Military History

Bert is listed as being killed in action on 27th April 1915 during the Second Battle of Ypres. The 1st Battalion war diary entry for that day is transcribed below.

St. Jean – 27 Apr 1915: At 1.15pm the Sirhind Brigade attacked across the open valley after an insufficient and indifferent artillery preparation. The 1/1 and ¼ Gurkha’s were in the front line, supported by 3 H.L.I on left and 4 Kings on right. 15^th Sikhs in reserve. The French being on the left and ? Brigade on right.

The enemy had kept up a very heavy artillery fire all day, but the Bn escaped with light cas from it. A number of casualties however took place crossing the crest & in the subsequent advance into the hollow where D Coy & ½ C Coy finally dug themselves in, on the order to stand fast being received.

Both the French and the Brigade on the right being driven back it was considered useless to continue the advance by 5pm.

Only a few hundred yards had been gained during the day but some French guns left in the open between the lines, came definitely into our hands & were withdrawn after dark.

At Dusk B Coy handed their trench over to the French & the ½ C Coy rejoined HQ thus concentrating the Battalion on the crest except one Coy, D, in the slightly forward position gained towards the hollow.

Casualties: Officers killed: Capt H.S Tarrant; Wounded Capt G.M. Gerrard (slightly & continued to do duty until next evening)

Rank & File: One hundred and ten killed, wounded and missing.