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Born-Greenwich

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 25th October, 1914, the 10th Hussars of 6th Cavalry Brigade, 3rd Cavalry Division relieved the Household Cavalry in trenches at Klein Zillebeke just to the south of Ypres. On the following day, 26th October, enemy sniping began in the morning as well as shelling. A patrol was sent tout to try to stop the sniping but in the afternoon the shelling got heavier and 10th Hussars suffered about ten casualties one of whom was Thomas Starkey.