Current Information:

Born-Islington

On 25th March, 1915, 1st Dorset battalion of 15 Brigade, 5th Division moved into the front line north of the canal at Ypres where they remained until relieved three days later. William Casswell was killed here on 27th March but the battalion diary provides no further information concerning his death. The attrition rate among British soldiers on the Western Front was on average 300 each day and 60% of these were as a result of shellfire. When not involved in an actual battle it was either shell fire or a sniper’s bullet that caused most deaths and injuries.