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Battles of the Western Front Pt. 1Aa

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by poolec2008 (U13629120) on Friday, 10th October 2008

  I'm a WWI Buff and I know a lot about certian battles of the Western Front during the years of September 5th, 1914-November 11th, 1918. The first Battle of the Western Front I've mostly learned about and would like to talk about is the Second (2nd) Battle of Ypres (Apr. 22nd-May 25th, 1915). In Ypres, Belgium, in the Order of Battle of the Second Army:
  
  -General Sir Horrace Smith-Dorrien
  -Brigadier General, General Staff Brigadier General G.T. Forestier-Walker
  -HeadQuarters: HazeBrouck, France
  
  
  V. Corps
  -Commander: Lieutenant-General Sir Herbert C O Plumer (1857-1932)
  -Brigadier-General, General Staff:
  -Brigadier-General H S Jeudwine
  -Headquarters: Poperinghe
  
  -The British front line on the Ypres Salient held by the V. Corps was nearly 18 kilometres in length. From north to south it ran from a point on the Ypres-Poelcappelle road, about a kilometre south of Poelcappelle village, through the western end of Broodseinde village, Polygon Wood, Herenthage Woods, through Shrewsbury Forest, and ended on the left of the British II. Corps, a few hundred metres north of Hill 60.
  
  
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  Divisions
  On the morning of 22 April there were three British divisions in the front line on the north-east and east of the Ypres Salient. From west to east and north to south around the Ypres Salient they were:
  
  1st Canadian Division
  -Commander: Lieutenant-General E A H Alderson
  -Headquarters: Chateau des Trois Tours near Brielen
  
  Front Line Position
  
  The front line was held by four Canadian battalions:
  
  3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade (Brigadier-General R E W Turner, V.C., HQ at Mouse Trap Farm):13th Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada) under Lieutenant-Colonel F O W Loomis and 15th Battalion (48th Highlanders of Canada) under Lieutenant-Colonel J A Currie.
  2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade (Brigadier-General A W Currie, HQ at Pond Farm south-east of St. Julien): 5th Battalion (Western Cavalry) under Lieutenant-Colonel G S Tuxford and 8th Battalion (Winnepeg Rifles) under Lieutenant-Colonel L J Lipsett.
  Second and Third Positions
  
  Brigade Reserves:
  
  One battalion from 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade at Wieltje: 7th Battalion (1st British Columbia Regiment) under Lieutenant-Colonel W F R Hart-McHarg.
  One battalion from 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade at St. Jean: 14th Battalion (Royal Montreal Regiment) under Lieutenant-Colonel F S Meighen.
  Divisional Reserves:
  
  One battalion from 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade was located in the canal basin north east of Ypres: 10th Battalion (10th Canadians) under Lieutenant-Colonel R L Boyle.
  One battalion from 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade was on the west bank of the Yser canal by a temporary bridge near Brielen: 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish) under Lieutenant-Colonel R G E Leckie.
  
  28th Division
  Commander: Major-General E S Bulfin
  -Headquarters: Vlamertinghe chateau (moved there on 20 April after Ypres was shelled)
  
  Front Line Position
  
  The front line was held by eight battalions:
  
  83rd Brigade (Brigadier-General R C Boyle, near railway line south-east of Frezenberg): 2nd Battalion The King's Own Regiment; 3rd Battalion The Monmouthshire Regiment; 1st Battalion The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.
  84th Brigade (Brigadier-General L J Bols, HQ east of Frezenberg village): 1st Battalion The Welsh Regiment; 12th Battalion The London Regiment (Rangers); 1st Battalion The Suffolk Regiment.
  85th Brigade (Brigadier-General A J Chapman, HQ at Verlorenhoek): 3rd Battalion Royal Fusiliers; 2nd Battalion East Surrey Regiment.
  Second and Third Positions
  
  Brigade Reserves:
  
  One battalion from the 83rd Brigade was south-west of St. Jean: 5th Battalion the King's Own
  Two battalions from 84th Brigade were near Verlorenhoek: 2nd Battalion the Cheshire Regiment and 1st Battalion the Monmouthshire Regiment.
  Three battalions from 85th Brigade were west of St. Jean: 2nd Battalion East Kent Regiment (the Buffs) and the 3rd Battalion Middlesex Regiment. Half a battalion (i.e. two companies) of the 8th Middlesex Regiment were in support of the brigade on the Zonnebeke-Keerselaere road.
  Divisional Reserves:
  
