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The Battle of Ypes, British
Offensive October - November 1914 shown in military art print depicting
the 2nd Battalion Ox and Bucks defeating the Prussian Guard published by
Cranston Fine Arts, the military print company.
Battle for Ypres. During World war one there were three major battle for Ypres. (A
Belgium Town west of Flanders and South of Ostend) The first a British
Offensive between October and November 1914. The fighting was extremely
heavy and ended up with the Germans gaining the commanding ground around
Ypres including the Ridge of Messines. The British and French held the
saliant around Ypres which extended into the German line, This made
the area held by the British and French to be bombarded by three fronts
and nearly from the rear as well. The losses were estimated to be 150,000
casualties each on both sides.
The second Battle for Ypres (April to May 1915) opened with a Chlorine
gas attack by the Germans, This opened a large gap in the British lines,
But the Germans were unable to exploit the situation, before the British
and Canadians had filled the gap with reserves. More gas attacks followed, and the
Allied forces had to withdrawal a small area ,making there incursion in
the German Line smaller.
The Third Battle for Ypres in July to November 1917, is known as
Passchendale. This Allied Offensive was fought by British, Canadian and Australian
troops and was launched with the aim to Capture the Belgian
ports held by the Germans. Fought in very bad conditions in driving rain
and waterlogged ground, the Allies lost over 300,000 casualties for the
gain of only a few miles.
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Defeat of the Prussian Guard at Ypres, 1914, by the 2nd Battalion Ox and Bucks (52nd) by William Barnes Wollen.
Depicting the Ox and Bucks during close quarter combat amongst the forest area around Ypres. 1914.
Open edition print. Image size 25 inches x 15 inches (64cm x 38cm). Price £43.00
**Open edition print. (Three copies reduced to clear) Image size 25 inches x 15 inches (64cm x 38cm). Price £32.00
ITEM CODE DHM0199
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Sgt. Robert Bye VC, 1st Battalion Welsh Guards near Langemarck by David Rowlands.
3rd Battle of Ypres, 31st July 1917
Open edition print. Image size 17 inches x 12 inches (43cm 31cm). Price £37.00
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 17 inches x 12 inches (43cm x 31cm). Price £95.00
Signed edition print. Image size 17 inches x 12 inches (43cm x 31cm). Price £50.00
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £500.00
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £390.00
ITEM CODE DHM0612
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Sergeant Clarke Directing The Defence Of Chateau Herentage During The First Battle Of Ypres.
When the first German attack on the Ypres salient in November 1914, culminated in a charge of the Prussian Guard on November 11th, Sergeant Clarke was stationed with his troop of the 15th Hussars and a party of Turcos in the Chateau of Herentage with orders to hold it at all cost. The Prussian Guard broke the British front line, and advancing in a great wave, surged round the Chateau, but Clarke had posted his men so skilfully that their rapid fire made the enemy think the place was held in force and they made no attempt to storm it. For two and a half hours this handful of men was utterly isolated, but at length relief arrived. Clarke received the D.C.M. for his leadership in a critical situation.
First World War antique black and white book plate published c.1916-18 of glorious acts of heroism during the Great War. This plate may also have text on the reverse side which does not affect the framed side. Title and text describing the event beneath image as shown. Paper size 10.5 inches x 8.5 inches (27cm x 22cm). Price £13.00
ITEM CODE DTE0074
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The Recoil Of His Gun Often Threw Sergeant Bailey To The Ground.
On the 1st November 1914, at Ypres, when the guns of the 150th Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, were being continually employed in shelling the enemy, a breech mechanism of a gun at which Sergeant D. B. Bailey was working became overheated and resulted in premature firing, causing the carriage to recoil. Sergeant Bailey was thrown to the ground by this on several occasions, and showed most gallant spirit in working his gun after regaining consciousness. Again on the next day he continued to work his gun after being wounded in the head by a shrapnel bullet. For his bravery on this occasion and on many others, he was awarded the D.C.M.
First World War antique black and white book plate published c.1916-18 of glorious acts of heroism during the Great War. This plate may also have text on the reverse side which does not affect the framed side. Title and text describing the event beneath image as shown. Paper size 10.5 inches x 8.5 inches (27cm x 22cm). Price £13.00
ITEM CODE DTE0106
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Colour Sergeant Hall falls mortally wounded in attempting to rescue a wounded comrade.
