The Battles of Festubert and Ypres End

Saturday 29th May 1915: News from France is that the Battle of Festubert is at an end. General Rawlinson, commanding IV Corps, has called a halt to further attacks and is well pleased to have advanced by about a mile and a half and to have taken the village and held all gains in the course of the fortnight’s fighting. German counter-attacks now seem to have ended and so, presumably, the line will solidify at this point for the foreseeable future.

We understand from a source in high command that casualties have been severe, but an inevitable cost for such a victory. We understand that they break down as follows:

·       - 2nd Division (which includes 1st East Anglian Field Company, Royal Engineers): 582 killed; 3,845 wounded; 1,018 missing – total 5,445

·       - 7th Division (which includes 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment): 731 killed; 2,726 wounded; 666 missing – total 4,123

·     -  Meerut Division: 224 killed; 2,037 wounded; 260 missing – total 2,527

·     -  47th (2nd London) Division: 233 killed; 1,535 wounded; 597 missing – total 2,365

·     -  Canadian Division: 381 killed; 1,606 wounded; 217 missing – total 2,204

This gives a combined total of 2,151 killed, 11,749 wounded and 2,758 missing or 16,658 casualties in full. It is thought that the enemy have lost about 5,000 men including 800 prisoners-of-war.

The struggle around Ypres also seems to have ended. We have had our eyes fixed on Hill 60 where the 1st Bedfords fought so bravely but there have been German attacks in many places. Our forces hold a large salient, essentially a bulge like the mirror image of the letter C around the city of Ypres and the enemy has succeeded in pushing our lines back in places but nowhere have they achieved the coveted breakthrough. We seem to have suffered just under 60,000 casualties, our French allies about 18,000 and the Canadian troops, who then went on to fight at Festubert, around 6,000. It is believed that the enemy lost around 35,000 men(1).

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(1) Private Edward Warner of the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, would receive a posthumous Victoria Cross. Nine other VCs were awarded: Lance Sergeant D. W. Belcher (London Rifle Brigade); Captain E. D. Bellew (7th Battalion, British Columbia Regiment); Jemadar Mir Dast (55th Rifles, attached 57th Rifles, Ferozepore Brigade); Lance Corporal F. Fisher (13th Battalion, Royal Highlanders of Canada); Company Sergeant Major F. W. Hall (8th Battalion, Winnipeg Rifles); Private J. Lynn (2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers); 2nd Lieutenant W. B. Rhodes-Moorhouse (2nd Squadron, Royal Flying Corps); Captain F. A. C. Scrimger (Canadian Army Medical Service and 14th Battalion, Royal Montreal Regiment) and Corporal I. Smith (1st Battalion, Manchester Regiment).

Festubert Captured

47th Division insignia

Wednesday 26th May 1915: The 2nd Bedfords’ part in the Battle of Festubert may be over but the battle continues and we hear that last night 47th (2nd London) Division, a formation of Territorial Army soldiers who have never been in battle before, captured the remains of the village of Festubert. They managed an advance of four hundred yards across a front of one thousand yards, a tremendous achievement for untried troops.

More News from Festubert

Wednesday 19th May 1915: After the events of the night of 17th/18th, yesterday saw more attacks on the blood and mud soaked battlefield between Neuve-Chapelle and Festubert. The battle is today in its fifth day.

Yesterday morning the bad weather of the previous twenty four hours began to clear and a new bombardment of the German lines got underway in the afternoon with the intention of attacking at 4.30. Sadly, we believe that the attack orders often did not get through until about an hour beforehand, leaving the units concerned little time to prepare. Two brigades were destined for the attack, 4th (Guards) Brigade on 2nd Division and 3rd Canadian Brigade, which is attached to 7th Division. Sirhind Brigade of the Indian Army was selected to make a subsidiary attack, to draw German attention, some way to the north of the main thrust. What an Empire wide effort this was, with men from east and west, Asia and North America along with those of the Mother Country – brave men all.

It is understood that the artillery bombardment was late in beginning and did not materially affect the German defences. This, together with heavy German machine-gun fire stopped the attacks of Briton, Indian and Canadian in their tracks, even the Guards could make no headway. The Canadians scarcely began their attack before it was called-off as the position was seen to be hopeless.

Overnight the Canadian Division has been replacing 7th Division in the line. The 51st (Highland) Division is replacing 2nd Division. So the interest of Bedfordshire in this battle remains keen, as the highlanders have been our guests in Bedford practically since war broke out. We wish them well. 47th Division has entered the line to the south of Festubert. The 2nd and 7th Divisions have suffered much but, it must be remembered, have been thwarted by bad weather, ill luck and strong defensive positions. It is not yet clear whether there will be any more attacks or whether the battle has ended.

The adjutant of 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment tells us that his unit was relieved by one company of 2nd Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment about 3 a.m. and returned to billets in Rue l’Epinette. The strength of the battalion, he tells us, is 8 officers and 417 other ranks. Lieutenant Baird is the new Medical Officer. Total casualties during operations from 8 p.m. on 11th to 3 a.m. on 19th May have been 2 officers killed, 9 wounded and one sick with 45 other ranks killed, 276 wounded and 68 missing.

Source: X550/3/wd