22 April 1915: Canadians ordered to assist the French

Battle Studies

The Second Battle of Ypres 1915

22 April 1915: 17.55

Battle of Gravenstafel Ridge

Canadian 3rd Brigade and divisional artillery ordered to assist the French

At 5.55pm Colonel C F Romer (1), a Staff Officer at the 1st Canadian Division headquarters in Chateau des Trois Tours, Brielen, sent a message by wire to the 3rd Canadian Brigade. A few minutes later it was received at Brigade headquarters in Mouse Trap Farm, located about 2 kilometres south-west of St. Julien:

"French 45th Division being heavily attacked aaa Order your Reserve Battalion [i.e. 14th Battalion in the 3rd Brigade reserve] to stand by aaa Render any help possible by rifle fire on your part aaa Our artillery has been directed to support the French." (2)

Map: Canadians required to help the French By order of Lieutenant-General E A H Alderson, the 1st Canadian Division commander, the Canadian divisional artillery in the line (see below) was instructed to assist the French 45th Division by firing at the German infantry advancing into the French-held sector on the Canadian left. Just after 6pm Colonel Romer wired this message to the Canadian divisional artillery:

"French 45th Div. being attacked on their right and centre aaa Help by bringing arty. [artillery] fire to bear." (3)

The Canadian Field Artillery batteries in support of the Canadian front line were 8 batteries located north-east and south-east of St. Julien:

2nd Brigade CFA with 4 batteries south-east of St. Julien: half of 5th, 6th, 7th, half of 8th. Attached: half of 2nd, half of 3rd.
3rd Brigade CFA with 4 batteries north-east and south-east of St. Julien: 9th, 10th, half of 11th, 12th. Attached: half of 8th

Acknowledgements

(1) It is believed that this is the same Colonel Frederick Charles Romer listed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as being killed and missing at the Battle of Loos later that same year on 26th September 1915. He was serving with the 8th Battalion The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). His initials seem to have been transposed to C F in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt of Honour Register. He is commemorated on the Loos Memorial (Panel 15-19) at Dud Corner Cemetery located on the N43 Lens-Bethune road.

(2) War Diary of 1st Canadian Division, April 1915 Appendices: ref. WO95/3717

(3) War Diary of 1st Canadian Division, April 1915 Appendices: ref. WO95/3717