Current Information:

Age-21

64, Harrow Road, Barking

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

At 2.45am on 24th May, the Germans opened upon this front a tremendous artillery bombardment 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.

When the attack began on 24th May, 84 and 80 Brigades of 28th Division were brought up to recover the lost ground at the Bellewaarde gap.  84 Brigade had seen a lot of action over the last month during the fighting associated with the Second Battle of Ypres and consequently were greatly reduced in numbers.  At 9.45am the 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers, 2nd Cheshire, 1st Suffolk and the 1st Monmouthshire battalions, all of 84 Brigade moved to the east of Vlamertinghe where they were joined by their last battalion, 1st Welsh.  These battalions were each only two companies strong and consisted almost entirely of recruits who had joined over the past ten days, many lacking in training and discipline.  At noon without waiting for 80 Brigade to arrive they were ordered to attack between Bellewaarde Lake and the railway, Moving across country south of Ypres they lost considerably from shellfire but nevertheless reached the GHQ line which in this sector ran from the middle of the north side of Zillebeke Lake, by Hell Fire Corner and then east of Potijze.  Here they were delayed by the wire of the GHQ line and enemy shell fire and it was not until 5pm that they launched their attack by which time the Germans were in Hooge and almost up to Railway Wood.  The first stage of the counter attack was successful and the enemy were evicted from Witte Poort Farm, half way between the Menin road and Railway Wood at which point 84 Brigade dug in to await 80 Brigade. The latter reached the GHQ line at 7pm and when eventually 84 Brigade HQ was located the decision was taken to make a night attack which took place at 11pm in bright moonlight during which 84 Brigade suffered 60% casualties.  The 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers sustained over 350 casualties including Thomas Newell and although his date of death was recorded as 26th May, by which time the battalion had been relieved and were in billets near Poperinghe, it is much more likely that he was killed on 24th May.