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Born-Slough

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The Battle of Festubert (16–25 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 new 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. This was unfortunate because their failure to get forward on the left meant that they were not in a position to support the attack at 3.10am on 16th May by 20 and 22 Brigades of 7th Division. The two brigades managed to secure most of their objectives but at a terrible cost in casualties. The 2nd Royal West Surrey (Queens) and 1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers battalions 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 at 6.30am. However, 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, including George Barguss who was killed.