Gheluvelt (31st October 1914)

In 1914 the Germans invaded France. Their aim was to overwhelm the French and British Armies, bypass Paris and seize the Channel Ports. Only the British Army remained, at Ypres, to stem the advancing Germans and save the Channel Ports and Paris.

The crisis of the Battle of Ypres hinged around the village of Gheluvelt. Lying on a forward spur of the low ridge that covers the town of Ypres, Gheluvelt was the last point retained in British hands from which the enemy’s line could be dominated. By noon on 31st October 1914, the Queens, the Royal Scots Fusiliers, the Welsh and the Kings Royal Rifles had been overwhelmed, while on the right the South Wales Borderers had been rolled back. Gheluvelt had been lost and a serious gap had been made in the British line. So serious was the situation that unless the gap could be closed, a breakthrough could not be avoided. Indeed orders had already been prepared for artillery to move back in preparation for a general retreat.

Gheluvelt 31st October 1914Gheluvelt 31st October 1914
The meeting of the 2nd Worcestershire with the 1st South Wales Borderers in the grounds of the Chateau (painting by J. P. Beadle)


Around midday on the 30th October 1914, Lieut.-Col. H. E. Burleigh Leach of the 1st South Wales Borderers at Gheluvelt sent a desparate field message to Colonel C. E. Pereira a staff officer at Brigade H.Q. which read as follows: "Can you push the King's forward astride the road - YPRES - GHELUVELT - to restore the line of trenches - when this is done advise our guns put up their range by 200X - at present they are firing into our old trenches then the line will be restored"

At the time Colonel Claude Berners Westmacott who had taken the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment to France, was now commanding the 5th Infantry Brigade, having passed on command of the Worcesters to Major E. B. Hankey. Colonel Westmacott at 2.15 p.m sent a reply to Lieut.-Col. Burleigh Leach which read "Sorry impossible to move King's at present". The situation was now critical.

On the evening of the 30th October, the Second Battalion The Worcestershire Regiment remained uncommitted, all other units having been sent to reinforce the line. Located in Polygon Wood, the Battalion, was commanded by Major E. B. Hankey and the Adjutant was Captain B. C. Senhouse-Clarke. At 13.00 hours on the 31st October, the Battalion received an order to attack and retake Gheluvelt. Captain A. F. Thorne of the Grenadier Guards was to act as a guide. From Polygon Wood, the chateau which dominated the village could not be seen but the nearby church tower rising amidst the smoke, was visible. All around were wounded and stragglers coming to the rear and batteries could be seen limbering up and moving back. The Worcestershires alone were moving towards the enemy. The ridge was littered with dead and wounded, and along the crest, German shells were falling fast. Hankey decided that the only way to cross this dangerous area was at the double.

Gheluvelt 31st October 1914 painting key to names

Gheluvelt 31st October 1914 painting key to names
1. 2/Lieut. F. C. F. Biscoe, 2. Capt. E. L. Bowring, 3. Private of 2 Worc, 4. Private of 1 S.W.B.
5. Capt. & Adjt. B. C. Senhouse Clarke, 6. Major E. B. Hankey commanding 2 Worc.,
7. Major A. J. Reddie of 1 S.W.B. 8. Lieut.-Col. H. E. Burleigh Leach of 1 S.W.B. 9. R.S.M. of 1 S.W.B.

As the leading men reached the ridge, they came in view of the German guns whose high explosive shells were quickly directed on the charging soldiers. Over 100 of the Battalion were killed or wounded but the rest pushed on and, increasing their speed as they came to the downward slope in sight of Gheluvelt, made the final charge through hedges and on to the Chateau grounds. Here they met the remnants of the South Wales Borderers who had made a heroic stand. The meeting was unexpected, for the Worcestershires had believed no soldiers were left. The 2nd Worcestershires had gone into this action with about 370 men of whom 187 were killed or wounded. Gheluvelt had been saved and the line restored. It is rare that the action of one unit can exert such a profound influence as did this now famous counter attack.

As a result of the capture of Gheluvelt against terrific odds, and the consequent closing of the gap in the British Lines, Ypres was held and the Channel Ports were saved.

