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Age-29

Russell Square

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The Battle of Nonne Bosschen 

The battle of Nonne Bosschen on 11th November, 1914 was the final German attempt to break through the British lines around Ypres. They threw twelve and a half divisions into an attack along a nine mile front, stretching from Messines to Reutel (close to Polygon Wood). The main thrust of their attack was either side of the Menin Road where two fresh divisions, numbering around 10,000 men were thrown against eleven tired and depleted British divisions of around 4000 men. The attack was launched at 9 am after the heaviest artillery barrage yet seen and was protected by early morning mist. Astride the Menin Road the defenders were forced to give ground but more critical was the attack that penetrated the Guards Brigade line just to the north and allowed the Germans to get into Nonne Bosschen woods and threaten the artillery line. This threat was averted in the afternoon when a counter attack cleared the Germans from the wood. There was now no chance of a breakthrough and although the Germans made a few minor attacks over the next few days the First Battle of Ypres was finished.

After having been heavily involved in the fighting at Messines at the beginning of the month, 14th London (London Scottish),  arrived at Hooge in the Ypres salient on 7th November to join 1 Brigade, 1st Division.  On the following day, 8th November they moved to trenches in a wood at Zillebeke where they remained until 13th November and where they were involved in the fierce fighting associated with the battle of Nonne Bosschen. On 10th November they suffered about 30 casualties, including Oscar Knight, when their positions were heavily shelled, during which the HQ dug outs were blown to bits. This was followed by an enemy infantry attack which they managed to repel. On 13th November, 14th London were relieved by cavalry units and marched back through Zillebeke to the wood immediately south of Hooge on the Menin road where they went into Corps reserve. On 16th November, the day according to records on which Harry Latham was killed, 1 Brigade moved back to Westoutre via Ypres and Vlamertinghe and were not involved in any fighting. It may have been the case that he was killed by shell fire on that day while the battalion was on the move or that the date of his death was recorded incorrectly.