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Born-Chiswick

First Battle of Ypres

Between 21^st October and 22^nd 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 1^st and 2^nd Divisions plus the 3^rd Cavalry Division had made their way up from the Aisne as part of the “Race to the Sea”, whilst the 7^th 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.

Between 29^th and 31^st October a massive concentration of German troops tried to break the British line around Gheluvelt at the eastern apex of the Ypres salient. 1^st and 7^th Divisions stood in their path. On the 29^th October, after a day of intense fighting, often hand to hand, the British were pushed back to the Gheluvelt cross roads. The following day the Germans attacked Gheluvelt itself and although the village remained in British hands, German troops had some success further south at Zandvoorde and were now able to enfilade the British line. Then on 31^st October came the main German attack and Gheluvelt fell. At one stage the it seemed that all was lost but a dramatic counter attack by 2^nd Worcestershire, stabilised the line. However, the loss to the British army had been enormous.

On 28th October, 1914 The 1st Dragoons of 6th Cavalry Brigade, 3rd Cavalry Division arrived at Zillebeke and at 11.30am on 30th October they took up positions in the  support trenches in rear of the nearby Hooge Chateau. This came under heavy attack by both enemy artillery and infantry and that afternoon, 1st Dragoons were  ordered back to a line from in front of Kleine Zillebeke to the railway just north of Hollebeke. Just after midnight they were relieved. One of their casualties during this day of heavy fighting was Arthur Richardson.