Soldiers account of the lead-up to the Battle at Gheluvelt

Shortly after the war ended an N.C.O. of the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment wrote an account where he describes the days leading up to the counter attack at Gheluvelt. It is believed that this account was written by Sergt. Frederick Sutton (6551).

CLICK HERE TO READ THE N.C.O.'s ACCOUNT

Sergt. F. Sutton D.C.M.

Sergt. F. Sutton D.C.M.

THE BATTLE OF GHELUVELT (2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment)

Daybreak of October 31st was calm and clear. The 2nd Worcestershire, in their reserve position west of the Polygon Wood, were roused early by the crash of gun-fire. The troops turned out, breakfasts were cooked and eaten, weapons were cleaned and inspected. Then for several hours the companies lay idle about their billets, listening to the ever-increasing bombardment and watching the German shrapnel bursting in black puffs of smoke above the tree-tops.

The 2nd Worcestershire were almost the last available reserve of the British defence. Nearly every other unit had been drawn into the battle-line or had been broken beyond recovery; and to an onlooker that last reserve would not have seemed very formidable. The Battalion could muster not more than five hundred men. Ten days of battle had left all ranks haggard, unshaven and unwashed: their uniforms had been soaked in the mud of the Langemarck trenches and torn by the brambles of Polygon Wood: many had lost their puttees or their caps. But their weapons were clean and in good order, they had plenty of ammunition, and three months of war had given them confidence in their fighting power. The short period in reserve had allowed them sleep and food. That crowd of ragged soldiers was still a fighting battalion, officers and men bound together by that proud and willing discipline which is the soul of the Regiment.

Hour by hour the thunder of the guns grew more intense. Stragglers and wounded from beyond the wood brought news that a great German attack was in progress.

The Counter-Attack at Gheluvelt map

The Counter-Attack at Gheluvelt (31st October 1914)

The enemy's infantry were coming on in overwhelming numbers against the remnants of the five British battalions, together mustering barely a thousand men, which were holding the trenches about the Menin Road.

Lieut. E. C. R. Hudson

Lieut. E. C. R. Hudson

Before midday weight of numbers had told. The Queen's and the Royal Scots Fusiliers had fought to the last, the Welch and the K.R.R.C. had been overwhelmed, the right flank of the South Wales Borderers had been rolled back. Gheluvelt had been lost, and a great gap had been broken in the British line. Unless that gap could be closed the British army was doomed to disaster.

So serious was the situation caused by the loss of Gheluvelt that orders were issued for the British artillery to move back, in preparation for a general retreat, At the same time it was decided that a counter-attack against the lost position should be made by the 2nd Worcestershire. Brigadier-General C. FitzClarence, V.C. (Commanding the 1st (Guards) Brigade. Technically the 2nd Worcestershire, belonging to the 2nd Division, were not under his orders. General Lomax, commanding the 1st Division, had directed General FitzClarence to order the Worcestershire into the fight), was in command of the front about the Menin Road. Soon after midday he sent for an officer of the 2nd Worcestershire to take orders. Major Hankey sent his Adjutant, Captain B. C. Senhouse Clarke.

2/Lieut. G. A. Sheppard

2/Lieut. G. A. Sheppard

Twenty minutes later Captain Senhouse Clarke returned, bringing word that the Battalion would probably be wanted for a counter-attack, and that meanwhile one company was to be detached to prevent the enemy from advancing up the Menin Road. "A" Company was detailed for the latter duty. Led by Captain P. S. G. Wainman, the company advanced at 12.45 p.m. (the other officers of " A " Coy. were Lieut. E. C. R. Hudson and 2/Lieut. G. A. Sheppard) to a position on the embankment of the light railway northwest of Gheluvelt. The company held the embankment during the following two hours, firing rapidly at such of the enemy as attempted to advance beyond the houses.

About 1 p.m., Major Hankey was summoned by General FitzClarence, and was given definite orders. The 2nd Worcestershire were to make a counter-attack to regain the lost British positions around Gheluvelt. General FitzClarence pointed out the Church in Gheluvelt as a landmark for the advance, explained that the situation was desperate and that speed was essential, and ordered his Staff Captain, Captain A. F. Thorne of the Grenadier Guards, to guide the Battalion on its way.

