Battle Studies
The
Second Battle of Ypres 1915
|
Battle Studies
The
Second Battle of Ypres 1915
|
 |
 |
 |
| 22 April 1915: 17.15 |
Battle
of Gravenstafel Ridge
|
13th
Canadian Battalion responds to the German attackThe rifle, artillery fire and the gas itself spread the alarm throughout the 1st Canadian Division area. The commanders gave appropriate orders to meet this strange event in the French 45th Algerian Division sector on their left.
The right wing of the French 1st Battalion Tirailleurs, on the immediate left of the Canadians, had not been badly affected by the gas and they had remained in their position. The men of the 2nd bis Zouaves (half a battalion), who were in support behind them to the north of Kitchener's Wood, had also remained in position.
The
left hand Canadian company of 13th Battalion was No. 1 Company
under the command of Major McCuaig. He led one of his platoons across
the Poelcappelle-St. Julien road and into the trenches of the
1st Company of the French 1st Battalion Tirailleurs of 45th
Division. He found them holding a breastwork 75 metres from the road.
They were exchanging brisk fire with German soldiers who were occupying a hedge
about 100 metres away.
Lack of cover prevented any extension of the French line further to the rear, so half of the Canadian platoon took up a position in echelon and along the ditch of the St. Julien-Poelcappelle road. They were soon joined by another platoon and a Colt machine gun.
Several hundred metres behind the left of the 13th Battalion lay two supporting platoons of No. 3 Company under Major Edward C Norsworthy; they also lined the ditch of the road and swelled their numbers by collecting some Algerian riflemen (Tirailleurs) driven out of their positions by the gas.
There were now seven machine guns mounted in the front line of 13th Battalion:
Acknowledgements
Official History of the Canadian Forces in The Great War 1914-1919
Copyright Joanna Legg & Graham Parker © 2002 All rights reserved
|
|
|