Battle of Festubert

See also: Second Battle of Artois and Battle of Aubers Ridge

This article is about a British attack in 1915. For the engagement in November 1914, see Defence of Festubert.

Battle of Festubert
Part of the Second Battle of Artois on the Western Front of the First World War
Front line following the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, (10–13 March 1915)
Date 15–25 May 1915 Location South of Neuve Chapelle, France 50°32′38″N 2°44′10″E Result German victory Territorial changes Minor British gains
Belligerents
British Empire Canada India United Kingdom	German Empire Bavaria Prussia
Commanders and leaders
Douglas Haig	Crown Prince Rupprecht
Strength
6 divisions	3 divisions
Casualties and losses
16,648	c. 5,000

The Battle of Festubert (15–25 May 1915) was an attack by the British army in the Artois region of France on the western front during World War I. The offensive formed part of a series of attacks by the French Tenth Army and the British First Army in the Second Battle of Artois (3 May – 18 June 1915). After the failure of the breakthrough attempt by the First Army in the attack at Aubers Ridge (9 May 1915) tactics of a short hurricane bombardment and an infantry advance with unlimited objectives, were replaced by the French practice of slow and deliberate artillery-fire intended to prepare the way for an infantry attack.

A continuous three-day bombardment by the British heavy artillery was planned, to cut wire and demolish German machine-gun posts and infantry strong points. The German defences were to be captured by a continuous attack, by one division from Rue du Bois to Chocolat Menier Corner and by a second division 600 yd (550 m) north, which was to capture the German trenches to the left of Festubert. The objectives were 1,000 yd (910 m) forward, rather than the 3,000 yd (1.7 mi; 2.7 km) depth of advance attempted at Aubers Ridge. The battle was the first British attempt at attrition.

Background

Tactical developments

The Battle of Festubert was the continuation of the Battle of Aubers Ridge (9 May) and part of the larger French Second Battle of Artois. The resumption of the British offensive was intended to assist the French Tenth Army offensive against Vimy Ridge near Arras, by attracting German divisions to the British front, rather than reinforcing the defenders opposite the French.

Prelude

British plan

The attack was made by the British First Army (General Sir Douglas Haig) against a salient in the German lines between Neuve Chapelle to the north and the village of Festubert to the south. The assault was planned along a 3 mi (4.8 km) front and would initially be made by Indian and British troops of the Garhwal Brigade, 7th (Meerut) Division together with the 5th and 6th Infantry Brigades of the 2nd Division. Starting at 11:30 pm on 15 May, this would be the first British night attack of the war.

Battle

The battle was preceded by a 60-hour bombardment by 433 artillery pieces that fired about 100,000 shells. This bombardment failed to significantly damage the front line defences of the German 6th Army and the initial advance only made progress on the 6th Brigade front in good weather conditions. The attack was continued at 3:15 pm on 16 May by the original brigades plus the 7th Division which opened a front further south. Progress was again limited with casualties very high; on 17 May the 4th Guards Brigade of the 2nd Division relieved elements of the 7th Division but made minor advances only. By 19 May, the 2nd Division and 7th Division had to be withdrawn due to their casualties, with the main objectives of 15 May still in German hands. On 18 May, the 1st Canadian Division, assisted by the 51st (Highland) Division, attacked but made little progress in the face of German artillery-fire. The British dug in at the new front line in heavy rain. The Germans brought up reinforcements and strengthened their defences. From 20 to 25 May, the attack was resumed but again made little progress. The offensive had resulted in a 1.9 mi (3 km) advance.

Aftermath

Casualties

The British suffered 16,648 casualties from 15/16 to 25 May; the 2nd Division suffered 5,445 casualties, the 7th Division 4,123, the 47th Division 2,355, the Canadian Division 2,204 and the 7th (Meerut) Division 2,521 casualties. The German defenders suffered c. 5,000 casualties, including 800 men taken prisoner. French casualties during the Second Battle of Artois were 102,533 men and German casualties were 73,072.

Commemoration

The 100th anniversary of the battle saw it commemorated; some of the most poignant were those held in the Highlands of Scotland, in particular in shinty playing communities, which were affected disproportionately by losses in the battle. Skye Camanachd and Kingussie Camanachd, representing two areas which lost a great many men, were joined by the British Forces shinty team, SCOTS Camanachd for a weekend of commemorations, lectures, memorial services and shinty matches on the weekend of 15–17 May 2015 in Portree, Isle of Skye. A week later, the Beauly Shinty Club renamed their pavilion after the Paterson brothers, Donald and Alasdair, who were killed in the battle and were part of their 1913 Camanachd Cup winning side. Donald's bagpipes were recovered with his other effects in the early 1980s and were played at both commemorations.

See also

• List of Canadian battles during World War I

References

• Edmonds, J. E. (1928). Military Operations France and Belgium, 1915: Battles of Aubers Ridge, Festubert, and Loos. History of the Great War Based on Official Documents By Direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence. Vol. II (1st ed.). London: Macmillan. OCLC 58962526.
• Farndale, M. (1986). Western Front 1914–18. History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery. London: Royal Artillery Institution. ISBN 978-1-870114-00-4.
• Haeften, Hans von, ed. (1932). Der Weltkrieg 1914 bis 1918 Militärischen Operationen zu Lande Achter Band: Die Operationen des Jahres 1915; Die Ereignisse im Westen im Frühjahr und Sommer, im Osten vom Frühjahr bis zum Jahresschluß [The world War 914 to 1918 Military Operations on Land; The Operations of 1915; Events in the West in the Spring and Summer, in the East from Spring to the End of the Year]. Vol. VIII (online scan ed.). Berlin: Mittler. OCLC 838300036. Retrieved 29 June 2021 – via Die digitale landesbibliotek Oberösterreich (The Upper Austrian Provincial Library).

Further reading

• Christie, N. (2007). Other Canadian Battlefields, 1915–1917. For King and Empire. Vol. IX. Ottawa: CEF Books. ISBN 978-1-896979-19-9.
• Duguid, A. F. (1938). From the Outbreak of War to the Formation of the Canadian Corps, August 1914 – September 1915 (PDF). The Canadian Forces in the Great War 1914–1919 (General Series). Vol. I. Ottawa: Patenaude. OCLC 503436827. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
• Nicholson, G. W. L. (1964) [1962]. Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914–1919 (PDF). Official History of the Canadian Army in the First World War (2nd corr. online scan ed.). Ottawa: Queen's Printer and Controller of Stationery. OCLC 557523890. Retrieved 17 June 2023.

External links

• British Order of Battle, Aubers Ridge and Festubert
• The Battle of Festubert on www.firstworldwar.com
• Festubert
• Battle of Festubert, 15–27 May 1915 on www.historyofwar.org