At 1.45 p.m. Major Hankey sent off the Battalion scouts, under Lieutenant E. A. Haskett-Smith, to cut any wire fences across the line of advance. Extra ammunition was issued, and all kit was lightened as much as possible, packs being left behind. Then bayonets were fixed, and at 2 p.m. the Battalion moved off in file, led by Major Hankey and Captain Thorne, along under cover of the trees to the south-west corner of Polygon Wood (Afterwards known as "Black Watch Corner.").

From that corner of the wood the ground to the south-eastward is clear and open, falling to the little valley of the Reutelbeek and rising again to the bare ridge above Polderhoek. That ridge hid from view the Chateau of Gheluvelt, and the exact situation there was unknown; but further to the right could be seen the Church tower rising amid the smoke of the burning village.

The open ground was dotted with wounded and stragglers coming back from the front. In every direction German shells were bursting. British batteries could be seen limbering up and moving to the rear. Everywhere there were signs of retreat. The Worcestershire alone were moving towards the enemy. But the three companies tramped grimly forward, down into the valley of the Reutelbeek.

Capt. B. C. S. Clarke

Capt. B. C. S. Clarke

Lieut. E. A. Haskett-Smith

Lieut. E. A. Haskett-Smith

2/Lieut. C. H. Ralston

2/Lieut. C. H. Ralston

Beyond a little wood the Battalion deployed, "C" and "D" Companies in front line, with "B" Company in second line behind—about 370 all told (Including eight officers—Major E. B. Hankey (commanding), Captain B. C. Senhouse Clarke (Adjutant), Captain E. L. Bowring, Captain H. C. Grimley, 2/Lieut. F. C. F. Biscoe ("C" Coy.), Captain R. J. Ford ("D" Coy.), Captain E. G. Williams ("B" Coy.) and 2/Lieut. C. H. Ralston. Lieut. E. A. Haskett-Smith,, the Battalion Scout Officer, had preceded the three companies). In front of them rose the bare slope of the Polderhoek ridge. The ridge was littered with dead and wounded, and along its crest the enemy's shells were bursting in rapid succession. Major Hankey decided that the only way of crossing that deadly stretch of ground was by one long rush. The companies extended into line and advanced.

Captain P. S. G. Wainman

Captain R. J. Ford

Captain E. G. Williams

Lieut. G. A. Slaughter

Captain P. S. G. Wainman
Captain R. J. Ford
Captain E. G. Williams
Lieut. G. A. Slaughter

Captain E. L. Bowring

Captain E. L. Bowring

 

The ground underfoot was rank grass or rough stubble. The two leading companies broke into a steady double and swept forward across the open, the officers leading on in front, and behind them their men with fixed bayonets in one long irregular line. As they reached the crest,the rushing wave of bayonets was sighted by the hostile artillery beyond. A storm of shells burst along the ridge. Shrapnel bullets rained down and high-explosive shells crashed into the charging line. Men fell at every pace: over a hundred of the Battalion were killed or wounded: the rest dashed on. The speed of the rush increased as on the downward slope the troops came in sight of Gheluvelt Chateau close in front. The platoons scrambled across the light railway, through some hedges and wire fences, and then in the grounds of the Chateau they closed with the enemy.

The enemy were ill-prepared to meet the charge. The German infantry were crowded in disorder among the trees of the park, their attention divided between exploring the out-houses and surrounding the remnant of the British defenders; for the musketry of the defence still swept the lawn in front of the Chateau. The enemy's disorder was increased by a sharp and accurate fire of shrapnel from British batteries behind Polygon Wood.

The Germans were young troops of newly-formed units (The 244th and 245th Reserve Regiments and the 16th Bavarian Reserve Regiment). Probably they had lost their best leaders earlier in the day, for they made no great attempt to stand their ground and face the counter-attack. They gave way at once before the onslaught of the British battalion and crowded back out of the grounds of the Chateau into the hedgerows beyond. Shooting and stabbing, "C" Company ("C" Company were led by Captain E. L. Bowring, closely followed by 2/Lieut. F. C. F. Biscoe) of the Worcestershire charged across the lawn and came up into line with the gallant remnant of the South Wales Borderers.

