1st Battle of Ypres, 1914

7th Sep 1914 Bedfords in Action

1st Oct 1914 Exhaustion Point

7th Oct 1914 Chased from Village to Village

16th Oct 1914 On the Move  On the 16th of October No.6 Squadron moved to Poperinghe Aerodrome. Six Squadron’s work was primarily the observation for the artillery engaged on counter battery work, recording enemy troops movements and the mapping enemy trench positions. It played a large part in the Battle of Ypres despite constant attacks from the German air force and anti-aircraft fire, equipped with a variety of aircraft types, but principally the BE2.
Holts Battlefield Guide

16th Oct 1914 Heroism

17th Oct 1914 Trenches

17th September 1914 Some Shelling

18th Oct 1914 1st Royal Scots in Action

18th Oct 1914 Trenches

19th Oct 1914 In Action

19th Oct 1914 Trenches

19th Oct 1914 Hard Fighting

20th Oct 1914 In Action

20th Oct 1914 In Action

20th Oct 1914 Trenches

20th Oct 1914 Defensive Line

21st Oct 1914 In Action

21st Oct 1914 In Action

21st Oct 1914 Trenches

21st Oct 1914 Hard Fighting

22nd Oct 1914 A Hot Encounter

22nd Oct 1914 New Line Occupied

22nd Oct 1914 Shelling

22nd Oct 1914 Trenches

22nd Oct 1914 Bombardment

23rd Oct 1914 Heavy Shelling

23rd Oct 1914 Reliefs

23rd Oct 1914 Trenches

23rd Oct 1914 Under Fire

24th Oct 1914 Territorials in action  During the German push along the Menin Road on the 24th of October 1914, a battalion of the 244th Reserve Infantry Regiment overwhelmed the 2nd Wiltshires in the eastern edge of Polygon Wood, causing heavy casualties. The 2nd Warwickshires and Northumberland Hussars were brought up to reinforce them and the Warwicks were successful clearing the enemy from the wood, an action regarded as the first serious engagement of a Territorial unit in the Great War.
Holts Battlefield Guide

24th Oct 1914 Counter Attack

24th Oct 1914 Hard Fighting

24th Oct 1914 Trenches

24th October 1914 Night Attack

24th Oct 1914 Enemy Break Through

25th Oct 1914 Guns in Action

25th Oct 1914 In Reserve

25th Oct 1914 Trenches

25th Oct 1914 Enemy Break Through

26th Oct 1914 Under Fire

26th Oct 1914 Under Fire

26th Oct 1914 Shelling

26th Oct 1914 Pressure

26th Oct 1914 Trenches

26th Oct 1914 Forced Back

27th Oct 1914 Shelling

27th Oct 1914 Trenches

27th Oct 1914 Orders Received

28th Oct 1914 A Game of Hide and Seek

28th Oct 1914 Entrenching

28th October 1914 Warship shells spread Havoc in Enemy's Trenches

28th Oct 1914 Reliefs

28th Oct 1914 Trenches

28th Oct 1914 Artillery Active

29th Oct 1914 Attack Launched

29th Oct 1914 Shelling

29th Oct 1914 Reliefs

29th Oct 1914 Trenches

29th Oct 1914 Hard Fighting

30th Oct 1914 On the March

30th Oct 1914 Out of the Trenches

30th Oct 1914 Attack

30th Oct 1914 Trenches

30th Oct 1914 Hard Fighting

31st Oct 1914 Germans attack Geluveld  On the 31st October the Germans made an attack from the east along the Menin Road and captured the area around Geluveld Chateau. Just after mid day the Chateau was struck by a shell causing serious causalties. With the British line close to breaking the remaining 500 men of 2nd Worcesters in reserve at the Western edge of Polygon Wood, were ordered to counter attack. With one company guarding the Menin Road to the north of Geluveld village, against German advance towards Ypres, the remainder prepared to attack. At 1400 with bayonets foxed they filed to Black Watch Corner at the south west edge of Polygon Wood. They made a bayonet charge into the Chateau grounds to reinforce the remnants of the 1st South Wales Borderers had earlier recaptured the Chateau.
Holts Battlefield Guide

