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Age-20

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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.

21 Brigade of 7th Division joined in the attack on 10th March but 20 Brigade were in reserve and did not join the action until the following day. Although by 13th March the battle was largely over, a local effort was made at 9.30am which failed with heavy losses for the 1st Grenadier Guards and 6th Gordon Highlanders battalions. One of those killed was Henry Gloster of 6th Gordon Highlanders.