Ypres, 1918

First World War

Date

28 September – 2 October 1918

Geographical parameters

Road Armentières – Bailleul – Locre – Reninghelst – Vlamertinghe Château – Elverdinghe Château: then a line to Moorslede

Context

A battle honour formally entitled the “Battle of Ypres, 1918” and itself forming part of “The Final Advance”Footnote 1.

Description

In the autumn of 1918 the Second (British) Army, along with two French corps, was placed under the command of Albert I, King of the Belgians. The Groupe d'armées des Flandres (GAF) would be responsible for Allied operations in this northern sector of the Western Front. Serving with the Second Army was The Royal Newfoundland Regiment (28th Infantry Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division), positioned on Second Army's left flank next to the Belgians. Starting on 28 September, 1918 and continuing until 3 October, the GAF advanced relentlessly capturing 10,000 Germans and over 300 guns in less than a week. During this period the Newfoundlanders advanced a distance of nine miles suffering a little over 100 casualties and gathering in a dozen major decorations for gallantry. The GAF offensive eventually resulted in the capture of Ostend and Zeebrugge and would push up to the border with neutral Holland.

Awarded to:

Currently Serving Units

  • The Royal Newfoundland Regiment
    Award to The Royal Newfoundland Regiment (Award to The Royal Newfoundland Regiment (1914-1919) (Adjutant General, War Office, to Official Secretary, Office of the High Commissioner for Canada, 14 Dec 1951))
Sketch of the advance along the Western Front

Sketch of the advance along the Western Front between 8 August and 15 October 1918, including actions at Ypres.
Credit: Sketch by Nicholson, found in C.E.F. 1914-1919; p. 455.

Corporal Richard Power, DCM, MM with two of his Brothers.

Corporal Richard Power, DCM, MM with two of his Brothers. Corporal Power earned the Distinguished Conduct Medal with B Company of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment at Ledgehem, Belgium (Cannot be found on maps), 3 October, 1918. He won the Military Medal eleven days later.
Credit: Courtesy of Archives and Special Collections Division (Coll 346 1.01.029) QE II Library, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL.

Page details

Date modified: