Page 217 - ATKCM_30.04.15
P. 217
s was a relative success for the British and French and, with
the Germans moving divisions to the Russian Front, it inspired
the allies to plan an attack. This was to be the Battle of Aubers.
This was originally planned for the 7th May but heavy rain that
day and fog on the following day caused a delay until the 9th
May 1915.
The 2nd Battalion Northants were part of 24th Brigade of the
8th Division. They were scheduled to be in the forefront of the
attack in the northern sector of the line. The French had decided
to open the battle with several days of heavy shelling. The
British conversely decided on a relatively brief bombardment
to achieve surprise. This decision was partly forced on them by
a lack of guns and ammunition. What guns they did have were
largely antiquated and much of the ammunition was defective
and didn’t explode in the soft ground.
Part of the plan was to blow two huge mines, which the Royal
Engineers had burrowed under the German trenches.
The land in the area was flat and covered in a series of large
drainage ditches 10 – 15 feet wide.
The Germans had learnt much from the Battle of Neuve Chapelle
when the allies had managed to fight their way into the German
front trenches. Their breastworks were broader and deeper and
the wire was thickened into formidable barriers. Machine gun
ports were every 20 yards at ground level and swept across
no-man’s-land at knee height. These need not be a concern of
the attacking infantry if the initial bombardment was sufficiently
intense and effective.
On the 9th the sun rose at 4.06am on a sunny day.
At 5.00am the British bombardment began, although some
element of surprise was lost, as the French had been shelling
the Germans for several days. Some of the shells were falling
short due to the worn barrels on the older guns making it difficult
for the gunners to assess their range accurately. Some even
landed in the British lines.
At 5.30am the East Lancs went over the top into a narrow gap in
no-man’s-land, about 150 yards wide. They were immediately hit
215
the Germans moving divisions to the Russian Front, it inspired
the allies to plan an attack. This was to be the Battle of Aubers.
This was originally planned for the 7th May but heavy rain that
day and fog on the following day caused a delay until the 9th
May 1915.
The 2nd Battalion Northants were part of 24th Brigade of the
8th Division. They were scheduled to be in the forefront of the
attack in the northern sector of the line. The French had decided
to open the battle with several days of heavy shelling. The
British conversely decided on a relatively brief bombardment
to achieve surprise. This decision was partly forced on them by
a lack of guns and ammunition. What guns they did have were
largely antiquated and much of the ammunition was defective
and didn’t explode in the soft ground.
Part of the plan was to blow two huge mines, which the Royal
Engineers had burrowed under the German trenches.
The land in the area was flat and covered in a series of large
drainage ditches 10 – 15 feet wide.
The Germans had learnt much from the Battle of Neuve Chapelle
when the allies had managed to fight their way into the German
front trenches. Their breastworks were broader and deeper and
the wire was thickened into formidable barriers. Machine gun
ports were every 20 yards at ground level and swept across
no-man’s-land at knee height. These need not be a concern of
the attacking infantry if the initial bombardment was sufficiently
intense and effective.
On the 9th the sun rose at 4.06am on a sunny day.
At 5.00am the British bombardment began, although some
element of surprise was lost, as the French had been shelling
the Germans for several days. Some of the shells were falling
short due to the worn barrels on the older guns making it difficult
for the gunners to assess their range accurately. Some even
landed in the British lines.
At 5.30am the East Lancs went over the top into a narrow gap in
no-man’s-land, about 150 yards wide. They were immediately hit
215
