Gas Attacks Ypres May 1915 - British Regiments

[kellyholmes]

Hi everyone,

I want to get a list together of all of the British regiments that were hit by German gas in May 1915 around Ypres, since the Brits weren't directly involved in the April 22/23 release. 
For example, which regiment was the first to suffer an attack etc?

Which regiments first started using pad respirators etc?

Can anyone help in naming the regiments? 

Thanks,
Kelly

[EDWARD1]

The 4th RF City of London War Diary for 24th.......In huts at DICKESBUSCH . Very heavy shelling heard near Ypres about 3am continued till 11am. Slightly affected by gas although 5 miles from firing line. Eyes very sore.

Eddie

[EDWARD1]

The 4th Yorks astride the Menin Road at Hooge 24th .....at about 2.30am on Whit Monday came the great gas attack......

1/5th Durham Light Infantry....24th Germans attacked on NE side of SANCTUARY WOOD some companies gassed & many casualties...

Edited 25 July , 2017 by EDWARD1

[kellyholmes]

Thank you!
Apparently King's Own were around 8/9th May at Frezenberg Ridge and also the Monmouthshire's as well?

The big attack on the 24th is particularly interesting. Any more regiments have severe gas casualties?

[kellyholmes]

1st Bedfordshire in early May: http://www.bedfordregiment.org.uk/1stbn/1stbtn1915diary.html

[Jervis]

The 2nd Royal Dublin fusiliers suffered a gas attack at mouse trap farm - Ypres - 24th May. Apparently they had circa 645 casualties out of a strength of 666 on that one day. 

[Jervis]

There is a book by Tom Burke regarding 2/RDF at mouse trap farm see Link

 

[Acknown]

Don't forget the Dorsets. On 01 May, the 1st Devons were relieved by the 1st Dorsets (15th Brigade) at Hill 60. At about 7.00 pm, the German artillery opened up in force whilst the Dorsets were being instructed in the use of a rudimentary respirator. This was followed by a cloud of chlorine gas that caused some 250 casualties - the first deliberate use in WW1. See: http://www.keepmilitarymuseum.org/history/first+world+war/the+dorsetshire+regiment/the+first+battalion. I'll see if I can find the WD.

Acknown 

[Acknown]

WD not on-line and I don't have a copy, but see here: http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/battles/british-field-commanders-despatches/sir-john-frenchs-eighth-despatch-second-ypres-aubers-and-festubert/.

To clarify, 01 May was the second use of 'killing' gas but, I think, the first deliberate attack against British troops. Both the French and German armies had already used irritants and, as Kelly relates, the chlorine attacks during the Battle of St. Julien (22-23 April 1915) were directed against French colonial and Canadian troops. I'm sure someone will put me right if I'm not!

The 'respirators' that the Dorsetshires were practising on were simply bits of flannel and gauze which, it was thought, had to be wetted to make them effective. In fact, the battalion had just sent for a supply of water for this purpose. The subsequent reaction of the Dorsets in plugging the gaps in the line and the initiative of 2Lt Kestell-Cornish, is a stirring tale. 

Acknown

[kellyholmes]

On 7/26/2017 at 21:00, Jervis said:

The 2nd Royal Dublin fusiliers suffered a gas attack at mouse trap farm - Ypres - 24th May. Apparently they had circa 645 casualties out of a strength of 666 on that one day. 

That's a massive percentage of casualties!

[kellyholmes]

On 7/26/2017 at 21:55, Acknown said:

The 'respirators' that the Dorsetshires were practising on were simply bits of flannel and gauze which, it was thought, had to be wetted to make them effective. 

 

From my understanding there were two types of the "pad" type respirators. The 1st was a call out for people making them back in the UK and then the 2nd was produced according to Wiki "Soon afterwards the British added a long cloth which was used to tie chemical-soaked mouth pads into place, and which was called the Black Veil Respirator. Dr. Cluny MacPherson of Royal Newfoundland Regiment brought the idea of a mask made of chemical absorbing fabric and which fitted over the entire head to England,^[2]
I'm assuming this is the 2nd type.

