Current Information:

Born-Beckenham

Enlisted-Croydon

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.

On 2nd November, after their involvement in the Battle of Gheluvelt, the 2nd Royal Sussex battalion of 2 Brigade, 1st Division, moved back into reserve but they were straight way ordered to send individual companies to bolster the line where danger threatened. They remained in or near the front line as part of Cavan’s force, helping to repel the enemy as they continued in their attempt to break the British line at Ypres. They were finally relieved on 8th November but not before Sidney Seale was killed.