Second Battle of Passchendaele

Second Battle of Passchendaele Part of the Third Battle of Ypres in the First World War Troops carry a wounded man to the aid post. Date 26 October – 10 November 1917 Location Passendale, Belgium Result Allied Victory Belligerents United Kingdom Canada Australia France German Empire Commanders and leaders Herbert Plumer Hubert Gough Arthur Currie Friedrich Bertram Sixt von Armin Strength 4 Canadian Divisions 6 British Divisions 1 Australian Division 2 French Divisions 6 Divisions Casualties and losses 15,654 Canadians 15,000+ other unknown

The Second Battle of Passchendaele was the culminating attack during the Third Battle of Ypres of the First World War. The battle took place in the Ypres Salient area of the Western Front, in and around the Belgian town of Passchendaele, between 26 October 1917 and 10 November 1917. The Canadian Corps relieved the exhausted II Anzac Corps, continuing the advance started with the First Battle of Passchendaele and ultimately capturing Passchendaele village. Beyond gaining favourable observation positions, the battle was intended to gain drier winter positions on higher ground.

The assault position was directly south of the inter-army boundary between the British Fifth Army and Second Army. As a result the Canadian Corps was to attack with support of formations from the British Fifth Army to the north and I Anzac Corps to the south. The offensive was executed in series of attacks each with limited objectives, delivered at intervals of three or more days. The execution dates of the phases were tentatively given as 26 October, 30 October and 6 November with a final smaller action on 10 November. To permit time to facilitate inter-divisional reliefs, there was a planned seven day pause between the second and third stage during which time British Second Army was ordered to take over the section of the British Fifth Army front adjoining the Canadian Corps, so that the central portion of the assault could proceed under a single command.

The attack was successful in capturing the German-held high ground along the Passchendaele-Westrozebeke ridge but the campaign was forced to end just short of Westrozebeke. No further attempt was made to build on the momentum of the attack. The significant victory of the Austro-German forces against the Italian Army at the Battle of Caporetto and the forthcoming Battle of Cambrai forced the British into a parallel diversion of resources away from the sector and make an end to offensive actions in the Ypres Salient.

Background

In July 1917, British Field Marshal Douglas Haig launched a series of offensives, the Third Battle of Ypres. This was an attempt to break down the resistance of the German Fourth Army and advance out of the Ypres Salient. Initial successes had been achieved at the Battle of Messines and subsequent Battle of Pilckem Ridge. Torrential rains in August interrupted the tempo of the British advance and led to little progress at the Battle of Langemarck. In view of the failure of the British Fifth Army to make much headway in August, Haig decided to transfer more offensive weight towards the south-east, along the southern half of Passchendaele Ridge. The main command was therefore switched to the British Second Army under command of General Herbert Plumer. Plumer planned a series of more limited attacks, taking advantage of recent experience, rather than Gough's attempts at a more optimistic semi-open warfare version. Less ambitious infantry advances at the Battle of Menin Road, Battle of Polygon Wood, Battle of Broodseinde and Battle of Gravenstafel Ridge produced a 4,000 yards (3,700 m) advance in two weeks. The German attempts at resisting the advances led to heavy losses on their part, especially at Broodseinde, after which the German command began preparations for a general withdrawal.

The mud slowed all troop movement.

In the low ground west of the Passchendaele Ridge, three months of constant shelling had blocked the watercourses that normally provided drainage. When rain began falling on the night of 4 October—which continued intermittently for the next three days—the battlefield was once again transformed into a quagmire of mud, making movement extremely difficult. Gough and Plumer apparently told Haig that they favoured ending the campaign on account of the change in the weather and general state of the battlefield, however the decision was made to continue the offensive in order to gain more favourable winter positions on higher ground. The Battle of Poelcappelle and First Battle of Passchendaele both resulted in many casualties for both sides and failed to achieve any appreciable advance, although they did provide a slightly better starting line for an attack on Passchendaele. The four divisions of the Canadian Corps were transferred from the Lens sector to the Ypres Salient to capture Passchendaele. The Canadian Corps relieved the II Anzac Corps on 18 October, from its position along the valley between Gravenstafel Ridge and the heights at Passchendaele and immediately began planning for the offensive. Interestingly, it was virtually the same front as had been occupied by the 1st Canadian Division back in April 1915.