On April 23rd 1915, a wounded man, who was lying some fifteen yards from a British trench in the neighbourhood of Ypres, called for help, and Company Sergeant Major Frederick William Hall, of the 8th Canadian Battalion, endeavoured to reach him in the face of a very heavy enfilade fire which was being poured in by the enemy. The first attempt failed, and a non commissioned officer and private soldier, who were attempting to give assistance, were both wounded. Company Sergeant Major Hall then made a second most gallant attempt, and was in the act of lifting up the wounded man to bring in when he fell mortally wounded in the head. For his most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrificing conduct, Colour Sergeant Hall was awarded the V.C.
First World War antique black and white book plate published c.1916-18 of glorious acts of heroism during the Great War. This plate may also have text on the reverse side which does not affect the framed side. Title and text describing the event beneath image as shown. Paper size 10.5 inches x 8.5 inches (27cm x 22cm). Price £13.00
ITEM CODE DTE0535
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Major Ing Checking A Retirement At A Critical Moment.
On May 13th 1915, during the second Battle of Ypres, the British line gave way before the tremendous bombardment of the enemy, and as the huge high explosive shells burst on the parapets, completely shattering the trenches, survivors of the ordeal hastily retired. Seeing men falling back, Major George Harold Absell Ing, of the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queens Bays), came back from his trench in the front line and standing with resolute courage on a road exposed to an appalling shellfire, ordered about forty bewildered men in the act of retiring, to join his section of the defence. His gallant action had far reaching results, and he was deservedly awarded the D.S.O.
First World War antique black and white book plate published c.1916-18 of glorious acts of heroism during the Great War. This plate may also have text on the reverse side which does not affect the framed side. Title and text describing the event beneath image as shown. Paper size 10.5 inches x 8.5 inches (27cm x 22cm). Price £13.00
ITEM CODE DTE0181
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Lieutenant Brooke Leading An Attack Under Rifle And Machine Gun Fire To Recapture A Lost British Trench.
On October 31st 1914, the day of the great German onslaught in the first battle of Ypres, Lieutenant James Anson Otho Brooke, of the 2nd Battalion The Gordon Highlanders, was sent across with a message from the right flank to the centre of the defence. He arrived just as the British were once more being driven back by the sheer weight of overwhelming numbers. Seeing that a general counter attack could not be organised to prevent the Germans breaking through, he gathered a handful of men, consisting of servants, coks and orderlies, from the rear: and amidst a storm of bullets from rifles and machine guns, dashed forward and recaptured a lost British trench. He and nearly all his men were killed, but for his most gallant conduct Lieutenant Brooke was awarded the V.C.
First World War antique black and white book plate published c.1916-18 of glorious acts of heroism during the Great War. This plate may also have text on the reverse side which does not affect the framed side. Title and text describing the event beneath image as shown. Paper size 10.5 inches x 8.5 inches (27cm x 22cm). Price £13.00
ITEM CODE DTE0314
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Sergeant Harvey Collecting The Wounded And Placing Them in an Ambulance Wagon Under Heavy Fire.
Following their great attack of October 31st 1914, the Germans made yet another supreme effort on November 11th to break through the British lines in front of Ypres. For the final stroke the 1st and 4th Brigade of the Prussian Guard were brought up from the Arras district, and launched against the point of the British salient on the Menin road. On the following day Sergeant A. Harvey, of the 2nd Battalion West Riding Regiment, collected sixteen wounded men by himself and placed them in an ambulance wagon on the Menin road under continuous shrapnel fire. For his conspicuously gallant conduct he was awarded the D.C.M.
First World War antique black and white book plate published c.1916-18 of glorious acts of heroism during the Great War. This plate may also have text on the reverse side which does not affect the framed side. Title and text describing the event beneath image as shown. Paper size 10.5 inches x 8.5 inches (27cm x 22cm). Price £13.00
ITEM CODE DTE0342
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A Company of the 9th Argylls Advancing Under Heavy Fire to Reinforce the 2nd Camerons During the Second Battle of Ypres.
