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  • #31
    Thursday 16th August 1917 - Day 17

    Rainfall Nil


    The phase of the battle known as The Battle of Langemarck commenced today and lasted until the 18th. Zero Hour was 4.45 am.

    In the accompanying maps the dashed Blue Line marks the First Objective, Green the Second and Red the Third. Yellow marks the actual limit of the days advance.

    Solid Blue lines mark Divisional Boundaries. Blue Dotted lines mark streams and Red Dotted lines, trenches.

    Langemarck

    5th Army


    XIV Corps



    29th Division

    The division formed up on the south west bank of the Steenbeek stream. Unless it was bridged the stream presented a major obstacle as it’s banks were 5 feet high in places.

    87 Bde

    2nd Bn, South Wales Borderers attacked on the left and 1st Bn, King’s Own Scottish Borderers on the right. 1st Bn, Border Regt was in support.

    The brigade reached the first objective, the road running tate>north westtate> from Langemark, with little trouble. Advancing from there they came under heavy fire from Champaubert Farm and Montmirail Farm, in the French Sector. A French artillery barrage enabled the South Wales Borderers to take Montmirail Farm. The brigade then pushed on to the north of Langemark and consolidated by 10 am. Patrols were sent out towards Broembeek. A German attack at 4 pm was defeated by artillery and MG fire.

    88 Bde

    On the left of the brigade was the Newfoundland Regt, with 2nd Bn, Hampshire Regt on the right. 1st Bn, Essex Regt was in support.

    The Hampshires advanced as far as the first objective in conjunction with 61 Bde on their right. The Newfoundlanders then leapfrogged and attacked Cannes Farm successfully in spite of boggy ground and heavy fire. The Newfoundlanders then moved forward to the final objective and sent patrols to take Japan House.

    20th (Light) Division

    61 Bde

    The brigade had a comparatively easy advance with 7th Bn, Somerset Light Infantry and 7th Bn, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry advancing to take the first two objectives, coming under fire from Au Bon Gite until that was taken by 11th Rifle Brigade of 60 Bde. The advance continued taking a blockhouse west of Langemarck and Langemarck Station. 12th Bn King’s Liverpool Regt and 7th Bn Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry then took over and continued to the final objective by 7.45 am. The Rat House position south east of Langemarck remained in German hands however.

    60 Bde

    60 Bde attacked initially with 6th Bn, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry up front. 6th Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry and 12th Bn, King’s Royal Rifle Corps were to follow through and take the third objective with 12th Bn, Rifle Brigade in reserve.

    Across the Steenbeek, the troops had to move in small columns and single file between mud and water filled craters.Despite this the first objective was reached with little difficulty, the Shropshires taking Alouette Farm. The brigade advanced, clearing Langemarck and forming up on the second objective. The advance was resumed at 7.20 am. 30 minutes later the brigade reached the third objective with KSLI taking White House. The Germans sheltered in a wood behind this position once they had been forced from Kangaroo Trench.

    On the final objective the forward units of the division dug in to repel the inevitable counter attacks. Left to right they were 7th DCLI and 12th King’s Liverpool Regt (61 Bde) and 12th KRRC and 6th KSLI (60 Bde). The brigade boundaries were at Schreiboom and it was here that the Germans attacked at 4 pm, forcing the KRRC and the Liverpools back about 200 yards. The Germans were forced back once more with the assistance of the Shropshires.
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    • #32
      St. Julien

      XVIII Corps



      11th Division

      34 Bde
      The brigade attacked initially with 5th Bn, Dorset Regt on the left and 8th Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers on the right. 11th Div’s right flank was soon exposed due to the failure of 48th Div to advance. On that flank the Northumberland Fusiliers were also delayed by isolated posts and blockhouses which meant that the barrage moved too far forward of them. The Dorsets however managed to press on to the Langemarck road where they dug in. The right flank company of the battalion had to swing back to face south due to heavy fire from Maison du Hibou and Triangle Farm.

      At this stage the brigade’s other two battalions moved forward to take over the attack. 9th Bn, Lancashire Fusiliers moved up to take over from the Dorsets with mixed results. The left hand company pushed forward to Pheasant Trench while the right was held up by fire from Bulow Farm. The trench was barricaded and the Lancashire’s right flank made contact with the 11th Manchesters on the Lekkerbotterbeek. The Manchesters had taken over the attack of the Northumberland Fusiliers.Suffering under heavy fire as soon as they crossed the Steenbeek from Maion du Hibou and the Triangle they managed to reach Cockcroft but were halted by fire from Bulow Farm. They withdrew to the huts in order to link up with the Lancashire Fusiliers.

