Military History

George is listed as being killed in action on 25 Apr 1915, having initially being listed as Missing Presumed Killed.

Just after midnight on the 25th the 1st Battalion left Ypres and made their way NE to  where they received orders to attack German positions and they went forward in support of the Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders and attacked the wood to the left of the line while the Seaforth Highlanders, Royal Irish and Royal Dublin Fusiliers attacked the St. Julien to the left. However progress was held up as the supporting artillery barrarge was insufficient and the attack was stopped and the battalion dug in and consolidated any gains made. The attack came at huge cost of 517 men killed, wounded or missing.

The 1st Battalion war diary for 25th April 1915 states "Left Ypres at 12mn for Vielje where orders were received for the attack. The Brigade attacked at 4.30am. We attacked the wood on the left of the line with 7th A&S Highlanders in support. The Seaforth Highlanders, R Irish Fus and R Dublin Fus attacked on our right on St. Julien. Owing to the German Trenches being insufficiently shelled and supports unable to come up the line retired at about 7am to trenches near the farm and consolidated our position. Our casualties were very heavy 17 officers and 500 other ranks killed, wounded and missing"

The Second Battle of Ypres saw the first mass use of poison gas by the German army who fired Chlorine gas shells at British lines who no effective protection and led to the infamous order that troops should urinate into their underpants and breathe through them as urine contains chemicals that can counter the effects of chlorine. This ultimately led to the production of more effective gasmasks.