Both arrived I believe at the front line some point in May. Does anyone know any better dates for when  they arrived? So the 1st and 2nd type when they would have arrived on the front line? 

[kellyholmes]

1 hour ago, kellyholmes said:

"Soon afterwards the British added a long cloth which was used to tie chemical-soaked mouth pads into place, and which was called the Black Veil Respirator. Dr. Cluny MacPherson of Royal Newfoundland Regiment brought the idea of a mask made of chemical absorbing fabric and which fitted over the entire head to England,^[2]

Ahh sorry I copied the wrong bit from Wiki, the second sentence is obviously the first hypo helmet, which came in in June 1915. 
Actually was that the beginning, middle or end of June for example....?

[Acknown]

How about these?

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205309012

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205086975

[kellyholmes]

Thank you very much 

[NigelS]

As mentioned previously, a request was made to the public back at home to fabricate the earliest masks with a remarkable response. Taken from editions of The Times  (some in summary only)

25th April 1915:

RESPIRATORS WANTED
APPEAL FOR HOME-MADE APPLIANCES
The War Office issues the following communication:-
As a protection against the asphyxiating gases being used as a weapon of warfare by the Germans supplies of one or both of the following types of respirator are required by the troops at the front.
Either can be made easily in any household:-
First: A face piece (to cover mouth and nostrils), formed of an oblong pad of bleached absorbent cotton-wool about 5¼in x 3in x ¾in covered with three layers of bleached cotton gauze and fitted with a band, to fit around the head and keep the pad in position consisting of a piece of 1/2in cotton elastic 16" long, attached to the narrow end of the face pad so as to form a loop with the pad.
Second: A piece of double stockinette 9½in long, 3½in wide in the centre gradually diminishing in width  to 2½ in at each end with a thick piece of thick plaited worsted about 5in long attached at the end so as to form a loop to pass over the ear.
These respirators should be sent in packages of not less than 100 to Chief Ordnance Officer, Royal Army Clothing Department, Pimlico.

29th April 1915 (Harrods had placed an advert the same day giving details of its price for the materials and in which of its departments they could be found):

