On the 28th, the water began to rise and, on the 29th, spread southwards.
An extremely violent bombardment on the 29th preceded the German attacks of the 30th, against the railway. Thanks to their minenwerfer, the Germans gained a footing on the railway, and advanced as far as the villages of Ramscappelle and Pervyse. It was a critical moment, the main line of resistance being pierced.
Fortified Embankment at Ramscappelle.
The defenders pulled themselves together for a last effort, and after a violent concentration of artillery fire, counter-attacked.
On the 31st, at nightfall, the 42nd Division and Belgian units—remnants of battalions belonging to the 6th, 7th and 14th line regiments—charged furiously with the bayonet, to the sound of the bugles. The enemy was thrown into disorder, Ramscappelle recaptured, and the line re-established.
Imperceptibly but relentlessly the floods invaded the enemy's entrenchments, turning their retreat into a rout; their dead, wounded, heavy guns, arms and munitions were swallowed up in the huge swamp. The Battle of the Yser was over.
The Belgian Army, whose original mission was to hold out for forty-eight hours, had, with the help of 6,000 French Marines, fought first single-handed, and then with the support of a single French Division, continued the struggle until October 31, thus fighting for fifteen days without interruption.
The Allies' Supreme Resource: The Inundations.