A New Offensive at Festubert

Saturday 15th May 1915: We learn that, less than a week after the last attack made by our troops in northern France, at Aubers Ridge, the High Command has decided on another offensive in the area, this time between Neuve-Chapelle and the small town of Festubert to the south. The decision has been taken to try to support our French allies in their offensive further south around the city of Arras.

As may be imagined, so close to the attacks in March at Neuve-Chapelle and a few days ago, the ground is no different – flat and intersected by wide drainage ditches. As with the attack at Aubers Ridge there are to be two main assaults, from the north and the south in a pincer movement. Unlike the previous two attacks there has been a continuous bombardment of the German trenches going on since 13th. This is, we understand, now standard French practice. The longer bombardment time negates any element of surprise but this disadvantage is felt to be offset by the greater destructive power inflicted on the enemy’s trenches and lines of supply, leaving him less able to respond to our attacks.

Given that the struggle at Aubers Ridge was terminated, in part, due to lack of ammunition for the artillery it will be imagined that the commissariat has been working feverishly to get shells from England and up to the guns for such a prolonged bombardment. We can only applaud their efforts(1).

The attack is being made by 2^nd Division on the left and the British and Indian troops of Meerut Division on the right. It is believed that this battle will include the innovative tactic of beginning after sunset, the initial advance taking place in the dark. It is hoped that this will make up for the fact that the Germans know an attack is coming because of the long bombardment and thus regain an element of surprise. This is a bold move. Our men will not be able to see one another, nor the obstacles over which they must pass, but the Germans will not be able to see them so well either, to shoot at them and the two assaulting divisions are felt to know the ground well enough that the obstacles they face should not be so daunting. The moon is new so it should be very dark.

The 1st Bedfords are still up near Ypres and so are unlikely to take part in this attack but 2nd Bedfords may well do so at some stage. The adjutant tells us that they were expecting to attack today but that it has now been decided that their division, 7th, will probably not go into action tomorrow. This is probably because they are new to the area and so a night attack over such unknown ground could throw them into confusion. Whether their brigade (21st) will be part of things he does not yet know. They were in reserve for the push at Aubers Ridge and have not fought an action since Neuve-Chapelle in March so they will be rested and, no doubt, up for the fight.

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(1)  In fact very few high explosive shells were available for destroying enemy barbed wire, leaving this task to shrapnel shells of small calibre which were known not to be up to the task. A lot of shells fired were duds and are still being dug up today.