Between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. on May 10th 1915, during the Second Battle of Ypres, the regiment of the 9th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Territorial Force) was ordered to reinforce the 2nd Camerons with two companies. Major George James Christie thereupon led A and D Companies through a terrific shellfire to a position two hundred yards west of Hooge. But at 9.30 he was ordered to reinforce the trench south of the Menin Road, which was reported to be breaking. A Company was chosen, and led with dauntless courage by Major Christie; they went forward in short rushes with shouts of Good old 9thArgylls. The advance lay over a bare slope without any cover from the terrible fire, but though men fell fast these brave Scotsmen never wavered.
Title and text describing the event beneath image as shown. Paper size 10.5 inches x 8.5 inches (27cm x 22cm). Price £13.00
ITEM CODE DTE0231
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Corporal Schultz Dressing Wounded Under Heavy fire During The Second Battle of Ypres.
During the second battle of Ypres, Corporal Sam Schultz, of the 10th Canadian Battalion, was in charge of about ten other medical orderlies and fatigue men at a dressing station near Wieltje. On the night of April 24th 1915, the house, which was close behind the British lines, and hardly more than a hundred yards from the German trenches, was practically destroyed by shellfire, and Schultz and his party were obliged to perform their duties in extreme peril. Throughout the night, however, Schultz remained at his post and did not withdraw until the following afternoon, when all the wounded had been removed. He was rewarded with the D.C.M. for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.
First World War antique black and white book plate published c.1916-18 of glorious acts of heroism during the Great War. This plate may also have text on the reverse side which does not affect the framed side. Title and text describing the event beneath image as shown. Paper size 10.5 inches x 8.5 inches (27cm x 22cm). Price £13.00
ITEM CODE DTE0329
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Company Quartermaster-Sergeant Downs Working His Machine Gun From A Haystack For Five Days Under Heavy Fire.
Quartermaster-Sergeant Downs was largely responsible for the training of the machine gunners of the 1st Cheshire Regiment, who did brilliant work in the early stages of the campaign. On one occasion downs and his section were working their machine guns from a haystack for five days to cover the advance of the regiment. All that time they were under heavy shellfire, and the stack itself was hit once, whilst some artillery near by suffered heavy casualties. Nevertheless as observer, he was able to signal the position of a German trench, which was demolished by howitzers.
First World War antique black and white book plate published c.1916-18 of glorious acts of heroism during the Great War. This plate may also have text on the reverse side which does not affect the framed side. Title and text describing the event beneath image as shown. Paper size 10.5 inches x 8.5 inches (27cm x 22cm). Price £13.00
ITEM CODE DTE0054
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Driver G. Smith Saving Panic Stricken Horses From A Burning Farm.
During the terrible German bombardment of Ypres and neighbourhood in April and May, it was quite impossible to find safe quarters even for hospital installations. The artillery and transport horses were continually under fire and many crises occurred. On one occasion a barn in which several horses were stalled was set on fire by a shell. The plight of the terrified animals can well be imagined, but driver G. smith, of the 61st Battery R.F.A., proved himself a man for the moment, and, rushing into the burning building, drew them out into safety, for which action he received the D.C.M.
First World War antique black and white book plate published c.1916-18 of glorious acts of heroism during the Great War. This plate may also have text on the reverse side which does not affect the framed side. Title and text describing the event beneath image as shown. Paper size 10.5 inches x 8.5 inches (27cm x 22cm). Price £13.00
ITEM CODE DTE0046
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Private Callf Pulling A Box Ammunition Out Of A Bomb Store Set Alight By The Bursting Of A Shell.
On September 25th 1915, four attacks, which were secondary to the main British attack in the south, were undertaken between the south of the Ypres salient and the La Passee Caral. The main British attack was, in a sense, made in support of the great French effort in the south. In the early hours of the morning, great masses of British troops were to be seen moving through the communication trenches, which led to the first line. At Festuber a shell burst in the trench, which were very crowded at the time, and set fire to a large bomb store. Private A. Callf, of the 9th Battalion Cheshire Regiment, at once pulled out a box of small arms ammunition, which was burning, and carried it from the trench.
First World War antique black and white book plate published c.1916-18 of glorious acts of heroism during the Great War. This plate may also have text on the reverse side which does not affect the framed side. Title and text describing the event beneath image as shown. Paper size 10.5 inches x 8.5 inches (27cm x 22cm). Price £13.00
ITEM CODE DTE0321
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Sepoy Khudadad Workingta Machine Gun After The Rest Of The Gun Detachment Had Been Killed.
