After the German gas attack on 22 April 1915, several Allied counter-attacks were ordered. The Canadians took Kitchener's Wood after a nightly attack, at a high price. However, the position in the forest was untenable and they had to withdraw quickly.

#FWW #Archaeology

#OTD 25 April 1915, 10th Brigade was ordered to attack the same wood in the early morning. They arrived during the night and had no time for reconnaissance. 1st Royal Warwickshires had to advance over this ground. Kitchener’s Wood was behind the farm houses on the right.

In 2016 a new pipeline was constructed over the same ground. On this small stretch of land 15 soldiers were found during the excavation. One of them was Henry John Innes Walker from New Zealand, killed at about the same time as the Gallipoli landing.

https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7186019

Cpt Walker was killed when he jumped out of a bomb crater. Many witness accounts reported on his death, they varied greatly on how he met his end but they all agreed on how fearless he led his men, with his revolver in his hand, shouting: ‘Come on lads”.

#FWW #Archaeology

Germans took new positions overnight and where already at the farmhouse on the left (Oblong Farm). Unaware, the Warwicks advanced in closed formation. 20min later it was all over. 10th Brigade suffered 2000+ casualties (1/RW: 17 officers and 500 other ranks of whom 192 missing)