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The British Expeditionary Force moved north into Belgium to take up the left flank of the now defensive armies to threaten the German right flank and put the British forces nearer the Channel ports to ease resupply.
The 20th Hussars moved out on 30th September 1914. They reached Houthem, 5 miles south east of Ypres in Flanders, on 15th October after a march of some 150 miles (240 kms). They were dismounted, digging in with great difficulty as their digging tools had been left behind in the Marne crossing. Bayonets, spoons and tools borrowed from the reluctant locals were used to dig in.
In October 1914 the 10th Hussars landed in Belgium with the 6th Cavalry Brigade, 3rd Cavalry Division, and fought in a dismounted role in the First Battle of Ypres (19th October to 22nd November 1914) with the 11th and 20th Hussars. After trench warfare set in cavalry soldiers often did trench duty on their feet. Occasionally they were reunited with their horses to serve as mounted reserves or on mobile patrols, but the use of mounted cavalry was very limited.
The 20th Hussars, though busy with patrols and static defence, were not called upon to take any large part in the First Battle of Ypres. When the enemy had been pushed back east of Ypres and Armentières, the 20th began to fill in the gap between those towns acting as infantry. They were withdrawn from the line on 22nd November, settled into winter quarters and began infantry training, bayonet drill, reorganising, fitness training and replacing casualties.
All three regiments were subsequently involved in the Second Battle of Ypres from 22nd April to 15th May 1915. They were awarded the battle honour ‘Ypres 1914-15’, and the 10th Hussars were awarded ‘Frezenberg’, which was fought from 8th to 13th May 1915, and was one of four battles which became known as the Second Battle of Ypres.
