Current Information:

Born-Shepherd's Bush

Maple Copse Cemetery, Belgium

At the end of July 1915, the Germans had attacked the British line at Hooge, in the Ypres salient, using liquid fire or flame throwers and had captured part of the British line as well as the large mine crater there. The British were determined to regain control of these captured positions and their chance came early in August, 1915, when 18 Brigade and 16 Brigade of 6th Division launched an attack with the objective of doing just this.

In the early hours of 9th August, 1915, after a short, sharp artillery bombardment, the attack went in. 18 Brigade attacked from the south with 2nd Durham Light Infantry and 2nd Sherwood Foresters in front and 1st East Yorkshire in support. 16th London and 1st West Yorkshire were in reserve. 16 Brigade attacked from the south-west. 1st Shropshire Light Infantry and 2nd York & Lancaster charged in side by side with 1st East Kent (Buffs) in support. For once the attack was a complete success. The German trenches were soon taken and the two Brigades joined up in the crater. The whole 700 yards of the front, lost a week earlier was regained and the Germans suffered heavy casualties as well as having 130 men taken prisoner. The new positions were quickly consolidated and a German counter attack repulsed, but there were a number of casualties among the 1st London Field Company of the Royal Engineers whilst they were rewiring.

Most of 16th London’s casualties came from German shell fire. In the evening they relieved 2nd Durham Light Infantry and 2nd Sherwood Foresters in the front line and spent the night bringing in the wounded.