Yser - 'Water is everywhere: in the air: on the ground, under the ground. It is the land of dampness, the kingdom of water. It rains three days out of four. The north-west winds ... carry heavy clouds of cold rain formed in the open sea. As soon as the rain ceases to fall, thick white mists rise from the ground giving a ghost-like appearance to men and things alike' (Charles le Goffic). Flooded fields in the Yser plain. The war reached this region on 16 Oct 1914 with a German attack towards Dixemude and Nieuport. The Belgian Army, assisted by French Marines held the line but when it became clear that they could not hold it was decided to flood the plain of the Yser and use the embankment of the Nieuport - Dixemude railway as a dam. On the nights of Oct 30 & 31st the lock-keeper at Nieuport used the high tides an opened the lock gates at De Gansepoot [ Goose Foot ] to enable the flooding of the Yser plain.