Essex Yeomanry - Ypres Battle of Frezenberg Ridge 1915
Essex Yeomanry were involved in the
Battle for Frezenberg Ridge on May 13 1915. This battle took
place as part of the 2nd battle of Ypres. Following three weeks
of heavy fighting which included the use of chlorine gas the
Essex Yeomanry were moved into a support position at the
strategically important Frezenberg Ridge.
Their main task was to dig a communications trench to ease
communications between the front line and GHQ.
At 4am the Germans started a bombardment which lasted 4 hours
and damaged the defensive trenches held by the second Life
Guards, Leicestershire Yeomanry and the third Dragoon Guards.
The German offensive took the trenches held by the lifeguards
and desperate fighting took place.
Reinforcements were called for and the Essex Yeomanry, The Horse
Guards and the tenth Hussars charged the trenches and drove back
the German offensive.
Killed in Action
Major A
Roddick
Lieutenant G S Johnson
2nd Lieutenants A
G Swire and G P N Reid
Sergeants D
Ledger, L C Deakin, S Newman, A Pearce, J W Draper and T Clark
Corporals T
Allen and E F Bird
Lance Corporal F
M Seabrook
Privates F
E bell, J Truefit, C Taylor, B Snell, E P Propert, O Askew, B W
Blencoe, F J Deighton, W E Gardiner, J Petchey, R C Ridgewell, H
C Smith, R Lagden, H D McTurk, A T South, A J Wild, W E Jones, D
H Taylor and D W Christie.
Wounded and then
Reported Missing
Lt Colonel E
Deacon
Sergeant L
E Butcher
Corporal E
E Glew
Privates S
Fairhead, J W Taylor, C H Cattell, C E Green, B W Beggin, W
Nunn, S E Newman, H E Mansfield, B Mann, R Millar, C H Brazier
and J Barker.
Reported Missing
Sergeant C E Brock
Privates L A Hill, E J Prime, A J Mills,
J Millbank, H G Wright, J Green, E S Diggens and H W Cunningham
Wounded
Captain A R Steele
Lieutenants V
T C Vine and R Edwards
2nd Lieutenant H
P Holt
SSM H
H Newman
Sergeants H Mann, H D Pritchard, F B
Speakman, P Hoare, R C Packer, E W Walker and J H Moody
Corporals K
Grant, A Blyth, W J Hart, E Appleton, G R Williams, S Brown and
E Ridgewell
Lance Corporals W
G Baker, W Chapman, Croxon, G J Wyatt and G C Deverell
Privates J
C Finney, W T Dunmore, L H Jenkyn, J L Hallett , W Connolly, W
Last, G Austin, A Smith, E G Newcombe, W H Pennell, P D Manning,
H W Godfrey, K Holland, P Harvey, A Ball, L Smith, N Leeder, N J
Cunningham, E G Moss, G W Fox, H W Hutton, T W harvey, E Pegrum,
G J Adams, E D Dorrington, W Butcher, W Joyce, J Franks, C
Errington, R Hall, H Waller, G A Rivers, F C Woods, W Beeney, H
Richards, C A Curtis, H Taylor, R C Caines, G Scrivener, R G
Townsend, H E Thompson, H W Swann, E H Finch, A J Bond, G
Cottee, W Day, C A Robins, J Sparrow, J J Taylor, W J Revell, A
J Wyatt, J S Rust, D W Steward, A E Brice, W T Bentley, C J
Curtis, J W Jordan, O T Sutton, E E Minns, P J Dyer, E W Bewers,
O Hughes, J E Banks, W T Gowlett, A Baynes, H R Rowell, R
Robinson, H H Lang, D Hurst, M D Free, R Clare, F F Rayner, R P
Baker, C J Bruce, J H Sergeant, C H Veal, and H R Whent
Commended
The thirty
one members of the Yeomanry, listed below, were mentioned in the
Regimental War Diary for their conduct during this battle.
Major A Roddick for the pace and dash with which he led the
attack
Captain E A Ruggles-Brise, Lt R A Thompson , Sergeant Howard,
Lance Corporal Wardill and Private Smy for their gallantry in
holding an advanced position in some ruined houses until dark
after they had been cut off.
Corporal Frost, Privates Schwier, Johnson and Dean for stretcher
bearing under heavy fire.
Privates Anning and Wier for bravery and
coolness in action.
Privates
Holland and Bates for useful reconnaissance and coolness in
action.
Gordon Grant of Burnham is mentioned by
the General for coolness and bravery under fire.
Sergeants Hodge, Pritchard, Ledger and Walker
Corporals Bird
and Fred Bosworth
Lance-Corporals Turnell,
Seabrook and Rex
Privates Cornell,
Holton, Manning, Medlicott, F Smart, Ernest Skinner, A D
Tompkins and Anning.
