First Ypres 1914

In the autumn of 1914 the original British Expeditionary Force faced a heavily reinforced German drive towards the channel. Field Marshal Sir John French, the British Commander-in-Chief, had sent his men north in an attempt to outflank the Germans across the open ground of Flanders. Here they advanced into the face of a huge German attack and commenced the first of the trench-warfare battles, where lines that would remain almost static for the rest of the war were established causing...
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In the autumn of 1914 the original British Expeditionary Force faced a heavily reinforced German drive towards the channel. Field Marshal Sir John French, the British Commander-in-Chief, had sent his men north in an attempt to outflank the Germans across the open ground of Flanders. Here they advanced into the face of a huge German attack and commenced the first of the trench-warfare battles, where lines that would remain almost static for the rest of the war were established causing the towns of La Bass.e, Armenti.res, Messines and Ypres to become landmarks of history. 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.