Current Information:

Born-Deptford

Enlisted-Stratford

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.

On 8th May, 1915 at dawn there was a violent bombardment on the front held by 28th Division on the Frezenberg Ridge. The full fury of the bombardment lasted for four hours. Parapets were flattened and trenches destroyed.  At 8.30am the German guns lifted onto the support trenches and approach roads and their infantry assaulted the front of the ridge with the brunt of the attack falling on 3rd Monmouth and 2nd Royal Lancaster of 83 Brigade and 1st Suffolk and 2nd Cheshire from 84 Brigade on a front that ran from near Frezenberg village to Mouse Trap Farm. It lay on the exposed forward slopes of the ridge but was not subjected to any enfilade fire.  This first attack was driven off as was the second that came after another ½ hour bombardment but it left nearly all the men in the front line either killed, wounded or buried.  It was impossible to get reinforcements to them so when the third attack came at 10am,  again either side of Frezenberg village, it succeeded, especially as it coincided with Brigade orders for the front line to be evacuated. The survivors of 3rd Monmouth and 2nd Royal Lancaster fell back to their support trench as did the extreme right of 1st Suffolk. This retirement of 83 Brigade left 84 Brigade dangerously exposed on their flank but 1st Suffolk, 2nd Cheshire as well as 1st Monmouth and 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers in support, remained in their trenches despite heavy losses, chiefly from shell fire.  However they could not hang on for ever

Throughout the afternoon and still in the support trenches, 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers were hanging on despite the annihilation of 1st Monmouth and the full concentration of the German attack upon their front and flank.  A small parapet was thrown up on their right flank and they awaited the counter attack of 85 Brigade but they waited in vain because this was taking place two miles away on the other side of the gap created by the German offensive.  At 7pm, 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers were preparing to evacuate these positions when there was yet another bombardment and infantry attack  But by now the Germans were in the trenches captured from 1st Monmouth, and were able to fire from the rear on the various groups, many with wounded, making their way back. The stubborn defence by 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers of a beleaguered position was one of the heroic episodes of the war.  Their casualties for the day amounted to 500 officers and men and included James Young.