Movement of the War in 1915.

February 2

Scots attacked Petit Bois and Maedelstede Farm. They conquered two M.G. Statements and names 57 prisoners of war. Soon they have to enter the occupied positions. In their attempt to recapture Wijtschatebos, the Scots lose 17 officers and 407 men.

March 6

Was the Reserve Infantry Regiment No.8 removed from the sector near Maedelstede and the 3rd German Division. The 3rd German Division 15th regiment shifted and took place between the northwestern edge of Croonaertbos to Petit Bois.

March 7

The Bavarian Infantry Regiment Nr.17 is the 1,800 meter sector on the Wijtschatebeek, between the Dutch Barn and Maedelstede at 50 to 200 meters from the British.

March 12

In a British attack on Spanbroekmolen by the 3th Worcesterers on the Germans, Los Angeles's 21-year-old lieutenant William Hamilton Clarke lost a "Compagny", he behaved manfully and heroically during the fighting and was granted him the Military Cross.

May 12

On that day there was a V.C. Won at Spanbroekmolen. That day, Lieutenant Cyril Gordon Marin reportedly volunteered to lead a small group of six grenadiers against the enemy trench at Spanbroek Mill, which stopped the progress. Before he left, he was injured by granaatscherven, he did not care much about it. He led the attack on the German proposition and took the trench. They held the statement for two and a half hours against multiple counter attacks. For this realization, this ended the enemy reinforcements at a critical moment, when the British changed the frontline effort. That gave him the victoria cross.

June 20

The 3rd German Division 15th regiment shifted and took place between the northwestern edge of Croonaertbos to Petit Bois.

12 - 21 July

The Königliche Bayerian 5th Infantry Regiment from Bamberg was in Wijtschate. They sustained some small shootings at the Linde.

October 18

For the first time, there was official mention of poison gas and this by the British on the Spanbroek mill on the Germans.

         

Progress of the war in 1916

January 31

34 Canadian volunteers belonging to the 28th Battalion performed a nightly raid on the enemy trenches at Spanbroek Mill.

March 20

The Reserve Infantry Regiment (R.I.R) No. 212 with a first battalion "Abschnitt 6" and the reserves were placed in 't Helleken, the second battalion in Bereitschaftstellung on Barbara, Schwalben and Pflaumenhof.

April 5th

Short British attack left of the German 54th Division, the German leadership took several security measures. The bunkers in 't Helleken were strengthened and a second defensive line De Riegelgraben expanded. Along both sides of the Kruisstraat. Various materials were applied via decauve lines.

April 25th

Names R.I.R. No.125 they enter into new propositions between the Halfweg and Granatenhof café in the immediate vicinity of the enemy.

April 25th

The Königlich Preusisches R.I.R. Nr.125 was on the line café Halfweg (Oosthoekstraat) to Granathof. Their headquarters was on Staenijzer which they further expanded with bunkers.

April 30th

At 2 o'clock, more or less 120 volunteers who were specially trained at Barbara Hof urged the enemy statements. This happened after the Pioneer Regiment No. 36 poison gas had let go of them.

11 May

At Croonaert, two German camouflage mines explode: the Bertha and the Carl.

May 14

In the camouflage mine Anna exploded the cargo and struck a 8 meter deep crater with a 22 meter doormeter.

June 9 and 12

Members of the German settlements in 't Helleken fought under the heavy British artillery fire.

June 10th

Were a 12-man crew of the 250th Tunnelling Company operating underground in Petit Bois. The Germans had perceived suspicious sounds underground and blasted a countermeasure.

June 16 on 17

A new gas attack was carried out.

June 28

A British counterpart supported by the Royal Artillery caused the Germans to die 18 men and 56 injured.

July 10th

New actions by the British on the German enemy.

July 17th

New action by the Germans on the British, nothing changed to positions.

July 26 and 27

A group of the 18th Canadian Battalion continued until Bauerhof.

Sept-October

The 4th Württ.Feldartillerie Regiment Nr.65 returns to the Wytschaet arch.

                                         

Progress of the War 1917.

June the 6th

Continuous artillery shots on the German propositions.

June 7th

Massive assault by the Allies on German propositions about Zero Hour (3u10) The Mine Battle started with amazing 19-mint explorations, by the afternoon was Wisely occupied by the British and the Germans were further expelled, Oosttaverne was occupied in the afternoon and s In the evening they were already at Hollebeke.

June 8th

In the evening leaves the 52nd Battalion of the British IXth Corps de Wambeek to assist Blauwpoortbeek.

June 9th

The 50th Battalion attacked the German positions at Blauwpoortbeek at 22:00, the mishaps attacked.

June 10th

They are doing a new attack with the 52th Battalion last night.

Progress of the war 1918

April 11th

The Germans are again in Wijtschate and have to withdraw the British.

April 15th

The Germans conquered the great jumpers of Wijtschate in high speed.

April 16th

The corps Sieger Wijtschate and the foot of the Kemmelberg in Wijtschate were again in German hands.

April 17th

Attack the British at 6.30 pm Weirdly under heavy artillery fire, the Maedelstedetrechter (Oosthoeve) was taken all day. At 9:30 the British again attacked their attack, the Germans took the British barracks on fire in Kemmel under fire, the British evacuated that quickly, for the Germans this was a rich spoil of these shelters that were well-equipped, they Found 1500 pairs of British long-sleeved boots and many waterproof jackets. The entrances of these shelters, however, were all facing the entrance to the British. The losses on the German side were: 14 officers, 160 deputies and 483 soldiers and injured.

September

At the end of September the Germans were expelled from Wijtschate, a bloody episode of death and destruction was almost over.

November 11th

Was the ceasefire signed and the war was over, but not entirely for Wijtschate, it was still the British commander who had the area under his authority. There were also army camps in and around Wijtschate and there was also a camp for German prisoners of war.

Expired in 1919

Residents who returned were in difficult circumstances, of the 3500 inhabitants before the war, there were barely 1236 inhabitants living in barracks in 1920. According to the census in this year, there were only eight houses. Everything was destroyed after four years of intense bombing Information sources: The battle for the Hillside Wijtschate 14 - 18 by Michel Vansuyt Publisher: Groeninghe Kortrijk (2009) - War Diaries 1914 - 1918 by Achiel van Walleghem Publisher: Lannoo Tielt (2014) - Imperial War Museum - Wytschate in 1914-1918 more than a Mine Battle by José Depover - J.M.O. 143th Infantry Regiment.