Current Information:

Age-24

43, Mount View Road, Stroud Green

Estaires Communal Cemetery, France

The Battle of Neuve Chapelle

Between 10th and 13th March, 1915, the Indian Army Corps and IV Corps attacked the village of Neuve Chapelle in the Artois region of France. During the winter of 1914-1915, reinforcements had arrived from Britain and this was seen as an opportunity to use them to break through the German lines.

It started well. At 7.30am on 10th March, a 30 minute hurricane bombardment destroyed the German wire and front line trenches and at 8.05am the infantry went in. Neuve Chapelle was captured and over a mile of the German line taken. But that was the end of the success.  The British chain of command was weak and their communications poor, which was hardly surprising given that many of the troops had no previous experience of battle. The Germans re-organised and reinforced during the night and no further gains were made. British casualties mounted to 12,000 by the time the offensive petered out on 13th March.

On March 10th, 1915, the 2nd Scottish Rifles and 2nd Middlesex battalions of 23 Brigade, 8th Division attacked on a 400 yards front with 2nd Devonshire following in support. Brigade HQ then ordered 2nd Devonshire to concentrate on the right and advance astride Signpost Lane to a position where they could face north and enfilade the Germans holding up 2nd Middlesex. This advance enabled 2nd Devonshire, to establish themselves behind the Smith-Dorrien trench and here they remained for the next 48 hours, not involved in any more of the fighting but still suffering casualties from the heavy shelling. One of these casualties was Frank Lord who died from wounds on 12th March.