Current Information:

Born-Bedfordshire

Enlisted-Stratford

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.

Early in the morning of 23rd October, the 2nd South Staffordshire battalion of 6th Brigade, 2nd Division marched to Pilckem where they assisted the 1st Royal West Surrey (Queens) battalion regain some lost trenches. Two companies were sent forward for this purpose and after some heavy fighting the task was accomplished. On the following day the battalion withdrew to Pilckem before moving to rejoin their brigade at Frezenberg. Here they went into trenches where they remained until the end of the month. Albert Hurkett was killed while here on 28th October.