Gas! The Battle for Ypres, 1915 by J.L. McWilliams & R. James Steel

Author:J.L. McWilliams & R. James Steel [McWilliams, J.L.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Sapere Books
Published: 2020-03-27T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven: We Have Piped Unto You and Ye Have Not Danced

(24 April, 1915)

“But to what shall I compare this generation?

It is like children sitting in the market

places and calling to their playmates,

‘We piped unto you and ye did not dance.’”

Matthew XI, 16 & 17

The Allied Command organization had broken down entirely. If events at the front seemed confusing and orders contradictory, they were no less so in the rear. For instance, General Alderson at Canadian Divisional Headquarters did not discover that his 3rd Brigade had fallen back to the G.H.Q. Line till after four o’clock that afternoon. That was at the same time that the final German attack was debouching from Kitcheners’ Wood.

Prior to this information at last reaching him he had planned to relieve the 3rd Canadian Brigade that night with the British 19th Brigade. This formation, detached from the 4th Imperial Division, was then to counterattack and restore the situation. Alderson was therefore amazed when an inkling of the true circumstances reached him. Just how small an inkling it was can be gathered from the order he sent to Brigadier Turner at 4:35. After listing the troops supposedly available, he concluded: “I have no exact knowledge of your situation at the present moment, but hope that you are still blocking St. Julien and in close touch with the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade.” Of course, neither of these hopes had been in effect all that afternoon. At the moment that Alderson was sending this message both his brigadiers were on foot far from their headquarters — Currie heading for Wieltje and Turner to Fortuin.

At Corps Headquarters, “Daddy” Plumer was equally in the dark. At 9:00 that morning he had given command of all the reserves to Major General Snow of the 27th Imperial Division because he of all the divisional commanders was closest to the critical point. In turn, Plumer appears to have received most of his information from Snow who it seems was poorly informed despite his proximity to the front line.

Above Plumer in the chain of command was Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien. He was not on good terms with the Commander-in-Chief and it appears that where possible he was by-passed by Sir John French, although shortly after 9:30 a.m. he did receive the following observation from “Wully” Robertson, Sir John’s Chief of Staff: “Evidently not much reliance can be placed on the two French divisions on your left … the Chief (Sir John French) thinks that vigorous action East of the Canal will be the best means of checking the enemy’s advance.” Smith-Dorrien was not at all convinced that “vigorous action” was the solution to the problem. Constant attacks appeared to be only wearing down his troops, making them less able to hold the Salient. His “defeatist” attitude was known at headquarters, and Sir John sent him specific orders shortly after four: “Every effort must be made at once to restore and hold the line about St. Julien or situation of 28th Division will be jeopardized.” Sir John’s views were expanded upon later in a letter from his C.

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