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Age-28

16, Stanbury Road, Nunhead

Born-Bermondsey

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.

From 29th to 31st October a massive concentration of German troops tried to break the British line around Gheluvelt at the eastern apex of the Ypres salient. 1st and 7th Divisions stood in their path. On the 29th 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 31st 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 2nd Worcestershire, stabilised the line. However, the loss to the British army in man power had been enormous.

At 5.30 am on 29th October and concealed by fog, the expected Germans attack began. It fell on the Gheluvelt cross roads, where the Menin Road crossed between Kruiseecke and Poezelhoek. Sustained pressure by numerically superior German troops caused the line to break and fall back. At 9.30 am, 3 Brigade of 1st Division were ordered to counter attack and regain the crossroads. The 1st Royal West Surrey (Queens), and 1st South Wales Borderers battalions moved up, south and north respectively of the Menin road and at 11 am, 2nd Welsh moved up between them to join in the action.  They met many wounded and stragglers making their way back but in the afternoon these three battalions launched a counter attack which made good progress at first despite German shrapnel and a forward line covering and including Gheluvelt was secured. But the further forward they went, the greater the resistance they met and there were many casualties, one of whom was Charles Wilson of 2nd Welsh.