      48th Division

      145 Bde

      48th Div also attacked with just one brigade.

      1/4th Bn, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry attacked on the left, 1/1st Bn, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in the centre and on the right was 1/5th Bn, Gloucestershire Regt. 1/4th Royal Berkshire Regt was in reserve.

      The Glosters advanced along the treet>St. Julien-Winnipeg Roadtreet>, taking Border House and the Gun Pits before being held up by fire from Janet Farm. While they were halted the Germans alunched acounter attack which the Glosters beat back before renewing the attack to clear the last houses in St. Julien. This done the battalion dug in under fire from Maison du Hibou and Hillock Farm. The farm was taken by 1/1st, Oxs & Bucks and a line was established. On the left 1/4th, Oxs & Bucks was halted in front of Maison du Hibou. A counter attack on the Gun Pits was beaten off at 7.30 pm and another from Triangle Farm at 9 pm.


      Frezenberg

      XIX Corps



      36th (Ulster) Division

      109 Bde

      14th Bn Royal Irish Rifles attacked on the brigade right flank with 11th Bn, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers on the left. In support was 9th Inniskillings with 10th Inniskillings in reserve.

      In the teeth of heavy fire the brigade managed to take the line from Fort Hill to Corn Hill. They dug in and advanced no further.

      108 Bde

      The brigade attacked with 13th Bn, Royal Irish Rifles on the left and 9th Bn, Royal Irish Fusiliers on the right. 12th, Royal Irish Rifles was in reserve and 11th, Royal Irish Rifles in reserve.

      The brigade advanced as far as the Somme and Gallipoli Blockhouses before being driven back to their trenches at 10 am.

      16th (Irish) Division

      49 Bde

      7th Bn, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers attacked on the left and the regiments 8th Bn on the right. 7/8th Bn, Royal Irish Fusiliers was in support. Attached from 47 Bde was 6th Bn Royal Irish Regt which was held in reserve. It was during this action that L/Cpl Frederick Room earned his Victoria Cross. Room was in charge of the battalion stretcher bearers and worked continuously under intense fire, dressing the wounded and helping to evacuate them. It was he fourth and last VC earned by a man of the Royal Irish Regt.

      7th Inniskillings took Beck House and then moved on to Delva Farm, taking it before coming under heavy fire from the rear where they had failed to mop up some German pillboxes. 8th Inniskillings was held up by MG fire while attacking Borry Farm.

      48 Bde

      48 Bde attacked on the right of the Division. Forward left was 7th Bn Royal Irish Rifles, forward right 9th Bn, Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Combined in support were 2nd and 8th Bns, Royal Dublin Fusiliers. From 47 Bde 1st, Royal Munster Fusiliers was in reserve. The two forward battalions attacked Vampir Farm and Potsdam, digging in in front of these positions by 9 am. 2nd Dublins then moved forward and took Bit Work.

      The division was forced back to it’s old front line after nightfall.
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      • #33
        Westhoek

        II Corps



        8th Division

        23 Bde


        23 Bde attacked at 4.45 am on the front left flank of 8th Div.

        2nd Bn, Middlesex Regt attacked with it’s left flank on the Ypres-Roulers railway line and with 2nd Bn, West Yorkshire Regt on it’s right. 2nd Bn, Scottish Rifles were in support.

        The advance went well for 20 minutes or so then the Middlesex having advanced ahead of 16th (Irish) Div to the north, came under fire from the railway embankment and Potsdam Redoubt. They halted the advance and formed a front facing north near Sans Souci.

        2nd, West Yorks advanced steadily through Hannebeek Wood, captured Anzac and Zonnebeke Redoubts and reached their objective on the ridge by 7am. They consolidated and drove back some German attacks. However the 8th Div had advanced much further than it’s flanking divisions (16th and 56th). At 10.15 am the forward troops were pulled back west of the Hannebeek and in the afternoon to a line 200 yards from the Start Line.

