Chapter III: Part 3

_Pass the church_ (photo, p. 111). _The road turns to the right beyond the last houses, and gradually climbs the slopes of_ =Scherpenberg= (altitude, 340 feet). The side of this hill is almost perpendicular, and in it are numerous remains of shelters.

The narrow road which led to the top was completely destroyed. The ascent can, however, be made on foot.

In spite of all their efforts, the Germans failed to reach Scherpenberg in their offensive of 1918. Their efforts to outflank the Flanders Hills on the north broke down before the resistance of the French 39th Infantry Division (Massenet) on April 26, 27 and 28, 1918.

_At the next fork turn to the right into the village of_ =Westoutre=. Here the road winds through the valley. The river on the left has, owing to shell-fire, become a small lake. Westoutre suffered greatly in the bombardments.

_Pass the Town Hall, then turn to the left in front of the church. The road rises sharply, and winds round_ =Vidaigne Hill=. The many shelters in the sides of the hill can plainly be seen.

_Behind the hill, leave the road leading to the French frontier, and take on the left the road which first descends and then climbs the slopes of_ =Rouge Hill=. From the plateau there is a splendid view across the plains.

_Leave on the left the ruins of the Chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes._

_The road, rising rather stiffly, runs into the Bailleul Road. On turning to the right, the first houses of_ =Locre= _village are reached_.

Locre was the scene of terrific fighting during the German offensive against the Flanders Hills in 1918. On April 19, 1918, it was taken by the enemy after a daring advance by their Alpine Corps, which had succeeded in reaching Kemmelbeek Valley. On the same day, the soldiers of this picked corps continued their advance as far as the crossing with the Westoutre road, 1 kilometre to the north of Locre; but here the French dragoons, in an irresistible counter-attack, drove the Germans back and recaptured Locre, leaving only the _Hospice_, to the south-east of the village, in enemy hands.

_Beyond the ruins of the church, in the middle of a devastated cemetery, turn to the left; then at the next fork, leaving some French graves on the left, take the road on the right leading to_ =Kemmel Hill=.

This hill, the first of the Hills of Flanders, is famous for the battles fought there in 1918. On April 17, 1918, the Germans had reached the foot. On the 25th, they rushed to the attack, encircling and capturing the hill, which was held by the French 30th Infantry Regiment. During the next and following days French counter-attacks failed to dislodge the enemy. It was only on August 30 that the Germans evacuated the hill; on the 31st it was occupied by the British.

_Pass Burgrave Farm. At the foot of the hill (inaccessible to vehicles) the road turns to the left._ Here the ground is completely churned up, the bits of road being connected up by little bridges thrown across the shell-holes. In the distance is seen the ruined church of Kemmel (photo, p. 113). _On reaching the village, turn to the right, to visit the ruins of the chateau_ (photo, p. 114), _then return to the fork and take the road on the right_.

The road is hilly, as the photograph, taken 500 yards this side of the crossing with the La Clytte road, shows. _Keeping straight along the road by which he came, as far as Zevecoten, the tourist then returns first to the left and then to the right._

_In the centre of_ =Reninghelst= _village, take the Neuve-Eglise road on the left. At the fork in the road at_ =Heksken=, _turn to the right towards_ =Poperinghe=. _Cross the river. At the crossing of the road from Poperinghe to Boeschepe, turn to the left to visit the largest cemetery in this region_ (shown on the Itinerary, p. 108), which contains 20,000 to 22,000 graves The photograph gives but a slight idea of the size of it.

_Retracing his steps the tourist takes the road which first skirts the railway, and then crosses it (l. c.) to rejoin the Poperinghe-Steenwoorde road. Take the latter on the left._ (See Itinerary, p. 108.)

At the hamlet of Abeele there is a Belgian custom-house (visa of "triptyque" or motor-car permit). The French custom-house is at =Steenwoorde= (the third house to the right on entering). Usual formalities.

_Opposite the custom office take I.C. 128 on the left, which, after several turnings, leads to_ =Godewaerstelde=. _Leave the village on the left._

_On the far side of the level-crossing the road rises, and the Abbey on the top of_ =Cats Hill= _soon comes into view_.

There is a magnificent view from the wayside-cross on the plateau. Visit the monastery, whose buildings suffered greatly from the bombardments.

_Pass in front of the cross and take the second road on the right, which slopes down fairly quickly to the village of_ =Berthem=, _through which the tourist passes_.

_In the hamlet of_ =Schaexnen=, _opposite the inn with the sign "Au Vieux Schaexnen," turn to the left, passing in front of a small chateau in the middle of a wood on the right. A plateau_--=Noir Hill=--_ploughed up by countless shells, is reached shortly afterwards_.

_At the fork in the road turn to the right_ (the road on the left leads back into Belgium).

_Go through the hamlet of_ =La Croix-de-Poperinghe=, _then at the next fork take the road to_ =Bailleul= _on the right_. _At Bailleul leave the lunatic asylum on the left._ The French custom-house is in the Rue d'Ypres. (In June, 1919, there was as yet no corresponding office at Locre in Belgium.)