The South Wales Borderers had made a wonderful stand. All day they had held their ground at the Chateau and they were still stubbornly fighting although almost surrounded by the enemy. Their resistance had delayed and diverted the German advance, and the success of the counter-attack was largely due to their brave defence.

The meeting of the two battalions was unexpected. The Worcestershire had not known that any of the South Wales Borderers were still holding out. Major Hankey went over to their commander and found him to be Colonel H. E. Burleigh Leach, an old friend. With him was their second-in-command Major A. J. Reddie, brother of Major J. M. Reddie of the Worcestershire. "My God, fancy meeting you here," said Major Hankey, and Colonel Burleigh Leach replied quietly "Thank God you have come."

2/Lieut. F. C. F. Biscoe

2/Lieut. F. C. F. Biscoe

(was later mortally wounded at the battle of Festubert in May 1915, when in command of machine-guns)

Sergt. A. E. Kemp

Sergt. A. E. Kemp
(awarded D.C.M.)

The routed enemy were hunted out of the hedges (Among those specially distinguished for gallantry in that fighting were Sergts. G. Ellis and A. E. Kemp : both received the D.C.M.) and across the open fields beyond the Chateau. "C" and "D" Companies of the Worcestershire took up position in the sunken road, which runs past the grounds. "B" Company was brought up and prolonged the line to the right.

But the village of Gheluvelt, on the slope above the right flank, was still in the enemy's hands. Most of the German troops in the village seem to have been drawn northwards by the fighting around the Chateau; but a certain number of Saxons of the 242nd Regiment had remained in the village, whence they opened a fire which took the sunken road in enfilade.

Major E. B. Hankey

Major E. B. Hankey

To silence that fire Major Hankey sent fighting patrols from the front line into the village. Those patrols drove back the German snipers and took some prisoners (In that fighting Sergt. P. Sutton showed great bravery.

Attacking a German machine-gun single-handed he captured one of its team and put the gun out of action. Sergt. Sutton was subsequently awarded the D.C.M. During that patrol fighting in the village, Lieut. Haskett-Smith was severely wounded and Sergt. G. F. Poole was killed): but it became clear that the position in the sunken road would be unsafe until the village was secured. Accordingly Major Hankey sent orders to Captain Wainman that "A" Company were to advance from their defensive position and occupy the village. Captain Wainman led forward his company and, after some sharp fighting among burning buildings and bursting shells, occupied a new line with his left flank in touch with the right of the position in the sunken road and his right flank in the village, holding the church and churchyard. Thence he sent forward patrols to clear the village.

Sergt. G. F. Poole

Sergt. G. F. Poole

Those patrols, led by a tall young subaltern, 2nd Lieutenant G. A. Sheppard, worked forward from house to house till they reached the cross-roads at the eastern end of Gheluvelt.

It was not possible permanently to occupy the centre of the village, for it was being bombarded by both the German and the British artillery. On all sides houses were burning, roofs falling and walls collapsing. The stubborn Saxons still held some small posts in the scattered houses on the south-eastern outskirts. Nevertheless the enemy's main force had been driven out, and the peril of a collapse of the British defence about the Menin Road had been averted.

The German forces made no further effort that day to retake Gheluvelt. The reason for the enemy's inaction is not clear. It is possible that the very boldness of the counter-attack may have given the impression that the Battalion was but the first wave of a stronger force, and possibly the enemy may have stood on the defensive to meet that imagined attack. Furthermore the British artillery maintained throughout the afternoon a heavy fire on the low ground east of Gheluvelt, a fire which may have disorganised the enemy and which probably hampered the transmission of information and orders : indeed the vagueness of most German accounts of the fighting at Gheluvelt suggests that the position in the village was not ascertained. In such circumstances, with the situation obscure, young troops discouraged and hostile shell-fire unsubdued, it is no easy matter to organise a fresh attack. Perhaps some commander of importance was disabled or some vital line of communication severed. Whatever the reason, the result was that the enemy's action during the rest of the day was limited to a violent bombardment, which fortunately caused but little loss. The 2nd Worcestershire held firm on the ground they had won, 'while behind them General Fitz-Clarence reorganised his troops and made preparations for further resistance.