        25 Bde

        25 Bde advanced with 1st Bn, Royal Irish Rifles on the left and 2nd Bn, Royal Berkshire Regt on the right. 2nd Bn, Lincolnshire Regt was in support.
        The Berkshires advanced across the Hannebeek, then dropped off a company as flank protection, 56th Div having fallen behind on the right. The battalion then captured most of Iron Cross Redoubt despite heavy fire from Nonneboschen and Polygon Wood. 2nd Irish Rifles advanced in conjunction with the West Yorks of 23 Bde as far as the ridge. By 9am they were forced back to the road west of Anzac Redoubt.

        24 Bde

        24 Bde in Divisional Reserve was supposed to consolidate the ridge after it’s capture.

        Hooge

        56th Division

        The Division attacked at 4.45 am with 167 and 169 Bdes. It also had under command 53 Bde of 18th Div. 4th Bn, The London Regt (of the 56th Div) was attached to 53 Bde.

        167 Bde

        Advancing south of Westhoek, 8th Bn, Middlesex Regt and 1st Bn, London Regt were forced to the left by marshy ground. 8th Middlesex ran into a four foot deep lake of mud north of Nonneboschen. 1st Bn, Londons was shelled heavily causing the attacking waves to become mixed up. In the confusion the ground over which the brigade had advanced was not cleared properly and pockets of German troops were left behind. At 3pm a German counterattack was seen forming up in 8th Div area and dispersed with artillery fire. At 5pm the brigade pulled back to a position 400 yards from its Start Line.

        169 Bde

        2nd and 5th Bn, London Regt also ran into a marsh on their advance. Forced right, a gap opened up between 167 and 169 brigades. The brigade then ran into pillboxes dug into a sunken lane in Glencorse Wood. After some delay the wood was cleared and some troops of the first wave reached Polygon Wood. A German attack forced them back until 9th Londons came up in support. Later in the day a German counterattack forced the brigade back to it’s Start Line.

        53 Bde

        53 Bde was tasked with forming a defensive flank from StirlingCastle to Black Watch Corner. 7th Bn, Bedfordshire Regt attacked the NW corner of Inverness Copse but was stopped by a blockhouse. 4th Bn, The London Regt was stopped north west of the Copse and eventually dug in along the southern edge of Glencorse Wood.
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        • #34
          Friday 17th August 1917 - Day 18

          Langemarck

          20th Div relieved by 38th Div.

          Frezenberg

          16th (Irish) Div relieved by 15th Div.

          36th (Ulster) Div relieved by 61st Div.

          St. Julien

          11th Division

          A company attack by the Worcestershire Regt at 2.30 am failed to take Maison Du Hibou.
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          • #35
            Saturday 18th August 1917 - Day 19

            Rainfall Nil


            Langemarck

            29th Div established posts on the east bank of the Broembeek.

            Hooge

            14th Division

            43 Bde

            14th Div relieved 56th Div overnight.

            43 Bde then launched a two battalion attack with 6th Bn, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry and 6th Bn, Somerset Light Infantry. The Somersets followed the barrage through Inverness Copse while the Cornwalls to the north came under fire from Fitzclarence Farm and L-Shaped Farm. They withdrew to Inverness Copse where two tanks came up the treet>Menin Roadtreet> in support. Three German attacks were driven off during the day.
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            • #36
              Sunday 19th August 1917 - Day 20

              Rainfall Nil

              St. Julien

              48th Division


              at 4.45 am 1/8th Bn, Worcestershire Regt advanced along the St. Julien-Poelcapelle road supported by 7 tanks of 1 Tank Brigade. Under cover of a smoke and shrapnel barrage they attacked four of the bunkers that had held up 48th Div on August 16th.

              Hillock Farm fell first at 6 am, it’s garrison abandoning it when the tanks appeared. Next, at Maison du Hibou, the tanks could only get to within 80 yards of the bunker due to mud. A male tank fired 50 rounds at the rear of the bunker. When the garrison evacuated a female tank machine-gunned them as they fled. The infantry took Triangle Farm under cover of tank fire and lastly a tank which had become bogged down managed to keep Cockcroft under fire and force the evacuation of the garrison. The strongpoints were occupied by the infantry, the bogged down tank freed and all seven tanks returned to the Start Line.

              Westhoek

              8th Div relieved by 47th Div.
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              • #37
                Monday 20th August 1917 - Day 21

                Rainfall Nil


                Frezenberg

                61st Division

                182 Bde

                A platoon of 2/8th Worcestershire Regt overran a German outpost near Somme Farm.