RESPIRATORS FOR THE TROOPS
500,000 WANTED
SUMMARY
Appeal by the War Office for respirators to protect troops; from 9 am Chief Ordnance Officer at the Royal Army Clothing  Dept, Pimlico  besieged by ladies asking for guidance as to correct pattern or offering suggestions in the matter of improvements; Came all day by car, omnibus, rich & poor all filled with great anxiety to help in foiling the new example of ‘frightfulness’; by early afternoon first  parcels of finished respirators had  arrived; In the managers room some unofficially approved samples being shown, old ladies seized a khaki-clad official to try them on. Obligingly pointed out that too stiff respirators made from either spec did not come close enough round the nose and demonstrated the benefit of elasticity; most of those made to No 1 spec had butter muslin instead of cotton gauze as easier to get and not wanted for surgical purposes. No 1 type which was (unofficially) stated to be preferable to the other, not in the opinion of some ladies strong enough to stand the pull of the elastic around the head when in position, so  variation in the matter of earloops tried. The No 2 specification to be made of  stockinette, was in some samples made of body-belts and in approved samples had an extra filter of cotton wool attached at the mouth; explained that the respirators would probably be dipped in water or lime water before use, as gases would be wholly or partly absorbed by water.
OFFER OF 5,000 A DAY
Expected that about half a million needed, and hundreds of promises were pouring in; one lady undertaking to deliver 5,000 a day. At College of Ambulance samples made by Mrs Cantlie by 9am , one of the first applicants Lady St Helier; as fast as samples made snapped up; favourite  one combination of both of those suggested by War Office: instead of stockinette a woven elastic  bandage was cut to 8½in  long, two lengths being sewed parallel, and on this the pad of layers of  cotton wool covered in butter muslin, was stitched, ear loops  of tape being used  - claimed for this respirator that it would fit a greater variety of heads as more give in the woven elastic than stockinette; opinion expressed that, as some of the victims on Hill60 declared that they were blinded by the fumes, some protection is necessary for the eyes. Colonel Cantlie  considering mask with eye pieces, and a respirator fitted to the cap less likely to be lost;
Contract s dept of Women’s Unemployment  would consider orders for large quantities and give quotes; Women’s Emergency Corp announce they’ve secured large quantities of  necessary materials & asking for  volunteers to make them. Three Arts Women’s Employment Fund already had large orders and had expanded their workrooms to meet the emergency by taking on more artists out of work because of the war; The New Constitutional Society for Women’s Suffrage appealed to its members & others to make respirators at their hall in Park Mansions Arcade, Knightsbridge from 2pm that afternoon and following days from 11am  to bring own needles, cotton, scissors, &c – materials being provided but donations welcomed; Bedford Recreation Committee offered to supply 20,000 to the Highland Division which had been accepted & work in hand – pad to be dyed brown as white would offer a mark to the enemy
Drug dept at Army & Navy Stores had callers as soon as it opened yesterday asking for the right materials – quoting stockinette at 2½d a yard , gauze at 6 yards for 8d, and cotton wool at 1s 1d a lb;  Big and small druggists everywhere doing huge business in cotton wool & drapery firms like Marshall & Snelgrove which had special departments for dealing with Red Cross orders had sample respirators available by the afternoon; sample respirators made in  the Royal Army Clothing Dept, Pimlico to be on view next day.
MRS CHURCHILL’S APPEAL
While opening a sale of work previous day at Victoria Hall, Ealing  in aid of the Tipperary room for wives of soldiers and sailors, had taken with her a pattern  of one of the pads and also some material which she was leaving behind in the hope that some of the women  would make pads , wanting to send 500 pads to the War Office on Saturday with the aim of getting them to France by Monday if possible because all this time the Germans were using the asphyxiating gas against our men

30th April 1915:

RESPIRATORS SUPPLIED
RESPONSE TO A WAR APPEAL
SUMMARY
Official announcement  stating that due to the magnificent response the War Office could announce that no further respirators needed to be made; by as early as midday yesterday enough had been made; “So ends, for the moment, one of the smartest bits of ‘hustling’ patriotism the war has yet called forth”;  however those making them could continue as The Belgian Soldiers’ Fund,17-19 James-street, Oxford –street had received a request for 300,000 for the Belgian Army required for shipping on Monday so any that had been left over from  the  Army  requirement from one upward s would be accepted;
Not unlikely that the Army would need more if those supplied so far fitted the purpose;  consignments  being dispatched to “ somewhere in France”  selected  from those already received
ARRIVALS IN WAGON-LOADS
First package from  a group of ladies in Brighton containing 1,250; Girls’ school and hospitals, women’s societies, groups of friends, and families had all buckled in and many thousands had already poured in, besides the thousands promised; a  stream of callers had arrived all day to  see the samples and to know the “right kind”; officials demonstrated & advised always advising that the gauze or butter muslin was to be as loose as possible; early morning French Lady visitor arrived with a sample mask “for officers” consisting of a sheet of talc covering the eyes and a respirator attached – told that too great a variety  confused the issue, and officers took the same risks as the men; Ladies wishing to send respirators individually to relatives and friends were advised not to, as when the need arose they would be officially issued; At the Three Arts Women’s Employment Fund in Somerset-street orders for 8,000 had been received and 20 more workers, artists, actresses and musicians taken on in the work-rooms; the Women’s Emergency Corps were flooded with offers of help with workers busy in all parts of the building until the order came from the War Office to desist; At the College of Ambulance Vere-street, endless visitors wanting sample patterns; At the big shops the demand for made respirators was very great, and  wholesale warehouses reported a dearth of the right width elastic. One firm enterprising enough to enclose  each separate respirator in a tissue covering for hygienic reasons; Harrods, Marshall an Snelgrove, and Dickins and Jones were all early in the field with  a display of respirators made according to the official pattern
At Institute of Hygiene 34-36 Devonshire-street, ladies waiting on the steps before 9 waiting for it to open; applications received from the London County Council whose elder girl scholars were allowed to make them, from Red Cross & St John Ambulance workers and from many societies and private people. Here a respirator made with two layers of cotton stockinette, thin Turkish towelling, or cheap flanelette, made of soft loose yarn of open texture, allow of breathing  when saturated, was recommended. Size advised was 9in by 4in, tapering at both ends; between the folds of the material a small piece of Lancashire-Welsh woolen flannel about 3in long and ¼in narrower than the respirator was to be tacked in. About 3in from both ends a pad of cotton wool should be placed to take up as much damp as possible but not to cover the mouth. This respirator was  adjusted by two bands of elastic and tape about ¼in wide. Claimed it would  not get sodden as easily as the square cotton-wool pad in gauze arrangement. Suggested that respirators be dyed with coffee, madder or Condy’s fluid.

