Current Information:

Born-Deptford

Battle of Frezenberg Ridge (8 May-13 May)

In April 1915 the Germans, using gas for the first time, launched an all out attack on the salient around the Belgian town of Ypres. It became a gargantuan struggle that lasted well into the next month and at the end of it, the salient, though drastically reduced, still stood.

The name is deceptive because the Frezenberg ridge, which lay to the north-east of the town rose to only 50 metres above sea level and was one of a series of low ridges that ran in a generally westerly direction and branched off the main ridge that ran north-easterly from Kemmel to Passchendaele. Nevertheless, it gave a commanding view down on to the town of Ypres and for that reason it was strategically important.

At the beginning of the month the 1st Rifle Brigade battalion of 11 Brigade, 4th Division were heavily involved in the fighting associated with the Battle of St Julien and then, on 8th May, after four days rest, they moved Into the line at Mousetrap Farm, a group of buildings surrounded by water on the high ground north of the hamlet of Wieltje. At first all the action was just to the south of this position where 28th Division felt the full force of the renewed German attack and the next few days passed relatively quietly for 1st Rifle Brigade.  There was some shelling which probably accounted for any casualties, including Charles Bevis who was killed on 9th May, but this fell mainly on the farm buildings which allowed the trenches to be improved.