Bailleul suffered terribly from the bombardments, most of the houses being destroyed.

Bailleul was taken by three German divisions on April 15, 1918, as well as Little Hill and the Ravelsberg, to the west of the town. But the next day the German forces, who had orders to consolidate their success and turn the chain of hills from the south, were rudely checked by French divisions, rushed up to relieve their British comrades, and in three days, thanks to the prompt and vigorous action of General Petain, they were driven back.

_Have a look round the Grande Place before taking the Rue de Lille_ (N. 42) _on the left_. _At the Noveau-Monde cross-roads_, where there is an important munitions depot with railway-station, _turn sharply to the left, leaving Lille Hill on the left_.

_After twice crossing the railway_ (_l. c._) the Customs Barracks are passed. The road passes over three more level-crossings, skirts the frontier, crosses the railway, and then the Stilbecque stream. _Next pass through_ =Nieppe= village--almost entirely demolished; _then over the railway_ (_l. c._). _Cross the Lys by the Nieppe Bridge and enter_ =Armentieres=, _via the Rue de Nieppe_.

_At the cross-roads take Rue Nationale on the right, and follow the tram-lines as far as the crossing of Rue de Lille with Rue de Marle. Take the latter to the right, and cross the railway_ (_l. c._).

For particulars concerning Armentieres, see pp. 49--55, first Itinerary.

_Keep straight to_ =Bois-Grenier=, _turning to the right in front of the ruined church_.

_Outside the village take the second road on the right to_ =Fleurbaix=.

_Pass the church, of which a few walls are still standing_ (photo below), _then turn to the left beyond the Square into Rue de Quesnes_. Numerous concrete shelters were built inside the houses.

_Near the British cemetery the road turns to the right, then to the left, and enters_ =Laventie=. _Turn to the right in the Place de l'Eglise, then to the left over a level-crossing near the station_.

_After several turnings the road runs past a small ruined chapel, crosses a river, then turns to the right, and crosses the Lys. At the first houses of_ =Estaires=, _100 yards beyond the bridge, turn to the left, amid the ruins._

_Pass the ruined gasworks and follow the main street shown in the photo below._ In the middle ground of this photograph are seen the walls of the church, the steeple of which has fallen in.

_Leave on the left the Square, in which formerly stood the Hotel-de-Ville_; its ruined belfry is now a mere heap of bricks and stones.

_Beyond a German cemetery on the right, pass through_ =Neuf-Berquin=, _after which, on turning to the left_, =Merville= comes into view.

At the entrance is the cemetery, the area of which has been doubled by serried rows of little wooden crosses, each marking a British grave.

If time can be spared (two or three hours) proceed as far as =Nieppe Forest=, keeping straight on, and leaving Merville on the left.

Contrarily to other forests in the battle area, Nieppe Forest did not suffer greatly, although, like the others, it concealed munitions and stores. (Note the numerous narrow-gauge rails lying along the roadside.)

The roads themselves bear traces of hastily constructed defence-works.

On the left, near the outskirts of the forest, a pathway leads to a cemetery containing British soldiers' graves.

La Motte-au-Bois, lying in a clearing, suffered little. Its 17th century chateau, which escaped destruction, can be reached by crossing the canal over a temporary bridge, leaving on the right a small octagonal chapel of no special interest.

_Return by the same road to_ =Merville=, _and pass through it_, taking a glance at the ruins of the church on the right. _Cross the canal, the Lys, and the railway near the station, and turn to the left immediately afterwards._

_Follow the railway, then re-cross it. The road here runs parallel to the canal. At the next fork leave on the left the road to the Gorgue; turn to the right, cross the railway, and enter_ =Lestrem=. _Beyond the bridge over the Lawe, pass the church, then turn to the right, and skirt the grounds of an old ruined chateau._

This chateau--completely restored in 1890--was used by the Germans as an observation-post, and subsequently blown up by them on April 10, 1918 (photo, p. 122).

On leaving Lestrem the road winds. On the left, broken fragments of ironwork mark the site of the distillery, which provided a livelihood for part of the working population of =La Fosse= village. The ruined church is seen to the left, on the far side of the canal.

_Go through the hamlet of_ =Zelobes=, which, like that of =Lobes=, was razed to the ground.

_Pass through what was_ =Locon= village (photo, p. 123).

Lawe Canal, after running parallel to the road, turns and cuts it. _Cross the canal by the temporary bridge._

A little further on, the road again follows the canal as far as the entrance to =Bethune=.

_Cross the Aires Canal, pass the railway station on the left, then through the horse-market to the Place de la Republique. Cross the latter and take the Rue de Rivage to the Grande Place._

For four years the whole district just passed through, since leaving Armentieres, was the scene of incessant fighting.

In October, 1914, it saw the close of the fighting which concluded the "race to the sea," and the stabilising of the front here resulted in more than six months' continuous fighting.

A little later, the Artois offensive of 1915 found an echo in local operations for the possession of key positions like Festubert and Neuve-Chapelle, giving rise to sanguinary struggles without decisive result for either side.

Finally, in 1918, it was the scene of the third great German offensive for the conquest of the Hills (see pp. 38--43.)

