Current Information:

Age-20

71, Messina Avenue, Kilkburn

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 19th November, 1914, the 3rd Hussars of 4th Cavalry Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division moved with the rest of the brigade from their billets in Bailleul to La Clytte, just north of the Kemmel-Wytschaete road, where, in freezing weather, they took over some very poor trenches from French troops. Here they had to contend with sniper fire and some shelling and there were some casualties including Ernest Dallenger who was killed on 20th November.