  Two battalions from the 83rd Brigade were west of Ypres, south of Brielen: 2nd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment and the 1st Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment
  Half a battalion (i.e. two companies) from the 85th Brigade was at Vlamertinghe: 8th Battalion the Middlesex Regiment
  27th Division
  Commander: Major-General T D'O Snow
  
  Headquarters: Potijze Chateau
  
  Front Line Position
  
  The front line was held by three battalions in each of the three brigades:
  
  80th Brigade (Brigadier-General W E B Smith, HQ at Verlorenhoek): Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, 3rd Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps and 4th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps.
  81st Brigade (Brigadier-General H L Croker, HQ north of the Menin Road at Hooge): 1st Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, 9th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders and 1st Battalion Royal Scots.
  82nd Brigade (Brigadier-General J R Longley, HQ south of the Menin Road at Hooge): 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers, 1st Battalion the Cambridgeshire Regiment and 1st Battalion the Leinster Regiment.
  Second and Third Positions
  
  Brigade Reserves:
  
  One battalion from the 80th Brigade was north of Bellewaerde Lake: 2nd Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry
  One battalion from the 81st Brigade was in the western end of Sanctuary Wood: 2nd Battalion the Gloucestershire Regiment
  One battalion from the 82nd Brigade was in the woods south of Zillebeke: 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment
  Divisional Reserves:
  
  One battalion from the 80th Brigade was north-west of Ypres on the Ypres-Brielen road: 4th Battalion the Rifle Brigade
  One battalion from the 81st Brigade was south of Vlamertinghe: 9th Battalion Royal Scots
  One battalion from the 82nd Brigade was north-west of Ypres on the Ypres-Brielen road: 2nd Battalion Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
  
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  Army Reserve
  As Second Army Reserves two brigades were located in the Vlamertinghe area:
  
  1st Canadian Infantry Brigade (Brigadier-General M S Mercer)
  13th Brigade (of II. Corps)
  
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  Canadian Field Artillery
  Commander: Brigadier-General H E Burstall, CB (to 7.7.1915)
  
  Two brigades of Canadian Field Artillery (C.F.A.) were situated in the second and third positions to support the Canadian Infantry Division.
  
  2nd Brigade, C.F.A. (Lieutenant-Colonel C H MacLaren): 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th Batteries. Four 18 pounder guns per battery.
  3rd Brigade, C.F.A. (Lieutenant-Colonel J H Mitchell): 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th Batteries. Four 18 pounder guns per battery.
  One brigade was in reserve at Vlamertinghe:
  
  1st Brigade, C.F.A. (Lieutenant-Colonel E W B Morrison, DSO): 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Batteries. Four 18 pounder guns per battery.
  Two 4.5 inch howitzer batteries of the Royal Field Artillery (R.F.A.) were supporting the 1st Canadian Division in positions east and south-east of St. Julien:
  
  -458 R.F.A.
  -459 R.F.A.
  28th Division Field Artillery
  18 pounder guns of the Royal Field Artillery (R.F.A.) supporting the 28th Division were:
  
  -18 R.F.A.
  -22 R.F.A.
  -62 R.F.A.
  -69 R.F.A.
  -100 R.F.A.
  -103 R.F.A.
  -149 R.F.A.
  -366 R.F.A.
  -367 R.F.A.
  27th Division Field Artillery
  18 pounder guns of the Royal Field Artillery (R.F.A.) supporting the 27th Division were:
  
  -11 R.F.A.
  -39 R.F.A.
  -67 R.F.A.
  -95 R.F.A.
  -96 R.F.A.
  -98 R.F.A.
  -99 R.F.A.
  -131 R.F.A.
  -132 R.F.A.
  -133 R.F.A.
  -148 R.F.A.
  -364 R.F.A.
  Heavy Artillery
  4.5 inch Howitzers supporting the 27th and 28th Divisions were:
  
  -37 R.F.A.
  -65 R.F.A.
  -61 R.F.A.
  Heavy guns (4.7 inch batteries) supporting the V. Corps were :
  
  2nd London Heavy Battery of XIII Brigade Royal Garrison Artillery in Kitchener's Wood
  1st North Midland Heavy Battery of XIII Brigade Royal Garrison Artillery north of Wieltje
  122nd Heavy Battery of XI. Brigade Royal Garrison Artillery near Frezenberg
  123rd Heavy Battery south-east of Potijze
  
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  Royal Flying Corps
  Of the three Wings serving with the British Army on the Western Front in early 1915 the 2nd Wing, Royal Flying Corps, was allotted to the Second British Army with Squadrons 1, 5 and 6.
  
