Land of the dead

Norman Cruddas was born in 1880 in Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India. He was the son of John and Annie Wilson. In 1891 he lived in a boarding house in Hove, Sussex, England while attending the Sutton Valence School, where he is listed on the memorial. His family lived in Troon, Ayrshire, Scotland, where Norman is remembered on a memorial in St. Ninian's Church. Before the war Norman emigrated to South Africa. He took part in the Second Boer War and served as a Trooper in the 22nd (Cheshire) Company of the 2nd Battalion Imperial Yeomanry. Norman enlisted on 19 September 1915, later being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 3rd Regiment South African Infantry, part of the South African Brigade, of the 9th (Scottish) Division.

On the 20th Of September 1917, the 9th (Scottish) Division participated in the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge, a phase in the Third Battle of Ypres. Two of its Brigades were to take part: the 27th and the South African Brigade. The 27th Brigade attacked with the 6th King’s Own Scottish Borderers and the 9th Scottish Rifles; the 12th Royal Scots were in support. The leading battalions of the South African Brigade were the 3rd and 4th South African Regiments, with the 1st and 2nd South African Regiments in support. The objective of the South African Regiments was the Red Dotted Line, running roughly along the Hanebeek Stream. The 4th South African Regiment would attack from the left, while the 3rd South African Regiment would attack from the right.

The 3rd South African Regiment reached the front-line trenches at 11.30 p.m. on the night of 19 September. They held the line from a point about 200 metres east of Low Farm, running southeast until the Bourgognestraat, north of Railway Dump. “C” company (under Captain Ellis) was placed on the left, “B” company (under Captain Sprenger) in the centre and “A” company (under Captain Vivian) was placed on the right. “D” company (under Captain Tomlinson) was in support, but one platoon was attached to each of the attacking companies.

At 5.40 a.m. the attacking Battalions advanced behind a barrage. The left wing of the 3rd South African Regiment advanced without heavy opposition. They captured Vampir, crossed the Hanebeek stream and captured Mitchells Farm at about 6:15 a.m. The situation on the right wing was more difficult. “A” Company and a part of “B” and “D” Company reached their objectives, but could not advance any further as the 12th Royal Scots were held up by opposition from Potsdam. “A” Company was ordered to capture Potsdam, but this attack disintegrated, causing heavy casualties. The strongpoint was eventually captured with assistance from “B” Company, although also incurring heavy casualties. The Germans troops evacuated Potsdam, running up Zonnebeke Railway. The remaining troops and machine guns were captured. Potsdam was left in charge of the 12th Royal Scots so the companies could again move towards their objective east of the Hanebeek stream. By nightfall, the 9th Division managed to consolidate all objectives. At 5 pm there was a German counterattack, but it was soon stopped by artillery. The 3rd South African Regiment was relieved on the night of 21st/22nd September.

Norman Cruddas, aged 37, was killed in action on September 20, 1917. He was leading “D” Company during the attack on Potsdam when he was killed. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission believes that Second Lieutenant Cruddas was buried among four other South African soldiers near Brick Kiln & Yard, Zonnebeke at 28.D.28.a.4.1. His remains were exhumed and interred at La Brique Military Cemetery No.2, plot I, row Y, grave 2.

Joseph Frederick Lapworth, a former clerk, was born in May 1894 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He was the son of Sarah Lapworth. He served in the Citizen Military Forces (9th Infantry). On February 16, 1916 he enlisted in Brisbane and he embarked from Brisbane on board HMAT A42 Boorara on August 16, 1916, with the 4th reinforcement of the 49th Battalion, part of the 13th Australian Brigade of the 4th Australian Division.

The 4th Australian Division participated in the Battle of Polygon Wood, a phase of the Battle of Passchendaele. It was to attack from positions along Anzac ridge, just south of Polygon Wood, and operated on the left flank of the 5th Australian Division, which had to capture Polygon Wood itself. The 4th Division’s attack was carried by the 4th and 13th Australian Brigades. The 13th Australian Brigade in turn advanced with the 50th Battalion; the 49th and 51st Battalions Australian Infantry were in support.

On 26 September 1917 at 6.45 a.m. the Australians moved forward behind a creeping barrage. The barrage was very dense and powerful, and most German resistance was broken even before the attacking parties arrived. The defenders they did encounter, surrendered willingly. Only some German snipers offered slight resistance.

At 7.55 a.m. the 49th Battalion had moved through Albania Woods and reached its objective, just west of the hamlet of Molenaarelsthoek. Once the men had established their positions they started digging trenches and organized the defence. At 3.30 p.m. and at 6.00 p.m. Germans were seen massing on their front, but both attempts to organize a counterattack were checked with artillery fire. For both Australian Divisions the attack on the 26th of September had been a success. Polygon Wood had been captured by the 5th Australian Division and all Battalions of the 4th Australian Divisions had reached their objectives.

The 49th Battalion was relieved on the night of the 27th of September by the 46th Battalion Australian Infantry. Notwithstanding the success of the attack the 49th Battalion suffered a total of 129 casualties. Twenty-five men were killed, five officers and 94 other ranks were wounded and five men went missing.

Joseph Frederick, aged 23, was killed in action on September 26, 1917. According to his companions, he was the last to jump into the shell hole and got shot in the back. They dressed his wound and got him on a bearer stretcher, but they were hit, wounding Joseph Frederick again very badly. According to Private Moriarty (stretcher bearer) he was just able to say “They have got me again.”. They got him back in the shell hole where he died a few minutes later. Private Lapworth was initially buried where he fell, west of Remus Wood (28.D.28.d.10.10). A rough cross was made with a stick and a German bayonet. After the war, his remains were exhumed and reinterred in Bedford House Cemetery, Enclosure No. 6, Plot 3, Row A, Grave 8.