Current Information:

Age-23

166, Rhodeswell Road, Limehouse

Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, 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.

2nd West Yorkshire were the reserve battalion of 23rd Brigade, 8th Division which attacked at Neuve Chapelle on 10th April 1915.  The attack did not go well. An inadequate artillery barrage meant that the wire was not adequately cut and the two attacking battalions, 2nd Middlesex and 2nd Scottish Rifles, came to grief. At 8.30am, 2nd West Yorkshire moved up into the vacated 2nd Middlesex trenches where they were caught by German shelling and suffered a number of casualties. An hour later two companies were sent forward to support the hard pressed 2nd Scottish Rifles and some progress was made.  Around midday the survivors of 2nd Middlesex and the rest of 2nd West Yorkshire advanced to find the Orchard undefended and not even prepared for defence.  It was occupied without loss.  At the same time others of 2nd West Yorkshire worked north from the Orchard to the Moated Grange which had been mortared all morning.  A few German survivors surrendered as the position was taken.  

The next day, 11th March, 23 Brigade held their line whilst 24 Brigade attacked. 2nd West Yorkshire remained in their overnight trenches and were subjected to a heavy bombardment from the German artillery throughout the day. On 12th March, the enemy counter-attacked but concentrated fire from A Company, followed by a bomb (grenade) and bayonet charge, saved the day. However, by this time tiredness, disorganisation and casualties made any further attacks by the British impossible and on the next day the battle was over. 2nd West Yorkshire, along with other units consolidated their positions and on 14th March the battalion was relieved and moved back to billets at Rouge Croix having sustained over 200 casualties during the course of the battle. One of these was Sidney Mansfield who was killed on 10th March.