Neuve Chapelle, Aubers Ridge And Fromelles

On the 19^th July 1916 the Australian 5^th Division and the British 61^st Division launched a diversionary attack at Fromelles to draw the Germans away from the Somme – regrettably the desired effect was not achieved.

This tour visited the area of  Neuve Chapelle, the Aubers Ridge and Fromelles and the sites of some remarkable single day actions in October 1914 when the BEF were outnumbered by typically 6 to 1.  It also study the battles of Neuve Chapelle and Aubers Ridge in 1915 and Fromelles in July 1916.  This battlefield is perhaps unique for the British sector of the Western Front in the extent of the remaining German concrete fortifications.  The commune of Fromelles for example has over 50 bunkers in its territory.

The tour visited: Neuve Chapelle, Port Arthur, Indian Memorial, Digger Memorial at Fromelles, Le Touret, Rue De Bois – and saw many examples of German concrete!

On the 13th October 1914 the British II nd Corps started to arrive in the * La Bassee sector having traveled by rail and road from the Aisne.

Throughout the last two weeks of October 1914 this sector became the scene of very heavy fighting involving the British 3rd and 5th Divisions and latterly units of the newly arrived Indian Corps.

Lance Corporal Fred Silk of the Duke Of Wellington's Regiment.  Killed in Action near Festubert, 23rd October 1914.

These early battles in the * Festubert, * Lorgies, * Neuve Chapelle area were the scenes of many small fierce actions of units like the DCLI at * Beau Puits, The 1st Battalion Royal West Kents at * Port Arthur Cross Roads, and the 9th Bhopal Infantry, the 47th Sikhs and the 20th Company Bombay Sappers & Miners in the village of * Neuve Chapelle.

This part of the battlefield rapidly became the "Indian Corps" sector.

The Indian Memorial at Neuve Chapelle.

Neuve Chapelle was chosen as the location for an offensive in March 1915.  The battle lasted 4 days and whilst there were some small gains, the battle failed in its objective of a breakthrough.  The tour of the * Neuve Chapelle area took in the * Bois De Biez, the * Indian Memorial, the * Le Touret Memorial to the Missing, * Rue De Bois, * Signpost Lane and the site of the * Moated Grange. 

The tour continued with the resumption of the offensive in May 1915 in what became known as the Battle Of Aubers Ridge.

The fighting took place over essentially the same ground as the March battle, with regrettably similar results.

1916 brought in the month of July a major diversionary attack at Fromelles to draw German reinforcements away from the Somme.

The final part of our tour to this battlefield explored the area around * Fromelles.  Here the British 61st division and the 5th Australian Division attacked towards Fromelles and the * "Sugar Loaf".  In the centre of this battlefield are the ruined bunkers at the * Australian Digger Memorial.  A must in this area is a visit to the excellent * Fromelles Museum and the excavated * German Trench Mortar Pit.

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