The Times of Wednesday published some further facts about the
memorable defence of Ypres by the 7th Infantry Division and the 3rd Cavalry Division. Particularly illu- minating is the diary of General Julian Byng, commanding the 3rd Cavalry Division, which was circulated among his division. The two divisions went to the aid of the Naval Division at Antwerp. They temporarily occupied the neigh- bourhood of Bruges and Ghent, but they had to fall back, and fought a rearguard action all the way from Ghent to Ypres against overwhelming numbers. Exhausted as they were on arriving at Ypres, these two divisions had to hold the line for some days till the other British corps were brought up from the Aisne. The odds were about eight to one against them. A German officer afterwards stated that the German Staff had believed that four British army corps had held the position. When the two divisions were withdrawn to refit, it was found that in the 7th Infantry Division only 44 out of the original 400 officers were left, and only 2,336 men out of 12,000. The history of the Army may possibly show performances equal to this, but certainly nothing finer.
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