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Menin Gate, Ypres Menin Gate, Ypres
First Name: Philip Harrison Last Name: BRISCOE
Date of Death: 23/04/1915 Lived/Born In: Streatham
Rank: Private Unit: Canadian15
Memorial Site: 1. Westbourne Park, St Stephen 2. Menin Gate, Ypres

Current Information:

Age-20

 

The Battle of Gravenstafel Ridge (22–23 April 1915)

In the late afternoon of 22nd April the Germans used poison gas on the Western Front for the first time when an unfamiliar green cloud was seen to rise from the German trenches on the northern part of the Ypres salient, held by two French divisions. It was chlorine gas and this destroys moist tissues such as lungs and eyes. The French troops in the path of the gas cloud suffered 6,000 casualties, many of whom died within ten minutes. Many others were blinded. Not surprisingly the French line broke leaving a four mile gap into which the German soldiers advanced. Desperate defending by Canadian troops prevented a complete German breakthrough but nevertheless a lot of ground was lost including Langemarck and Pilckem and the Ypres salient became even smaller. Two British divisions, the 27th and the 28th were holding the line nearby and they sent their reserves to try to stem the German tide. Although this action was given the name of the Battle of Gravenstafel Ridge, it was actually fought further to the west in the region of Koorslaere and to the west of St Julien.

The Canadians saved the day but paid a heavy price in casualties, a long list that included Philip Briscoe of the 15th Battalion who was killed on 23rd April.

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