The battle of Aubers Ridge was a British contribution to the Allied spring offensive of 1915 .. it was fought over the same ground as the battle of Neuve Chapelle, 10-13 March 1915 but failed to achieve even the temporary successes of that battle. The British attack was to be launched by General Sir Douglas Haig’s First Army. It was intended to send in two attacks, to the north and south of Neuve Chapelle, with the hope that the two attacking forces could meet up behind the German front lines. Haig had requested extra artillery to increase the strength of the 40 minute bombardment planned for the morning of 9 May, but all available artillery reserves had been sucked into the fighting at the second battle of Ypres, still raging just to the north. The British attack on 9 May was a total failure. The Germans had greatly strengthened their lines around Neuve Chapelle after they had been overrun during Neuve Chapelle, and the British artillery bombardment was simply not heavy enough to destroy the new German lines. The battle of Aubers Ridge fits the popular image of a First World War battle better than most. The British troops went over the top early on the morning of 9 May and were cut down by German machine gun fire. The survivors were pinned down in no mans land. No significant progress was made, and early on 10 May Haig ended the offensive. The British suffered 11,000 casualties in one day of fighting on a narrow front. I have a particular interest in Aubers Ridge and Fromelles ... the Aussies amongst us will be particulally interested in Fromelles .... thought this site maybe of interest .... http://pierreswesternfront.punt.nl/?id=415454&r=1&tbl_archief=& My interest is the Royal Munster Fusiliers ... http://www.munsterfusiliers.net/b3kia.htm Aubers Ridge The 2RMF next role was participating in the Franco-British Battle of Aubers Ridge in the area of the March Battle of Neuve Chapelle. The day before the attack of 9 May 1915 the battalion received Absolution from their chaplain (depicted in the famous "'The Last General Absolution of the Munsters at Rue du Bois" Matania painting). The British bombardment began at 5 a.m., the Munsters then pressing forward with extraordinary bravery - German fire sweeping No-Mans-Land - some Munsters audaciously charging ahead through the German lines briefly waving a green flag on its breastwork - then moving beyond until cut off by the British artillery bombardment that followed, which killed many sheltering in shell craters. By 11 a.m. the 2RMF was withdrawn forming 3 officers and 200 men having lost 19 and 370 respectively .... it was one of only two battalions to reach the German lines ..... but suffered the regiments highest loss of any one day of the war, 11 officers and 140 men killed in action. It was an unsuccessful day for the British forces overall - casualties exceeding 11,000, the devastating losses exposing the British forces weakness in artillery ......... Morale was subsequently at a low ebb
This is the famous painting, "The Last Absolution of the Munsters" (the Munster Fusiliers) "before Aubers Ridge" The Catholic priest is Father Gleeson, who was much loved by his men. After the war, he was victimised by his Bishop, a fanatical Republican, for his service with the British Army: an experience of many Irish Catholic troops. The mounted officer next to him is thought to be Colonel Rickard, who was killed in the battle.
I love that picture !! ..... thank you for posting it Adrian !! Father Gleeson was a wonderful man ... very badly maligned I'm afraid They fought a good fight though - brave men ! Annie
“The Kaiser knows the Munsters, by the Shamrock on their caps, And the famous Bengal Tiger, ever ready for a scrap, And all his big battalions, Prussion Guards and grenadiers, Fear to face the flashing bayonets of the Munster Fusiliers!” Anonymous
