In 1914 the original chateau was a Div HQ on Oct 31 1914 when hit by shell, killing Lt Gen Lomax 1st Div and seven staff officers and wounding Gen Monro. 1915 July 191st mine blown here by 175th Tunnelling Coy. July 30 0315 Germans make first use of flame throwers on Rifle Brigade. British lost about 800 men in 2 days. 2nd Lt Sidney Woodruffe awarded VC when the enemy had broken through the centre of our front trenches, Second Lieutenant Woodroffe's position was heavily attacked with bombs from the flank and subsequently from the rear, but he managed to defend his post until all his bombs were exhausted. He then skillfully withdrew his remaining men and immediately led them forward in a counter-attack under intense rifle and machine-gun fire, and was killed whilst in the act of cutting the wire obstacles in the open. 1916 June Germans blew three mines near the crater and forced the British off the ridge: these mines are the ones which one sees today. Recaptured by Canadians.