  Artillery observation for V. Corps was carried out by Squadron No. 6.
  Strategic reconnaissance was carried out by the two squadrons with General Headquarters (Nos. 7 and 8)
  Bombing of railway stations and trains was carried out by the 2nd Wing with assistance from the 1st Wing (Nos. 2, 3 and 16 Squadrons allotted to the First British Army.
  Defensive air patrols flew between 09.00 and 13.00 hours, and 17.00 to 18.00 hours
  
  
  The Germans used Poisonous Chlorine Gas here at Langemarcke, one of the municipalities in the Arrondissement of Ypres in the Province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of the Flemish Community located at 50 degrees-55 degrees N./02 degrees-55' E.
  
  References:
  1.
  2.
  
  
  (Questions: 1. Do you think I'm a good researcher on the History of WWI, and 2. Great location researcher?)

  Link to this forum: Battles of the Western Front Pt. 1Aa

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by LairigGhru (U5452625) on Saturday, 11th October 2008

  Looks pretty good and thorough to me! Congrats.
  

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by poolec2008 (U13629120) on Saturday, 11th October 2008

  thanks. I'm from the u.s. i also speak english

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by vera1950 (U9920163) on Sunday, 12th October 2008

  poole
  I too share your interest in WW1 but maybe from a more human approach than just order of battle,althogh some knowledge and appreciation of the formalities and logistics is helpful to my understanding of the war.
  I have visited many places in Flanders many times, so if you need to add a little less formality to your studies I may be able to give a small amount of help.

  Link to this forum: Battles of the Western Front Pt. 1Aa

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by poolec2008 (U13629120) on Sunday, 12th October 2008

  please do. i would appreciate it. thanks.

  Link to this forum: Battles of the Western Front Pt. 1Aa

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by vera1950 (U9920163) on Monday, 13th October 2008

  ok here's a few.But first I ust ask others to forgive me as I have probably relatd some of these on here before.
  
  John Condon-thought to be the youngest fatality of the Britsh forces at 14 and buried at Polkoepelle in Belgium .This is now thought not to be true in as much as there is adequate documentation to proove he was much older and also that it cannot be the body of John Condon in that grave.
  
  In Dartmoor cem at Becor-Beordel on the Somme are the bodies of father and son, buried along side of each other ,they died on the same day in the same action(the Lees) and also that of what is thought to be the British forces oldest fatality Harry Webber age 64.
  
  There are many other stories but I thought you might like these 2 to start with.
  If you wnat any photos I would be happy to send them via email.
  Keep up your interest and research.

  Link to this forum: Battles of the Western Front Pt. 1Aa

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by stalteriisok (U3212540) on Monday, 13th October 2008

  poolec
  superb facts and figures - very interesting but!!
  
  vera
  we have discussed war cemeteries and i am with u - each battle has its facts and figures - but they are all someones husband brother or child
  
  every village in the uk has its war memorial - look how many names are the same - families - replicated in germany and france
  
  walking along the war cemetery in dover there are names from all over the world - the number of guns and shells dont tell the true story
  
  u have to wonder why they died !!
  
  st

  Link to this forum: Battles of the Western Front Pt. 1Aa

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by poolec2008 (U13629120) on Monday, 13th October 2008

  my e-mail address is [Personal details removed by Moderator]
  
  and, are you british or american?

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• Message 9

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  This posting has been hidden during moderation because it broke the in some way.

• Message 10

  , in reply to message 8.

  Posted by Andrew Host (U1683626) on Tuesday, 14th October 2008

  Hi poolec2008,
  
  Personal contact details are not allowed on these boards.
  
  Cheers
  
  Andrew

  Link to this forum: Battles of the Western Front Pt. 1Aa

• Message 11

  , in reply to message 8.

  Posted by vera1950 (U9920163) on Tuesday, 14th October 2008

  hi poolec, I'm English.It seemsI can't send you any photos due to rules-sorry.
  I have however posted some photos on these sites-
  WW1 cemetries
  In Memory
  The Manchesters.
  In Hooge Crater cem there is a decsendant of the Duke of Wellington-don't know the story but I bet you could research it for me.

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