Remembrance Sunday

May 2nd 1915

"We did not need to make our beds this morning because of sleeping in a field. During the day we were trying to make a decent dug out or shelter for ourselves. In the afternoon we saw the French artillery going into action, little knowing how soon we were going into action ourselves. About 8 pm we got the word to "Stand to arms". We could hear the German bombardment going on. But I am sure their wasn’t one of us that could realise what was happening. The Germans were trying desperately to hack a way through the British lines, to get on the easy road to Calais. They (The Germans) sent the gas out. I think it was the first time they had done it. After a while we got the word to move off in companies and to keep a good distance between platoons. Our Adjutant led the way. It was a fine sight to see us, and a battalion of the York & Lancs, and our artillery running into action. Shells where flying in all directions, but non hit any of our lads. We saw a artillery officer knocked right off his horse. Our battalion was the only battalion to get across the Ypres bridge without a casualty. Through the ingenuity of the Adjutant. Now we did know there was a War on. There was men, horses and cows lying about killed and gassed. My company A Coy when we got settled down for the night found ourselves to be in support to the R. I. F. We could not tell for a while which was our front."


An extract from the war diary of Thomas Briscoe, Lance Sergeant, South Lancashire Regiment at the second battle of Ypres. Three days later, on 5th May, he was wounded in the leg. He was wounded again on 24th May and would later die from these injuries. Thomas Briscoe was my mother's cousin.