Commemorative Plate 15th Battalion C.E.F. - Gravenstafel Ridge

Commemoration plate at Sint-Juliaan dedicated to the 15th Battalion (48th Highlanders of Canada) 3rd Brigade of the 1st Division of the Canadian Expeditionary Force who fought in the Second Battle of Ypres (22 April – 25 May 1915).

After the first gas attack on the French troops on the 22nd of April 1915, which created a big gap in the Allies lines, the Germans launched another gas attack on 24th of April 1915 on the junction of the 13th Canadian battalion (Royal Highlanders) and 15th Canadian Battalion (48th Highlanders of Canada). At the beginning of the 24th of April the 15th Canadian battalion had companies 1,3 and 4 in the frontline with company 2 in reserve in St Julien.

The main thrust of the German attack was at the lines of 1st and 3th company and after the collapse of 1st Company the remainder pulled back under heavy fire to form a line that runs along the Kerzelaarstreet ( Memorial The Brooding Soldier to the Memorial New Zealand Division Passendale) along the Gravenstafel Ridge.

During the fighting here between 22nd and 24th of April 1915 they lost 647 soldiers.

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Source

• Text: Luc Van Waeyenberge & Gio Theunissen
• Photos: Luc van Waeyenberge