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