What happened to the Rector’s grandson in France?In May 1915 he was sent to Ypres and attached to the 1st Rifle brigade. The 2nd battle of Ypres had just finished with the first use of poison gas by the Germans – The Rifle Brigade looked after a section of trench, with the help of the Somerset Light infantry , 50 yards from the Germans, who were back in possession of the infamous “international trench” – so called because of its admixture of dead French, Germans and of all the races of the British Isles and the Dominions beyond the seas!
A decision was made to attack the Germans on the morning of the 6th July and during the final preparations for this attack on the 5th July, probably whilst the 1st Rifle brigade were taking their turn in the front line trench, 2nd Lieutenant Lawrence Turner Blades was “killed in action”.
He was buried close by in the Talana farm cemetery along with all the soldiers who died in the assault on the German trench less than 24 hours later.