Current Information:

Age-42

36, Harling Street, Camberwell

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 Eventually, during the night of 3rd & 4th May the British forces were withdrawn from their forward positions and took up a new defensive line closer to Ypres.

4th Division had spent the winter holding the line at Ploegsteert, but on 24th April 1915, they were rushed north to Ypres at short notice, to reinforce the hard pressed defenders facing the German gas attacks there. During the night 28th-29th April the 1st Rifle Brigade battalion of 11 Brigade, entrenched and occupied a line from the cross roads immediately south-east of Kansas Cross to the bridge over the Hanebeek on the Gravenstafel road. The 1st May was comparatively quiet as was the 2nd May until the evening that was when a furious German howitzer bombardment started but this time without a following infantry attack. 1st Rifle Brigade suffered 30 casualties, including Frederick Crane who was killed, and then had to spend all night repairing the trenches.