2
The Ypres Times.
The orders given to the 9th Corps for the 24th by the Army Commander (General
d'Urbal), were as follows The whole Corps to attack. Objectives Passchendaele and
Roulers. The 17th Division had therefore to advance on Passchendaele, while the 18th
Division, which was to come in on its left, had Poelcappelle and Roulers as objectives.
Corps H.Q. was established at Ypres, alongside that of the I. Corps.
These attacks took place on the morning of the 24th. The 18th Division, after having
relieved part of the I. Division, reached the outskirts of Poelcappelle, but was unable to
take the village. The 17th seized a few hamlets to the north-west and east of Zonnebeke,
but found its further progress also stopped. The offensive was to be continued on the
25th, but barbed wire made its appearance and, in spite of great efforts and considerable
losses, progress was insignificant.
On the following days the battle became extremely violent. French and German
corps, each being ordered to take the offensive, crashed together in a prolonged series of
attacks which only neutralised each other and ended in interminable frontal combats.
On the night 28/29 October, at the first stroke of midnight, the bombardment of
Ypres began, the first shell falling on the billets of the 9th Corps H.Q., killing several
men, wounding others, and destroying some cars.
On 30th October the situation was unchanged on the front of the 9th Corps,
fighting was still very hot, when, at about 15 hours, General Douglas Haig reported
that, under pressure of very violent attacks about Zandvoorde, his troops had retired to
the neighbourhood of Klein Zillebeke, losing Zandvoorde and Hollebeke, and that, as
he had no reserves on that side, Ypres was immediately threatened. The G.O.C. 9th Corps
promptly placed his reserve (two battalions of the 68th Regiment, one of the 268th,
and a brigade of cavalry) at General Haig's disposal. It was at once moved on Zillebeke
in support of the British front, and the German rush was stopped.
The day of October 31st saw the opening of the most critical period of the First Battle
of Ypres. The German effort was to be pushed to the last gasp, and was to be of excep
tional violence. The Duke of Wurtemberg, Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria, and General
von Deimling exhorted their troops to make supreme efforts. It is of decisive importance
to the whole war that we should break through. We must and will conquer." The
Kaiser lent his presence to stimulate the ardour of his armies. The War Lord
prepared to make a sensational entry into Ypres!
During the night October 30/31, in order further to strengthen his right, the G.O.C.
9th Corps placed two fresh battalions and a group of artillery at General Douglas Haig's
disposal. The whole detachment then consisted of the 68th Regiment (3 battalions),
the 268th (2 battalions), a group of artillery, and a brigade of cavalry, all under the orders
of General Moussy.
On October 31st the battle was renewed with desperate violence. On the front of
the 9th Corps, the German waves, decimated by the fire of the seventy-fives," broke
before the French lines, and did not gain an inch. On General Douglas Haig's front the
fight reached a pitch of unparalleled intensity. The line gave slightly on the Ypres-Menin
road, and the G.O.C. 9th Corps then sent him his last reservea brigade of cavalry.
Moussy's detachment, in spite of strong attacks, held fast.
The fight continued just as obstinately on November 1st, but the Germans could
make no progress. Meanwhile the G.O.C. 9th Corps learnt from an order taken from a
prisoner, that the Kaiser was to be at Gheluwe at 15 hours. This place was just out of
range of our heavy guns. No matter! A batteiy of 105mm. was brought nearer to the
front line and plentifully besprinkled the locality at the hour named.
November 2nd was a very critical day. In the Zonnebeke sector there was a moment's
fear that the German attacks would break the front. The men were exhausted and units
had been reduced by the losses of twelve days' continuous fighting to 30 per cent, of their
establishments. But the situation was rapidly saved, and not a trench was lost. Near
