Impression sketch
of St Julien, 1915 - by Jamie.an original image can be seen at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/bandl.danby/004Bn1915.htmlDescribed in prior reports, German gas
Attacks, north of Ypres, had been
made
At different times against British
forces.
Around one particular section, it
was
Not until 24 April, when in early
hours
That enemy gas bombs were used.
One eyewitness on the lines stated
That late afternoon, on Thursday
last,
French were pulling back on the west.
From a southerly direction, clouds
Of gas were drifting over ground
Driven by wind - closing in on them.
Their own position was occupied,
Being then shelled with explosives
Of high density - through until 8 p.m.
On following day of Friday, saw some
Hours of bombardment of inclusion
Of gases - in attempt to poison them.
The German enemy infantry only lay
From about 120 yards away - to
expect
An effect to put heads above
parapets.
Intermittently to give accompaniment
Of rapid rifle fire - when wind
dispersed
Gases - the enemy made no advance.
Thinning gas fumes made little
effect -
Then on dawn of the Saturday, a
sight
Of an airship appeared eastwards.
'Four red stars' fell from craft, to
float
Slowly down dying out - their
fixation
To observe this turned back to front.
A smoky wall had formed, blurring
all
Views of enemy behind yellowish -
Green vapours, pushed by a breeze.
The invisible enemy made fire through
The wall – a prisoner said later how
They were unable to take advance -
Gas fumes had affected themselves.
12.30 a.m. on Sunday 25th were
more
Repeated attacks, forcing a fall back.
Allied retreated NW of Zonnebeke,
On part of the Grafenstafel Ridge,
For a line to reform along a stream
-
For a distance on the Haanebeek -
While no change had remained
Along the Yperlee Canal, until 26th.
At St Julien and east of their village,
Germans, in gathering over previous
Evening, then started their attack.
Each new assault grew more fierce
Yet with reinforcements, the witness
Stated the allied position as
secured.
About Broodseinde, to the east, the
line
Was cut into and Germans occupants
Settled into a section of
allied trenches.
On afternoon of 26th, under a heavy
Bombardment, French and British East
Of St. Julien and Steenstraat moved.
Making a combined counter attack
Which raised right along the front -
To be described as a turning point.
A point to stop the enemy offence,
Allowing the allied to gain ground -
Giving needed relief of pressure.
In that counter attack of a narrow
Front, squeezed the guns - increased
Fire from left, came the French 75’s.
Over from the right British
Batteries,
At odd times above the thundery
Noise, spewed howitzers from Ypres.
To the witnesses’ right, infantry
began
A storm of enemy trenches nearby
St Julien, to capture the village
edge.
Further trenches were taken from
The Bois des Cuisinirs sitting west
Of St. Julien, with more elsewhere.
The advance was made to take
700 yards - only to fall back from
St. Julien as gas came once again.
As enemy made emplacements
With rattling machine guns in barns
And finds of other advantage spots.
French captured prisoners of 250 -
To retake Lizerne and Het Sas
Trenches and by canal's west bank.
With suffering on both sides, fights
Took place out in open daylight, as
Both sides pushed at varied points.
The Germans made close formations
Of their large numbers, in easy artillery
Targets- night fell with no
occurrences.
As the 27th
dawned, an organic line
Of allies held Zonnebeke north -
while
Eastern edge of the ridge was to
bend -
Southwest, a mile east to St. Julian,
From Haanabeek stream, in a curve
To Vamheule Farm to curve westerly -
Across Low ridges, west to east,
Onto the Ypres Langemarchk Road
To join the French section’s
progress.
From the canal’s west bank Germans
Had been displaced, except at bridge
Head of Steenstraat, which they held.
In a counter attack lunch hour, progress
Between the canal and road of Ypres-
Poelcapplle; till right and centre stopped.
Remained the same as previous day.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1915. Fighting at Ypres – Extensive
Use of Poisonous Gas – Value in defence - Gallant Airman’s Death. The Daily
Telegraph, [online] 3 May. P.10.
Col.4. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11574527/Daily-Telegraph-May-3-1915.html
[Accessed: 3 May 2015].
Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 3 May 2015).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1St.Julien
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