Current Information:

Born-Deptford

Enlisted-Battersea

Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery, Belgium

Battle of St Julien, 24th April – 4th 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 Eventually, during the night of 3rd & 4th May the British forces were withdrawn from their forward positions and took up a new defensive line closer to Ypres.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. Late in the evening of 25th April, the 1st Somerset Light Infantry battalion 11th Brigade of 4th Division, was sent forward to relieve some hard pressed Canadian troops and fill a gap in the line between Fortuin and Hill 37. Despite digging all night they were only partially entrenched by daylight and in consequence suffered numerous casualties as they came under heavy shell fire and sporadic infantry attacks throughout the rest of the month. One of their casualties was John Pascoe who died from wounds on 29th April.