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 Eventually, during the night of 3rd & 4th May the British forces were withdrawn from their forward positions and took up a new defensive line closer to Ypres.

Between 1st & 4th May, 1915 the British line was withdrawn to a more defensible one and the right of 27th Division joined up with 5th Division near Hill 60 whilst on the left, 80 Brigade, including the 3rd King’s Royal Rifle Corps battalion held a line from the Menin Road to a point half mile from the Roulers railway where they were subjected to the usual artillery and sniper fire. One of their casualties during this period was Clarence Hogg on 2nd May.