1st May 1915 (on May 6th Wallach brothers advertised their 'Combat (aluminium) respirator' - Protection and comfort. For use at the front for 3/6d each)

RESPIRATORS FOR THE TROOPS

NEW DESIGNS APPROVED

SUMMARY

An enormous quantity had arrived by post and rail the previous day at the Royal Army Clothing Factory in Pimlico the sorted and dispatched  overseas; remarkably small percentage had to be discarded due to too tight weaving of the fabric; a number of ladies calling to ask if it was true that no more were needed were told that for then the War Office requirement was satisfied; some disappointment and annoyance expressed by some who had spent considerable sums ranging up to £ 20 or more; though the kindly industry of the country’s women had been dispensed with, two respirators, designed within the last couple of days,  had met with the War office’s approval and were being made as quickly as possible for immediate despatch to the front; one designed by Mr Johnson of Messrs Allen & Hanburys, is shaped conically like the nose of a horse and made of wire mesh covered with stockinette with an alakali cartridge fixed to the front  and when the nose is dipped in water the alkali and water spread over the surface of the mesh so he action of the noxious gas is neutralized. This design said  to be specially adapted for chlorine fumes; being ordered in large quantities and 100 just sent direct to Sir John French.

Second kind  - 2000 ordered for Grenadier Guards – fashioned of a loose  fabric like mask, fitted with a transparent strip  of mica with an alkali filter at the mouth; this design  is from Col. Cantlie’s design, and is said to be best to counteract bromine which has an immediate effect on the eyes. Medical and scientific sources freely stating that  alkali is a necessity to counteract German gases and that while the ordinary cotton wool pad type was excellent in a laboratory or for one occasion only, it would be of little use for repeated  use against bromine or chlorine.

Belgian Soldiers’ Fund, at  17- of 19, James-street, Oxford-street, benefited from the surplus of respirators within a few hours of  the appeal in The Times’  for 300,000  the previous day by Monday, over 4,000  promised or had already been sent; The college of Ambulance & the Institute of Hygiene sent their surpluses with many women  who had bought in large amounts of cotton wool continued to make pads for the Belgians; So far the Belgian Government had not issued a spec, and those already made would not  be accepted until they had.

14th May 1915 (Can't help wondering if this Miss Haldane might have been related to the Physiologist  JS Haldane who was sent to the Western Front  by Kitchener to investigate the early gas attacks and  is said to have  developed the first box respirator as a result.)

100,000 RESPIRATORS NEEDED

MISS HALDANE’S APPEAL FOR BELGIAN SOLDIERS

Miss Haldane writes from 17-19, James-street, Oxford-street, the office of the Belgian Soldiers’ Fund:-
In view of the terrible mortality and suffering caused by the use of poisonous gases will you kindly allow me to ask your readers to assist the Belgian Soldiers Fund in sending out 100,000 respirators to the Belgian Army as soon as possible.Respirator issued by the War Office consists of black cotton net, which is tied around the man’s head. It is folded to form a pocket, which being filled with medicated cotton waste, fit’s over the man’s  mouth and nose protecting him from fumes.To make the respirator you take a yard of net of net (small medium mesh).  Let it be half a yard wide. You fold over  a strip of the width  4½in. wide, to form the pocket, fold it over again  the same width to strengthen it, and the sew up the sides of the pocket, the length of which  must be 9in and the width 4½in . This leaves a length of net on either side of the pocket 13in long. The remaining strip above the pocket is used to protect the eyes.