=Bethune=

The foundation in 984 of the Collegiate Church of St. Bartholomew, by Robert I., ancestor of Sully, is the first mention of Bethune in history. The town, owned in turn by the Counts of Flanders, the Dukes of Burgundy, and the House of Austria, annexed to France at the Peace of Nimegue in 1678, taken in 1710 by the Triple Alliance, was finally restored to France in 1713 by the Treaty of Utrecht.

A fraternity, called the "Confrerie des Charitables," still survives. Founded after the plague of 1188 by two blacksmiths, to whom St. Eloi appeared in a vision, asking them to assist their fellow-countrymen who were dying unsuccoured, it performed the burial rites of the dead.

During the Great War the town was intermittently bombarded for three and a half years, but from the end of February, 1918, to April 21 the violence of the shelling increased tenfold, and on the latter date the civil population had to be evacuated, the battle having carried the German lines within two miles of Bethune.

On April 13--18 the bombardment became so intense that the town was almost razed to the ground.

The officials and the miners of the district were mentioned in Orders of the Day for their courage and endurance.

At first sight, the town does not seem to have suffered so much, but this impression soon passes.

The Grande Place (photo, p. 126) where the chief beauties of this small town were concentrated, is now a heap of bricks and stones.

The old houses have fallen in; only the facade of one of them (No. 44), dating from the 16th century, remains, and even this one was severely damaged and is now supported by wooden props.

Of the modern Hotel-de-Ville there remains only a small portion of the facade (photo, p. 127), whilst the Savings Bank on the left is a shapeless ruin.

The belfry, built in 1346 and restored forty years later, is still standing, but the upper portion of it has disappeared, and the houses which surrounded it have fallen in.

Its tower is standing, as far as the upper part of the sun-dial, whilst the four admirable gargoyles which project at the corners, and the graceful curve of the pointed windows of its first storey, escaped injury.

The remains of the spiral staircase leading to the top may still be seen, but the 15th century wooden spire has gone.

This spire contained a peal of bells, one of which, dated 1576, was called "La Joyeuse."

"La Joyeuse" is silenced for ever.

This peal gave its name to the street behind the belfry, which leads to the Church of St. Waast (1533--1545), whose massive tower was more than half-a-century later than the rest of the building.

_To leave the town, return from the Grande Place to the Place de la Republique_ (in June, 1917, it was impossible to take the Rue d'Arras, which is the direct road, all this part of the town being obstructed by ruins).

_In the Place de la Republique take the Boulevard Victor-Hugo on the right, and then Rue Marcelin-Berthelot, also on the right. At the cross-roads take the Rue de Lille to the left._ The Faubourg de Lille suffered severely from the bombardment. _Take N. 41 alongside the Aire Canal._

For four years the fighting never ceased in this region. _Leave the Festubert sector on the right._ Throughout the struggle, the Canadians fought so bravely that one of their recruiting posters was dedicated to the heroes of Festubert, with this inscription:

"Oui, vous avez raison, c'est hideux le carnage,
Oui, le progres blesse recule et se debat,
Notre siecle en fureur retourne au moyen age,
Mais sachons donc nous battre, au moins, puisqu'on se bat."

_At the crossing of N. 41 and 43 leave the latter on the right._

_Cross the Grande Rue d'Annequin._ From here, on the right, coalpit No. 9 can be seen, with its wrecked machinery in the air--a mass of twisted ironwork.

_The ruined village of_ =Cambrin= _is next passed through. On the other side of the level-crossing, leave on the right the badly damaged village of_ =Auchy-lez-La-Bassee=. _The road now follows the canal._ After crossing the railway (l. c.) vast heaps of broken railway trucks smashed by the shells can be seen in the fields on the right. Further on are eight or nine blockhouses which were formerly brick-kilns. _Turn to the left, cross the railway, then the Aire Canal by the new suspension bridge_ (beside the old one shown in the photograph) _and enter_ =La Bassee=, _now a heap of ruins_.

La Bassee, an important centre standing at the junction of several roads and railways, in the heart of the plain of Flanders, south-west of Lille, was the objective of many desperate struggles during the war.

In October, 1914, the district of La Bassee was the scene of endless conflicts between the Allied and enemy cavalry forces, the little town finally remaining in the hands of the Germans.

A year later, the British offensive in Artois drove back the Germans south of La Bassee, whilst to the north the positions of Neuve-Chapelle and Aubers were bitterly disputed. However, the lines shifted but little, and La Bassee still remained in the centre of the line of fire.

During the German offensive of 1918, the town again came inside the German lines, but the enemy were driven out shortly afterwards, during the Allied offensive that led to the Armistice and to the consummation of victory.

_Go through the Rue d'Estaires_, in which there is a large and very high armoured shelter that served as an observation-post. _Pass the ruined church_ (photo, p. 132), _then turn to the right into the Grande Place_. Inside a three-storied house, which later collapsed under the shell-fire (photo, p. 132), there was a German observation-post of concrete, armed with machine-guns.