On October 31st 1914, the first battle of Ypres reached its most critical stage. For a time General Allenby held the whole lne from Klein Zillebeke to Hollebeke, with only his cavalry and two exhausted battalions of the 7th Indian Brigade. While numerous German shells were bursting over the trenches at Hollebeke, a British officer, commanding a machine gun detachment, was wounded and all except one of the guns were put out of action. Though wounded he, Sepoy Khudadad, of the 129th Duke of Connaughts Own Baluchia, with great courage stayed to work his gun until all his comrades of the detachment had been killed. He was awarded the V.C. for most conspicuous gallantry.
First World War antique black and white book plate published c.1916-18 of glorious acts of heroism during the Great War. This plate may also have text on the reverse side which does not affect the framed side. Title and text describing the event beneath image as shown. Paper size 10.5 inches x 8.5 inches (27cm x 22cm). Price £13.00
ITEM CODE DTE0294
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Private J. Little Collecting Important Documents From A house Which Was Being Heavily Shelled.
On the afternoon of November 4th 1914, during the first battle of Ypres, the German artillery got the range of the 1st Corpse Headquarters, and several men were killed or wounded. On receiving orders the survivors left the house, but it was then discovered that important documents had been left behind. Private John little, of the 1st Battalion, Cameron Highlanders, gallantly returned and, while the house was being rapidly levelled by the enemys shellfire, collected the papers and carried them to safety. For his gallantry and devotion to duty he was awarded the D.C.M. He has since been awarded the Russian Order of St. George (3rd Class)
First World War antique black and white book plate published c.1916-18 of glorious acts of heroism during the Great War. This plate may also have text on the reverse side which does not affect the framed side. Title and text describing the event beneath image as shown. Paper size 10.5 inches x 8.5 inches (27cm x 22cm). Price £13.00
ITEM CODE DTE0748
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Corporal Redpath Shooting German Snipers At Point Blank Range During The First Battle Of Ypres.
When on November 11th 1914, during the first battle of Ypres, the Prussian Guard carried the first line trenches of the British at three points, the Battalion Headquarters Staff of the British suddenly found themselves between their retreating comrades and the enemy. The colonel and adjutant, with the advice of Corporal Robert Redpath, of the 1st Battalion Royal Highlanders (The Black Watch) who was attached with twenty men to Headquarters, decided to order rapid firing so as to disguise the weakness of their numbers and thus check the enemys advance. Redpath and his men therefore left their dugouts and, taking cover behind some farm buildings, opened fire on the enemy. When fifty yards off the enemy halted, but several of their snipers crept forward. With great courage Corporal Redpath came out into the open and shot dead two of the enemy who were only twenty yards away. For the gallantry and ability, which he had shown on this and a previous occasion, Corporal Redpath was awarded the D.C.M.
First World War antique black and white book plate published c.1916-18 of glorious acts of heroism during the Great War. This plate may also have text on the reverse side which does not affect the framed side. Paper size 10.5 inches x 8.5 inches (27cm x 22cm). Price £13.00
ITEM CODE DTE0791
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Privates Martin and Burrell bringing ammunition across open ground under heavy shellfire.
On the afternoon of April 26th 1915, during the second battle of Ypres, the Northumberland Infantry Brigade advanced against St Julien, and for a time occupied the southern part of the village. The brigade eventually occupied a line a short way to the south, and it was driven back was largely due to the use of poison gas by the Germans. During the attack, Privates C. Martin, and G. Burrell, of the 7th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (T.F.) carried up a box of ammunition to the firing line, across open ground and under a heavy fire. The two men advanced entirely unsupported and were cheered by their comrades for their bravery. They were both awarded the D.C.M. for conspicuous gallantry.
First World War antique black and white book plate published c.1916-18 of glorious acts of heroism during the Great War. This plate may also have text on the reverse side which does not affect the framed side. Title and text describing the event beneath image as shown. Paper size 10.5 inches x 8.5 inches (27cm x 22cm). Price £13.00
ITEM CODE DTE0407
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Provisional Farrier Sergeant Cussens extricating horses from stables in which a shell had burst.
For conspicuous gallantry and coolness on November 5th 1914, at Ypres in extricating the horses after a shell had burst in the stables, Provisional Farrier-Sergeant T Cussens, of the army service corps, was awarded the D.C.M. The shell killed six men and many horses.
