1st Battalion The King's Regiment.
The Defence of Polygon Wood, Nov. 1 to Nov. 16, 1914.
122
The Ypres Times.
pride that he took part in the ceremonysadness because of the families bereaved, pride
at addressing a gathering of heroes. He remembered well the arrival of the British troops,
whom the enemy called the contemptible little Army," but who soon proved otherwise
in battle for the liberty of peoples. Bet the memory of the brave never be effaced.
The words of dedication having been pronounced, the hymn O God, our help in ages
pastwas sung. The Blessing was followed by the Last Post," sounding afar to the
towers of Ypres on the horizon. One minute's silence and the aged Burgomaster of
Ypres, M. Colaert, in cocked hat and dark uniform, ascended the steps of the memorial
and, bareheaded, said the people of Ypres would never forget that 220,000 brave British
soldiers slept their last long sleep around the city. Then came the Reveille," followed
by the National Anthem and the Belgian La Brabanconne," and the ceremony was at
an end.
During the remainder of the afternoon, crowds of villagers filed past the memorial,
many bringing offerings of flowers, while before leaving the area, all ranks made it their
duty to inspect the graves of their dead comrades in Essex Farm, Bard Cottage, and
Talana Farm Cemeteries. 147 LB.
A Contribution to the Ypres Book of Valour.
By SIR PHILIP GIBBS, K.B.E.
During the first Battle of Ypres, when the German Emperor came to Flanders to
direct the attack upon the British positions, confident of striking through to the coast,
a small but important position was held by the 1st Battalion The King's Regiment. It
was at the south-west corner of Polygon Wood, dominated by the Gheluvelt Ridge,
behind which the German guns were massed, and guarding the long straight road west
wards to Ypres.
On October 20th the Battalion had arrived at Ypres from the Aisne area, and on the
following day marched out beyond Wieltje, but did not come into action, although heavy
fighting was in progress. On October 24th orders were received to support the 22nd
Infantry Brigade, whose line was reported to be broken by the enemy in the direction of
Polygon Wood, and from that date the King's Regiment was heavily engaged and suffered
many casualties. During an attack on Nord westhoek village "A" company came under
sharp fire from loop-holed houses and Lieutenant Denny, of D Company, fell mortally
wounded while later in the day Colonel Bannatyne, commanding the BattaUon, was shot
through the heart by a German sniper. On the following day the attack continued and
two other officersCaptain Batten and Lieutenant Wallacewere killed, among other losses.
On October 26th two companies lost all their officers in a further attack upon the village
and upon the enemy's trenches along the Becelaere Road, which were captured under heavy
fire with great gallantry by non-commissioned officers and men. The Germans endeavoured
to regain their ground at the point of the bayonet, but were flung back with heavy losses
and the 1st Battalion of the King's Regiment held its position until relieved by the
Highland Light Infantry in the evening of October 28th. It then received a cheering
message from the Divisional Commander, General Munro, saying, Your Regiment has
done magnificently."
All that, however, was preliminary to the great ordeal when they were put into the
fighting line again after a few hours' rest and marched to that south-west corner of Polygon
Wood, which for sixteen days became their battleground and the supreme test of their
endurance. They were ordered to hold the position at all costs, and every officer and