31st Oct 1914 Hooge Chateau shelled  Hooge Chateau was shelled killing several staff officers of Major General Monro's Divisional Head Quarters and wounding others, including Gen. Monro
Holts Battlefield Guide

31st Oct 1914 Divisional HQ Hit

31st Oct 1914 To Defend Messines

31st Oct 1914 Death Trap

31st Oct 1914 In Action

31st Oct 1914 Enemy Advance

31st Oct 1914 Hard Fighting

31st Oct 1914 Counter Attack

31st Oct 1914 Trenches

31st Oct 1914 Rescue

31st Oct 1914 Hard Fighting

1st Nov 1914 London Scottish in Action

1st Nov 1914 Under Heavy Bombardment

1st Nov 1914 In Action

1st Nov 1914 Shelling

1st November 1914 Reliefs

2nd Nov 1914 Fix Bayonets

2nd Nov 1914 In Action

2nd Nov 1914 Guns in Action

2nd November 1914 Slight shelling

3rd Nov 1914 1st East Lancs shelled

3rd Nov 1914 The Kaiser's Visit

3rd Nov 1914 Hard Fighting

3rd November 1914 Entrenched

4th Nov 1914 Desperate Fighting

4th Nov 1914 Rifle Fire

4th November 1914 Intermittent shelling

5th Nov 1914 Perfectly Hopeless

5th Nov 1914 Bonfire Night

5th November 1914 Night Attack

6th Nov 1914 On the Move

6th November 1914 Attack at dawn.

7th Nov 1914 Continued Action

7th Nov 1914 Attack Made

7th Nov 1914 In Action

7th November 1914 Into Support

8th Nov 1914 Misty

8th Nov 1914 Holding the Line

8th November 1914 Orders

9th Nov 1914 Relief

9th Nov 1914 Brave Actions

9th Nov 1914 Rifle Fire

9th Nov 1914 Trench Raid

9th November 1914 Rest

10th Nov 1914 Treated Well

10th Nov 1914 Shelling

10th Nov 1914 Holding the Line

10th of November 1914 Heavy shelling

11th Nov 1914 9th, 16th & 17th Batteries RFA in action  17th Battery, XL1 Brigade, RFA, 1st Corps, 2nd Div. are in action in the Battle of Nonnes Boschen (Nun's Wood) near Westhoek. When the final charge of the Prussian Guards regiments broke through the British trenches, only the guns of the 9th, 16th and 17th Batteries stood between the German advance and the City of Ypres. The line held, with the gunners aided by cooks, batmen, HQ office staff with rifles, succeeding in stopping the enemy's advance to the sea and the Channel Ports.

11th Nov 1914 Prussian Guards attempt a break through.  Wednesday 11th November will be remembered as the day when, after terrific artillery fire, the 1st and 4th brigades of the Prussian Guard made an attempt to break through to Ypres. Fifteen battalions, specially brought from Arras, managed to penetrate our line at three points, getting into some woods behind it. In spite of their numbers and fine tradition, the attack failed, however, with great slaughter to the enemy. On that date the 3rd Dragoon Guards "stood to" at 5:30am and moved up to support Lord Cavan at Zillebeke, returning at 9 o’clock in the evening.
The following Army Order issued the next day to the 1st Division, 2nd Division, 3rd Division and 1st and 3rd cavalary Divisions is worthy of reproduction:
"G 983 12th November 1914. The Commander-in Chief has asked me to convey to the troops under my command his congratulations and thanks for the splendid resistance to the German attack yesterday. This attack was delivered by some fifteen fresh battalions of the German Guard Corps which had been specially brought up in which to carry out the task of which so many other corps had failed-viz, to crush the British and force a way through to Ypres. Since it’s arrival in this neighbourhood the 1st Corps, assisted by the 3rd Cavalry Division, 7th Division, and troops from the 2nd Corps, had met and defeated the 23rd, 26th and 27th German Reserve Corps, the 13th Active Corps, and finally, a strong force of the Guard Corps. It is doubtful whether the annals of the British Army contain any finer record than this.
Douglas Haig (Lieut-General commanding the 1st Army Corps)
History of the 3rd (Prince of Wales) Dragoon Guards 1914-1918 by Captain H P Holt

