The 1915 Campaign by Andrew Rawson

Author:Andrew Rawson [Rawson, Andrew]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Military, World War I, Europe, Great Britain, General
ISBN: 9781473846166
Google: 61KqCwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2016-02-29T00:42:03+00:00

The end of the battle of Festubert

The bombardment started at 4.00pm and the Canadians went over the top at 7.45pm. Two 16th Battalion companies cleared what became known as the Canadian Orchard but they could not capture the fortified house known as M10. At the same time the 15th Battalion crossed the North Breastwork only to be stopped soon afterwards.

Two 10th Battalion companies were supposed to advance at the same time but their assembly trenches had been so badly damaged that Brigadier General Currie had asked for a postponement; permission was denied. The two 9.2-inch howitzers detailed to support the advance were also cancelled because the withdrawal of the Canadian infantry from the front trench during the shelling would alert the Germans. Although the brigade bombers cleared a communication trench they were shot down as they emerged in single file, and the company commanders called off the attack.

The attack planned for the morning of 21 May was postponed until nightfall. But the three-and-a-half hour long barrage lacked heavy guns and there were ammunition shortages. The plan was to advance out of two holes cut in the parapet at 8.30pm but the left group was shot down in front of K5. The right group, however, captured 400 metres of trench only to face repeated counter-attacks during the night. As soon as it was light the German guns battered the trench until the Canadians were forced to abandon most of it, having suffered nearly 270 casualties. General Haig later visited General Alderson’s headquarters to express his dissatisfaction at the lack of progress. He dissolved Alderson’s Force before leaving; it had lasted four days.

At the First Army conference the following morning, Haig ordered a reconnaissance of the German salient which ran from the Canadian Orchard to K5 and then opposite Givenchy. The Canadians were to capture K5 as the 47th (London) Division advanced towards Chapelle St Roch. A preliminary attack was made astride the South Breastwork and for once the troops had time to prepare their trenches and reconnoitre the enemy’s.

Following a prolonged, continuous barrage the infantry left their trenches at 2.30am on 24 May. Two 5th Battalion companies charged shouting ‘Lusitania’197 and while they suffered 250 casualties they seized K5 and 130 metres of trench to the north-west. On the right, 47th Division’s advance started thirty minutes late and the Londoners failed to capture any trenches. Later that same night a company of the 3rd Battalion failed to capture the trench north of M10.

The last attack in the battle of Festubert took place on the evening of 25 May. Two 142 Brigade battalions attacked north of the Givenchy–Chapelle St Roch road at 6.30pm and they captured the forward and support trenches. Two-and-a-half hours later the Lord Strathcona’s Horse started bombing north from K5 using gas bombs.198 Seely’s Detachment199 had no experience of trench warfare but it was still deployed and it soon reported it had taken South Breastwork. Unfortunately, it was lost in the maze of old trenches and ditches, partly due

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