Prelude

Planning and preparations

Canadian pioneers laying trench mats over mud to ease movement.

The Canadian Corps operation was to be executed in a series of three attacks, each with limited objectives, delivered at intervals of three or more days. As the Canadian Corps position was directly south of the inter-army boundary between British Fifth and Second Army, the British Fifth Army would mount subsidiary operations on the Canadian Corps' left flank while the I Anzac Corps would advance to protect the right flank. Canadian Corps commander Lieutenant-General Arthur Currie submitted his provisional operational plan on 16 October and recommended the attack be executed on 29 October, in order to move sufficient artillery forward. However, Haig was anxious to avoid any unnecessary delays, particularly given that he wished to assist the French attack on Mailmaison, which was due to start on 23 October. Currie and the British Second Army commander, Herbert Plumer, re-examined the situation and finally set the attack for 26 October. The dates for the subsequent phases were tentatively given as 30 October and 6 November.

Extensive preparations were needed before any advance could be made. A number of problems were found with the artillery and positions transferred from the Australians. Of the 250 heavy howitzers that existed on paper, only 227 could be found and of these 89 were out of action. Of the 306 18 pounder field guns, less than half were in action. The problem of mobility caused by the mud also resulted in the Australian artillery being badly bunched in two main clusters, thereby furnishing the Germans with easy targets. Furthermore, the Australians had been unable to send damaged artillery pieces for repair because the provost had ordered that no guns use the roads for fear of blocking traffic. The situation was considerably improved by the arrival of the Canadian divisional artilleries which placed an additional 210 18-pounder field guns, 190 howitzers and 26 heavy guns at the Canadian Corps disposal.

Detailed map of the German trench system.

As early as 17 October, assaulting units were given all available details about the German defences in their respective sectors, in order to facilitate early assault planning. Intelligence officers and artillery observers worked jointly in observation posts recording newly built German fortifications as well so those that had escaped notice, permitting the artillery to take necessary actions before the offensive. To improve the transport of artillery and supplies an extensive program of road building was started. Ten field companies, seven Royal Engineer tunnelling companies, four army troop companies and nine battalions were put to work repairing or extending existing plank roads. From the middle of October until the end of the offensive, a total of 2 miles (3.2 km) of double plank road and more than 4,000 yards (3,700 m) of heavy tram line were constructed in the Canadian Corps area. Brigadier General Edward Morrison, commander of the artillery, also secured permission to use the roads to the rear for getting disabled guns back for repair.

Moving troops to the front ahead of the attack was nonetheless extremely difficult as the only means of approaching the front lines were narrow boardwalks made of wood planking which wound between the shell-holes. Slipping off the duckboards would often be deadly with unfortunate soldiers often drowning in mud under the weight of their own equipment. On account of the harsh physical demands the trip often entailed, the leading assault units entered the support line four days before the battle to ensure soldiers would be as fresh as possible for the attack.

Opposing forces

The Canadian Corps, under Lieutenant-General Arthur Currie, was the principal attacking formation. Immediately to the north, the Canadian Corps was supported by XVIII Corps and after an inter-army boundary shift, II Corps of Second Army. To the extreme north, the advance was supported by diversionary attacks launched by the British XIV Corps and the 1st and 133rd Divisions of the French First Army. To the south, the advance was supported by I Anzac Corps. Further south, X Corps supported the operation by executing diversionary activities.

Passchendaele Ridge and the area surrounding the town was defended by Gruppe Ypres organized under Guard Corps commander General der Kavallere Alfred Graf zu Dohna-Schlobitten. Defending German units changed throughout the battle and at various points, consisted of the 4th Division, 7th Division, 11th Division, 11th Bavarian Division, 27th Division, 39th Division, 44th Reserve Division, 185th Division, 199th Division, 238th Division and 239th Division.