First World War antique black and white book plate published c.1916-18 of glorious acts of heroism during the Great War. This plate may also have text on the reverse side which does not affect the framed side. Title and text describing the event beneath image as shown. Paper size 10.5 inches x 8.5 inches (27cm x 22cm). Price £13.00
ITEM CODE DTE0515
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Sgt. Robert Bye VC, 1st Battalion Welsh Guards near Langemarck by David
Rowlands 3rd Battle of Ypres, 31st July 1917.
Defeat of the Prussian Guard at
Ypres, 1914, by the 2nd Battalion Ox and
Bucks (52nd) by William Barnes Wollen. depicting the Ox and Bucks during close quarter combat amongst the forest
area around Ypres. 1914.
Sergeant Clarke Directing The
Defence Of Chateau Herentage During The First Battle Of Ypres. When the first German attack on the Ypres salient in November
1914, culminated in a charge of the Prussian Guard on November 11th,
Sergeant Clarke was stationed with his troop of the 15th
Hussars and a party of Turcos in the Chateau of Herentage with orders to
hold it at all cost. The
Prussian Guard broke the British front line, and advancing in a great
wave, surged round the Chateau, but Clarke had posted his men so
skilfully that their rapid fire made the enemy think the place was held
in force and they made no attempt to storm it.
For two and a half hours this handful of men was utterly
isolated, but at length relief arrived.
Clarke received the D.C.M. for his leadership in a critical
situation.
The Recoil Of His Gun Often Threw
Sergeant Bailey To The Ground.
On the 1st November 1914, at Ypres, when the guns of
the 150th Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, were being
continually employed in shelling the enemy, a breech mechanism of a gun
at which Sergeant D. B. Bailey was working became overheated and
resulted in premature firing, causing the carriage to recoil.
Sergeant Bailey was thrown to the ground by this on several
occasions, and showed most gallant spirit in working his gun after
regaining consciousness. Again
on the next day he continued to work his gun after being wounded in the
head by a shrapnel bullet. For
his bravery on this occasion and on many others, he was awarded the
D.C.M.
Colour
Sergeant Hall falls mortally wounded in attempting to rescue a wounded
comrade.
On April 23rd 1915, a wounded man, who was
lying some fifteen yards from a British trench in the neighbourhood of
Ypres, called for help, and Company Sergeant Major Frederick William
Hall, of the 8th Canadian Battalion, endeavoured to reach him
in the face of a very heavy enfilade fire which was being poured in by
the enemy. The first
attempt failed, and a non commissioned officer and private soldier, who
were attempting to give assistance, were both wounded.
Company Sergeant Major Hall then made a second most gallant
attempt, and was in the act of lifting up the wounded man to bring in
when he fell mortally wounded in the head.
For his most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrificing conduct,
Colour Sergeant Hall was awarded the V.C.
Major Ing Checking A Retirement At
A Critical Moment.
On May 13th 1915, during the second Battle of Ypres,
the British line gave way before the tremendous bombardment of the
enemy, and as the huge high explosive shells burst on the parapets,
completely shattering the trenches, survivors of the ordeal hastily
retired. Seeing men falling
back, Major George Harold Absell Ing, of the 2nd Dragoon
Guards (Queens Bays), came back from his trench in the front line and
standing with resolute courage on a road exposed to an appalling
shellfire, ordered about forty bewildered men in the act of retiring, to
join his section of the defence. His
gallant action had far reaching results, and he was deservedly awarded
the D.S.O.
Lieutenant Brooke Leading An
Attack Under Rifle And Machine Gun Fire To Recapture A Lost British
Trench. On October 31st 1914, the day of the great German
onslaught in the first battle of Ypres, Lieutenant James Anson Otho
Brooke, of the 2nd Battalion The Gordon Highlanders, was sent
across with a message from the right flank to the centre of the defence.
He arrived just as the British were once more being driven back
by the sheer weight of overwhelming numbers.
Seeing that a general counter attack could not be organised to
prevent the Germans breaking through, he gathered a handful of men,
consisting of servants, coks and orderlies, from the rear: and amidst a
storm of bullets from rifles and machine guns, dashed forward and
recaptured a lost British trench. He
and nearly all his men were killed, but for his most gallant conduct
Lieutenant Brooke was awarded the V.C.
