Current Information:

Age-27

18, Margaret Street, Clerkenwell

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.

21 Brigade of 7th Division joined in the attack on 10th March but 20 Brigade were in reserve and did not join the action until the following day. On the morning of 10th March, the 2nd Border battalion of 20 Brigade left their billets in Estaires and moved forward to occupy dug-outs to the rear of the trenches held by 21 Brigade. The battalion diary makes no mention of any casualties on this day and it is likely that Arthur Herd was killed by shell fire.