31st October 1914 - Stemming the German tide - Battle of Gheluvelt

On 31st October 1914, 375 battle-weary officers and men of the Worcestershire Regiment at the Belgian village of Gheluvelt were all that stood between the Kaiser’s victorious army and the channel ports. Defeat would have cut off the British expeditionary probably forcing the allies to surrender. Against overwhelming odds the Worcesters who had already sustained heavy losses, bravely charged over open fields under intense fire to the heavily defended Gheluvelt Chateau where there was fierce hand-to-hand fighting. Eventually, the Germans retreated. The British line had held and the tide was turned, but 187 of the Worcesters were killed or wounded.