Sergeant Harvey Collecting The
Wounded And Placing Them in an Ambulance Wagon Under Heavy Fire.
Following their great attack of October 31st 1914, the Germans made yet
another supreme effort on November 11th to break through the British
lines in front of Ypres.
For the final stroke the 1st and 4th Brigade of the Prussian
Guard were brought up from the Arras district, and launched against the
point of the British salient on the Menin road.
On the following day Sergeant A. Harvey, of the 2nd Battalion
West Riding Regiment, collected sixteen wounded men by himself and
placed them in an ambulance wagon on the Menin road under continuous
shrapnel fire. For his
conspicuously gallant conduct he was awarded the D.C.M.
A Company of the 9th
Argylls Advancing Under Heavy Fire to Reinforce the 2nd Camerons During
the Second Battle of Ypres. Between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. on May 10th 1915, during the
Second Battle of Ypres, the regiment of the 9th Argyll and
Sutherland Highlanders (Territorial Force) was ordered to reinforce the
2nd Camerons with two companies. Major George James Christie thereupon led A and D
Companies through a terrific shellfire to a position two hundred yards
west of Hooge. But at 9.30
he was ordered to reinforce the trench south of the Menin Road, which
was reported to be breaking. A
Company was chosen, and led with dauntless courage by Major Christie;
they went forward in short rushes with shouts of Good old 9thArgylls. The advance lay over a bare slope without any cover from the
terrible fire, but though men fell fast these brave Scotsmen never
wavered.
Corporal Schultz Dressing Wounded
Under Heavy fire During The Second Battle of Ypres. During the second battle of
Ypres, Corporal Sam Schultz, of the
10th Canadian Battalion, was in charge of about ten other
medical orderlies and fatigue men at a dressing station near Wieltje. On the night of April 24th 1915, the house, which
was close behind the British lines, and hardly more than a hundred yards
from the German trenches, was practically destroyed by shellfire, and
Schultz and his party were obliged to perform their duties in extreme
peril. Throughout the
night, however, Schultz remained at his post and did not withdraw until
the following afternoon, when all the wounded had been removed.
He was rewarded with the D.C.M. for conspicuous gallantry and
devotion to duty.
Company Quartermaster-Sergeant Downs Working His
Machine Gun From A Haystack For Five Days Under Heavy Fire. At Ypres, Quartermaster-Sergeant Downs was largely
responsible for the training of the machine gunners of the 1st Cheshire
Regiment, who did brilliant work in the early stages of the campaign.
On one occasion downs and his section were working their machine
guns from a haystack for five days to cover the advance of the regiment.
All that time they were under heavy shellfire, and the stack
itself was hit once, whilst some artillery near by suffered heavy
casualties. Nevertheless as observer, he was able to signal the position
of a German trench, which was demolished by howitzers.
Driver
G. Smith Saving Panic Stricken Horses From A Burning Farm. During the terrible German bombardment of Ypres and
neighbourhood in April and May, it was quite impossible to find safe
quarters even for hospital installations.
The artillery and transport horses were continually under fire
and many crises occurred. On
one occasion a barn in which several horses were stalled was set on fire
by a shell. The plight of the terrified animals can well be imagined, but
driver G. smith, of the 61st Battery R.F.A., proved himself a man for
the moment, and, rushing into the burning building, drew them out into
safety, for which action he received the D.C.M.
Private
Callf Pulling A Box Ammunition Out Of A Bomb Store Set Alight By
The Bursting Of A Shell. On September 25th 1915, four attacks, which were
secondary to the main British attack in the south, were undertaken
between the south of the Ypres salient and the La Passee Caral.
The main British attack was, in a sense, made in support of the
great French effort in the south. In
the early hours of the morning, great masses of British troops were to
be seen moving through the communication trenches, which led to the
first line. At Festuber a shell burst in the trench, which were very
crowded at the time, and set fire to a large bomb store. Private A. Callf, of the 9th Battalion Cheshire
Regiment, at once pulled out a box of small arms ammunition, which was
burning, and carried it from the trench.
