Messines Ridge - Recently Updated Pages

Trench Map April 1917

barchetta — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:00:16 CST

Prisoners of War

barchetta — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:58:54 CST

German band Brocton Camp 1915

German Huts, Brocton Camp

Despite there being over 90 years between the two photographs, the tree still exists over Brocton Coppice. So too do the hut bases, and even some of the circular flower beds.

There were up to 3,000 German POWs on Brocton Camp, and around 200 officers (one reference states there were as many as 6,000 POWs). Some succumbed to the outbreak of influenza in late 1918/ early 1919 and are buried along with seventy-three New Zealand soldiers in the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery less than a mile from the camp.

Scale Model of Messines Ridge

barchetta — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:57:56 CST

There are conemporary records of the model being nearly completed in the early summer of 1918, the scale of it (forty yards square), height ratio (1 in 50) etc.It also mentions the officer - Lieutenant-Colonel J. G. Roache, who oversaw its construction, for the use of the Regimental School. The NZRB came to the camp in September 1917 (from Sling Camp down south), and by the middleof 1918, the Messines area had been won back by the Germans in their Spring 1918 offensive. The Messines area was to remain in their hands until September 1918.

The model was ostensibly used for training purposes in Topography for officers and N.C.Os, although the concept of it being a 'trophy' of their first major military victory can also be easily envisaged. In the summer of 1918, although the Allies had managed to stem the German advance, they had barely

The scale model was handed over on June 14th 1919 to the General Officer Commanding the Cannock Chase Reserve Centre, Brigadier-General Robert Wanless O'Gowan. O'Gowan is the officer to the right of the bewigged Town Clerk on the New Zealand Rifle Brigade page.

Brocton Camp

barchetta — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:56:32 CST

Brocton Camp between Cannock and Stafford was built on land owned by the Anderson Family. It was accepted as the land was not used for arable farming. As well as three shooting butts for rifle practice, the area was used for digging trenches (see above) and practicing assault techniques.

Trench digging over Brocton Camp. The water tower on the right held up to 20,000 gallons. It has now been replaced by a glacial boulder, although the metal bases are still evident.In the centre of the photo can be seen the four chimneys of the Power House (see photo below)

Anson Bank with huts Cannock Camp

Water Filters, Brocton Main Road of Camp

The above photo of the Power House clearly shows three soldiers in New Zealand 'Lemon Squeezer' Slouch Hats. The coal trucks in the background have the words "West Cannock Coalmining Co Ltd" on them

Outside of the Soldiers Club on Brocton Camp Long view of camp

ANZACS Winter 1917-18 Nonconformist hut

New Zealand Rifle Brigade

barchetta — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:55:31 CST

Australian soldiers study a model at Petit Pont, near Romarin of the ground they are to assault on Messines Ridge. The total area covered was some quarter of an acre.	Grave of Freda, the harlequin Great Dane mascot of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade on Cannock Chase.

10th May 1919 and the Rifle Brigade leave Stafford. The flag presented by Lieutenant-Colonel N. F. Shepherd, commanding 5th (Reserve) Battalion of the Rifle Brigade to the mayor. He later presented the Messines Ridge model to Major- General Wanless O'Gowan on June 14th 1919	Mayor Mr J Rushton accepts the flag from Lieutenant-Colonel Shepherd. The flags were later lost by Stafford Council. Major-General Wanless O'Gowan (commander, Cannock Chase Reserve Centre) stands behind the bewigged clerk, along with several NZ dignatories.

Lieutenant-Colonel N. F. Shepherd

Rifle Brigades had no Regimental colours, unlike other regiments and so a sterling silver musketry challenge-shield was presented to Lieutenant-Colonel Shepherd (now in the custody of the Defence Department)

The Duke of Connaught (a.k.a Lord Liverpool) inspects New Zealand troops shortly after the Battle of Messines in June 1917. He later visited troops at Brindley hospital and stayed at Beaudesert Hall (now a golf course).

The Duke of Connaught was Governor-General of Canada, and the Canadian Regiment Princess Patricia's Light Infantry was named after his daughter.

The Battle

barchetta — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:54:31 CST

"Zero" Hour at Messines
by Charles Wheeler, D.C.M

Troops clamber out of their trenches shortly after 03.10 hours on June 7th 1917, as the mines beneath the German position explode, instantly vapourising around 10,000 soldiers. The success of the attack was completed within a couple of hours. From their position, the troops could call in artillery strikes on concentration of German troops massing on the Gheluvelt plateau to the east

Detailed map of mines placed along the Messines Ridge

The mine at Petit Douve Farm was not blown on the morning of 7th June as German troops were no longer in the area. This meant that the New Zealand troops were expected to take the town of Messines without any mines going off on their front. This they accomplished.

Geological Cross Section Through Hill 60 to Plugsteert

Home

barchetta — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:53:32 CST

"Gentlemen, I do not know whether we shall change history tomorrow,

but we shall certainly alter the geography."

Eve of battle speech 6th June 1917.

The Battle of Messines Ridge to the south of Ypres began with nineteen mines (out of 25) set off along the ridge on the morning of June 7th 1917. All the initial objectives were taken.