11th Nov 1914 A Desperate Stand

11th Nov 1914 Guns All Around

11th Nov 1914 Black Watch Corner

11th Nov 1914 In Action

11th Nov 1914 In Action

11th Nov 1914 Heavy Fighting

11th Nov 1914 Enemy Attack

11th Nov 1914 Enemy Active

11th Nov 1914 Attack

11th November 1914 Searchlights, star shells and fireballs

12th Nov 1914 3rd Dragoon Guars at Zillebeke  On the 12th November the 3rd Dragoons moved up again from the bivouac near Halte in support of Lord Cavan’s trenches about a mile due east of Zillebeke, and at 5:00pm went into other trenches about a mile south-east of the village. That night passed quietly. Although an attack was expected at 4:30am, nothing happened till 8:20, when the regiment was subjected to some very heavy shrapnel and rifle fire. When relieved by the Blues at 6:30pm the Regiment had sustained the following casualties: Lieut Talbot, 5 NCOs and men killed and 15 NCOs and men wounded. Lieut Talbot had been previously wounded, when, sitting with his back to the parapet with four men, all five were killed by concussion from a shell which landed nearby.
History of the 3rd (Prince of Wales) Dragoon Guards 1914-1918 by Captain H P Holt

12th Nov 1914 Holding the Line

12th Nov 1914 Machine Guns Active

12th Nov 1914 Artillery Active

12th November 1914 Reliefs

13th Nov 1914 Shelling

13th Nov 1914 Attack Made

13th Nov 1914 Orders

13th November 1914 Sniping and shelling

14th Nov 1914 Pig Sty Wood

14th Nov 1914 Orders

14th Nov 1914 Fierce Fighting

14th November 1914 Constant shelling

15th Nov 1914 Holding the Line

15th Nov 1914 Orders

15th Nov 1914 New Positions

16th Nov 1914 Artillery Active

17th Nov 1914 Attack Made

18th Nov 1914 Attack Made

18th Nov 1914 Shelling

19th Nov 1914 Snowfall

19th Nov 1914 Reliefs

22nd Nov 1914 Flanders winter weather suspends fighting  The onset of harsh winter weather suspended the fighting in Flanders, ending the First Battle of Ypres which had begun with the German attack on the 19th of October.

25th Nov 1914 Up to our Knees in Mud

25th Nov 1914 HAC In Action

12th Dec 1914 Thin Red Line

14th Dec 1914 On the March

15th Dec 1914 Stand to

19th Dec 1914 British attack

19th Dec 1914 Prisoners

22nd Apr 1915 Gas

23rd Apr 1915 On the March

25th Apr 1915 Shelling

26th Apr 1915 Shelling

27th Apr 1915 Motor Ambulance Convoy

28th Apr 1915 Medical Officer

31st Oct 1914 Desparate Attacks

If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.

Want to know more about 1st Battle of Ypres, 1914?

There are:833 items tagged 1st Battle of Ypres, 1914 available in our Library

These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.

Those known to have served in
1st Battle of Ypres, 1914
during the Great War 1914-1918.

