B/5583

2^nd Bn. THE BORDER REGT.

SOME NOTES ON THE OPERATIONS OF THE ORIGINAL 7^TH DIVISION.

Nov. 1^st.         On November 1^st, the enemy again renewed his attacks and by mid-

day the whole of the line was heavily engaged, some ground had to be given but the front remained intact on the general line VELDOEK Cross roads – Farm 1 mile East of KLEIN ZILLEBEKE.

“  2^nd.  An intercepted wireless massage this day announced the arrival of the Kaiser

on this front and as was expected, at about noon on November 2^nd another desperate effort to break through was made by the enemy from the direction of GHELUVELT against the 1^st Division and against the right of the 20^th Infantry Brigade.

The attack succeeded in driving back the 1^st Division and all its available reserves were used up without result.  The last reserves of the 7^th Division were then sent forward to try and preserve the flank of the 20^th Infantry Brigade.  The fighting this day was particularly fierce – the finest troops of the German Army, under the eyes of the Kaiser, hurled themselves in vain against the battered line of the 7^th Division.

This was really the last big attack the enemy made – for although he continued to bombard and attack our line, it was only in a half-hearted manner.

Some idea of the severity of the fighting the Division had taken part in may be formed by examining the fighting strength of Brigades at this time.  The 20^th Infantry Brigade was reduced to 18 Officers 900 other ranks; the 21^st Infantry Brigade 13 Officers 910 other ranks; the 22^nd Infantry Brigade 13 Officers 586 other ranks.

“ 5^th.    On November 5^th, the Division was relieved with the exception of the 22^nd

Infantry Brigade which remained as a reserve for the

“ 6^th.    1^st Corps, and on November 6^th this Brigade made a very successful counter-

attack at a critical period.  This Brigade was now so reduced in strength that one Battalion was formed out of the remnants of the Brigade, the 4 Battalions of the Brigade becoming Companies and the whole Battalion being known as No. 1 Battalion, 22^nd Infantry Brigade.

“ 8^th.    On November 8^th the 22^nd Infantry Brigade was finally relieved.

What the outside world thought of the doings of the 7^th Division at this period

can be gathered from the following extract taken from one of the British papers at the time:- “There is no finer passage in the annals of the British Army that the world has known, than that which has been written concerning the deeds of the 7^th Division and the 3^rd Cavalry Division in Flanders.

30,000 strong, these two Divisions undertook the defence of YPRES, the key to CALAIS, until reinforcements should arrive.  Against them was arrayed the flower of the German Army, in the proportion of 8 to 1, and day after day this overwhelming force was hurled against our gallant band in vain.

When relief at last came, and the shattered remnants of the two Divisions were enabled to withdraw, there remained of 400 Officers of the 7^th Division but 44, and of the 12,000 men but 2,336.  Those figures are more eloquent of the splendid courage of our men than any words.  Reduced to less than one fifth of their original numbers they still held out, YPRES remained, and still remains, uncaptured, and the losses of the enemy were vastly greater than our own.

Perhaps the most remarkable testimony to the vigour and accuracy of the British fire is conveyed in the words of a German Officer who tells us that the enemy believed that 4 British Army Corps were holding the positions actually maintained by less than one”.