Current Information:

Born-Shepherd's Bush

The Battle of Messines  12th October-2nd November 1914

The Battle of Messines was fought in October 1914. It was part of the Race to the Sea and it took place between the Comines-Ypres canal  and  the River Douve. It involved the 1st and 2nd Cavalry Divisions and elements of the 3rd, 4th and 5th Divisions as well part of the Indian Division.

In the early morning of 31st October there was a strong German attack at Messines and just further to the north at Wytschaete where 2nd Cavalry Division held a front of over three miles between Wytschaete and the Comines canal.  Trenches were blown in and men buried alive but there was no serious German attack during the morning.  British artillery fire proved very effective in stopping the Germans except near the canal where a large body of Germans tried to advance from Hollebeke to the bridge north of it.  Lack of explosives had prevented this bridge being blown.  This force was enfiladed by 4th Hussars of 3 Cavalry Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division from woods 700 yards away and they abandoned their attempts.  At 6.30 pm, all became quiet and 2nd Cavalry Division’s line was reorganised. At 10.15 pm a further attack against the whole front of 2nd Cavalry Division again came to nothing.  From Messines to the canal the line had been held intact except for the salient around Messines. There was fierce fighting at Messines and Wytschaete on 1st November and 4th Hussars withdrew to Kemmel to spend the night in billets in Berthen. On the following day, 8th Hussars dug a new trench line near Kemmel and then on 3^rd November, they marched to trenches in Wulverghem. For the next two days they came under heavy and constant shell fire during which they sustained a number of casualties including Frederick Bond, before being relieved and moving to billets in Berthen.