Current Information:

Age-27

1 Rose Cottage, Worton Road, Isleworth

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.

The 1st Grenadier Guards of 20 Brigade, 7th Division, reached Ypres on 13th October and on 16th October moved to Zandvoorde where they entrenched and established outposts. On 19th October they moved east along the Menin Road to Kruiseke where they occupied some less than adequate trenches which they proceeded to strengthen while at the same time coming under enemy fire. This work continued on 20th October with the battalion suffering casualties as they attempted to improve their position and the rest of the month was one of continuous fighting one consequence of which was that the battalion diary was not kept up to date. Henry Shea was killed at some time between 20th and 26th October, 1914.