Current Information:

Age-20

35, Leigham Vale, Streatham Hill

Born-Clapham

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.

24th Division were involved in the action on 7th June when 17 Brigade and 73rd Brigade were engaged in the northern section of the battle ground. 72 Brigade were in reserve and 9th East Surrey marched to Chateau Ségard, one mile north-west of Voormezeele where they stayed for three days, training and providing working parties mainly for the Royal Engineers. On 10th June they moved forward, still in support, to Mount Sorrel where the enemy shelling was much heavier and on 13th June, they moved forward to the front line on the western edge of Shrewsbury Forest. Here the shelling was even more intense and 9th East Surrey sustained over sixty casualties before the day ended. One of those killed was Sidney Fitchett.