Memorial Stone Essex Yeomanry

There is a memorial stone along the road:
" Reminder of
the men of the
Essex Yeomanry
who died
on the Frezenberg
Flanders
the 13th of May 1915 "

The Essex Yeomanry was a reserve unit of the British Army that came into existence in 1797 as the local Yeomanry Cavalry Troops in Essex. Reformed after the experience gained in the Second Boer War, it served active service as a cavalry in the First World War and as an artillery in the Second World War.

The Essex Yeomanry was involved in the Battle of Frezenberg Ridge on May 13, 1915.
This battle took place as part of the 2nd battle of Ypres.
After three weeks of heavy fighting, including the use of chlorine gas, the Essex Yeomanry was moved to a support position on the strategically important Frezenberg Ridge.
Their main task was to dig a communication trench to facilitate communication between the front line and GHQ.
At 4 a.m. on May 13, the Germans launched a 4-hour bombardment that damaged the defensive trenches held by the second Life Guards, Leicestershire Yeomanry and the third Dragoon Guards.
The German offensive seized the trenches and desperate fighting took place.
Reinforcements were called in, and the Essex Yeomanry, The Horse Guards and the Tenth Hussars pushed back the German offensive.

Source: Essex Yeomanry - Ypres Battle of Frezenberg