                ShrewsburyForest

                24th Division

                No 2 Special Company, Royal Engineers bombarded Jehu Trench and Strongpoint east of Lower Star Post with Smoke and Gas bombs.
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                • #38
                  Tuesday 21st August 1917 - Day 22
                  Rainfall Nil

                  Langemarck

                  38th Div


                  38th Div advanced the left of their line slightly.

                  A unique casualty of the day's fighting was Nurse Nellie Spindler from Wakefield who died when her Casualty Clearing Station was shelled and she was mortally wounded. Interred in Lijssenthoek Cemetery, she is the only British woman buried in the Ypres Salient.
                  Last edited by Groundhog; 30 August 2007, 12:42.
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                  • #39
                    Wednesday 22nd August 1917 – Day 23

                    Rainfall Nil


                    A four division attack took place today along a line from east of Langemarck south to Frezenberg. Zero Hour was set for 4.45 am.



                    Langemarck

                    11th Div


                    The Division attacked with 33 Bde supported by two tanks, a male called Dracula and a female named Devil. Tanks and infantry advanced together until they reached the crossroads at Vancouver which was blocked by fallen trees. The tanks were forced to stop and from here they bombarded Vieille Maisons northeast of the crossroads. That done they turned for home whereupon Dracula was hit and Devil bogged down. Meanwhile 6th Bn, The Lincolnshire Regt overran Bulow Farm and dug in to defend their right flank because they had out paced 48th Div. On the left of the brigade, 6th Bn, Border Regt reached their objective and consolidated.

                    St. Julien

                    48th Div

                    The Division attacked with 144 Bde on the left and 143 Bde on the right.

                    144 Bde

                    1/6th Bn, Gloucestershire Regt advanced on the Vancouver-Winnipeg road to attack a pill box at Springfield. They advanced slowly to within 50 yards of the road which they reached at 6.30 am. The pill box was captured and lost again by 8.15 am. The brigade dug in until nightfall then established posts along the road.

                    143 Bde

                    1/5th Bn, Royal Warwickshire Regt attacked between Springfield and Winnipeg. C Coy captured some gunpits, which they promptly lost again. It was from here that the Germans went on to retake their pill box at Springfield from 144 Bde. Later in the day 143 Bde re-took the gun pits.




                    61st Div

                    61st Div attacked with 184 Bde.

                    2/4th Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry attacked on the left flank with it’s 2/1st Bn on the left and 2/5th Gloucestershire Regt in support. The two lead battalions advanced quickly and dug in 150 yards west of Kansas Cross Roads. Here they came under fire from Schuler Galleries. On the right two platoons tried to take Pond Farm with no success. The Glosters managed to capture that position and Hindu Cottage after heavy fighting in the afternoon.

                    Frezenberg

                    15th (Scottish) Div

                    44 Bde

                    The brigade attacked with 7th Bn, Cameron Highlanders on the left and 8th Bn, Seaforth Highlanders on the right. 9th Bn, Gordon Highlanders was in support. The two lead battalions suffered many casualties from MG fire and made little headway. A foothold was gained by a party of Camerons and Gordons on Hill 35. 13th Bn, Royal Scots from 45 Bde was sent forward in support but was unable to get forward. In the afternoon two counter attacks were driven back. This was the Gordons battalion’s first attack since the Battle of Loos two years previously.

                    45 Bde

                    45 Bde attacked wth 11th Bn, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders on the left and 13th Bn, Royal Scots on the right. They reached Potsdam, Borry and Vampir Frams before being caught and decimated by MG fire. The survivors fell back and dug in on the road from Railway Dump to Beck House.


                    Westhoek

                    47th Div

                    On 15th Div’s right, 47th Div sent out patrols to support their attack.


                    ShrewsburyForest

                    24th Div

                    17 Bde

                    1st Bn, Royal Fusiliers took a strongpoint near Bodmin Copse.
                    Last edited by Groundhog; 22 August 2007, 00:52.
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                    • #40
                      Thursday 23rd August 1917 - Day 24

                      Rainfall 1.4mm


                      Frezenberg

                      15th (Scottish) Div

                      44 Bde

                      9th Bn, Black Watch and 8/10th Bn, Gordon Highlanders attacked Gallipoli while 8th Bn, Seaforth Highlanders attacked Iberian Farm. Neither attack was a success although the Black Watch pushed their line forward 80 yards.