Battle

First stage

Constant shelling had blocked the Ravebeek stream, creating an impassible swamp directly between the boundary of the 3rd Canadian Division and 4th Canadian Division, necessitating a two-prong attack. The 3rd Canadian Division was assigned the wider advance on the left, which included the sharply rising ground of the Bellevue spur. In the more restricted ground south of the Ravebeek stream, the 4th Canadian Division would occupy advanced positions on no man's land before the start of the offensive and take Decline Copse, which straddled the Ypres—Roulers railway. Currie planned the attack with extensive depth in resources. The remaining units of the 8th, 9th and 10th Canadian Infantry Brigades were placed in support, while the 7th, 11th and 12th Canadian Infantry Brigades were held in divisional and corps reserve. The 1st and 2nd Canadian Divisions were in army reserve.

The German defensive strategy utilized mutually-supporting steel-reinforced cement fortifications.

The assault began at 5:40 am on the morning of 26 October. The assaulting troops were preceded by a rolling barrage, edging forward in lifts of 50 yards every four minutes, permitting the infantry to keep up while negotiating the mud. On the left flank, the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade captured Wolf Copse and secured its objective line but was ultimately forced to drop a defensive flank 300 yards (270 m) back to link up with the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division, the flanking division of the British Fifth Army. In the middle, the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade found the German barbed wire to be well cut by the preliminary artillery bombardment and within an hour of the attack commencing, cleared and captured the Bellevue pillboxes. However, the Germans brought down heavy artillery fire on their abandoned positions, and by 9:00am the brigade's right flank had retreated towards its start line. One the far right, the 10th Canadian Infantry Brigade initially captured all its objectives as did the 1st Australian Division on its southern flank. As day wore on, the positions in Decline Copse, a joint Canadian—Australian objective on the Canadian Corps' southern boundary were gradually abandoned due to German counterattacks and mis-communications between the Canadian and Australian units.

The 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade's right flank had consolidated its position and by the morning on 27 October, had gained or established outposts only 300 yards (270 m) short its fist objective. The 10th Canadian Infantry Brigade captured Decline Copse on the night of 27 October. The German 238th Division attacked and briefly recaptured the copse the following night, only to be quickly expelled by a Canadian counterattack. When the first stage ended on 28 October, the Canadian Corps had suffered 2,481 casualties. Though the first stage was not completely successful, the operation had placed the Canadians on higher ground and in a good tactical position for the second stage.

The French First Army's simultaneous attack north of Ypres made notable progress. After successfully bridging the St. Jansbeek stream, the French captured the villages of Aschhoop, Kippe and Merkem and advanced as far as the southern end of Blankaart Lake. On the flanks of the Canadian Corps, the simultaneous advance had not gone well. XVIII Corps suffered 2,310 casualties, XIV Corps 3,092 casualties and the diversionary activities of X corps resulted in 3,321 casualties.

Second stage

German prisoners help to carry casualties away from the front.

The second stage was intended to complete the capture of the positions the Canadian Corps had attacked during the previous stage and gain a base for the final assault on Passchendaele. The objective line (Blue Line) was approximately 600 yards (550 m) east of the objective line of the previous stage. The advance was meant to capture the strongly held Crest Farm at the southern end of the advance and in the northern sector, the hamlet of Meetcheele and the Goudberg area near the Corps's northern boundary. The northern flank of the Canadian Corps advance was to link up outside of Goudberg at Vapour Farm with the British Fifth Army, which would be advancing with the 58th Division and 63rd (Royal Naval) Division along both sides of the swamped Lekkerboterbeek creek. The southern advance was to link up with the I Anzac Corps along the Ypres—Roulers railway line south of Vienna Cottage. The southern flank of the main assault would once again be the responsibility of the 4th Canadian Division, which planned to attack with the 12th Canadian Infantry Brigade. The northern flank remained the responsibility of the 3rd Canadian Division, which would advance with the 7th and 8th Canadian Infantry Brigades.

