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