_On leaving La Bassee continue along N. 41_, with its fine trees cut down and left along the sides of the road. _Pass the first houses of_ =Illies= _village, on the left, and 100 yards further on, cross a large avenue_ (_leading to the Chateau de Varneton_).

On the right, and connected with _N. 41_ by a small bridge, there is a large German cemetery with a monument to the memory of the soldiers of the XVth Regiment (Prinz Friedrich) (photo, p. 133).

_The road leads to_ =Fournes=, _the outskirts of which are crossed by Rue Pasteur_. Pass an avenue of fine trees leading to the Chateau of Comte d'Hespel, accidentally burned down.

At the cross-roads there is a bandstand erected by the Germans. A crude painting on the back of the stand represents a tug-of-war between a German and British, French and American soldiers, in which the German wins apparently with ease. Italy, depicted as a monkey, is seen clinging to the rope.

After turning to the right the road passes the large Gambert Boarding School, which was severely damaged. Behind it is a large cemetery.

_Follow the road to the badly damaged village of_ =Beaucamps=, where there are numerous concrete shelters in the houses. _At the cross-roads turn to the left._ A wayside-cross, ten yards further on, indicate the road. A short distance further on are the ruins of the Chateau de Flandre, the basement of which, in reinforced concrete, was used as a machine-gun emplacement.

The tourist next comes to what was =Radinghem=. _Beyond the ruined church_ (photo, p. 133), _turn to the right past an armoured shelter, which defended the road, pass under the railway, and at the hamlet of_ =La Vallee=, _beyond a chapel, turn to the right into_ =Ennetieres=. _The road continues through the ruins of_ =Englos= _and_ =Haubourdin=.

Haubourdin suffered comparatively little from the shells, but like all the other occupied towns of France, it was subjected to exactions, war-levies, deportations and pillage. The German soldiers, when relieved from the Hindenburg line, had their rest-billets there. The church (of no especial interest), the hospital (15th century), and a chapel built in 1347, are still preserved.

_After passing through_ =Loos=, _return to_ =Lille=, _entering by the Bethune Gate_.

_For visiting Lille, see the Michelin Illustrated Guide: "Lille Before and During the War."_

Seen from the road to Warneton, at Neuve Eglise._]

THE BRITISH FORCES ENGAGED in the YPRES SECTOR

_The Orders of Battle have been compiled from information
supplied by the Historical Section (Military Branch) Committee
of Imperial Defence, with permission of the Army Council, War
Office._

THE BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, 1914.

_Cavalry Division._ MAJOR-GEN. SIR E. H. H. ALLENBY.

_1st Cav. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. C. J. BRIGGS.
_2nd Cav. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. H. DE B. DE LISLE.
_3rd Cav. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. H. DE LA P. GOUGH.
_4th Cav. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. THE HON. C. E. BINGHAM.
_5th Cav. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. SIR P. W. CHETWODE.
_R.H.A._: BRIG.-GEN. B. F. DRAKE.

_First Army Corps_ LIEUT.-GEN. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG.

_Brig.-Gen. R.A._: BRIG.-GEN. H. S. HORNE.

_1st Division_, MAJOR-GEN. S. H. LOMAX.
_1st Guards Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. F. I. MAXSE.
_2nd Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. E. S. BULFIN.
_3rd Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. H. S. LANDON.
_Artillery_: BRIG.-GEN. N. D. FINDLAY.
_Brig.-Gen. R.E._: BRIG.-GEN. S. B. RICE.

_2nd Division_, MAJOR-GEN. C. C. MUNRO.
_4th Guards Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. R. SCOTT-KERR.
_5th Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. R. C. B. HAKING.
_6th Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. R. H. DAVIES.
_Artillery_: BRIG.-GEN. E. M. PERCEVAL.

_Second Army Corps_ GENERAL SIR H. L. SMITH-DORRIEN

_Brig.-Gen. R.A._: BRIG.-GEN. A. H. SHORT.

_3rd Division_, MAJOR-GEN. H. I. W. HAMILTON.
_7th Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. F. W. N. MCCRACKEN
_8th Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. B. J. C. DORAN.
_9th Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. F. C. SHAW.
_Artillery_: BRIG.-GEN. F. D. V. WING.
_Brig.-Gen. R.E._: BRIG.-GEN. A. E. SANDBACH.

_5th Division_, MAJOR-GEN. SIR C. FERGUSSON. BT.
_13th Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. C. J. CUTHBERT.
_14th Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. S. P. ROLT.
_15th Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. A. E. W. COUNT GLEICHEN.
_Artillery_: BRIG.-GEN. J. E. W. HEADLAM.
_19th Inf. Bde._: MAJOR-GEN. L. DRUMMOND.

_Third Army Corps_ MAJOR-GEN. W. P. PULTENEY.
(_Formed in France, August 31, 1919._)

_Brig.-Gen. R.A._: BRIG.-GEN. E. J. PHILLIPS-HORNBY, V.C.
_Brig.-Gen. R.E._: BRIG.-GEN. F. M. GLUBB.

_4th Division_, MAJOR-GEN. T. D'O. SNOW.
_10th Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. J. A. L. HALDANE.
_11th Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. A. G. HUNTER-WESTON.
_12th Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. H. F. M. WILSON.
_Artillery_: BRIG.-GEN. G. F. MILNE.

