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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.

Although the Battle of Gheluvelt ended on the 31st October, there was still some bitter fighting over the next few days for those British soldiers who held the line in the Ypres salient as the Germans continued to attack. On 8th  November the only serious attack of the day was made just north of the Menin Road against the woods in front of Veldhoek chateau where the trees and the rhododendrons in the chateau grounds provided good cover.  The front was held by a French battalion, 1st Loyal North Lancashire and 1st Scots Guards.  At 12.45 pm The French and 1st Loyal North Lancashire fell back after heavy shelling, exposing the flank of 4th Royal Fusiliers in position south of the road.  1st Scots Guards held on and the two reserve companies of 1st Loyal North Lancashire behind the chateau, immediately counter attacked.  The French joined in as did the reserve company of 1st Scots Guards, two companies of the 2nd West Riding battalion of 13 Brigade, 5th Division and some of 4th Royal Fusiliers. The Germans were driven from the wood and the lost trenches retaken. 2nd West Riding ‘s casualties amounted to 90 men and included Patrick Caulfield.