Andrews George John. Pte. (d.8th November 1914)
Ansell Harry. Pte. (d.9th November 1914)
Aspley Henry. L/Cpl. (d.8th Jan 1916)
Atkinson Henry Edward. L/Cpl. (d.12th June 1915)
Barlow Thomas. Pte. (d.5th Nov 1918)
Barnett Robert. Rfmn. (d.19th Dec 1914)
Barnfield DCM. John. Sgt.
Barr Joseph. Pte. (d.7th Nov 1914)
Battman Frederick William. Sgt. acting WO
Baxter Robert Samuel. L/Cpl. (d.27th Oct 1914)
Bedford Arthur. Pte. (d.3rd Nov 1914)
Bent VC, MM John. CSM.
Bester Arthur Bannard. Pte. (d.16th June 1915)
Biggs Edward Frank. Cpl. (d.5th May 1915)
Bond Frederick Alexander. Pte.
Bovis Daniel. Pte. (d.24th Oct 1914)
Brace Andrew. Pte. (d.31st Oct 1914 )
Bradford Percy Charles. Pte.
Bradshaw Robert. Pte. (d.13th Oct 1914)
Brennan Thomas. L/Cpl. (d.4th Nov 1914)
Brent Thomas. Pte.
Brooke Joseph. Sgt.
Brown David. Sgt.
Brown George Arthur. Pte. (d.11th May 1917)
Brown Joseph. (d.21st May 1917)
Bucktrout MM & bar. Robert. Sgt.
Butler Isaac Frank. Pte. (d.1st Jan 1915)
Bywater John William Arthur. Pte. (d.27th Oct 1914)
Calvert Robert William. (d.29th Oct 1914)
Cantell George Ernest. Pte. (d.28th Oct 1914)
Chadwick Percy. Pte. (d.11th Nov 1914)
Clark John William. Sgt.
Clarke James Henry Fisher. 2nd Lt.
Clissett William Frederick. Pte. (d.31st Oct 1914)
Coleman MiD. Albert John. Pte.
Colgrave DCM, MID. Joseph. L/Sgt,
Cordwell Herbert. Pte. (d.11th Nov 1914)
Cousins James Richard . Pte. (d.30th May 1915)
Cox Percival Elliot. Capt. (d.23rd May 1917)
Crabb Francis Frederick. Pte. (d.19th November 1917)
Craven Francis. Pte.
Creswell Andrew. Pte.
Cruickshank David Waddell. Pte.
Daniels Daniel. Guardsman. (d.1st Sep 1914)
Davies Robert. Pte.
dePass VC. Frank Alexander. Lt. (d.25th Nov 1914)
Dickens Christopher Westley. Cpl. (d.3rd May 1915)
Dorrell James Henry. Gnr/Bombdr
Douglas Robert. Pte. (d.26th October 1914)
Earridge Harold A.. Sgt.
Edwards Joseph. Pte. (d.18th Nov 1914)
Elsner MID, DSO. Otto William Alexander. Lt.Col.
Fell Henry. Pte.
Fidgett Victor Herbert. Sgt. (d.22nd Nov 1914)
Flippance George Noah. Pte. (d.26th Oct 1914)
Franklin William. Pte.
French Charles Stockley. Lt. (d.25th April 1915)
Fuller Charles. Pte. (d.11th Nov 1914)
Game David James . Sgt.
Gardiner William John. Sgt.
Glen James. L/Cpl. (d.31st October 1914)
Golding William Taverner . Sgt. (d.21st October 1914)
Goodger Henry. Pte. (d.3rd Nov 1914)
Graveling William Charles. Pte.
Graves-Sawle Richard Charles. Lt. (d.2nd Nov 1914)
Greaves Norman. Bmbdr.
Greenslade Ernest. Sgt.
Grenfell VC. Francis. Capt. (d.24th May 1914)
Grieveson Robert. Pte.
Griffin MC. John William. Capt.
Hancock Ernest. Pte. (d.28th Nov 1914)
Hardy Thomas.
Harman Edward Stafford-King. Capt. (d.6th Nov 1914)
Harmer MM. Charles. Pte.
Harris Edward James. Sgt. (d.22nd Sep 1918)
Harris James. Pte. (d.5th Nov 1914)
Hather Fred. L/Cpl. (d.27th November 1914)
Herbert-Stepney Herbert Arthur. Maj. (d.7th Nov 1914)
Highcock Elias. Dvr.
Howard James Charles. L/Cpl. (d.10th Nov 1914)
Hurt MID Seymour Frederick Auckland Albert. Capt. (d.18th Oct 1914)
Hussey Joseph. Sgt. (d.24th May 1915)
Jackson John. Pte. (d.27th October 1914)
Jameson MC. George Brumwell. Cpl.
Jones John Allen. Sgt.