Sepoy Khudadad Workingta Machine
Gun After The Rest Of The Gun Detachment Had Been Killed. On October 31st 1914, the first battle of Ypres
reached its most critical stage. For
a time General Allenby held the whole lne from Klein Zillebeke to
Hollebeke, with only his cavalry and two exhausted battalions of the 7th
Indian Brigade. While numerous German shells were bursting over the trenches
at Hollebeke, a British officer, commanding a machine gun detachment,
was wounded and all except one of the guns were put out of action.
Though wounded he, Sepoy Khudadad, of the 129th Duke
of Connaughts Own Baluchia, with great courage stayed to work his gun
until all his comrades of the detachment had been killed.
He was awarded the V.C. for most conspicuous gallantry.
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| Battle for
Ypres. During World war one there were three major battle for Ypres. (A
Belgium Town west of Flanders and South of Ostend) The first a British
Offensive between October and November 1914. The fighting was extremely
heavy and ended up with the Germans gaining the commanding ground around
Ypres including the Ridge of Messines. The British and French held the
saliant around Ypres which extended into the German line, This made
the area held by the British and French to be bombarded by three fronts
and nearly from the rear as well. The losses were estimated to be 150,000
casualties each on both sides.
The second Battle for Ypres (April to May 1915) opened with a Chlorine
gas attack by the Germans, This opened a large gap in the British lines,
But the Germans were unable to exploit the situation, before the British
and Canadians had filled the gap with reserves. More gas attacks followed, and the
Allied forces had to withdrawal a small area ,making there incursion in
the German Line smaller.
The Third Battle for Ypres in July to November 1917, is known as
Passchendale. This Allied Offensive was fought by British, Canadian and Australian
troops and was launched with the aim to Capture the Belgium
ports held by the German's. Fought in very bad conditions in driving rain
and waterlogged ground. The Allies lost over 300,000 casualties for the
gain of only a few miles. Private J. Little Collecting Important Documents
From A house Which Was Being Heavily Shelled.
On the afternoon of November 4th 1914, during the
first battle of Ypres, the German artillery got the range of the 1st
Corpse Headquarters, and several men were killed or wounded.
On receiving orders the survivors left the house, but it was then
discovered that important documents had been left behind.
Private John little, of the 1st Battalion, Cameron
Highlanders, gallantly returned and, while the house was being rapidly
levelled by the enemys shellfire, collected the papers and carried
them to safety. For his
gallantry and devotion to duty he was awarded the D.C.M.
He has since been awarded the Russian Order of St. George (3rd
Class)
Corporal Redpath Shooting German Snipers At Point
Blank Range During The First Battle Of Ypres.
When on November 11th 1914, during the first battle of
Ypres, the Prussian Guard carried the first line trenches of the British
at three points, the Battalion Headquarters Staff of the British
suddenly found themselves between their retreating comrades and the
enemy. The colonel and
adjutant, with the advice of Corporal Robert Redpath, of the 1st
Battalion Royal Highlanders (The Black Watch) who was attached with
twenty men to Headquarters, decided to order rapid firing so as to
disguise the weakness of their numbers and thus check the enemys
advance. Redpath and his
men therefore left their dugouts and, taking cover behind some farm
buildings, opened fire on the enemy.
When fifty yards off the enemy halted, but several of their
snipers crept forward. With
great courage Corporal Redpath came out into the open and shot dead two
of the enemy who were only twenty yards away.
For the gallantry and ability, which he had shown on this and a
previous occasion, Corporal Redpath was awarded the D.C.M.
Privates Martin and Burrell
bringing ammunition across open ground under heavy shellfire.
On the afternoon of April 26th 1915, during the
second battle of Ypres, the Northumberland Infantry Brigade advanced
against St Julien, and for a time occupied the southern part of the
village. The brigade
eventually occupied a line a short way to the south, and it was driven
back was largely due to the use of poison gas by the Germans.
During the attack, Privates C. Martin, and G. Burrell, of the 7th
Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (T.F.) carried up a box of ammunition
to the firing line, across open ground and under a heavy fire.
The two men advanced entirely unsupported and were cheered by
their comrades for their bravery. They
were both awarded the D.C.M. for conspicuous gallantry.
Provisional Farrier Sergeant
Cussens extricating horses from stables in which a shell had burst.
For conspicuous gallantry and coolness on November 5th
1914, at Ypres in extricating the horses after a shell had burst in the
stables, Provisional Farrier-Sergeant T Cussens, of the army service
corps, was awarded the D.C.M. The
shell killed six men and many horses.
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