_6th Division_, MAJOR-GEN.: J. L. KEIR.
(_Embarked for S. Nazaire, Sept. 8--9, 1914._)
_16th Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. E. C. INGOUVILLE-WILLIAMS.
_17th Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. W. R. B. DORAN.
_18th Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. W. N. CONGREVE V.C.
_Artillery_: BRIG.-GEN. W. L. H. PAGET.

=FIRST BATTLE OF YPRES.= (October 19--November 21, 1914.)

_General Officer Commanding-in-Chief_ FIELD-MARSHAL SIR JOHN FRENCH.
_Cavalry Corps._ GEN. SIR E. H. H. ALLENBY.

_1st Cav. Division_: MAJOR-GEN. H. DE B. DE LISLE.
_1st Cav. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. C. J. BRIGGS.
_2nd Cav. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. R. L MULLENS.

_2nd Cav. Division_: MAJOR-GEN. H. P. GOUGH.
_3rd Cav. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. J. A. BELL SMYTHE.
_4th Cav. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. C. E. BINGHAM.
_5th Cav. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. P. CHEPWODE.

_3rd Cav. Division_: MAJOR-GEN. J. W. BYNG.
_6th Cav. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. E. MAKINS.
_7th Cav. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. C. M. KAVANAGH.
_8th Cav. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. C. B. BULKELEY-JOHNSON.

_First Army Corps_ GEN. SIR D. HAIG.

_1st Division_: MAJOR-GEN. S. H. LOMAX.
_1st Guards Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. C. FITZCLARENCE.
_2nd Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. E. S. BULFIN.
_3rd Inf. Bde._: BRIG. GEN. H. J. S LANDON. V C.
_Artillery_: BRIG.-GEN. E. A. FANSHAWE.

_2nd Division_: MAJOR-GEN. C. C. MONRO.
_4th Guards Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. LORD CAVAN.
_5th Inf. Bde._: COL. C. B. WESTMACOTT.
_6th Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. R. FANSHAWE.
_Artillery_: BRIG.-GEN. E. M. PERCEVAL.

_Second Army Corps_ GEN. SIR H. L. SMITH-DORRIEN.

_3rd Division_: MAJOR-GEN. C. J. MACKENZIE.
_7th Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. F. W. MCCRAKEN.
_8th Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. B. J. C. DORAN,
_9th Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. F. C. SHAW.
_Artillery_: BRIG.-GEN. A. H. SHORT.

_5th Division_: MAJOR-GEN. T. N. MORLAND.
_13th Inf. Bde_: COL. A. W. MARTYN.
_14th Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN, E. S. MAUDE.
_15th Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. A. E. W. COUNT GLEICHEN.
_Artillery_: BRIG.-GEN J. E. W. HEADLAM.

_Third Army Corps_ GEN. SIR W. P. PULTENEY.

_4th Division_: MAJOR-GEN. H. F. M. WILSON.
_10th Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. C. P. A. HULL.
_11th Inf. Bde_: BRIG.-GEN A. HUNTER WESTON.
_12th Inf. Bde._: BRIG-GEN. F. G. ANLEY.
_Artillery_: BRIG.-GEN. G. F. MILNE.

_6th Division_: MAJOR-GEN. T. L. KEIR.
_16th Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. E. C. INGOUVILLE-WILLIAMS.
_17th Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. W. R. B. DORAN.
_18th Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. W. N. CONGREVE.
_19th Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. HON. F. GORDON.
_Artillery_: BRIG.-GEN W. H. L. PAGET.

_Fourth Army Corps_ LIEUT.-GEN. SIR H. S. RAWLINSON.

_7th Division_: MAJOR-GEN. T. CAPPER.
_20th Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. H. RUGGLES-BRISE.
_21st Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. H. E. WATTS.
_22nd Inf. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. S. T. B. LAWFORD.
_Artillery_: BRIG.-GEN. H. K. JACKSON.

_Indian Army Corps_ LIEUT.-GEN. SIR J. WILLCOCKS.

_3rd_ (_Lahore_) _Div._: LIEUT.-GEN. H. A. WATKINS.
_7th Ind. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. R. G. EGERTON.
_8th Ind. Bde._: MAJOR-GEN. P. M. CARMEDY.
_Artillery_: BRIG.-GEN. F. E. JOHNSON.
_7th (Meerut) Div._: LIEUT.-GEN. C. A. ANDERSON.
_19th Ind. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. C. E. JOHNSON.
_20th Ind. Bde._: MAJOR-GEN. H. DU KEARY.
_21st Ind. Bde._: BRIG.-GEN. F. MACBEAN.
_Artillery_: BRIG.-GEN. A. P. SCOTT.

=SECOND BATTLE OF YPRES.= (April 22--May 24, 1915.)

_General Officer Commanding-in-Chief_ FIELD-MARSHAL SIR JOHN FRENCH.

_Cavalry Corps._ GEN. SIR E. H. H. ALLENBY.

_1st Cav. Div._: MAJOR-GEN. H. DE B. DE LISLE.
_2nd Cav. Div._: MAJOR-GEN. C. T. KAVANAGH.
_3rd Cav. Div._: MAJOR-GEN. J. W. BYNG.

