Current Information:

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 21st October to 24th October, 7th Division, in their position east of Ypres were repeatedly attacked by the numerically superior Germans, whilst 1st and 2nd Divisions were similarly assaulted to the north-east of Ypres around Langemarck. This was the old regular British army at its fighting best and the German offensive failed to break through, but the cost was high.

At 7 am on 22nd  October, there was  a heavy bombardment on 7th Division, particularly near the junction of 21 and  22 Brigades in front of Polygon Wood in the Ypres salient. The Divisional reserve, 2nd Scots Guards, 20 Brigade, 7th Division, were brought up through Polygon Wood to temporarily fill the gap between 21 and 22 Brigades which had resulted from 22 Brigade withdrawing too far in the dark.  Thomas Bulkeley was killed in action on this day, probably as a result of the heavy shell fire.