Current Information:

Born-Limehouse

St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen, France

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.

The 2nd Border battalion of 20 Brigade, 7th Division had been involved in the fighting throughout this battle and were finally relieved on 14th March when they moved back to billets in Laventie. One of their many casualties was Thomas Fardell who died from wounds on 17th March after having been sent to a base hospital in Rouen.