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Age-18

8, Shelton Road, Wimbledon

Battle of 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 Battle of Frezenberg Ridge which began on 8th May, 1915 was a further attempt to destroy the Ypres salient. 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 and 27th Division on the Frezenberg Ridge the full fury of which lasted for four hours. Parapets were flattened and trenches destroyed.  81 Brigade were hit by terrific shell fire from 6.45-11am  and an hour later the shelling started again resulting in heavy casualties for the forward companies of the 2nd Gloucestershire battalion. The following day, 9th May, was one of bitter fighting for 2nd Gloucestershire. 27th Division took the brunt of the continuing bombardment on their front from Zwarteleen to the Ypres-Zonnebeke railway which killed an entire platoon in their advanced flanking trench in the form of an arrow head opposite Stirling Castle.  The enemy then occupied this ground and counter attacks to try to regain it were unsuccessful only adding further to their casualty list of nearly 150, which included Wallace Hancock who was killed.