Current Information:

Age-30

83 Kensal Road, Westbourne Park

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 Eventually, during the night of 3rd & 4th May the British forces were withdrawn from their forward positions and took up a new defensive line closer to Ypres.

28th Division was one of the units drawn into this battle and on 19th April, 1915, the 1st Yorkshire light Infantry battalion of 83 Brigade left their huts between Vlamertinghe and Ypres and moved into trenches in the Ypres salient. Here they came under heavy and persistent shell fire for the rest of the month and as a result sustained a number of casualties. One of these was Charles Ferguson who was killed on 25th April.