The mines were exploded along a ridge on top of which stood the town of Messines (Mesen in Flemish) and Wytschaete, which is south of the strategically positioned town of Ypres. The Ypres salient dominated the surrounding area and it was here that the German advance was finally halted in late Autumn 1914. The front had been relatively quiet - on the surface - although much tunneling had been undertaken below. General Plumer, who had halted the Germans outside Ypres had been sent to the Messines area to organise the attack on the ridge. The surprise victory was so complete that any follow up plans were not drawn up. Seen as the forerunner of the attack on Passchendaele (begun at the end of July 1917), the question remains, what might have happened had the attack on Messines been followed up.

Messines Ridge Church and Sam Frickleton VC

barchetta — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 07:35:05 CST

Messines church crypt, which was reinforced with concrete to provide a command strongpoint for defence of the town.	Memorial to Sam Frickleton who won the VC fighting in the ruins of the church, capturing and turning a machine gun on the German defenders.
Centre of Church crypt	Close up of Frickelton Memorial, unveiled June 2007
Crossroads towards Huns Walk	Messines Ridge Military Cemetery
Messines Church 19th Century	German trenches after the battle

Rugeley Camp

barchetta — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 07:27:47 CST

These British soldiers relax in August 1917. The soldier smoking on the right has crossed 'marksman' badges on his left cuff (see similar below). The man seated on the ground appears to be wearing a truss of girdle of some sort. Those in the hut entrance appear to be wearing blue tunics, denoting they are wounded/ injured soldiers.

The cap badges appear to be of the West Yorkshire Regt, although the horses tail seems to be missing (see cap badge below).

Rugeley Camp was separated from Brocton by Sherbrooke Valley, and was near to the rifle ranges and munitions store (now the Tackeroo camp site)

Marksman badges, similar to those of soldier on right in photo above.

Cap badge of West Yorkshire Regt (with tail).

The junction of two railway lines at Rugeley Camp. The hut on left with double flag is the YMCA

Bayernwald Brass 3D model

barchetta — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 12:56:51 CST

Top view of Messines - Allied positions on left	Messines Ridge from NZ positions
Messines in foreground, Wyjtschate at back	Add photo caption or credit here.
Ground view NZ had of attack on Messines	Higher view with Huns walk at rear
Brass plaque in Messines Market Square	Close up of information in Market Square

Bayernwald German trenches and dugouts

barchetta — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 12:24:02 CST

Bayernwald June 1917	Bayernwald trenches January 2008
Bayernwald bunker 3	Same bunker 1917
'A' frame trench drainage	Bayernwald trenches 2008
Bayernwald bunker 4	Mineshaft

New Zealand memorial

barchetta — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 11:42:15 CST

New Zealand Memorial, Messines	Close up of plaque
Close up of monument	close up of inscription

View from German positions of attack route taken by New Zealanders, the two German pill boxes just out of site. To the left the Australians attacked up the ridge

View from the brook which the New Zealanders had to cross to complete their attack on Messines. Almost in the centre of the right photograph is the NZ memorial which had two pill boxes in front of it, and a third (off picture) to the right. The Irish Tower to the right can also be seen. To walk this road to the memorial took three minutes.

The Irish at Messines

barchetta — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 10:21:37 CST

Irish 16th Division memorial, for 7th June 1917. Soldiers from northern and southern Ireland fought side by side for the first time and successfully took the town of Wytschaete just north of Messines. This is the only memorial to the 16th Irish Division in Flanders, and stands next to the British cemetery to the right.	Close up of memorial plaque
Ireland Peace Island	Peace Pledge Plaque
Entrance to memorial opened in 1998	Casualties for 36th, 16th and 10th Divisions
Peace Pool now stands where a mine was set off below a German ammunition bunker 25 feet beneath the ground. Currently owned by Toc H	Ground Irish attacked up towards Wyjtschaete - Ypres in background

Officers' House

barchetta — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 15:33:04 CST

The above photos are of an unusual and probably unique house that was apparently used as officers' quarters for Brocton Camp (possibly the Camp Commander or similar?). Split into two dwellings, the almost totally timber structure has acentral concrete wall. Apparently, the three story property was used for officers entertaining visiting wives.

Hut near to the Lloyd's bank. The inside photograph shows a sprung bed and stove. There were four or five of these and they were used after the war for weekend retreats. It is uncertain at the moment if they existed during the war.

Practice trenches

barchetta — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 08:11:06 CST

J trench

J trench is shaped like the letter J and is approximately 174 feet long, with each zig zag being 12 foot (well one is 13 foot). The second trench behind it (W Trench) offers good covering positions. Although the photographs do not show too much,the scale drawing does.

The above two trenches are on the left of the crest and provide an excellent defensive position.

ISLAND TRENCH

Island trench from right Island itself and left trench Communication trench

Cross section and aerial view of the Island trench, complete with compass bearing

'L' SHAPED TRENCH

Part of L shaped trench. Some 200 foot long and turning through 90 degrees, each zig zag is 12 foot long - same as that of the J shaped trench (scale drawing to follow)

Lloyds Bank

barchetta — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 13:49:33 CST

The original Lloyds Bank over Brocton Camp. It was close to four officer's quarters, and further down the slope there are four wells.

Lloyds Bank side and front	Lloyds Bank from side
Original position of safe.	Fireplace in bank
Lloyds Bank toilet.	Note removeable pan
Midas 10 - paper press?	Close up of metal base