Current Information:

Age-28

52, Cotton Street, Poplar

Reninghelst New Military Cemetery, Belgium

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 two 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 Eventually, during the night of 3rd & 4th May the British forces were withdrawn from their forward positions and took up a new defensive line closer to Ypres.  

On 26th April, 1915, the 12th Lancers of 5 Cavalry Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division left Vlamertinghe and made their way forward, dismounted, to trenches at Potijze to bolster the defences there. They remained in these forward positions, under shell fire until 2nd May when they moved back to the horses at Bussebom. While they were evacuating these trenches the enemy attacked after releasing gas and although this was beaten off it caused some casualties among 12th Lancers, including George Mayne who was killed.