Current Information:

Age-25

35, Shortlands Road, Leyton

Born-Norwood

Kemmel No1 French Cemetery, Belgium

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 24th October, 7th Division held an area of the Ypres Salient which included the Reutel Spur running  parallel to Polygon Wood. Overnight they had been kept on the alert, mainly by enemy rifle fire, as the Germans attempted, mostly unsuccessfully, to establish snipers and machine guns near the British line.  A party of 40 Germans who penetrated the line were captured by the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers battalion of 21 Brigade. 2nd Wiltshire held the Reutel spur with one company of 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers 200 yards to their right and two companies of 2nd Scots Guards on their other flank, both of whom were forced back in the early morning leaving 2nd Wiltshire isolated.  The rest of 21 Brigade, clung to their positions despite heavy German fire.  Elements of 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers, to the left of 2nd Wiltshire, were particularly hard pressed. By now 7th Division were showing the strain. The incessant fighting of 22nd to 24th October had cost them nearly 3000 casualties one of whom was Frederick Lynn of 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers who was killed on 24th October.