2nd Seaforths where circa 26/04/1915?

[GraemeClarke]

Hi Tom

I edited the posting as I downloaded the WD from the NA.

Many thanks for the offer, though,

Graeme

[Lee Smart]

I know this is a very old thread but I have come across some detail on Lt Glass while researching my great grandfather's war with 2nd Bn Seaforths;

Lieutenant James Fraser Glass, only 22 years old, educated at Wellington and gained his commission through the Militia, had been with the Battalion in France and Flanders since they disembarked at Boulogne and had previously been wounded by five bullets during the Battle of Lys in October 1914, where he captured an enemy trench and 20 prisoners. He had re-joined his company after recovery and rehabilitation nine weeks later just in time for the Christmas truce. His eldest brother Donald Glass, serving with the Coldstream Guards, had also been wounded in Nov 1914.

During the dawn attack on 25th April at St-Julien (0345am crossed the Start-line past Shelltrap farm on their left and with their right boundary the road to St.Julian), B Coy were on the Bn's left flank advancing on Julien Farm when they came under fire from the German Trenches in front and and machine guns to their left in Kulture farm and Oblong Farm. 7 Platoon’s Lt. Glass was shot in the head and fell at the head of his platoon. With the Warwickshires on their left flank falling back, the Seaforths similarly where unable to advance further and withdrew to a hedge-line running down back towards Shelltrap Farm.  The Brigade attack had stalled and the Seaforths had incurred serious casualties (in all 338 killed, missing and wounded by the end of the day - most in the initial charge).

The rest of the day was spent consolidating the position and conducting forays forward to recover the fallen. Lt Glass was apparently recovered from where he fell, still unconscious, at dusk. He would likely have been processed through the Bn's Dressing Station which had been set up at Cheddar Villa (Farm) - the cemetery for which is now known as the Seaforth Cheddar Villa Cemetery - and likely transferred on by field ambulance back to the Casualty Clearing station near Poperinghe and probably made it no further back which is likely why he is buried there. He died a few weeks after of his 23rd birthday.

He was mentioned in dispatches (I'm not sure if this was for St-Julien or Lys) and a notice of his death appeared in the Times the following month.

I have also found this entry in https://cis.photoarchive.merton.gov.uk/entity/186878-2nd-lieutenant-james-fraser-glass

[Lee Smart]

Ladies and Gents,

My humble offering on the 2nd Seaforths in the Battle of St Julien 25th April 1915 (intended for family consumption and no claims on original copyright of photographs or script).

Edited 29 February by Lee Smart

[Tom Lang]

Here's the pages of my Transcription of the 2nd Bn Seaforths War Diary for the operations at St Julien on 25 Apr 1915 to the end of the month.

This includes a Report on the Operations that day.

It is well worth reading.

Kindest Regards,

Tom.

[Tom Lang]

My g/g/uncle was RICHARD RUSSELL TELFER, M.M., L/Cpl 8669, 2nd Bn Seaforth Highlanders.

He was awarded the Military Medal on 11 Nov 1916.
He is named in the Battalion War Diary of Nov 1916 amongst a list of those awarded for gallantry.
L/Cpl 8669, Telfer, R., is shown as awarded the Military Medal for two (2) 'Dates of Action' on '25.4.15 and 2.5.15'.
[Note 25.4.15 was when the Bn was involved in operations at St Julien.]

Hence my personal interest in this Battalion.

Kindest Regards,

Tom.