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Born-Ilford

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.

By the middle of October, 7th Division were in the Ypres area and preparing to advance on Menin from Zonnebeke. On 20th October, the 2nd Bedfordshire battalion of 21 Brigade were holding reserve trenches near Veldhoek where they remained for the next six days with minor adjustments being made to their position according to the demands of the fighting. Late in the afternoon of 25th October the battalion took part in an attack on Becelaere but the operation became disjointed and as night approached it was called off. A further attempt was made on the following day in conjunction with the Guards Brigade but this was equally unsuccessful and only brought increased shell fire on to the trenches of 2nd Bedfordshire. That night the battalion was relieved. One of the casualties suffered by 2nd Bedfordshire during the time spent in these trenches was Frank Church.