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Age-19

207, Bollo Lane, Acton

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.

When the war began in August, 1914, the 3rd Dragoon Guards were in India but soon returned home, arriving at Liverpool on 18th October, 1914. On 31st October they landed at Le Havre in France and arrived at Ypres on 4th November where they became part of 6 Cavalry Brigade in 3rd Cavalry Division. They moved into trenches at Herenthage on the following day where they were heavily shelled until they were relieved on 7th November when they moved back to No.2 Camp. On 12th November they took over some trenches at Zillebeke where, on the following day, they faced very heavy shrapnel fire which resulted in 18 casualties, including Arthur Baker who was killed.