Keegan James Joseph. Pte. (d.6th Nov 1914)
Kelly Michael. Sgt. (d.26th Apr 1915)
Ker Dixon. CQMS
Khan VC Khudadad. Subedar
Kilpatrick Robert. Pte. (d.10th November 1914)
Kirkby Herbert. L/Cpl. (d.31st Mar 1918)
Labrom William John. Pte.
Lauder George Herbert. L/Cpl. (d.25th Nov 1917)
Liddle Samuel. Pte.
Limouzin George Alfred. 2nd Lt.
Linge Arthur James. Pte. (d.24th Nov 1914)
Low James. L/Sgt. (d.9th May 1915)
Lynch Charles. Cpl.
Lyons Francis. Pte. (d.31st Oct 1914)
Maden Harold. Cpl. (d.15th December 1914)
Mallins Claude O'Conor. Lt. (d.2nd Nov 1914)
Marker DSO, MID. Raymond John. Lt.Col. (d.13th Nov 1914)
Marshall MM. John William. Sgt.
McKenna John James. Cpl.
Mclean Donald. Cpl. (d.21st Oct 1914)
McLean Donald. Cpl. (d.21st October 1914)
Mills William Ernest. Pte. (d.6th Nov 1914)
Monck Charles Henry Stanley. Capt. (d.21st Oct 1914)
Moore Michael. Pte.
Morgan Sidney Charles. Pte. (d.31st Oct 1914)
Moseley Charles Frances. Pte. (d.13th Oct 1914)
Murdoch Thomas Fleming. Mjr.
O'Neill Francis James. Spr.
O'Neill MID Patrick Joseph. Sgt
Over Charles Herbert. (d.20th Oct 1914)
Packe Edward Alexander. Capt.
Paget Edwin. Cpl. (d.24th October 1914)
Parfitt Frederick. Pte.
Parker Robert Thomas. Pte.
Parker Robert Henry. Pte. (d.30th Oct 1914)
Parrott Harry Rands. Pte. (d.20th Oct 1914)
Payne MM, CdG. Jack. Sgt.
Perris Albert Joseph. Pte. (d.3rd Nov 1914)
Phillips George Henry. Pte.
Poole Edward Earnest. Cpl. (d.20th Nov 1914)
Pretty Frederick Luce. Cpl.
Prudence William Henry. Pte. (d.31st Oct 1914)
Randall Charles Frank. Pte. (d.1st Nov 1914)
Randall Edward John. Pte. (d.30th Sep 1915)
Randall Henry John. L/Cpl. (d.3rd Jan 1916)
Ridgway Benjamin Wilfred. Pte. (d.30th July 1916)
Robinson David. Cpl. (d.26th Oct 1914)
Robinson Percy. Pte. (d.11th Mar 1915)
Rook Morton. Pte.
Ryan Ralph. Pte. (d.14th May 1915)
Ryder Leonard. Pte. (d.3rd Nov 1914)
Sadler Evan Robert. Pte. (d.28th Oct 1914)
Shave DCM. Albert Henry. Cpl.
Shearman Edgar. Pte. (d.6th Dec 1914)
Sheath J. C. W.. Pte.
Sheehy J.. Pte. (d.10th Nov 1914)
Simpson MC William John Sydney. Lt.
Smith Frederick. Pte. (d.25th Sep 1915)
Smith William. Pte. (d.3rd Nov 1914)
Stanley William Charles. Pte. (d.16th May 1915)
Steedman William. Pte. (d.13th November 1914)
Sykes Eli. Pte. (d.31st Oct 1914)
Tate Lionel Percy. 2nd Lt. (d.4th Nov 1918)
Tench James. Pte.
Thacker Frederick Edward. Pte.
Thoroughgood Sidney. Pte. (d.31st October 1914)
Turnbull Matthew.
Turner Frank Edward. Pte. (d.26th Nov 1914)
Waite Cecil Henry John. Cpl.
Watts Henry. Pte. (d.31st October 1914)
Wheatley Joseph. Pte. (d.7th November 1914)
Wheaton Percy. Trptr. (d.10th Nov 1914)
Whigham James. Pte. (d.11th Nov 1914)
White Sidney Herbert. Cpl.
Wickes Albert Edward. Pte. (d.14th Mar 1915)
Widdowson Joseph. Sgt. (d.19th May 1915)
Willetts Thomas Henry. Pte. (d.7th Nov 1914)
Williams Ralph William. Cpl.
Willis Harry. L/Cpl. (d.23rd Nov 1914)
Wilson Joseph Harold. A/Sgt.
Wiltshire William E.. Cpl. (d.9th Aug 1916)
Witherick Percy John. Sgt. (d.24th Aug 1914)
Wootton Charles. Pte.
Wright Walter. Pte. (d.7th November 1914)
Wyer Herbert. L/Sgt. (d.2nd November 1914)
Yates William George Frederick.