_Second Army_GEN. SIR H. SMITH-DORRIEN.

_Second Army Corps_ LIEUT.-GEN. SIR C. FERGUSON.

_5th Div._: MAJOR-GEN. T. N. MORLAND.
_46th Div._: MAJOR-GEN. E. J. MONTAGUE-STUART-WORTLEY.

_Fifth Army Corps_LIEUT.-GEN. SIR H. PLUMER.

_27th Div._: MAJOR-GEN. T. D'O. SNOW.
_28th Div._: MAJOR-GEN. E. S. BULFIN.

_Third Army Corps_ GEN. SIR W. P. PULTENEY.

_4th Div._: MAJOR-GEN. H. F. M. WILSON.
_6th Div._: MAJOR-GEN. T. L. KEIR.
_50th Div._ (_General Reserve_): MAJOR-GEN. SIR W. F. LINDSAY.

=THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES.= (July 31--November 6, 1916.)

_General Officer Commanding-in-Chief_
FIELD-MARSHAL SIR DOUGLAS HAIG.

_First Army._ LIEUT.-GEN. SIR H. S. HORNE.
_1st Army Corps_: LIEUT.-GEN. A. E. A. HOLLAND.
_11th Army Corps_: LIEUT.-GEN. SIR E. C. R. HAKING.
_13th Army Corps_: MAJOR-GEN. F. W. N. MCCRACKEN.

_Second Army_ GENERAL SIR H. C. O. PLUMER.
_2nd Army Corps_ (_with 5th Army during Aug._):
LIEUT.-GEN. SIR C. W. JACOB.
_8th Army Corps_ (_with 5th Army during Aug. & Sept._):
MAJOR-GEN. SIR A. G. HUNTER-WESTON.
_9th Army Corps_: LIEUT.-GEN. A. HAMILTON GORDON.
_10th Army Corps_: MAJOR-GEN. SIR T. L. N. MORLAND.
_1st Anzac Corps_: LIEUT.-GEN. SIR W. R. BIRDWOOD.
2nd Anzac Corps: Major-Gen. Sir A. J. Godley.

_Third Army._ LIEUT.-GEN. THE HON. SIR J. H. G. BYNG.
_3rd Army Corps_: LIEUT.-GEN. SIR W. P. PULTENEY.
_4th Army Corps_: LIEUT.-GEN. SIR C. L. WOOLLCOMBE.
_6th Army Corps_: MAJOR-GEN. J. A. L. HALDANE.
_17th Army Corps_: LIEUT.-GEN. SIR C. FERGUSON.

_Fourth Army_ GENERAL SIR H. S. RAWLINSON, BART.
_15th Army Corps_: MAJOR-GEN. SIR J. P. DU CANE.

_Fifth Army_ LIEUT.-GEN. SIR H. DE LA P. GOUGH.
_2nd Army Corps (see 2nd Army)_: LIEUT.-GEN. SIR C. W. JACOB.
_5th Army Corps_: LIEUT.-GEN. E. A. FANSHAW.
_8th Army Corps (see 2nd Army)_: MAJOR-GEN. SIR A. G. HUNTER-WESTON.
_14th Army Corps_: LIEUT.-GEN. LORD CAVAN.
_18th Army Corps_: MAJOR-GEN. SIR F. L. MAXSE.
_19th Army Corps_: MAJOR-GEN. H. E. WATTS.
_New Zealand Division (Unattached)_: MAJOR-GEN. SIR A. H. RUSSELL.

_Canadian Army Corps_: LIEUT.-GEN. SIR E. A. H. ALDERSON.

INDEX TO NAMES OF PLACES MENTIONED IN THIS VOLUME

_The figures in heavy type indicate the pages on which there are illustrations._

Abeele, 116

Aire Canal, 124, 127

Allaines, 45

=Amiens=, 37, 45

Anzac Redoubt, 28

=Armentieres=, 5, 18, 38, 39, 45, 46, =49=, =50=, =51=, =52=,
=53=, =54=, 58, 108, 119, 124

