Current Information:

Age-36

29, Strickland Street, Deptford

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

On 22nd April, 1915 the Germans launched a major assault on the the Ypres salient when they used gas as a weapon for the first time. After a series of battles, the line held by the British at the start of the last week in May 1915 stretched for 5 miles around much of the significantly reduced Ypres salient from Hill 60 round to the junction with the French at Turco Farm in the north-east. 83 and 85 Brigades of 28th Division held some of this line with 84 Brigade in reserve At 2.45am on 24th May, the Germans opened upon this front a tremendous artillery bombardment followed 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.

The 2nd East Kent (Buffs) battalion were on the right of 85 Brigade, 28th Division and at 4.30am A Company and half of C Company were sent to assist the cavalry and reinforce the trenches of 9th Lancers astride the Menin Road. At 6.30am, B Company and the other half of C Company were sent from the reserve line to reinforce 3rd Royal Fusiliers when they tried, unsuccessfully, to retake lost trenches.  As the companies moved forward they were met by heavy shell fire and very few of them made it across. With the enemy in great strength the remainder of 2nd Buffs were ordered to support 3rd Royal Fusiliers in the trenches close to the Menin Road to which they had withdrawn and which German shell fire had made into a death trap.  In the early afternoon, D Company moved up from GHQ line to assist but met such terrific fire that only 30 of them made it.  With the enemy working round their right flank the situation was critical. Some relief came at 5pm with a counter attack by 84 Brigade but this attack, which was continued that evening, was ultimately unsuccessful and many from the attacking battalions were forced back into the positions held by 2nd Buffs and 3rd Royal Fusiliers.  A Company stayed here for three days under German artillery and mortar fire and sniper activity.  They were often knee deep in water and were continually digging.  To make matters worse, little or no rations were received. Finally, on 29th May they marched back to billets east of Poperinghe. Frederick Poole was one of the 350 casualties sustained by the battalion during this battle.