Pilckem Ridge. 7 Bn Leinster Regiment. 2 August 1917
The Battle of Pilckem Ridge 31-July 2 August.
During the last week of July 1917 the 7 Bn Leinsters Regiment were at Watou to the west of Poperinghe where they had been in final training for the Third Ypres Offensive. They moved up to the battle area arriving at Goldfish Chateau at 5.10am on 31 July. The Offensive was by now underway. The battalion were acting as working parties. At 9.10am they went forward to Potijze Chateau to lay a telephone cable. There was heavy shelling, casualties were 1 officer wounded and ORs 10 KIA, 31 wounded and 2 missing. They returned to Goldfish Chateau where they bivouacked for the night.
On the 1 August they moved into the lines at Cambridge Road Trench in support to 15 Division. The next day, 2 August, they moved further forward and relieved the 8/10 Bn Gordon Highlanders, again acting as support troops. Battalion HQ was established in Wildes Wood with companies deployed in Ibex Reserve, Bill Cottage and the Douglas line in front of the Frezenberg Redoubt. Enemy shelling was again heavy as the Germans attempted to isolate the assaulting troops from their support. Over the day casualties for ORs were 6 KIA and 34 wounded. On 3 August the battalion moved forward for a third time and occupied the Frezenberg Redoubt. Here they remained until 5 August when they were relieved and moved back to Toronto Camp.
GOOGLE MAPS satellite view centres on Wildes Wood. Frezenberg Redoubt was about the crossroads on the N332 between Frezenberg and the motorway
7 Bn Leinster Rgt. at Pilckem Ridge. Wildes Wood in lower left corner, Bill Cottage above with ‘Ibex’ trenches. Frezenberg Redoubt is the crescent of trenches on the edge of the map in square marked ‘C’. (National Archives)
References and Sources WAR DIARY 7 Bn Leinster Rgt.
B&O 1917 Ypres. Pilckem Ridge. 7 Bn Leinster Regiment. 2 August 1917.
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