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The Battle of Festubert (15–25 May 1915)

This followed quickly on the heels of  the Battle of Aubers Ridge and was an offensive operation by the British Army in the Artois region of France in conjunction with a French attack further south.  Initial success soon ground to a halt and although there had been an advance of two miles in some places the end result was not the hoped for breakout but merely more muddy trenches which became the front line. British casualties over the ten days amounted to nearly 17,000, three times as many as inflicted on the Germans.

The Battle of Festubert was preceded by a three day bombardment of the enemy positions and  at 11.30pm on 15th May 2nd Division and the Meerut Division from the Indian Army  attacked with mixed results. They gained some of their objectives but had met such strong German resistance, that they were unable to participate in the attack by 7th Division  at 3.15am on 16th May.

2nd Royal West Surrey (Queens) and 1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers led 22 Brigade’s attack which was immediately met by concentrated enemy fire. 1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers had their Commanding Officer killed but they rushed the enemy breastworks and then pressed on. Supported by some of 2nd Warwickshire and assisted by some of 2nd Scots Guards from 20 Brigade on their left, they reached a position near their objective, ‘The Orchard’ at 6.30am. But on the left of 22 Brigade no progress had been made and the Germans had retained possession of their stronghold, the ‘Orchard’ and the farm buildings nearby. As the day drew on and raked by flanking fire from this stronghold, the position of 22 Brigade became untenable and, despite reinforcements in the shape of 100 men from 7th London and a trench mortar battery, they  fell back in the evening to positions behind La Quinque Rue. 1st Royal Welsh Fusilier’s casualties in this action amounted to nearly 580.