THE YPRES TIMES (ist Battle of Ypres) 134 By Captain J. G. W. Hvndson, M.C. (Author of From Motis to the First Battle of Ypres). SATURDAY, the 31st October, 1914, was to prove the most critical day in the struggle for Ypres and the day upon which the British Expeditionary Force suffered the heaviest casualties since the commencement of the war. The fight for Gheluvelt, which turned out to be the key to the position on this day, was of a particularly desperate nature. As a result of the fighting on the 30th, our troops were driven back and had taken up a new line East of the village. This position was on the forward slope and very exposed, the enemy having an uninterrupted view of the entire line.* During the night frantic efforts were made by the weary troops to dig fresh trenches, with their hand shovels, but it was impossible to complete them in time, and, when daylight came, most units had only half finished trenches in which to shelter from the inevitable bombardment. At the first signs of daybreak the Germans commenced to shell our positions and concentrated an overwhelming fire on the front line and support positions. Special attention was paid to Gheluvelt which was almost obliterated by smoke and very soon burning furiously. After two hours of intensive bombardment the German infantry attacked, carried the front line and killed or captured the defenders to a man. After a slight pause they swarmed on the masses, offering a splendid target to our rifleman, but despite heavy losses they were able to reach the outskirts of Gheluvelt. From our two companies in the front line we could get no news and feared that they must have been captured with the others. At about eleven o'clock we were called upon, together with the two companies of the 2nd K.R.R.C. to counter attack and drive the Germans away from the outskirts of the village. We left our trenches and moved forward to try and carry out our task. The ground all round was literally alive with bursting shells, and about a score of men were struck down as they emerged from the trenches. However, on we went, in extended order, and pushed on into the village which was by this time well alight. German shells were bursting against the houses, throwing bricks and dust in all directions and there was the added danger of being killed by flying masonry. My Company Commander was unfortunately soon killed and I found myself in command. Shortly afterwards I had a narrow escape from a bullet which knocked me down, and thinking I had been hit I glanced down and found that the bullet had entered my compass case, cleaned it out and passed on without doing me any harm. We progressed into the centre of the village only to find it was impossible to move forward any further. The Germans had established themselves in the houses in front of us and in spite of all our efforts we were unable to make any ground. We took cover as best we could, and engaged the enemy in a rifle duel. This proved too one-sided and costly to last for long and we received orders to withdraw from the village and re-occupy our former trenches. Back we ran. More khaki figures were left on the ground dead and dying but the survivors managed to get back to the trenches in a very exhausted condition. Here we remained for about an hour, then orders arrived to withdraw to Hooge as we were told the Germans had broken our front line beyond repair. The 2nd K.R.R.C. on our left were to conform to our movement. Seizing a favourable moment For detail distribution of troops see sketch.

HISTORISCHE KRANTEN

The Ypres Times (1921-1936) | 1935 | | pagina 8