Evening came on. From his position in the village Captain Wainman sent out patrols to the right to gain touch with any troops who might be there. But no communication with any other unit could be established, nor did any other British troops come forward to the position held by the Battalion.

About 6 p.m. came fresh orders from General FitzClarence. The General had decided to withdraw his defensive line from the forward slope of the ridge at Gheluvelt to a new position further back at Veldhoek where the trenches would be sheltered from direct observation of the German artillery.

The order was sent along the line. Arrangements were made in conjunction with the South Wales Borderers and the retirement was begun. One by one, at intervals of ten minutes, the companies withdrew from their positions. In the darkness they assembled under cover and then tramped back along the Menin Road to Veldhoek. The withdrawal was not realised by the enemy, and was carried out without interference, save for the intermittent bombardment which continued throughout that night (The evacuation of Gheluvelt was not discovered by the enemy until dawn next morning (November 1st). Then the village and the Chateau were occupied by the 242nd Reserve Regiment, who drove out a few remaining British stragglers). As the last company of the 2nd Worcestershire marched back out of the village, several of the houses were still burning, and the darkness was torn at intervals by the blaze of bursting shells. Four long years were to pass before the bayonets of the Regiment were again to sweep through the ruins of Gheluvelt.

At Veklhoek the Battalion halted in the darkness, deployed facing east and began to entrench the new position. Presently troops of the 1st Brigade relieved the Worcestershire, and the Battalion drew back into reserve. Officers and men lay down where they halted, and slept the sleep of exhaustion.

The day's fighting had cost the 2nd Worcestershire a third of the Battalion's remaining strength, for 187 of all ranks (including three officers wounded—Captain E. G. Williams, Lieut. E. C. R. Hudson, Lieut. E. A. Haskett-Smith.) had been killed or wounded; but their achievement had been worthy of that sacrifice. Their counter-attack had thrown back the enemy at a moment, which the British Commander-in-Chief afterwards called "the worst half-hour of my life." In all probability that counter-attack had saved Ypres from capture and the British army from defeat. It had been a desperate measure to retrieve a desperate situation; and no one could have foretold its extraordinary success in paralysing the German advance.

That success was not achieved by the 2nd Worcestershire alone. Success would hardly have been possible but for the brave defence of the South Wales Borderers and the supporting fire of the artillery. Nevertheless it stands to the perpetual credit of the Regiment that at the darkest hour of that great battle, when all others around them were in retreat, our war-worn officers and men went forward unflinching to meet unknown odds, and by their devotion saved the day.
* * * * * *

" 1914," by Lord Ypres, . In recognition of the gallantry shown at Polygon Wood and Gheluvelt, the following' awards were made :—Major E. B. Hankey to be Brevet Lt.-Colonel, Captain B. C. Senhouse Clarke to be Brevet Major. Captain E. L. Bowring, the D.S.O., and the M.C. to Captain R. J. Ford, Lieut. G. A. Slaughter and Lieut. E. W. Carrington, R.A.M.C.

Lieut. E. C. R. Hudson

Lieut. E. C. R. Hudson

Captain & Adjutant B. C. S. Clarke account

In 1922 Bowcher Campbell Senhouse Clarke who was the Adjutant and very much involved in the Battle at Gheluvelt on the 31st October 1914, wrote an account of the human side of the battle.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE HUMAN SIDE OF GHELUVELT

Captain E. L. Bowring notes

After the end of the war, in 1918, Captain Bowring recorded the following notes shortly after Major E. B. Hankey (then Colonel) received the Freedom of Worcester City at which Major Hankey gave an account of Gheluvelt.:

“The account of the action given by Colonel Hankey is so excellent and presents such an accurate record of the events as they happened, that one could not attempt to improve upon it. I noted that he mentioned his own part as little as possible. No doubt he would have effaced himself altogether it he could. It may, therefore, be permissible to emphasise a point which he only touched on i.e., the difficulties of forming up and putting in motion and afterwards controlling the counter-attack. It is only those who were actually present who are in a position to know what a delicate operation this was and fully to appreciate the fact that had the manoeuvre been planned or executed in any other way, both in respect of time and formation, &c., (sic) the result would almost certainly have been disastrous.

