Current Information:

Age-25

61, Rendel Road, Custom House

Mendinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium

The Battle of Messines was a successful British offensive between 7th-14th June, 1917 that dislodged the German army from the Messines Ridge, a salient jutting into the British lines, that they had held since 1914. The front attacked ran south for nine miles from Mount Sorrel, through the villages of Messines and Wytschaete, down to Ploegsteert and its capture gave the British control of the high ground to the south of Ypres. This greatly facilitated their attack further north the following month which became known as the 3rd Battle of Ypres or Passchendaele. The success at Messines was a result of some careful planning and the explosion of nineteen large mines at zero hour on 7th June, along the length of the ridge. Twenty two mine shafts had been constructed but one was discovered by the enemy and destroyed and two failed to explode. Nevertheless the resulting explosion was so loud that it could be heard in London and so powerful that 10.000 German soldiers were killed. Nine British, Australian and New Zealand divisions then attacked behind a creeping artillery barrage and all first day objectives were soon taken. Over the next few days  German counter attacks were repelled and by 14th June the whole of the ridge had been captured.

On 7th June, 41st Division attacked in the northern part of the battle front with its first objective being the Damstrasse, a road that ran from St. Eloi down towards Wytschete. At 3.10am, the mines were blown all along the front and greatly assisted by the one at St Eloi and by accompanying tanks, the assaulting waves of 123 and 124 Brigades went over the top. The demoralised German defences were swept aside and by 5.00am the whole of the Damstrasse was in their hands. This was the signal for 15th Hampshire, 12th East Surrey and 11th Royal West Kent of 122 Brigade to move forward and continue the attack. By 6am they were also on the Dammstrasse and fifty minutes later they began their move, easily crossing the 500 yards of flat ground on 41st Division’s front and gaining their objective on the back crest of the ridge, overlooking the Roozebeek valley after which 24th Division passed through them to continue the attack. 18th King’s Royal Rifle Corps were in brigade reserve for this attack but that did not mean that they were not involved. Three of their companies were employed as carrying parties taking ammunition and other supplies forward across No-Man’s-Land to the forward troops. The German artillery remained active throughout the day and in order to interrupt this flow of supplies, No-Man’s-Land was particularly targeted and these carrying parties sustained a number of casualties. The fourth company was even more involved in the fighting being sent forward to the front line in support. All in all 18th King’s Royal Rifle Corps suffered over fifty casualties during the course of the day, one of whom was William Jacks who died of wounds on 9th June.