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Born-Rotherhithe

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.

On 20th October, 7th Division were ordered to hold their line at all costs but also to push a strong reconnaissance towards Menin via Gheluwe. In accordance with this, the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers and 2nd Wiltshire battalions of 21 Brigade moved towards Terhand but after meeting heavy fire, 2nd Wiltshire were ordered back to Reutel. The following morning, 21st  October, there was a very determined attack against 21 and 20 Brigades, and 2nd Wiltshire found themselves not only under heavy fire but in an isolated position with runners being the only contact with Brigade HQ. The enemy attacks were even fiercer on the following two days but the line held until the 24th October when the battalion was overrun when it was first outflanked and then surrounded. With only 250 men remaining, the rest were either killed wounded or captured, the battalion, to all intents and purposes, ceased to exist. Its sacrifice, along with that of the other battalions of 20 and 21 Brigades, had prevented the enemy capturing Ypres. One of the many casualties suffered by 2nd Wiltshire during this period of fierce fighting was Thomas Williams.