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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.

On 10th  March at Neuve Chapelle 7th Division attacked with 21 Brigade. The 2nd Wiltshire battalion were in reserve and did not take part in the initial attack but remained in their position at Cameron Farm two miles north-west of Neuve Chapelle.  However at 1pm they were ordered forward to occupy some captured trenches after which they pushed on further to make contact with the left of 2nd Yorkshire who were attacking Moulin du Pietre, north-east of Neuve Chapelle. As they did this they captured 100 of the enemy and by dark they had filled the gap between 2nd Yorkshire and the old British line.  They had suffered numerous casualties during the day and more from the German shelling that night. They remained in this position throughout 11th March.

At 4.30am on 12th March the Germans began a bombardment along the whole of the British front at Neuve Chapelle and at 5am followed this up with an infantry attack, aided by thick mist. On the right of the line they attacked the Moated Grange and the original German line between that and Sign Post Lane and in so doing came up against 21 Brigade.  Against 2nd Wiltshire a number of old communication trenches made it possible for the Germans to get close unseen but even so 2nd Wiltshire managed to check this assault except on the front of the left hand coy.  There the support company stopped the Germans and later the trench was retaken along with 30 prisoners. Later in the day the bombers of 20 Brigade and and a company of 2nd Wiltshire bravely advanced along the disused communication trenches forcing the Germans back to their main trench and capturing 40 yards of it.  This rapid attack took the enemy by surprise and many surrendered. Two more companies of 2nd Wiltshire and some of 2nd Yorkshire hurried forward to occupy this trench in strength and 200 Germans were taken prisoner. The battalion were relieved on 13th March having suffered nearly 300 casualties during the course of the battle. One of these was Frederick Hall who was killed on 12th March.