Current Information:

Born-Windsor

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.  

The 2nd Bedfordshire battalion was in reserve on 10th March, 1915, when 21 Brigade of 7th Division attacked at Neuve Chapelle. They moved to their assembly point at 2.30am where they sustained some casualties from shell fire. Late that afternoon they advanced through the old front line and entrenched for the night. They remained in these positions throughout the next day, 11th March, when shell fire added more names to the casualty list. They withstood an enemy counter attack on 12th March and held on in these forward trenches until relieved on 14th March. One of their casualties during this battle was George Mutimore who was killed on 12th March.