Current Information:

Born-Wandsworth

Enlisted-London

Battle of St Julien, 24th April – 4th 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 2 weeks the fighting continued on this front. The Germans persisted with their attacks, the British fought desperate rear guard 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 Eventually, during the night of 3rd & 4th May the British forces were withdrawn from their forward positions and took up a new defensive line closer to Ypres.

On 24th April, 1915, C Company and two platoons of A Company of the 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers battalion of 84 Brigade, 28th Division were sent to support the Canadians south-west of the Zonnebeke-St Julien road and helped repulse the enemy attack there while the rest of the battalion manned other trenches at Zonnebeke. 26th April was a relatively quiet day for those of the battalion in the Zonnebeke trenches but the detachment on the Zonnebeke-St Julien road had a much tougher time where they faced an attack by a large force and at one stage were in danger of being surrounded. Fortunately reinforcements arrived just in time and they were able to hold onto their positions and even improve them that evening. On 28th April came together again in the Zonnebeke trenches where they remained until relieved on 3rd May. Ernest Payne was killed on 30th April but the battalion diary provides no further information concerning his death.