The Battle for Passchendaele by Ian Finlayson

Author:Ian Finlayson
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781922387288
Publisher: Big Sky Publishing

CHAPTER 5

PASSCHENDAELE I: THE 3RD AUSTRALIAN DIVISION'S ATTACK

On 10 October the 9th and 10th brigades spent the night in the line, spread throughout a series of fields east and south-east of Ypres. The allocated tents had not arrived, so the troops made do with whatever shelter they could improvise. By 6.00 pm the next evening the brigades had commenced their move from their assembly areas behind Pilckem Ridge to their respective start lines. Light showers had fallen throughout the day and resumed at 1.30 am. By 3.30 am these showers had developed into heavy rain. Gough made a last-minute attempt to delay the attack, calling Plumer that night seeking a postponement given his concerns over the impact of the weather on supporting attacks by Fifth Army. In his memoirs, Gough writes that Plumer did not immediately reply to his request, indicating that he would seek the opinions of his corps commanders. Shortly after 8.00 pm Plumer rang Gough to tell him that his corps commanders had advised that the attack should proceed, giving Gough no choice but to continue with his supporting attack.

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