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                      • #41
                        Friday 24th August 1917 - Day 25

                        Rainfall Negligible


                        St. Julien

                        48th Div

                        The Germans attacked the gunpits at Springfield with Flamethrowers but were driven off.

                        61st Div

                        An evening attack by a platoon of 2/7th Worcesters on Aisne Farm was driven back by MG fire.

                        Hooge

                        14th Div

                        A heavy bombardment fell on the British lines between Inverness Copse and Glencorse Wood at 4 am. At 4.30 am the Germans attacked with grenades and flamethrowers, forcing the 6th Bn, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and 6th, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry back to the 22nd August Start Line. At Inverness Copse the 10th Durham Light Infantry held on a little better, holding a line north west from the western edge of the copse when relieved that evening.
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                        • #42
                          Saturday 25th August 1917 - Day 26

                          Rainfall Nil


                          St. Julien

                          48th Div

                          143 Bde captured some gunpits.

                          61st Div

                          2/7th Worcesters launched another unsuccessful attack on Aisne Farm at 11 pm.

                          Frezenberg

                          15th (Scottish) Div

                          44 Bde

                          Two companies of 9th Bn, Black Watch unsuccessfully attacked Gallipoli but they advanced their line by 170 yards. 10th Bn, Scottish Rifles attacked Iberian Farm, again unsuccessfully.

                          Hooge

                          14th Div was relieved by 23rd Div.
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                          • #43
                            Sunday 26th August 1917 - Day 27

                            Rainfall 20 mm


                            St. Julien

                            61st Div

                            An attack on Schuler Galleries was unsuccessful.

                            Hooge

                            23rd Div

                            A German dawn attack on four outposts on the division’s line resulted in the loss of one.

                            ShrewsburyForest

                            24th Div

                            The Germans temporarily captured a post on the division’s front. A quick counter attack re-established the line.
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                            • #44
                              Monday 27th August 1917 - Day 28

                              Rainfall 15 mm

                              Langemarck

                              38th Div


                              Attacking at 1.55 pm, the division quickly lost the barrage, came under fire from Pheasant Farm and was forced back to the Start Line.

                              11th Div

                              32 Bde


                              9th Bn, West Yorkshire Regt attacked first. Despite heavy fire from Vancouver and Pheasant Trench, they pressed on and seized some concrete buildings near Vieilles Maisons. Two platoons from 6th Bn, Yorks and Lancs were sent to reinforce them here. The left of 8th Duke of Wellington’s Regt meanwhile reached and occupied part of Pheasant Trench despite heavy fire from Pheasant Farm which forced the battalion’s right wing to dig after advancing just 60 yards. 6th Bn, Yorkshire Regt came up to fill in gaps in the line.

                              St. Julien

                              48th Div

                              144 Bde


                              1/7th Bn and 1/8th Bns, Worcestershire Regt attacked at 1.55 pm. As they advanced they had to clear occupied shell holes and one concrete bunker. Springfoeld Farm and Vancouver Farm held up the attack with heavy enfilading fire. However as darkness fell, 1/8th Bn outflanked and took Springfield Farm from the North. The Worcesters were relieved at midnight by 1/4th Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry from 145 Bde.

                              145 Bde

                              The brigade had attacked in support of 144 Bde on the it’s flank with 1/4th Bn, Royal Berkshire Regt and 1/4th Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. They were stopped by fire from Springfield Farm.

                              61st Div

                              183 Bde


                              The brigade made an unsuccessful attack on on the line Schuler Farm-Gallipoli with 2/4th Gloucestershire Regt and 2/8th Warwickshire Regt.

                              Frezenberg

                              15th (Scottish) Div

                              46 Bde

                              10/11th Bn, Highland Light Infantry attempted to take Gallipoli Farm. They reached the farm buildings but were driven back by German machine gun fire.

                              Hooge

                              23rd Div

                              41 Bde


                              The brigade, supported by two tanks at dawn, attempted to take 600 yards of trench running from the treet>Menin Roadtreet> through Inverness Copse.
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                              • #45
                                Tuesday 28th August 1917 - Day 29

                                Rainfall 1 mm


                                Langemarck

                                11th Div


                                6th Bn Yorks & Lancs occupied Vieilles Maisons which had been abandoned by the Germans overnight.

                                Both sides called atruce during the day to clear the battlefield of wounded.

                                Frezenberg

                                15th (Scottish) Div relieved by 42nd Div.
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