The Battle of Festubert Begins

Sunday 16^th May 1915: last night and this morning the new British offensive at Festubert opened with attacks by 2nd and Meerut Divisions. This attack has, we believe, had mixed results. On the left, furthest north, the Garhwal Brigade of Meerut Division was to advance and then form a defensive flank, facing north, to prevent the Germans outflanking the two advancing brigades of 2nd Division (5th and 6th Brigades in that order, north to south). In the event, the Garhwal Brigade, under Major-General C. G. Blackadder could not advance very far because troops of the Jullundur Brigade on its left had been shooting at the German lines since last evening, mitigating any chance of surprise. The attack began half an hour before midnight and the Germans, using flares, were able to see 39th Garhwal Rifles and 3nd Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment as they crossed into No Man’s Land and, suffering heavy casualties, they were unable to advance.

The same was true of 5th Infantry Brigade and we understand with sadness that one of our local units, 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, has suffered numerous casualties. To the south of this, 6th Brigade of 2nd Division was able to achieve surprise and take the enemy’s front and support trenches, which they are now consolidating.

Around 3.15 this morning, London time, it was the turn of 7th Division, immediately south of 2nd Division, who thus began their attack just over three hours after the battle began. The adjutant of the 2nd Bedfords tells us that his brigade, 21st, is in reserve and that the other two brigades (20th and 22nd) made the initial attack after an intensive bombardment of half an hour. This was quite successful. 22nd Brigade, under Brigadier-General S. T. B. Lawford(1) took heavy casualties from machine-guns but pressed on and took the German front and support lines. 20th Brigade, north of them, was less successful. They took the front line but a strong point called The Quadrilateral, from its shape, prevented them going any further and strong counter-attacks nearly drove them out, though they managed to hold firm. This lack of progress exposed the flank of 22nd Brigade, which had got further, causing them to stop too.

We believe that the machine-guns of two companies of 2nd Bedfords, under Lieutenant George, are just moving up to occupy the old German front line. What the rest of the day will bring is unsure, though any further attacks look unlikely.

Source: X550/3/wd

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(1)  “Swanky Syd” Lawford, father of actor Peter Lawford, who was brother-in-law to American president J. F. Kennedy

The First Day of the Battle of Neuve Chapelle

Wednesday 10th March 1915: Our correspondent tells us that today the British army in France has begun a large scale attack designed to break through the German lines around the village of Neuve Chapelle, north-east of Béthune and south-west of Armentières. This will be the first attack our troops have made since last October and the ill-fated advance east from Ypres. The commanding officer, Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Rawlinson of IV Corps, has issued the following order of the day: “The attack which we are about to undertake is of the first importance to the Allied Cause. The Army and the Nation are watching the results and Sir John French(1) is confident that every individual in IV Corps will do his duty and inflict a crushing defeat  on the German VII Corps which is opposed to us”.

We understand that a huge amount of artillery has been brought in to bombard the German defences north and south of the village, where their front line forms a bulge like the letter C, known as a salient. The area being attacked is around two miles in length and it is believed that so great is our concentration of artillery that there is around one gun for every six yards of enemy front line. It is to be hoped such a violent destructive force will rupture the German lines and allow our men to flood through.

We understand that none of the units local to this county will be taking part in today’s main attack but that the 7th Division, which includes the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, is in reserve. It is also understood that the French were due to launch simultaneous attacks but have now refused to do so, citing British failure to reinforce the line further north at Ypres and allow them to move more of their own men south. Despite this breach of promise by our gallant ally we are sure British pluck and determination will carry the day.

The ground around Neuve Chapelle is as flat as the Fens and, just like it, intersected by drainage ditches. A mile beyond Neuve Chapelle, however is a slight rise, just twenty feet higher than the plain, called the Aubers Ridge. Twenty feet in such a flat landscape is a lot and will allow our men to see over German lines further east.

The initial bombardment of an hour’s duration has been followed by attacks by two brigades of 8^th Division and Gharwal Brigade of our splendid Indian Corps. We understand the village will surely fall during the course of the day. What awaits the men of the 2nd Bedfords as they take up the cudgels tomorrow? This morning they are gathered just south-west of a hamlet called la Flinque and are expected to move south-east towards the village of Mauquissart this afternoon to bring them close to the front line.

The commanding officer of the East Anglian Royal Engineers tells us that at 7 this morning the division to which his unit is attached, 2nd Division, made an attack on the extreme right of the main attack which was delivered at Neuve Chapelle  but owing to the wire in front of German trenches being left intact no ground was gained. The EARE was working with the South Staffordshire Regiment, two sections furnishing blocking parties and the other two in reserve. A second attack is to be made at 2 pm but the same result is expected. The weather is misty with rain now just beginning to fall.

Source: X550/3/wd; Bedfordshire Standard 26th March 1915

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(1) Commander-in-Chief, British Expeditionary Force which, at this stage of the war, comprised 1st and 2nd Armies which comprised five corps between them.