The night before the attack, a battalion assault by the Canadians captured a particularly troublesome German pillbox on the northern bank of Ravebeek creek, which had held up the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade during the first stage. The action advanced the southern edge of the 3rd Canadian Division 500 yards (460 m) in parity with the line of the 4th Canadian Division to the south. The main attack began at 5:50 am on 30 October and was preceded by a rolling barrage with a preliminary artillery bombardment directed largely at pillboxes. The southern flank quickly captured Crest Farm and had begun sending patrols beyond its objective line and into Passchendaele, which they found the Germans evacuating. By 8:30 am, the 4th Canadian Division commander Major-General David Watson reported that all objectives between the Ypres—Roulers railway and the Ravebeek creek had been taken. Northwest of Crest Farm the ground was so badly flooded that consolidation had to be carried out short of the objective line.

Canadian Machine Gun Company holding defensive positions.

On the northern flank, the 3rd Canadian Division was again met with exceptional German resistance. The 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade managed to capture Source Farm and later Vapour Farm at the corps boundary, just short of the objective line. However, the brigade had difficulty getting through the swampy ground in the Woodland Plantation, resulting in a division in the line. The 58th Division and 63rd (Royal Naval) Division made only slight progress and were unable to reach their rendezvous objectives, leaving the Canadian troops at Source Farm and Vapour Farm in precarious and largely unsupported positions. In the centre of the assault was the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade. Advancing between Ravebeek creek and the roadway to Meetcheele, one section of the brigade captured its intermediate objective, a pillbox known as Duck Lodge, by 7:00am. To the west of the roadway and Meetcheele, the advance captured Furst Farm, albeit with heavy casualties. Later in the afternoon, the brigade succeeded in overcoming a number of pillboxes and captured the crossroads at Meetcheele. However, the Germans continued to hold a strong position at Graf House along the bank of the Ravebeek creek, producing a salient in the Canadian line directly between the two Canadian divisions.

The advance appeared to have reached its limit by late afternoon and reports of a large number of Germans concentrating north of Mosselmarkt indicated a possible counterattack. As a result, the 3rd Canadian Division (although not having achieved all its objectives) was ordered to consolidate its positions and patrol, rather than occupy, the Woodland Plantation swamp between the 7th and 8th Canadian Infantry Brigades. There was some question as to whether the positions at Source Farm and Vapour Farm could be maintained without the support of the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. Currie with General Plumer ultimately decided that every effort should be made to hold the line in the hopes of not having to retake the positions before the assault on Passchendaele. The night ultimately passed without any major counterattacks taking place, permitting the Canadians to consolidate their positions. When the second stage ended on 30 October, the Canadian Corps had suffered 2,321 casualties, consisting of 884 killed, 1429 wounded and eight taken prisoner.

Tactical pause

Artist Douglas Culham's painting of a nighttime supply column during the battle.

To give time for inter-divisional reliefs, there was a seven-day pause between the second and third stages. The British Second Army was ordered to take over a section of the British Fifth Army front adjoining the Canadian Corps, so that the central portion of the assault might proceed under a single command. On 2 November, General Plumer relieved the XVIII Corps of the British Fifth Army with II Corps. The role of II Corps in the next stage would be limited to providing the Canadian Corps with artillery support. 3—5 November were rainless which aided logistical preparations and reorganization of the troops for the next stage. Hundreds of pack animals were used to move supplies, including gun ammunition. The 1st and 2nd Canadian Divisions moved forward by rail from their reserve area east of Cassel to take over from the 3rd and 4th Canadian Divisions respectively. The reliefs were completed by the morning of 5 November. To the south of the Canadian Corps, the I Anzac, IX and VIII Corps were to simulate attacks along a 4 miles (6.4 km) front extending south to Zandvoorde. During the night of 5 November, the assault units moved to their jumping off positions and were ready by 4:00 am on 6 November. The Germans took advantage of the break in fighting to relieve exhausted units. The 11th Division had arrived from the Champagne sector on 3 November to relieve the 39th Division between the Ypres—Roulers railway and the Mosselmarkt road.

Third stage

Third stage planning map of the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade.

