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Enlisted-New Cross

The battle of La Bassée

This was fought by  II Corps (3rd and 5th Divisions) between 10th  October and 2nd November 1914 and as the name suggests it focused on an area around the town of  La Bassée in northern France. It was part of the Race to the Sea and it determined the line of the Western Front in that sector. There were some initial British successes but La Bassée remained firmly in German hands. German reinforcements arrived and  the village of Neuve Chapelle was captured by them. Towards the end of October, the fighting on this front died down as the attention of both armies switched to Ypres.

After their involvement in the opening phase of this battle, the 1st Royal West Kent battalion of 13 Brigade, 5th Division moved back to billets in Beuvry on 14th October and remained in reserve for the next three days. They returned to the front line on 18th October in a sector opposite the village of Illies. By now the Germans had considerably strengthened their positions and there was little chance of being able to push them back. 1st Royal West Kent remained in these forward positions for two days during which they sent out patrols and snipers were active on both sides. It may have been a sniper’s bullet that killed Herbert Howell on 18th October.