Photos dating back to post WWI show the selfless efforts of the ‘Cadbury Angels’

The bloody Battle of Ypres was a series of engagements that took place on April 22 to May 25, 1915, as the Germans tried top breach Allied trench lines near the town of Ypres in northern Belgium.

The Germans made four attempts to take the strategic town with a combination of artillery bombardment and direct attacks on Allied trench lines, but were each time repulsed with heavy casualties on both sides.

Ypres was notable for being the first use of poison gas on the Western Front, in the form of chlorine expelled from 5,730 41kg canisters using prevailing winds to carry it over enemy trenches.

The bloody Second Battle of Ypres was a series of engagements that took place on April 22 to May 25, 2015, as the Germans tried top breach Allied trench lines near the town of Ypres in northern Belgium

Ypres was notable for being the first use of poison gas on the Western Front, which Allied troops tried to deal with by holding urine-soaked handkerchiefs or socks dipped in sodium-bicarbonate to their nose and mouth as a partially-effective protection

Ypres was notable for being the first use of poison gas on the Western Front, which Allied troops tried to deal with by holding urine-soaked handkerchiefs or socks dipped in sodium-bicarbonate to their nose and mouth as a partially-effective protection

Having never seen it before, commanders thought the Germans were using a smoke screen to advance and their troops readied for an advance before complaining of chest pains and burning throats before many died. 

The new weapon was so effective that thousands of Allied troops were injured or died painful deaths from inhaling the gas and the surprised soldiers retreated, opening up a 6.4km gap in the line.

German commanders were not expecting the gas to be so effective and were not ready and lacked reserve troops to press the advantage, giving British and Canadian troops time to plug it.

Enemy troops were also wary of the gas, which had already killed many of them as they had to be operated by hand, and delayed advancing.

Several French soldiers killed by gas in their trenches after commanders thought the Germans were using a smoke screen to advance and their troops readied for an advance before complaining of chest pains and burning throats before many died

Several French soldiers killed by gas in their trenches after commanders thought the Germans were using a smoke screen to advance and their troops readied for an advance before complaining of chest pains and burning throats before many died

The Germans made four attempts to take the strategic town with a combination of artillery bombardment, poison gas (a cloud of gas approaching troops pictured) and attacks on Allied trench lines

Each time they were repulsed with heavy casualties on both sides

The Germans made four attempts to take the strategic town with a combination of artillery bombardment, poison gas (a cloud of gas approaching troops pictured left) and attacks on Allied trench lines, but were each time repulsed with heavy casualties on both sides

Allied troops held urine-soaked handkerchiefs or socks dipped in sodium-bicarbonate to their nose and mouth as a partially-effective protection from the gas and did not get rudimentary masks until later in the war.

Later attacks in May pushed the line back and the Germans were only prevented from pushing through a hole by the efforts of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry in counterattacking.

The unit was reduced from 700 to 150 injured and exhausted soldiers, spawning its motto ‘Holding up the whole damn line’ which is still used today.

By the end of the battle the line was pushed back closer to Ypres but the town was held, though completely demolished by artillery, in a significant Allied victory.

However, it came at a heavy cost as more than 87,000 Allied soldiers were killed, wounded or missing compared to about 35,000 German forces.

By the end of the battle the line was pushed back closer to Ypres but the town was held, though completely demolished by artillery, in a significant Allied victory

By the end of the battle the line was pushed back closer to Ypres but the town was held, though completely demolished by artillery, in a significant Allied victory

However, it came at a heavy cost as more than 87,000 Allied soldiers were killed (gas victims pictured), wounded or missing compared to about 35,000 German forces

However, it came at a heavy cost as more than 87,000 Allied soldiers were killed (gas victims pictured), wounded or missing compared to about 35,000 German forces

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