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Born-Wandsworth

First Battle of Ypres

Between 21st October and 22nd November, 1914 a desperate fight took place around the Belgium city of Ypres, the first of three major battles that were to be fought there during the course of the war. British troops entered Ypres in October. The 1st and 2nd Divisions plus the 3rd Cavalry Division had made their way up from the Aisne as part of the “Race to the Sea”, whilst the 7th Division came west to Ypres after Antwerp had fallen. The Germans knew that Ypres was the gateway to the Channel ports and that these were vital to Britain’s war effort so they poured reinforcements into the area. The fighting fell into three distinct battles; the Battle of Langemarck, 21-24 October, the Battle of Gheluvelt, 29-31 October and the Battle of Nonne Bosschen, 11 November. Ypres did not fall to the Germans but its defence during these two months resulted in the destruction of much of the old regular British Army.

During the night of 23rd-24th October 7th Division, in the line at Polygon Wood in the Ypres salient, had been kept on the alert, mainly by rifle fire as the Germans attempted, mostly unsuccessfully, to establish snipers and machine guns near the British line. The pressure continued during the morning of 24th October and when 2nd Wiltshire were out flanked, surrounded and virtually destroyed, there was a serious gap in the British line. To try to deal with this 2nd Division was put at 7th Division’s disposal and at 9.30 am 5 Brigade were ordered to move east along the Menin road and gain touch with 21 Brigade near Polygon Wood.  At 11 am, 5 Brigade with the 2nd Highland Light Infantry and 2nd Worcestershire battalions leading, reached the south-west corner of the wood.  Here they found 7th Division HQ preparing to make a last stand with cyclists, officers, servants etc. brought into the line so 2nd Worcestershire and 2nd Highland Light Infantry counter attacked north-east through the wood to restore the line on its eastern edge.  They had difficulty keeping direction due to the dense undergrowth and the shape of the wood and they had been ordered to use the bayonet rather than risk shooting into the British line to the north.  Suddenly they came face to face with the Germans to the east of the racecourse.  Hand to hand fighting and bayonet attacks followed.  The German resistance was stubborn but eventually they broke and were hunted out of the woods to British cheers.  When 2nd Worcestershire reached the line at the edge of the wood they met German machine gun fire and could go no further. By noon a new line had been taken up by a considerable mixture of British units near the eastern edge of the Wood.  2nd Worcestershire’s casualties, which included Gilbert Towe, were more than 200.