences and stiff opposition and most of D Company, which were in the vanguard of the attack, became casualties along with many from the supporting companies. In the end all they managed to gain was a sap which was handed over before the battalion made their way back to Dickebusch having suffered over 100 casualties.

After a brief rest, 4th King’s Royal Rifle Corps were back in the trenches at St Eloi on 3rd March for two days and then again on 7th March for a further two days. Robert Nelson died from wound on 7th March but it is not known when he was wounded.