The Battle of Neuve Chapelle
March 10th-13th,
The battle of Neuve Chapelle was suppose to be part of a bigger Allied offensive within the region. However due to delays in the arrival of British troops and the redirecting of troops to Gallipoli, the battle of Neuve Chapelle was a movement of its own.
The decision to attack Neuve Chapelle was made by the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) Commander-in-Cheif Sir John French. In charge of the assult was Douglas Haig and his first army from which four divisions of 40,000 men made their way across a 3k front. Their movement on March 10th at 7:30am was followed by a 35min bombardment of artillery from 342 guns. Because of carefully planned attacks of sometimes hand-to-hand combat by the British and Indian forces, the Allies broke through a section of the German lines that was being held by Crown Prince Rupprecht's Sixth Army. It took no more then four hours to capture the village. Counter-attacks were made by the reserves called in by Prince Rupprecht on March 12th, but the British managed to hold the newly acheived positions. The attack was then halted on March 13th. The Allies suffered 11,200 casualities (7,000 British, 4,200 Indian) while the Germans suffered similar results.
The decision to attack Neuve Chapelle was made by the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) Commander-in-Cheif Sir John French. In charge of the assult was Douglas Haig and his first army from which four divisions of 40,000 men made their way across a 3k front. Their movement on March 10th at 7:30am was followed by a 35min bombardment of artillery from 342 guns. Because of carefully planned attacks of sometimes hand-to-hand combat by the British and Indian forces, the Allies broke through a section of the German lines that was being held by Crown Prince Rupprecht's Sixth Army. It took no more then four hours to capture the village. Counter-attacks were made by the reserves called in by Prince Rupprecht on March 12th, but the British managed to hold the newly acheived positions. The attack was then halted on March 13th. The Allies suffered 11,200 casualities (7,000 British, 4,200 Indian) while the Germans suffered similar results.