The Corps objectives for 6 November lay along the Green Line, a rough semicircle that ran 1,000 yards (910 m) from Graf House—the center of the salient in the Canadian line. Besides Passchendaele, it encompassed the hamlets of Mosselmarkt and Goudberg to the northwest. The 2nd Canadian Division would send the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade to attack Passchendaele from the north side and one battalion from the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade to attack it from the south. In the 1st Canadian Division sector, the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade would advance on either side of the Meetcheele—Mosselmarkt road and along the northern corps boundary, one battalion was to execute a subsidiary operation against Vine Cottages, a strong-point which the Germans were holding 350 yards (320 m) south-east of Vapour Farm.

The third stage began at 6:00 am on 6 November, with a preliminary bombardment under largely clear skies. The German counter-bombardment fell mainly behind the advancing troops. Almost everywhere the attack went well for the Canadians. The 2nd Canadian Division encountered its chief opposition from pillboxes at the north end of Passchendaele but less than three hours after the start of the battle the village had been secured. The 1st Canadian Division encountered stiff resistance from the defenders of Vine Cottages, however by 8:00 am the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade had reached and consolidated the Green Line.

Final attack

A small final action to gain a nearby crossroad and the remaining high ground north of the village, in the vicinity of Hill 52, was set to be launched 10 November. The road junction was 1,000 yards (910 m) north of Passchendaele along the highway to Westrozebeke. Hill 52, the highest point on the northern end of the Passchendaele Ridge, was 500 yards (460 m) beyond the crossroad. Possession of both positions would permit observation over German positions to the north-east. The attack was made the responsibility of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade, with support from one battalion of the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade. The Germans had taken advantage of the break in fighting to relieve exhausted units. Regiments from the 4th Division and 44th Reserve Division replaced those of the 11th Division on 9 November. Nevertheless, the assault was launched from the Green Line, north and north-east of Mosselmarkt, on the morning of 10 November. The assault made good initial progress, capturing the crossroad, overrunning Venture Farm and capturing four 77 mm field guns. However, north of the Canadian Corps boundary, the supporting advance by the British 1st Division ran into difficulties when a German counterattack got between two diverging battalions. This permitted the Germans to fire against the British inner flanks, resulting in significant casualties and forcing both units to withdraw. As a result, the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade was forced to fill the gap and throw back a defensive flank along the corps boundary ending any further progress. The action of 10 November brought to an end the long drawn-out Third Battle of Ypres. Though Haig had hoped to have the entire Passchendaele-Westrozebeke ridge as a winter position, the line was still short of Westrozebeke village.

Aftermath

The town of Passchendaele before and after the battle.

On 24 October, The Austro-German 14th Army under General der Infanterie Otto von Below achieved a significant victory against the Italian Army at the Battle of Caporetto. In fear that Italy might be put out of the war, the French and British Governments each promised to send six divisions of men to the Italian Front. All troops were rapidly and efficiently transferred between 10 November and 12 December, due to good administrative preparations made by the French Chief of Staff Ferdinand Foch, who had been sent to Italy in April 1917 to plan for just such an emergency. The Third Battle of Ypres as a result came to an unsatisfactory close, with Haig being forced to end his advance just short of Westrozebeke.

On 14 November, the gradual relief of the Canadian divisions by the VIII Corps began, and on 20 November, Currie resumed command along the Lens-Vimy front.

Nine Victoria Crosses, the highest military decoration for valour awarded to British and Commonwealth forces, were awarded for actions during the battle:

• Acting Captain Christopher O'Kelly of the 52nd (New Ontario) Battalion
• Sergeant Robert Shankland of the 43rd (Cameron Highlanders of Canada) Battalion
• Private Thomas William Holmes of the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion
• Private Cecil John Kinross of the 49th (Edmonton) Battalion
• Sergeant George Mullin of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
• Acting Major George Pearkes of the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion
• Lieutenant Hugh McKenzie of the 7th Canadian Machine Gun Company
• Corporal Colin Fraser Barron of the 3rd (Toronto) Battalion
• Private James Peter Robertson of the 27th (City of Winnipeg) Battalion

Commemoration

For the Canadian Corps, participation in the Second Battle of Passchendaele is commemorated with the Passchendaele Memorial located at the former site of the Crest Farm on the southwest fringe of Passchendaele village.

References

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