The pocket is filled with cotton waste, but as this has to be chemically treated at the office of the Belgian Soldiers’ Fund before being sent to the front , we shall be most grateful to any of your readers who, instead  of buying the cotton waste for themselves, will send a subscription for it and for the chemical solution with which it is to be treated.

The respirator must, of course, have an outer case or envelope in which it can be carried about. This case is made  of waterproof  jackinet, American cloth, oil silk, or any other light waterproof material. If of American cloth, the brown side must be within, and it must be sewed with oiled needles to prevent rotting. The case must be 8in long by 5in wide and the upper flap which fastens  down over it like an envelope is 4in wide.

Will all who would help the Belgian Soldiers at this time of urgent need send as soon as possible respirators and their outer cases, or subscriptions for cotton waste and the chemical solution to the Secretary of the Belgian Soldiers’ Fund, 19, James-street, Oxford-street, London W.?

The respirators are to be seen at the office, and pattern can be sent  (post free, 6d) to those who apply for them.

By 4th June 1915 the  immediate supply problem appears to have been resolved :

RESPIRATORS.
AN IMPROVED TYPE ADOPTED.
The Secretary of the War Office announces that an improved type of respirator has been adopted as the official pattern on the recommendation of a special expert committee. Ample supplies of this respirator are now available at the front, and it is undesirable as well as unnecessary for the public to supply their soldier friends with other patterns.

 

 

NigelS

 

 

 

 

[kellyholmes]

On 8/3/2017 at 20:27, NigelS said:

 

 

 

NigelS

 

 

 

 

Hi, thanks so much for this, sorry for that late reply, I've not logged in for a while, going to sit down and read all this now...

[1st east yorks]

My GGFathers battalion (1st East Yorkshires) were gassed at second Ypres, around Hooge, if my memory serves me correctly.

Anthony.

 

[ss002d6252]

On 24 May the 6th DLI had to evacuate Brierlen Woods due to an early morning gas attack.
 

On 30 April the 6th DLI were concentrated at Verlorenhoek Convent due to a gas attack which had hit the front line trenches. The DLI picked up many men who had been driven back out of the front line.

 

Craig

[robertb]

The WD for 1st Dorsets is on Ancestry - 'Various (Infantry Brigades, 5th Division)>5th Division>Pieces 1572: 15 Infantry Brigade (1914-1916)' - commencing Page 76.  Hope this helps?

[TEW]

Note the above mentions of 1/Devons, 1/Dorsets & 1 Bedfords are all 5th Division.

 

To add to that list the 15th Infantry Brigade dairy records;

May 5th. 8.35 am Germans opened gas nozzles in front of Hill 60. 2/Duke of Wellingtons overcome by gas. 9am Germans in possession of Hill 60.

 

13th  Infantry Brigade dairy has a 9 page report on the operations of 5th May at Zwarteleen & Hill 60 inluding the gassing at Zwarteleen Salient & Hill 60. And adds that the 2/Duke of Wellingtons were 'almost wiped out, 620 casualties'.

 

13th  Infantry Brigade dairy says 5th May...........using gases freely on trenches to north and south of Hill 60, ........Norfolks affected by gas, some men of East Surreys to left of trench 35 slightly affected.

 

Same day, 2/KOSB gaining Hill 60 but had to evaucuate it due to Germans using gases, Trenches 38, 39 & 40 also badly gassed.

 

5th Division, General Staff diary;

1st May. Hill 60 & Dorsets trenches 40-46 heavily shelled and enemy made use of asphyxiating gas. Casualties, Dorsets 200 men, 5 officers. 59 Field Coy. RE also had gassed cases, apprently while with 27 Bde. RFA.