=Arras=, 37

Artois, 37

Aschhoop, 35

Aubers, 129

Auchy-la-Bassee, 129

=Bailleul=, 39, 40, 41, 45, 119

Baisieux, 18

Beaucamps, 131

Becelaere, 3, 7, 30, 48, 61, =62=, 63

Bellewarde Lake, 105

Berthem, 118

=Bethune=, 39, 48, 108, =124=, =125=, =126=, =127=, =128=

Bixschoote, 12, 14, 25, 32

Bizet, =55=

Boeschepe, =115=

Boesinghe, 23, 66, =67=, 68

Bois Grenier, 38, 39, 119

Borry Farm, 28

Broodseinde, 3, 15, 30, 32, 63

=Bruges=, 69

Brulooze Inn, 43

Calonne, 39

=Cambrai=, 45, 46

Cambrin, 129

Canal du Nord, 45

Canteleu, 48

=Cassel=, 40

Cats Hill, 40, 42, 48, 58, 108, 109, =116=, =117=, =118=

Chapelle d'Armentieres, 49

Clarence River, 39

Clercken, 3

Comines, 46

Corverbeek Stream, 34

Denain, 46

Dickebusch Pond, 42, 43

=Dixmude=, 13, 23, 25, 26, 46

=Douai=, 46

Douve River, 58

Draeibank, 34

Dranoutre, 41, 42

Driegrachten, 26

Elverdinghe, 23

Englos, 132

Ennetieres, 132

Essenfarm, 23

Estaires, 39, 45, 48, =120=

=Festubert=, 39, 124

Fleurbaix, 39, =119=

Fokker Farm, 28

Fourues, 131

Frezenburg, 7, 16, 25

Gallipoli Farm, 28

Gapaard, 21, 23, =59=

Gaverbeck Canal, 60

=Gheluvelt=, 3, 4, 7, 28, 46, 48, =60=, 61

=Ghent=, 69

=Givenchy=, 39, 45

Glencorse Wood, 3, 26, 28

Godewaerstelde, 116

Goudberg, 35

Gouzeaucourt, 45

Gravenstafel, 31

Hanebeke Stream, 115

Haubourdin, 58, 132

Haute-Deule Canal, 46, 48

Havrincourt Wood, 45

=Hazebrouck=, 39, 40, 45

Heksken, 115

Herenthage Wood, 3, 28, 106

Het Sas, 14, 15, 17, 23, 67

=Hill 60=, 3, 14, 16, 18, 106

Hill 63, 57

=Hindenburg Line=, 133

Hockske, 35

Hollebeke, 7, 10, 23, 25, 26, 28, 59, =60=

=Hooge=, 16, 19, 23, 25, 48, =105=, =106=

Houthem, 11, 48, 59, 60

Houthulst Forest, 3, 32, 33, 46, 66

Iberian Farm, 28

Illies, 130

"International Trench", 18

Inverness Wood, 3, 26, 28

=Kemmel=, 14, 41, 42, 109, =113=, =114=, 115

Kemmel Hill, 40, 42, 48, 58, 108, 109, =114=, 115, 136

Kemmelbeek, 42, 107, 112

Kippe, 35

Klein Zillebeke, 7, 21, 23, 28

Kortekeer Inn, 25

Kortewilde, 60

Kruppfarm, 23

=La Bassee=, 13, 37, 38, 45, 48, 129, =130=, =131=, =132=

La Bassee Canal, 46

La Clytte, 42, 43, 109, =111=, 115

La Couture, 39

La Croix de Poperinghe, 118

La Fosse, 123

La Motte du Bois, 123

=Langemarck=, 12, 15, 16, 18, 26, 27, 28, 30, 48, =66=, =67=

La Vallee, 132

Laventie, 39, 45, 119, =120=

Lawe River, 39, 123, 124

=Lens=, 45, 46

Lestrem, =122=, 123

Le Transloy, 45

Lille, 40, 46, =48=, 50, 108, 133, =134=, =135=

Lille-Hazebrouck Rly., 30

Lindenhoek, 41, 42

Little Hill, 119

Lizerne, 15, 23

Lobes, 124

Locon, 39, =123=, 124

=Locre=, 42, 43 110, =112=, 115

Lombaertzyde, 23

Lomme, 48

=Loos=, 133

Luyghem, 35

=Lys River=, 13, 23, 25 37, 39, 45, 46, =50=, =51=, 53, 55, 119,
120, 123

Mangelhaere, 32

Marchiennes, 46

Marquion, 45

Martjet-Vaart Canal, 26

=Menin=, 7, 9, 16, 28, 46, 61, 103, 105

Menin Road, 30

Merckem, 35

Merris, 39

Merville, 39, 45, 108, =121=, 122, 123

=Messines=, 5, 8, 9, 20, 21, 23, 48, =56=, =58=, 59, 61

Messines-Wytschaete Crest, 39

Meteren, 39, 40, 41, 45

Molenaarelsthoek, 30

Molenhoek, 62

Mosselmarkt, 35

Neuf-Berquin, 39, 121

=Neuve-Chapelle=, 13, 38, 39, 45, 124, 129

Neuve-Eglise, 39, 40, 45, 58

Nieppe, 39, 119

Nieppe Forest, 38, 39, 45, 108, 122, 123

Noir Hill, 40, 48, 58, 108, =118=

Nonnes Wood, 3, 28

Noordhemhoek, 30, 63

Noreuil, 45

Notre-Dame-de-Grace, 58

Oosttraverne, 20

Orchies, 46

Outtersteene, 45

Papegoed Wood, 34

=Passchendaele=, 3, 30, 32, 34, 35, 46, 48, 63, =64=, 65

Petite Doure Stream, 58

Petit-Kemmel, 42

Pilkem, 14, 15, 23, 25, 66

=Ploegsteert=, 18, 23, 39, 45, 55, =56=, =57=

Poelcapelle, 3, 7, 28, 31, 32, 33, 35, =46=, =65=, 66

Polderhoek, 30

