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Age-28

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First Battle of Ypres

Between 21^st October and 22^nd 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 1^st and 2^nd Divisions plus the 3^rd Cavalry Division had made their way up from the Aisne as part of the “Race to the Sea”, whilst the 7^th 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.

The 1^st King’s Royal Rifle Corps battalion of 6 Brigade, 2^nd Division arrived in Ypres on 20th October, 1914 and on 26th October they took part in a divisional attack. It was not a success. They were stopped by heavy enemy fire as they made their way through Polygon Wood which forced them to go to ground and consolidate as best they could. They remained there for the rest of the day. Among their casualties was George Godin.