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Born-Fulham

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 10th March, 8th Division attacked with 23 and 25 Brigades. 24 Brigade was in reserve with orders to carry on the attack once the first objectives had been taken. Unfortunately, 23 Brigade was held up and failed to take all of their objectives and in response to this 2nd East Lancashire, from 24 Brigade was sent up in support. This in turn delayed the attack of 1st Sherwood Foresters and 2nd Northamptonshire but at 5.30pm they were able to resume the advance. However they became hopelessly intermingled crossing the many dykes whilst under fire from the Layes bridge redoubt and the nameless cottages.  They advanced 500 yards but in the confusion it was thought best not to press the attack so they halted and reorganised.  1st Sherwood Foresters had their right on the Layes bridge-La Russie road near the Mauquissart road junction and their left on the Sunken road while 2nd Northamptonshire were within 200 yards of the nameless cottages. At this stage two companies of 1st Worcestershire were sent up to fill the 200 yard gap between them.

The following day, 11th March, it was the turn of 24 Brigade to attack and this they did with the same disastrous consequences. In the early morning 2nd Northamptonshire and 1st Sherwood Foresters attacked but were stopped in the first 10 yards by fierce enfilade machine gun fire. That afternoon 1st Sherwood Foresters made three attempts to push forward and finally managed to occupy two old farm buildings, 100 yards apart, on the Mauquissart road, a move that resulted in many casualties in their ranks.

On 12th March the Germans counter attacked. At 4.30am a bombardment fell along the whole front of Indian and IV Corps and at 5am the German infantry advanced as day began to break.  The attack against 24 Brigade was directed against the Road Triangle and the northern part of Neuve Chapelle a front that was held by 2nd Northamptonshire on the left, 1st Worcestershire in the centre and 1st Sherwood Foresters on the right between the Sunken Road and the La Russie-Layes Bridge Road. 1st Sherwood Foresters remained in occupation of the two ruined farm buildings on the Mauquissart Road which created a salient 100 yards in front of the main positions. This salient was attacked from two sides and those in the  farm buildings and adjacent trenches were either killed, captured or driven back towards the support line 200 yards in the rear where they took up a line behind the corpse ridden original front line. That night the battalion withdrew to reserve trenchers on the Rue de Tilleloy at Sign Post Corner. WJ Jarvis who was killed on 12th March was one of the battalion’s many casualties during the course of this battle.