Battle of Bellewaerde

[Guest Afryl]

Hi,

I wonder if anybody can help me,

my great grandfather Daniel John Davies fought in Ypres in the First World War.

His regimental number is 22868

 

He was in Welsh regiment "D" Coy 1st Battalion.

He was killed on the 25th of May 1915, although his body was never found.

Going by the dates I am presuming he was in the Battle of Bellewaerde?

He has a plaque at the Menin Gate.

There is a family story that he went over the top on a white horse never to be seen again 

but you know what family stories are like!

Any more information would be gratefully received.

 

Kind regards

Afryl

[GraemeClarke]

Hi

 

Welcome to the Forum

 

     His battalion commenced an attack against Bellewaarde Farm at 3pm on Monday 24 May 1915. The first attack was beaten back as was a similar enterprise at 8.15pm.

     Shortly after midnight the battalion moved through Railway Wood and then made a bayonet charge against the Germans. Although the battalion made successes, it was forced to withdraw with casualties of 14 killed, 152 wounded and 267 missing. The battalion was then relieved by the Royal Scots to bivouacs in Balloon Wood.

     The War Diary records,

    “22 May 1915 - Marched back to Vlamertinghe where took over trenches from cavalry near Hooge.

     23 May 1915 - Trenches.

     24 May 1915 - Battalion relieved by 11^th Hussars but ordered forward again at 4.30am as cavalry had been gassed and lost ground. Battalion was heavily shelled crossing canal. 84^th Brigade ordered to attack enemy trench at Bellewaarde Farm.

     Advanced at 3pm under heavy shelling, towards Menin Road - heavy rifle fire and some casualties. New advance at 8.15pm unsuccessful

     25 May 1915 - 12.30am Brigade reformed on north side of Menin Road where attack came under concentrated machine gun fire; moved through Railway Wood and at top of hill made a bayonet charge to drive out the enemy. Held on until dawn. Heavy shelling. Withdrew.”

Regards,

 

Graeme

[Chris_Baker]

Afryl, do you use Facebook? If so, make contact with member Martin Clift. He runs an excellent website and project on the battle and I am sure he would be interested to hear from you.

[Guest Afryl]

Thank you so much Graeme and Chris it is very much appreciated.

Yes I am on face book so I will definitely be getting in touch.

I am so glad I found this forum!

 

kind regards

Afryl

 

[Fattyowls]

Hi Afryl

 

Just to give you some sense of the area we are talking about this photograph was taken from China Wall cemetery in the low ground just south of the Bellewaarde ridge. The trees to the left around Bellewaarde Farm weren't there in 1915, or were less extensive. The Bellewaarde spur is low but because the ground between there and Ypres itself is so flat it is a dominant position. The area was scarred by mine warfare which is why the cross of the Royal Engineers grave is there.

 

Pete.

[Fattyowls]

Just to give you a sense of the dominance of the position, the proximity to Ypres and the ground over which your great grandfather attacked this is the view from the RE grave looking back towards where the first photograph was taken. Ypres is the three towers on the right horizon and I think China Wall cemetery is the four tall trees on the left. Hope this helps.

 

[Chris_Baker]

Good photos, Fattyowls.

[Fattyowls]

2 hours ago, Chris_Baker said:

Good photos, Fattyowls.

 

Thanks Chris, two of the rare horizontal horizon photos in my collection. I'm grateful to the chap who was stood next to me at China Wall cemetery who spotted the RE grave on the ridge, I'll buy him a pint next time I see him..........

 

Pete.