A Short History of the 6th Division | Page 3

(Lt.-Col. G. C. Kemp, C.R.E.) were employed
to some extent in wiring at night.
CHAPTER III

MOVE TO THE NORTH AND FIRST BATTLE OF YPRES
1914
The diminishing pressure of the Germans on the Aisne had made it
evident that an attempt by them to reach the Channel ports would be
made very soon. This would best be frustrated by an outflanking
movement of the Allies to the north, with the ultimate aim of joining
hands with the Belgian Army at that time holding Antwerp. Sir John
French was most anxious to place the British Army in its original
position on the left of the French, as it was based on Boulogne, Calais
and Dunkirk.
The II British Corps was the first to move from the Aisne and
prolonged the French line towards La Bassée; the I and III Corps
extending inwards to relieve it. Next followed the III Corps, relieved by
the French and destined to take its place north of the II Corps towards
Bailleul.
The Cavalry Corps advanced north of the III Corps towards Kemmel,
and at a later date the I Corps, handing over to the French, was moved
towards Ypres, while the 7th Division, just arrived in France, was
directed on Menin.
The III Corps consisted of the 4th and 6th Divisions under Lt.-Gen.
Pulteney. The period 6th to 9th October was occupied in the march to
the entraining station near Compiègne. The Division detrained at St.
Omer on 10th October, and was joined by the 19th Infantry Brigade
(Brig.-Gen. Hon. F. Gordon), which remained with it until 31st May
1915. The battalions composing this brigade were 2nd R.W.F., 1st
Cameronians, 1st Middlesex, 2nd A. and S. Highlanders. The 5th
Cameronians were added on 19th November 1914.
On the 12th October the Division marched to Hazebrouck, where it
covered the detrainment of the 4th Division and came into touch with
the enemy. The latter, consisting of two Cavalry Divisions with some
Jäger (Rifle) Battalions, and at least one Division of the XIX Corps,
were fighting a rearguard action until such time as they should be

reinforced. The character of the advance may be illustrated by an
incident on the 14th October, when a platoon of the 1st R.F. (of the
Reserve Brigade) was detailed to rescue General Keir's car, which had
run into snipers near Merris. Fortunately the G.O.C. was not in it. The
reinforcement by the enemy occurred on the 20th October, on which
date began the Battle of Ypres-Armentières, generally called the First
Battle of Ypres. As far as the Division was concerned this took place
on the western portion of the ridge between Armentières and Lille, and
resulted in the Division being forced back from the line
Préniesques-Radinghem (almost on top of the ridge) to the low ground
Rue du Bois-La Boutillerie after very fierce continuous fighting from
20th to 31st October, in which the Division suffered nearly 4,000
casualties. To revert, on 13th October the III Corps advanced with the
4th Division on the left and the 6th Division on the right. An action
took place on the line of the Méteren Brook, commencing at 1 p.m. and
continuing till dark, when the 17th and 18th Infantry Brigades had
captured Méteren and Bailleul with about 400 casualties. Pushing
forward, the 17th Infantry Brigade crossed the River Lys at Bac St.
Maur, and the 18th Infantry Brigade at Sailly on the night 15/16th
October, and approached on the 17th the ridge west of Lille, where the
enemy were reported to be entrenched. The 16th Infantry Brigade now
rejoined the Division from the Aisne, and on the 18th October a
reconnaissance in force was ordered, which was brilliantly carried out.
The Buffs and Y. and L. on the right captured Radinghem without
much opposition, and advanced across a small plateau, 300 yards in
width, towards the woods in which stands the Château de Flandres.
They here came under a heavy cross-fire of machine-guns and shrapnel,
and were counter-attacked and driven back. The situation, however,
was saved by Major Bayley's company of the Y. and L., which had
worked round on the left and threatened the flank of the counter-attack,
which thereon withdrew. The Y. and L. suffered considerable casualties
in this little action--Major Robertson being killed. Meanwhile the 18th
Infantry Brigade had captured Ennetières and the south end of
Capinghem, while the 17th Infantry Brigade reached Prémesques, but
was unable to take Pérenchies. The 4th Division had not been able to
cross the Lys north of Armentières, which necessitated the 17th
Infantry Brigade throwing back its flank to l'Epinette. On the 19th

October the Division entrenched on the line it had won. To the right
were French cavalry and cyclists, covering the gap between the right of
the III Corps and the left of the I