The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

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The German Army in World War I: 1914-15 Pt. 1

Nigel Thomas

."..beautifull illustrated and the eight color plates show off a variety of WWI uniforms/equipment that are appropriate for armies that fought in the RCW...fills a very necessary spot in my wargaming library... As always, Osprey books form the first line of any 'attack' on a new period of study!" -"HMG Reviewing Stand" Product Description This is the first of three books that study the German Army of World War I in great detail. They give a comprehensive study of the organisation, uniforms, insignia and equipment of the Imperial German army - in practice the combined armies of Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony and Wurttemberg. This first volume covers the troops who fought at Mons, Arras, and 1st Ypres in 1914; in winter 1914; at Neuve Chappelle, 2nd Ypres, Artois and the Argonne, 1915; and in East Prussia and Poland, 1914-15. It reflects the impact of the first period of trench warfare on the uniforms worn at the outbreak of war.

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The German Army in World War I: 1914-15 Pt. 1

First Ypres, 1914

David Lomas

Osprey's overview of the First Battle of Ypres of World War I (1914-1918). In the autumn of 1914 the original British Expeditionary Force faced a heavily reinforced German drive. Field Marshal Sir John French, the British Commander-in-Chief, had sent his men north in an attempt to take the fight into Flanders, so they could fight across open ground. History tells us that this was not to be the case. David Lomas chronicles the first of the trench-warfare battles, where lines that would remain almost static for the rest of the war were established. Although the Germans failed to reach the channel ports, the death knell had rung for the BEF, which was virtually wiped out in this brave defence.

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First Ypres, 1914

The German Army at Ypres 1914

ack Sheldon

This book will be the first complete account of the operations of the German army in the battles north of Lille in the late autumn of 1914. The main emphasis will be placed on the battles around Ypres against the Old Contemptibles of the BEF, but the fighting against the French and Belgian armies will also be featured, thus providing fresh, broader, insights into a campaign. There are those who consider that the BEF was all that saved world civilisation as the first year of the Great War drew to its end. The book uses the comprehensive histories of the participating German regiments found in the Kriegsarchiv in Munich and the Hauptstaatsarchiv in Stuttgart. Their use adds authority and authenticity to the book. The narrative adopts a chronological approach. The book focuses on some of the most bitterly disputed battles of the first three months of the war, when the Germans strained to achieve a breakthrough and the BEF resisted heroically, at the price of its own destruction. The book

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The German Army at Ypres 1914

Ypres: The First Battle 1914

Ian F.W. Beckett

First Ypres was a devastating battle for the British and a turning point for all four of the major armies involved. Ypres: The First Battle draws on a wide range of British, French, German and Belgian sources in order to reconstruct the battle from all sides. Many of these personal papers and public accounts have never been published before. Through a shrewd analysis of the most recent secondary works as well as archival materials, Ian F.W. Beckett appraises the significance of First Ypres as a key moment in the Great War marking the transition from war as it had been to war as it would become. This book is suitable for undergraduate students studying World War One and is the perfect companion to Beckett’s The Great War.

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Ypres: The First Battle 1914

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If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation.

Announcements

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project
- 1st Battle of Ypres, 1914 in the Great War -

Those known to have served in
1st Battle of Ypres, 1914
during the Great War 1914-1918.