Polygon Wood, 3, 26, 28, 63

=Poperinghe=, 16, 40, 48, =107=, 108, 115

Poterie Farm, 21

Potsdam Redoubt, 28

Premesques Chateau, 49

Quatre Chemins, 23

Queant, 45

Radinghem, 132, =133=

Ramscapelle, 16

Ravelsberg, 119

Ravetsberg, 40

Rayon Wood, 20

Reninghe, 23

=Reninghelst=, 109, 115

Reutel, 80

Richebourg-St.-Waast, 39

Robecq, 39

Rose Farm, 28

Rossignol, 58

Rouge Hill, =40=, 48, 58, 108, =109=, 110, =112=

=Roubaix=, 46, 50

=Roulers=, 15, 34, 64

Sailly-Saillisel, 45

=St. Eloi=, 3, 8, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 41

St. Janshoek, 32, 34

St. Julien, 16, 25, 27, 28

St. Maur Ferry, 39

St. Yves, 8, 21, 23

Sanctuary Wood, 19, 23, 25, 106

Schaexnen, 118

Scherpenberg Hill, =37=, 48, 108, 109, 110, =111=

Soetart Farm, 16

Steenbeck Canal, 25, 26, 58

Steenstraat, 14, 15, 16, 17, 25, 26

Steenwerck, 39, 45

Steenwoorde, 116

Stilebecque Stream, 119

Terhand, 61, =62=

Therouanne, 70

Thielt, 6

=Tourcoing=, 46, 50

=Tournai=, 18

Tower Hamlet, 28, 29, 30, 61

=Valenciennes=, 46

Vampire Farm, 28

Veldhoek, 28, 32, 106

Vendin-le-Vieil, 46

Verbranden-Molen, 10

Verlorenhoek, 23, 25

Vidaigne Hill, 40, 48, 108, 110, =112=, =118=

Vieux-Berquin, 39, 45

Villers-au-Flos, 45

=Vlamertinghe=, 107

Voormezelo, 42

Wanbecke River, 59

Warneton, 58

Wervicq, 46

Westhoek, 26

=Westoutre=, 43, 110

Westroosebeke, =65=

Wez Macquart, 49

Wieltje, 16, 23

Wulverghem, 14, 39, 40, 45, 58

=Wytschaete=, 8, 9, 20, 40, 48, =59=

Wytschaete-Messines Crest, 39

Yperlee River, 23, 68, 71, 80

=Ypres=, =4=, =11=, =14=, =18=, =35=, =58=, =68--102=

Ypres-Bruges Rly., 23, 25

Ypres-Comines Canal, 17, 21, 23, 26, 28

" " Rly., 19

" Lille Rly., 60

" Roulers Rly., 23, 30, 103

=Yser Canal=, 3, 15, 17, 23, 25, 26, 68

Zandvoorde, 4, 5, 7, 48, 61

Zelobes, 124

Zevecoten, 109, 115

Zevencote, 28

=Zillebeke=, 3, 19, 42, 43, 102, =103=, =104=, 105

Zollebeke, 48

Zonnebeke, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 28, 29, 48, =63=

Zuydschoote, 15

Zwarteleen, 9, 23

CONTENTS

PAGES
FOREWORD 3
THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE, 1914 (1st Battle of Ypres) 4--11
SECOND BATTLE OF YPRES 14--16
THE ALLIES OFFENSIVE, 1917 (3rd Battle of Ypres) 20--23
1st Phase 23--26
2nd Phase 26--27
3rd Phase 28--29
4th Phase 30--31
5th Phase 32--33
6th Phase 34--35
GERMAN OFFENSIVE, 1918 37
BATTLE OF THE FLANDERS HILLS 38--40
CAPTURE OF KEMMEL HILL 41--42
LAST GERMAN ATTACK, 1918 43
THE ALLIES' VICTORY OFFENSIVE, 1918 44--47
VISIT TO THE BATTLEFIELDS 48--133
First Day 48--107
Second Day 108--133
CHIEF HISTORICAL EVENTS 69--71
BRITISH FORCES ENGAGED 137--141
British Expeditionary Force, 1914 138--139
1st Battle of Ypres, 1914 139
2nd Battle of Ypres, 1915 140
3rd Battle of Ypres, 1916 141
INDEX TO NAMES OF PLACES MENTIONED IN THIS VOLUME 142--143

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Transcriber's notes

Obvious punctuation errors repaired.

Hyphen removed: "iron[-]work" (page 123).

Pages 25, 142: "Kortekeert" changed to "Kortekeer".

Page 25: "Ypers" changed to "Ypres" (on the right of the Ypres-Roulers Road).

Page 26: "asault" changed to "assault" (they took by assault the village).

Page 32: "Houlthulst" changed to "Houthulst" (the south-western edge of Houthulst Forest).

Page 37: "of" changed to "to" (the driving back to the Channel coast).

Page 71: "coverd" changed to "covered" (waterways are now covered).

Page 101: "tmypana" changed to "tympana" (whose tympana are decorated).

Page 116: "Itinerery" changed to "Itinerary" (See Itinerary p. 108).

End of Project Gutenberg's Ypres and the Battles of Ypres, by Unknown

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