Current Information:

Age-28

Born-Walworth

Enlisted-London

Battle of Bellewaarde (24th-25th May, 1915)

The line held by V Corps of the British Army in May 1915, stretched 5 ½ miles around much of the Ypres salient from Hill 60 to the junction with the French at Turco Farm in the north-east and was held from right to left by 83 Brigade, 28th Division, 1st Cavalry Division (1 & 2 Cavalry Brigades astride the Menin Road), 85 Brigade, 28th Division (across the railway and the Zonnebeke road) and then 10 Brigade, 4th Division covering Wieltje and up to Mouse Trap Farm with 12 Brigade beyond.  At 2.45am on 24th May, the Germans opened up a tremendous artillery bombardment on this front followed up by the release of gas in greater quantities than had been seen before with dense gas clouds rising to 40 feet. In some places no-man’s land was very narrow and the defenders had little or no time in which to don their gas masks. The centre of the line held firm but at the two extremities, Mouse Trap farm in the north and Bellewaarde Lake in the south, the enemy broke through. Reserves were called up but despite some hard fighting the losses were not made good and the salient around Ypres was further reduced.

Next to 2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers at Mouse Trap Farm, 2nd Royal Irish Regiment of 12 Brigade, 4th Division held a right angle where the front turned west and consequently they felt the full force of the gas. Many men were overcome and after taking Mouse Trap Farm, the Germans began bombing along the 2nd Royal Irish trench. A company of the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers battalion, also of 12 Brigade, were sent up from the switch trench behind the angle and finding three companies of 2nd Royal Irish still in possession of some of their line, helped them recover the lost trenches. But the enemy attacked again and the trench was once more lost. 2nd Royal Irish were simply overwhelmed as was the company of 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers with only one officer and eight men escaping. Among those killed was Samuel Randell of 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers.