4 replies to this topic

[1897]

I am looking for some information about the 6th Cameron Highlanders and if they were attacked by (mustard-) gas in July 1917.

Maybe the attack were on the 15th of July and I think it was in the Ypres-area, maybe close to Popeperinge.

[Colin W Taylor]

1897

I have a copy of the battalion history which has a couple of pages on the July fighting for the 6th Bn. A quick look revealed a paragraph entitled 'Mustard Gas Havoc' - the Germans launched 10000 shells of that substance into Ypres where a company of 6th Camerons was billeted in a convent - almost the whole lot (200 men) got a strong dose - one officer and 36 men later died. It's a bit much to transcribe - please message me an email address and I'll send you pictures of the pages.

Kind regards

Colin

[Patrick Watt]

Hi there

It was on the night of the 12/13th July 1917 and the shells hit C Company's billet.  A platoon from A, B and D Companies were sent to take the place of the men of C Company.  An interesting aside from the battalion history says that kilted battalions tended to suffer less than trousered ones from mustard gas attacks as the swinging of the kilt cleared the gas quickly from the region!

The battalion war diary says that 5 officers and 114 men were affected by the gas.

If you would like a list of the men killed please PM me and I will send it on.

All the best

Patrick

[1897]

Dear Sir, Thanks for your help.


Best regards,

Martin

Colin W Taylor, on 30 April 2012 - 09:39 AM, said:

1897

I have a copy of the battalion history which has a couple of pages on the July fighting for the 6th Bn. A quick look revealed a paragraph entitled 'Mustard Gas Havoc' - the Germans launched 10000 shells of that substance into Ypres where a company of 6th Camerons was billeted in a convent - almost the whole lot (200 men) got a strong dose - one officer and 36 men later died. It's a bit much to transcribe - please message me an email address and I'll send you pictures of the pages.

Kind regards

Colin

[1897]

Thanks, I have sent a PM to you.



Martin'

Patrick Watt, on 30 April 2012 - 02:23 PM, said:

Hi there

It was on the night of the 12/13th July 1917 and the shells hit C Company's billet.  A platoon from A, B and D Companies were sent to take the place of the men of C Company.  An interesting aside from the battalion history says that kilted battalions tended to suffer less than trousered ones from mustard gas attacks as the swinging of the kilt cleared the gas quickly from the region!

The battalion war diary says that 5 officers and 114 men were affected by the gas.

If you would like a list of the men killed please PM me and I will send it on.

All the best

Patrick