Ypres 2016 - Battle of Langemarck

On 22nd October 1914 the German 4th Army launched two major assaults against the BEF. To the south east of Ypres, the German XXVII Corps attacked the 7th Division who were in hastly prpapred defences to the south of Zonnebeke.

Attacking from the north and north east were the German XXVI Reserve Corps with their axis on Langemarck, assaulting the advancing I Corps who were hastily digging in.

The German engaged in repeated attacks along the line, the 7th Division coming under heavy artillery bombardment. Despite the ferocious attacks, the more experienced British troops were able to halt the assault. Only in the area of Kortekeer did the Germans break through, but they were dislodged in a counter attack on the morning of the 22nd October. The same day the French 17th Division launched a counter attack from the 2nd Divisions position, but this failed.

The area around Langemark had seen some heavy fighting. The inexperienced German troops, many of who were student volunteers, had advanced in waves, reportedly signing 'Deutschland, Deutschland über alles, suffered heavy casualties. This became a German legend  'Der Kindermord bei   Ypern--massacre of the innocents.

'Der Kindermord bei   Ypern

I Corps in the hastily prepared defences held on, and were relieved by the French XXX Division on the 23rd October.

Lang marck Looking North from 1st Division area

Langemarck looking East from  1st Division area

Ypres 2016 - First Battle of Ypres

The British 4th Corps (Rawlinson) was able to advance onto the higher ground to the south east of Ypres before being held by the advancing German 4th Army. To 4th Corps north, the 1st Corps (Haig) were able to advance to the Passchendaele Ridge, with the 2nd Division from Zonnebeke to Langermark, linking with the 1st Division facing northwards to Boesinghe .  

On the 20th October the German 4th Army launched an offensive with the intent of striking towards the English Channel to capture Dunkirk and Calais, to secure the coastline.

As the German attach began, the BEF abandoned it's advance, began to dig in where they stood and moved to the defensive. Their aim was not only to block the German attack, they looked to hold the vital ground on the Passchendaele Ridge around Ypres.

Ypres 2016 - BEF Flanders

The Battle of the Aisne ended on the 15th September 1914 with Allied and German Forces reaching  stalemate and both sides began consolidating their positions. To the north west of the battlefield area lay an open flank of 170k.



Strategic Situation 15th September 1915
Source: Cartographie 1914 - 1918

The French and German Army began operations to try to outflank each other, extending the battle  line northwards as they began the 'Race to the Sea'

The result of this manoeuvre was a number of meeting engagements between French and German Forces.

Battle of Picardy	22-26 Sep
Battle of Albert	25-29 Sep
Battle of Artois	27 Sep - 10 Oct

On the 2nd October 1914, the BEF began to withdraw from contact on the Aisne, being replaced by French units. The intent was to move the BEF north to take position on the left flank of the French Army in order to conduct a general advance through Flanders. The BEF's 1st, 2nd and 3rd Corps would concentrate on St Omer. The 4th Corps which deployed in early October 1914 on the Flanders Coast to assist the Belgian Army in the Defence of Antwerp. The Corps never reached Antwerp, the city fell on the 10th October, and the Corps started to west to link up with the rest of the BEF.

The fall of Antwerp would also cause the Belgian Army to withdraw along the coast to establish defensive positions on the River Yser.

The plan was 2nd Corps would advance towards La Bassee, with 3rd Corps towards Armentieres. The 4th Corps would advance east of Ypres, and when 1st Corps arrived, they would move NE between Zonnebeke and Bixschoole.

The right flank of the German Army were also advancing, their axis towards the 2nd and 3rd Corps of the BEF. A new German 4th Army was re-constitutes to try to exploit the gap in Northern Belgium. There advance would put them on course to meet the advancing British 1st Corps, the French Divisions north of the BEF, and the Belgian Army on the coast.

German Fourth & Sixth Army advance October 1914
Source: Osprey Books

As the opposing forces advance towards each other contact ensued, resulting in major battles in Flanders.

Battle of La Bassee	10-Oct to 2-Nov
Battle of Messines	12-Oct to 2-Nov
Battle of Armentiers	13-Oct to 2-Nov
Battle of Yser	16-Oct to 31-Oct
Battles of Ypres	19-Oct to 22-Nov

Thoughts for Paris

Remembrance - All Saints Jesmond

Remembrance of Tyneside Scottish and Royal Artillery soldiers buried in All Saints Cemetery Jesmond.

All Saints Jesmond
Private J Morgan 3 TS (22NF)

Private J Morgan 3 TS (22NF)

 CWGC Information: Pte James Edward Morgan

 

Pte D Lynch TS

 CWGC Information: Pte D Lynch

 

Gunner C H Armstrong
383 Bty., 46 (5th Bn. The Lincolnshire Regt.) Searchlight Regt.

CWGC Information: Gunner C H Armstrong



Tyneside Scottish Branch RAA

 

York - NER War Memorial



York - NER War Memorial



The North Eastern Railway was formed in 1854 through the merger of four railways, and by 1914 the company's rails stretched from east Yorkshire in the south, north to the Scottish border, and west to the Pennines.

The East Coast mainline, the coalfields on Durham and Northumberland dominated the NER's activities.

North Eastern Railway

The company employed nearly 54,000 people when war broke out in 1914, and during the period of the war it released 18,339 men for military service, 34% of the workforce. The North Eastern Railway Company was the only British railway to form it's own Pals Battalion - 17th (NER) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers.

A memorial to the 2,236 employees of the NER who were killed during the 1914-18 war was built beside the railway's headquarters in York. The memorial was designed by Sir Edward Lutyens, architect for the Cenotaph in London and Thiepval on the Somme. The names of the fallen are contained in a memorial book held at the National Railway Museum York. 

York - NER Headquarters

York - NER War Memorial



York - NER War Memorial

York - NER War Memorial Inscription

IN ABIDING REMEMBRANCE OF THE MEN OF THE NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY WO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR

THE COMPANY PLACES THIS MONUMENT

 

An additional memorial was unveiled in 1984 commemorating  551 employees of the London and North Eastern Railway lost in World War Two. 

 

Ex Trenches Reflect

Ex Trenches Reflect

Ex Trenches Reflect - Reflection