Description

WW1 Canadian Army ‘killed in action’ 2nd Battle of Ypres medal group to Lance Corporal Frank Glass, who earned the exceptionally rare ‘Morts La Patrie’ plaque.

1914/15 Star, impressed named 22871 PTE F.K. GLASS. 2/CAN:INF: British War and Victory medals, impressed named 22871 L.CPL. K. GLASS 2- CAN.INF. Memorial Gloire Aux Morts Pour La Patrie’ plaque, cast white metal with gilt overlay, small brass disk inscribed F.K.Glass -Ypres- 1915. Comes with copies service papers, war diary April 1915 and C.W.G.C. certificate.

Lance Corporal Frank Kenneth Glass was born on the 25/2/1886 in Quebec, Canada. He was working as a manager and wholesale leather merchant when he enlisted on the 29/9/194 to the 12th Battalion at Quebec. He had previously served for 4 years with the Queens Own Canadian Hussars. He was given the service number 22871 and transferred to the 2nd Battalion at an unknown date. He sailed from Quebec 4/10/1914 for England landing there late October. The Battalion landed in France 8/2/1915.On the 10/4/1915 he was promoted to Lance Corporal (2nd Battalion). He took part in the Battle of Gravenstafel Ridge, 22- 26th April 1915, 2nd Battle of Ypres, where he was killed in action during the bloody fighting between the 22 – 26th April.

His body not being recovered, he is commemorated on the Menin Gate. His records list his death as 22 – 26th April with the C.W.G.C. listing him as killed 23/4. On 22 April 1915 at about 5:00 p.m., the Germans released 171 tons of chlorine gas on the Allied line held by the French 45th and 87th divisions. The French troops in the path of the gas cloud suffered 2–3,000 casualties, and fled in all directions. Canadian troops defending the southern flank of the break-in identified the gas as chlorine and covered the gap left by the French troops. The Germans released more chlorine gas at them the following day. The Battalion was involved in intense combat between the 22-26th (as per war diary) by the 29th the Battalions losses stood at: Officers 5 killed, 5 wounded, 6 missing (killed). Enlisted men: 68 killed, 158 wounded, 302 missing (killed, including L/Cpl Glass) total losses 4 days fighting 16 Officers 528 men.