The fact that the discipline of the battalion was of such a high standard, that after all it had gone through, it was still to be relied upon, is, I am sure, the most gratifying feature to every officer who was present, and of which they have great cause to be proud.

The above points are among those which count for most with soldiers, and the plain unvarnished facts, as given by Colonel Hankey, would appear to be sufficient. I think, therefore, we should strive to eliminate small inaccuracies which from time to time have appeared in accounts of the counter-attack on Gheluvelt in various papers and magazines since October 1914."

“Among these I have noticed that the poor old, and many time defeated, Prussian Guard were our victims. This is not the case – the troops opposed to us were Bavarians."

“I have also read accounts of much street fighting in the village, and of machine-guns fired from the church tower, etc. There was really very little street fighting, as the battalion came through the Chateau grounds which lie to the north of Gheluvelt, and the bulk of the Germans retired as we came up. Sergeant Sutton with a small party cleared out such as were left at that end of the village on which our right rested at first, and in which 'A' Company afterwards took up a position prolonging our line as far as the church.”

Worcesters counter attack at Gheluvelt

Worcesters counter attack at Gheluvelt

 

View of Gheluvelt Church after the battle

View of Gheluvelt Church after the battle (1914)

 

Aerial View showing the bomb creaters around Gheluvelt

Aerial View showing the bomb creaters around Gheluvelt

First hand memories of a survivor of Gheluvelt

We lay one night in a wood that embowered a fine chateau. Next morning we left the wood and went on up the Menin road to the trenches at Gheluvelt. It was a couple of days later that the 31st of October broke and no one can forget that dawn. There was a presage of crisis in the air. The night before it had gone round that the Kaiser had sworn that Ypres should be his by 5 o’clock next evening. I had a dressing station in a small isolated house standing in a by-lane off the main street of Gheluvelt. Soon after day break a high explosive shell crashed into it. I went to the doorway, and, standing there, I became aware that a ghastly procession was filing down the road. They were the wounded dribbling back. Some were limping, some staggering; some hobbled with the help of a comrade’s arm; I saw some even crawling. Then a few came carrying stretchers with inanimate burdens.

He had a race for life across cabbage patches amid a hail of bullets to another cottage, then he and two others took refuge again, but a disaster threatened.

“We all three repaired to the back door of the cottage and prepared for the rush. The two of them ran out, when a shrapnel burst and killed them on the spot.

Gheluvelt - death and distruction after the battle ended

Gheluvelt - death and distruction after the battle ended
(stretcher-bearers in the backgound)

I myself was saved by the door-post. A little later my sergeant came galloping across, and, seeing the dead body in the doorway, thought it was mine. He passed through the cottage to the front door, and peeped out of it down the road. I heard his cheery voice calling out to me, no less mirthful than at any time, but his words froze all the humour out of myself immediately. “We’re done, sir. They are all coming down the road”. I ran and looked, too, and saw, truly enough, the blue-coated figures swarming across the fields and converging on to the pave.

The writer made another dash saying: “We ran down all those back gardens like maniacs, hurling ourselves through the hedges, with the crash of explosions on every side of us. Dimly, too, were aware of other men running over the fields on either side of us.

At last we reached the road, down either side of which a deep ditch ran. This was all full of men running, many of them wounded. I stumbled over one lying dead. In places it was obstructed by telegraph wires fallen across it. It was a mad rush. Everyone was in a desperate hurry, but there was no sort of panic. About a mile back, coming into the open, I came on the trench which was being hastily manned to check the enemy. I had to leap across it – a curious sensation, with all the tense-strained faces inside it, and the rifles across the parapet, ready to blare forth their Halt.