 

The above dairy (WO95/1512) has a 2 page report of the gas attack 5th May with small map showing wind direction and affected trenches. Then another 81st Infantry Brigade report on gas attack on 10th May.

 

ADMS dairy for 5th division has quite a lot of detail on the nature of the gas, symptoms, numbers of evaucuated, types of treatment. Mentions that the DDMS of II Corps sent up on 5th May a large quantity of cotton waste soaked in a 20% solution of soda hypo with glycerin and gauze for making into respirators, .......sufficient for 5000 respirators. Large amount of woment were employed through the night, as soon as a few hundred are made they are dispatched to Bde. HQs. 900 dispatched during the night.

 

6th May casualties 12 noon to 12 noon 5th/6th May. Gassed 4 Officers 342 Men.

 

If I remember I can check the DDMS II Corps diary on pads/respirators and re-post tomorrow.

TEW

 

 

 

[Acknown]

RobertD,

Thanks for the Dorset WD info. I should have thought of that!

Acknown

[TEW]

DMS diary for 2nd Army and DDMS diary for II Corps, III Corps have an awful lot on the nature of the gas, experimental treatments, experimental masks.

 

As to units, they mention North Midland, South  Midland 3, 4, 5, 6, 27, 28th Divisions, Plumer's Force, as being equipped with anything from 'Naval Pattern Masks, handkerchiefs, muffles, cap comforters etc soaked in water, soda hypo, caustic soda, bromine or potash as a prevention.

 

Stepping back to the April gas attack. 2CCS reports one man dieing of 'poisonous gas received in action' on the 26/4/1915 and another 3 the following day. III Corps on the day of gas attack comprised 4th Div, 6th Div and South Midland Div.

 

Checking CWGC there is;

B/54. Robert William Weston 1st Rifle Brigade who would be 4th Division and evacuated to 2CCS.

 

The others buried in Bailleul that day are not III Corps so Weston seems to be an early British gas casualty.

 

There may be more in Canadian diaries as they had to fill in where the French pulled back after being gassed in April.

 

TEW

 

[Acknown]

Ypres 1915 - Gas attacks against the 1st Canadian Division. The first chlorine attack on Thursday 22 April which primarily struck the French 87th Territorial Division and the 45th Algerian Division west of Poelcappelle, certainly spread as far as the 13th Canadian Battalion boundary, though I don't think that it caused the 13th any casualties. The second major attack on 24th had a more profound effect on the Canadians, particularly on the 8th and 15th Battalions in the area of the Gravenstafel Ridge. (The 8th WD states that they were 'shelled and gassed all day' on 23 April, but this is not mentioned in R. C. Fetherstonhaugh's post-war battalion history: 'The 13th Battalion Royal Highlanders of Canada 1914-1919' at: https://archive.org/stream/royalhighlanders00fethuoft/royalhighlanders00fethuoft_djvu.txt).

Canadian WDs can be found here: http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/lac-bac/search/arch_adv  but the 15th's is not very legible and they are all are very brief.

There are several other books that describe the Canadian part in 2nd Ypres. George H. Cassar's 'Hell in Flanders Fields' is excellent. It's partly on line, but not the April 1915 pages. However, the full text of Col GWL Nicholson's 'Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914-1919' can be found on-line here: http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/docs/CEF_e.pdf. It contains detail about the April gas attacks, from Page 61. The book also has many detailed maps. Scroll from Page 61 downwards and you'll find a map of the first gas attack.

Acknown

[Ed ROBINSON]

Hello just found this posting when searching a chaps medals from the 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers. Pte Samuel Perry. He was admitted to CCS wounds listed as "suffocation" on the 3/5/15 along with another 12 same injury. One luck soldier copped a bullet wound as well. The battalion war diary lists a asphyxiating gas attach followed by heavy shrapnel, MG and rifle fire.   9 Killed 38 wounded.  18 (?) Officers and 431 Ors admitted to hospital.