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Born-Marylebone

The Battle of Hill 60 (17 April – 7 May 1915)

Hill 60 is at the southern end of the Ypres Salient and is a man made mound from earth excavated from the nearby railway. It was an important vantage point for whoever controlled it which at the beginning of 1915 were the Germans. In April 1915, 5th Division took over the line in front of it and prepared to capture it. On 17th April six mines were blown beneath it which so discombobulated the defending Germans that 13 Brigade was able to capture it, sustaining only seven casualties. However, holding it was a much more difficult task. German artillery began to pound the position and early next morning they launched three counter attacks which were only repelled after heavy losses and only after the British had been forced back to the crest of the hill. Later that evening British counter attacks retook all of the hill The next three days saw intense German shelling of the position and numerous counter attacks until it was a mass of shell holes and mine craters. Between 1st and 5th May the Germans launched a series of attacks preceded by gas and eventually after desperate fighting, took back the hill.

During the night of 16-17 April, 13 Brigade of 5th Division took over the trenches in front of Hill 60 with 1st Royal West Kent and 2nd Scottish Borderers in front. The 2nd West Riding battalion were in support near Zillebeke lake and 2nd Yorkshire Light Infantry were in reserve.  At 7am the next day six mines were blown and 1st Royal West Kent and 2nd Scottish Borderers stormed and captured the hill. At first the enemy response was slow and 13 Brigade had time to consolidate their new positions but just after midnight the Germans made a determined attack to retake the hill. The British troops on the hill were subjected to a terrific artillery bombardment and were pushed back to the crest on the right. However most of Hill 60 still remained in British hands.

At 8.30am on 18th April 2nd West Riding relieved 1st Royal West Kent and 2nd Scottish Borderers. After a day of heavy shelling and fierce fighting a counter attack was launched at 6pm by 2nd West Riding and 2nd Yorkshire Light Infantry which regained the whole hill. At some stage during the fighting William Martin was killed.