Great Uncle Albert Bastin WWI
2nd Battle of Ypres. This battle is infamous for one main reason - it was the first gas attack in history. It should be pointed out that various British units, including the 1st Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment played significant parts. This Albert Bastin died in the later stages of that battle.
About the York and Lancaster Regiment in World War I. The regiment received more battle honours than any other regiment in the British army. It raised 22 battalions under its name, which while not the most of any unit, certainly ranks up there with the rest. About 57,000 men served with the regiment and over 47,000 of them were casualties. Approximately 7 - 8000 of the casualties were fatal. So you can see that the regiment was in the thick of things.
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War Diary account when Albert Bastin died
5th May ST JEAN
Dispositions: 2/Kings Own 248, I/York and Lancaster Regt 488
Heavy\bombardment)of all trenches all day. Casualties very heavy and considerable damage done to parapets, the trenches in places being transformed into a row of shell holes.
A new trench had in consequence been dug the night before by the 2/East Yorkshire Regt. Just behind the original, the latter was full of dead bodies and limbs and was filled in and converted into a grave.
Men of 5/Kings Own reported to be exhausted and 2/East Yorkshire Regt. To have lost heavily. The company of the 3/Monmouth Regt supporting the 2/East Yorks reinforced them in the trenches.
Some of the houses on the WESTHOEK RIDGE demolished by our guns, these were the houses which had been harbouring machine guns.
One company of 2/East Yorkshire Regt were about this time reduced to less than 20 strong by shell fire; another company of 2/East Yorkshire Regt were fired on by(gas shells after which the enemy attempted an assault just north of the railway, but was driven off. Machine gun of I/York and Lancaster Regt disabled.
8.30.p.m. 2/Kings Own 900 strong relieved 5/Kings Own who retired to huts West of YPRES. 3/Monmouth Regt (less 1 company with I/York and Lancasters) 500 strong relieved 2/East Yorkshire Regt who retired to GHQ line at POTIJZE.
1/KOYLI arrived from west of YPRES and occupied dugouts NW ST JEAN. Very strong parties to work all night at digging support trenches in rear of firing line as a refuge from artillery fire.
Casualties: about 400 killed and wounded
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Casualty - Active Service Form
Albert joined 3rd Reserve 1st Yorks & Lancs 5th Feb 1909, Pontefract.
Personal details: dark brown hair, brown eyes, 5 ft 6
Born 1888, Altofts, Yorkshire
Age when joined 20 yrs 4 months
In Dec 1914 went to France with 1st 2nd York & Lancs Regiment
14/3/15 Admitted Syncope, Erquingham
15/3/15 3rd Gen Hospital Le Treport France
20/3/15 Convalescent Camp
Killed in action 5th May 1915 possibly due to heavy bombardment, therefore he doesn't have a grave.
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memorial MENIN GATE
Casualty: Private ALBERT BASTIN, 3/1926
Served With: 1st Bn. York and Lancaster Regiment 28 division
Died: 5th May 1915
Commemorated: YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Ieper, West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
Panel 36 and 55
The 1st Battalion, after a month of severe fighting around Ypres (Ieper), were occupying a trench line running through Verlorenhoek. The previous day a severe bombardment had blown in parts of the trench and on the afternoon of the 5th May the enemy took advantage of this to advance in great strength under cover of an artillery barrage. Everyman of the Battalion was pushed forward and the attack was repulsed, but Albert was killed.
The 1st Battalion were relieved two days later. The six Battalions of the 83rd Brigade, of which 1st Battalion was one, lost 4507 men between 23rd April and 8th May 1915. When you consider that each Battalion numbered approximately 1000 at full strength, this is a very high casualty rate of killed wounded and missing.
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