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Age-32

7, Mulgrave Road, Fulham

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 16th November, 1914, the 1st East Surrey battalion of 14 Brigade, 5th Division took over trenches east of Lindenhoek, near Mount Kemmel for an 8 day spell in the line. It was bitterly cold weather and they were subjected to persistent, heavy and accurate German shelling on both their front line and their support positions. Several men were killed during this tour including Thomas Ball on 22nd November. On 24th November they were relieved and moved back to billets in Dranoutre.