 

Chateau and grounds at Gheluvelt (2007)

Chateau and grounds at Gheluvelt (2007)

General Sir John French

General Sir John French

When he inspected the battalion at Bailleul on 26th November 1914
Sir John French, the Commander-in-Chief, said :

" I am very glad to have this opportunity of addressing you; this I have wished to do for some time, and I have taken this occasion to do so. On October 31st we were in a very critical position. At headquarters we received the report that the village of Gheluvelt, an extremely important strategic point, had been taken by the enemy. Shortly after I was informed that Gheluvelt had been recaptured by a counter-attack. Since then I have made repeated enquiries as to what officer was responsible for this counter-stroke and have invariably received the reply that it was The Worcestershire Regiment who carried out the attack. I have, therefore, in my despatch to the Secretary of State, so mentioned it and said it was The Worcestershire Regiment who took action in relieving this critical situation. You bear on your Colours the names of many famous victories, and in this war you have added lustre to your former reputation. No man can say what the future has in store for us, but I have every confidence that in the future you will conduct yourselves with the same soldierly bearing as in the past."

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ACCOUNT BY GENERAL SIR JOHN FRENCH OF 31st OCT. 1914

2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment casualties that day were heavy

Company Strength
Total
Killed
wounded
Missing
'A' Company
202
4
22
12
'B' Company
191
1
19
9
'C' Company
201
0
44
6
'D. Company
156
2
27
8
Battalion Totals
750
7
112
35

Note: The 35 men initially who were reported missing were subseqently reported killed and in addition 3 officers were wounded.

Captain E. L. Bowring was awarded the D.S.O. and sergeants Ellis, Kemp and Sutton the D.C.M. for their part in the battle.

Major E. B. Hankey who commanded the Battalion during the battle, was later made an honorary Freeman of the City of Worcester.

2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment men killed in action on the 31st October 1914 (Gheluvelt)

Surname
Forename/s
Number
Rank

Billingham

Thomas

7659

Pte.

Brace

Andrew

8290

Pte.

Breese

Bernard

10557

Pte.

Brookes

Albert

7861

Pte.

Burton

Ernest Harry

6416

L/Cpl.

Collett 

Cyril Frederic 

13315 

Pte.

Crawford 

George 

7983 

Pte.

Dance 

Arthur Edward Francis 

8864 

Pte.

Dumbleton 

Thomas Alfred 

10462 

Pte.

Elston 

Henry Charles 

11344 

Pte.

Evans 

John 

9321 

Pte.

Gulliver 

Arthur 

10060 

L/Cpl.

Hadley 

Charles Frederick 

8675 

Pte.

Hall

James Richard

7507

Pte.

Hayes 

John 

9997 

Pte.

Hitch 

Arthur Clarence 

7230 

Pte.

King 

Richard 

7560 

Pte.

Kirk 

John 

12913 

Pte.

Lloyd 

Arthur 

9628 

Pte.

MacKender 

William 

9588 

Pte.

Morris 

William 

9555 

Pte.

Norwood 

Herbert Thomas 

7513 

Pte.

Organ 

Richard 

6240 

Pte.

Poole 

George Frederick 

7192 

Sgt.

Porter 

John Edward 

10438 

Pte.

Powell 

William 

9047 

Pte.

Robins 

Robert 

5772 

Pte

Simmons 

Harry 

9384 

Pte.

Smith 

Albert Charles 

9453 

Pte.

Smith 

William 

8832 

Pte.

Steward 

George Henry 

8509 

L/Cpl.

Swift 

Charles Robert 

11296 

Pte.

Tucker

Joseph Charles

8336

Pte.

Turley 

John 

7911

Pte.

 

Gheluvelt Memorial

Gheluvelt Memorial Stone (Belgium)

After the end of the war, a Mr George W. Jones of Worcester, with the assistance of the "Asile de Soldats Belges" (a Belgian ex-servicemen's organisation), erected at his own expense a memorial to the battle. The monument, - not impressive aesthetically - was placed against one side of a cottage owned by the "Asile de Soldats Belges" on the roadside some distance from the site of the battle.

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS AND PHOTOS OF THE GHELUVELT MEMORIAL STONE


CLICK HERE FOR A DETAILED LIST OF ALL THE WORCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT MEN AT GHELUVELT

 

Some of the Gheluvelt Survivors (1926)

Some of the Gheluvelt Survivors (1926)
Back row standing: Sgt. G. Tuton, R.Q.M.S. (O.R.S) E. Lugg, Sgt. W. Hamilton, Sgt. B. Drain
Front row seated: C.Q.M.S. S. Leigh M.M., Captain G. A. Sheppard, C.Q.M.S. T. Adkins M.M.


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