The Taking of Hill 60

Sunday 18th April 1915: Just after seven o’clock yesterday evening two pairs of mines and one single mine were exploded around Hill 60. The mines to the north of the hill contained 2,000 pounds of high explosive each whilst the pair to the south each contained 2,700 pounds and the fifth, to the south of them had 500 pounds. The 1st Battalion, Royal West Kents rushed the shattered German position on top of the hill and captured it easily, taking twenty prisoners. With them went two companies of the 1st Bedfords, the other two companies being held in reserve.

As soon as the crest was taken the Royal West Kents and Bedfords began to consolidate and dig trenches back to our own front line to enable men to come up quickly when the Germans counter-attacked, as it was sure they would.

The Germans counter-attacked early this morning, around four o’clock. This was beaten off but they have attacked again since and look likely to spend much of the day trying desperately to get the hill back again. It is a vital observation point and highly coveted by both sides as it has a good view over Ypres, Zillebeke and our trenches.

Source: X550/2/5