The Staffordshire Brigade at Wulverghem - April to June 1915 "Where we are it's just on a ridge and you can see for miles around. The country begins to look beautiful bar the houses and churches which are in ruins and we can see more with our powerful glasses. It was quiet at times you wouldn't think there was a war on..." Sergeant Sydney Norton "C" Company, 1/6th Battalion, The North Staffordshire Regiment Extract from a letter to his wife dated 14th May 1915 In April 1915 the North Midland Division, fresh from their brief period of "trench instruction" under the tutelage of 6th Division around Armentieres, marched from Ballieul into Belgium. The Division was to enter the front line for the first time as a complete formation, taking over from 28th Division the trenches between Kemmel and Wulverghem. The area had been the scene of heavy fighting during October and November 1914, when the Germans had pushed a mixed force consisting of the Cavalry Corps, Indians and French troops from the Messines Ridge, which had a commanding view of the surrounding countryside. The British positions were dug into a smaller ridge in front of Wulverghem. The North Midland Division was brought into the line in this particular section as it was considered to be relatively quiet, and would be the best place for an inexperienced formation to acclimatise to the routine of trench warfare. The Staffordshire Brigade was allotted the southern portion of the North Midland Division's area of responsibility, a frontage of approximately 2,000 yards. Two main roads divided the Brigade's line. To the south was the road between Wulverghem and Messines, which also acted as the Divisional boundary, while in the centre lay the road between Wulverghem and Wytschaete. The units of the Brigade moved to their new billets in the rear area, near the village of Neuve Eglise, on 2nd April. The South Staffordshire battalions moved to Bulford Camp, while the North Staffords used Aldershot Camp. Later that evening, the 1/5th South Staffords and 1/5th North Staffords marched up the road from Neuve Eglise to take over the line from the 28th Division. http://www.wo1.be/eng/mainnav.html
