The Battle of Neuve Chapelle

The Battle of Neuve Chapelle began on the 10th of March 1915, a British offensive in the Artois region of France and broke through at Neuve-Chapelle, but the British were unable to exploit the advantage. More troops had arrived from Britain and relieved some French troops in Flanders and enabled a continuous British line to be formed from Langemarck to Givenchy. The battle was intended to cause a rupture in the German lines, which would then be exploited with a rush to the Aubers Ridge and possibly Lille, the railway terminus from the east and south-east which was used by the Germans.
The attack was carried out by IV Corps under Lieutenant General Sir Henry Rawlinson. The First Army’s line rans through the water logged meadows of the Lys valley, dominated to the east by the 40 foot high Aubers Ridge, which offered drier ground and observation over the flat plains in all directions. The village of Neuve Chapelle, had been captured by the Germans in October 1914 and lay in a salient about 2,000 yards across, within sight of the strategic town of Lille.
The plan top secret plan was to capture Neuve Chapelle in two days, launching with a ‘hurricane’ bombardment of only 35 minutes duration, using 66 heavy guns. Artillery timetables are issued, giving each battery its exact targets for each stage of the action, a most important innovation. Gun platforms are devised to give stability in the soft muddy ground. The new innovation of Aerial photographs are used to create a map showing the network of German trenches. Each of the two corps involved receives 1,500 copies of this map. Haig insisted that every man must know exactly what his duty is. Officers familiarize themselves with the ground over which they will attack and the assaulting infantry are rehearsed in their tasks. To exploit a success, five divisions of cavalry are brought up behind the offensive front. Forming up trenches are dug along with dummy trenches for deception, advanced ammunition and supply dumps are established, the roads are improved ready for battle traffic and a light railway laid down.
At 7.30am The British bombardment opened, with three hundred forty-two guns firing on the German trenches, directed in part by eighty-five reconnaissance aircraft. More shells are fired in this short opening barrage than in the entire South African War.
At 08:05 the British and Indian divisions attacked along an 8,300 yard front. After three hours of hand to hand fighting, Neuve Chapelle is captured and four lines of German trenches over run. However, in the northern sector, a 400 yard length of German front line was not bombarded, as the guns allocated to this sector did not reach the front in time to take part in the attack. The three waves of men who advanced across No-Man’s Land faced intact German wire defences and most became casualties.
The battle would continue for three days, costing 7000 British and 4200 Indian lives. German losses are estimated to have been around 12,000.

8th Mar 1915 Orders

9th March 1915 March

10th March 1915 In Action

10th Mar 1915 7th Mountain Battery RGA in Action

10th March 1915 2nd Middlesex in action At Neuve Chapelle on the 10th March 1915, D company 15 Platoon 2nd Middlesex, under the command of Sergeant Edward George Ryde was the first over the top. It was the only platoon commanded by a sergeant.

10th March 1915 Attacks

10th March 1915 Attacks

10th Mar 1915 13th Londons in Action

10th March 1915 Recapture of Neuve Chapelle

10th March 1915 German surrender

10th March 1915 Trench captured

10th March 1915 The Orchard

10th Mar 1915 In Action

10th March 1915 In Action

11th March 1915 In Action

11th Mar 1915 13th Londons in Action

11th Mar 1915 Taking a Message

11th Mar 1915 Artillery Active

11th March 1915 In Action

12th March 1915 RFC Supports Attacks

12th Mar 1915 Heavy Firing

12th March 1915 Counter Attack

13th Mar 1915 Tough Work

13th Mar 1915 Intense Bombardment

13th Mar 1915 Lucky Escape

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There are:25 items tagged The Battle of Neuve Chapelle available in our Library

These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.

Those known to have served in
The Battle of Neuve Chapelle
during the Great War 1914-1918.

Anderson VC William. Cpl. (d.13th March 1915)
Barber VC Edward. Pte. (d.12th March 1915)
Beale Harry. Pte. (d.12th Mar 1915)
Bergin Joseph. SSgt.
Bowker MC. Archibald Edgar Baron. Capt.
Broadway MID Hugh Alexander. Lt. (d.30 March 1915)
Brown David. Sgt.
Brown William. Pte. (d.13th March 1915)
Buckingham VC William. Pte. (d.15th September 1916)
Cooper Charles Frederick. Cpl.
Cross DCM. Alfred James. Sgt. (d.31st July 1917)
Cruickshank S. C.W.. Capt.
Davis William Alfred. Pte. (d.20th Mar 1915)
Dillon John. Pte. (d.10th March 1915 )
Dimmock George. Pte.
Dobson James Willie. Pte.
Drew Alan Appleby. Lt. (d.10th March 1915)
Gilleeney John. Pte.
Grant Alexander John. Pte.
Gray John Arthur. Sgt.Maj. (d.4th March 1917)
Grimley Albert E.. Pte. (d.7th July 1916)
Heden Alfred Howard. Sgt. (d.25th July 1915)
Hobson Charles. Pte (d.4th February 1915)
Horsford Thomas Edward O'Bryen. Lt. (d.13th March 1915)
Huggett Jasper.
Jones Walter William. Pte. (d.10th March 1915)
Kett Robert. Sgt. (d.4th May 1915)
Maxwell James. Sgt.
McKenna John James. Cpl.
Muirhead Thomas Barrie. L/Cpl. (d.16th March 1917)
Negi VC. Gobar Sing. Rflmn. (d.10th March 1915)
Noble VC Cecil Reginald. L/Cpl. (d.13th March 1915)
Quick Stuart Henry. Gnr.
Reilly James. Pte. (d.10th Mar 1915)
Riordan Christopher. Sgt. (d.10th Mar 1915)
Rivers VC Jacob. Pte. (d.12th March 1915)
Robinson Percy. Pte. (d.11th Mar 1915)
Spurr Douglas Bateman. Pte. (d.10th March 1915)
Todhunter Jeremiah. A/Cpl.
Tongs DCM. William. Pte. (d.12th May 1915)
Turner Andrew. Pte. (d.22nd Mar 1915)
Tyndale George Stafford Hilliard . Lt. (d.13th March 1915)
Warner John Verney. Pte. (d.11th Mar 1915)
Wesson Alfred. Cpl. (d.12th May 1915)
Wesson George Henry. Sgt. (d.9th May 1915)
Wilson Gordon Jacob. 2nd Lt. (d.12th Mar 1915)
Woodey George Henry. Rflmn. (d.9th May 1915)

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The Battle of Neuve Chapelle
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Those known to have served in The Battle of Neuve Chapelleduring the Great War 1914-1918.

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Recomended Reading.

Links

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Those known to have served in
The Battle of Neuve Chapelle
during the Great War 1914-1918.