Making a stand 1914

On 14 September 1914 the Germans found themselves checked by the French and the BEF on the river Aisne at the Chemin des Dames. Both sides were weary from long days of marching and fighting, but both realised that the only way forward was around the seaward flank of their opponent.

So began the Race to the Sea. The small Belgian Army under their King: Albert I, had been moved to Antwerpen (Antwerp/Anvers) where a gallant but unproductive expedition by the newly created British Royal Naval Division failed to reach the town in time. The King i t was suggested should leave the country with his government for a safer location. Ever mindful of his duty Albert would remain in Belgium throughout the war.

The Belgian Army now moved back and alongside French units rushing to plug the gap at the Belgian coast and Ieper, whilst the BEF were also heading for Ieper.

The efforts by the small and under equipped Belgian Army during this crisis period should not be overlooked.

In the small village of Ramskapelle their are a number of sites of interest.

An overview of the Battle of the Yser

French and Belgian memorials

In the main street near the church is a memorial tablet commemorating how two battalions, the Belgian 6th Linie Regiment and the French 16th Chasseurs retook the village at bayonet point on 30 October 1914.

However the real heroes of the village were the 14th Line Regiment who lost over a hundred men in a final desperate counter attack against the Germans on 31 October 1914 pushing them back into the flood waters forming by the inundation of the polders.

Nearby is the old railway station (complete with buffers). Here you will find another plaque to the 14th Regiment.

The old railway line which formed the Belgian front line after the inundation is now a cycle track.

The old railways station was later fortified and used by the Belgian artillery as an observation point.

The plaque on the station to the 14th Regiment

Ramskapelle Begraafplaats

The Military Cemetery contains the graves of 626 soldiers killed during the battle of the Yser (IJzer) in October and November 1914.

The graves are arranged in rows of concentric semi-circles

Captain Commandant Paul A J Rollin
23e Regiment de ligne
Born in Haine St Paul on 28 October 1872
Died on 21 October 1914