Battle of Broodseinde
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Broodseinde was the most successful attack of the Battle of Passchendaele. Using the "bite and hold" tactic (where the objective was limited to what could be captured and held against German counter-attacks), the Allied forces conducted an attack on well-entrenched German forces and showed that it was possible for the allies to overcome even the stoutest German defences.
on the 26th, with the intention of capturing the Gheluvelt Plateau. The Gheluvelt Plateau ran along the southern edge of the Ypres Salient
and formed a formidable barrier to further eastward attacks, obstructing Field Marshal Haig's
advance out of the salient. Haig believed that the Germans were on the edge of collapse and had ordered exploitation forces (infantry, tanks and cavalary, (as well as XV Corps on the Belgian coast and the amphibious force) readied to follow up in case of a general withdrawal by the Germans. At least 24 German counterattacks (nine were conducted immediately after the Battle of Menin Road, as well as more on 30 September and 1 October) were made, it should have been apparent that German morale was still strong. Gough and Plumer wrote to Haig that an exploitation was premature. Haig replied that he wanted advanced guards supported by field artillery ready, to operate in conditions similar to open warfare should the occasion arise and that the arrangements would provide the means if the opportunity occurred.
Once the Gheluvelt Plateau was captured, Haig believed that two further attacks, planned for 10 October (the Battle of Poelcappelle
, moved forward to 9 October) and 13 October (the First Battle of Passchendaele
, moved forward to 12 October) might result in a German withdrawal. The subordinate Army commanders (General Plumer
commanding the British Second Army and General Gough
commanding the British Fifth Army) doubted that the breakthrough was imminent, since the limited advances made meant that most German artillery was intact.
The British objective was to capture the crest of the Gheluvelt Plateau on the south eastern flank of the Ypres Salient (and hence protect the southern flank of the Ypres Salient, as well as allow further attacks on the Passchendaele Ridge to the East). As a result, 12 divisions
were involved in the attack over a 14000 yards (12,801.6 m) front.
), the interval between attacks was shortened. This had a negative effect on the battle as it allowed less time to prepare (resulting in more German artillery escaping counter-artillery fire and less damage done to defensive barbed wire and pillboxes).
Similarly, the pre-battle artillery barrage was also shortened. For the Battle of Menin Road, a week long artillery barrage was used and for the Battle of Polygon Wood
, a 24 hour long artillery barrage was used. No pre-battle artillery bombardments were used for the Battle of Broodseinde. As an alternative, a series of "practice" barrages were unleashed, beginning on 27 September. The practice barrages increased to two barrages a day from 1 October onwards. Despite the ruse of using "practice barrages", through the use of "a very reliable agent", the Germans were aware that an attack was coming from as early as 1 October.
The battle was almost called off, with rain starting on 2 October(2.7 mm on the first day, 1.2 mm on 3 October and 4.6 mm on 4 October). This had the effect of turning parts of the artillery-damaged ground into a morass
.
(composed of the 1st
and 2nd Australian Divisions) and II Anzac Corps
(composed of the New Zealand Division
and 3rd Australian Division) (part of the Second Army) and XVIII Corps (comprising the 11th and 48th Divisions) (part of the Fifth Army), with flanking attacks supporting the main attack conducted by the X Corps
(comprising the 7th, 21st and 5th Divisions) and IX Corps (comprising the 37th Division
) (Second Army) and XIV Corps (comprising the 29th and 4th
Divisions) (Fifth Army). The original plan was to have the I ANZAC Corps replaced after the Battle of Polygon Wood. As the I ANZAC Corps had emerged from the battle with less than expected casualties, it instead remained in the front line. The II ANZAC Corps replaced the V Corps
.
Additionally, small forces of tanks were also used—with four tanks providing aid to the 21st Division and 10 tanks aiding the 11th Division (all tanks were from the Tank Corps D Battalion
).
The attack was timed to start at 0600 hours. The northernmost corps (XIV Corps) encountered a bog during its advance—resulting in it losing the protection of the creeping barrage. The XIV Corps encountered machine gun fire from defences along the edge of Houlthulst Forest and suffered 1,700 casualties whilst gaining very little ground. The northern corps of the main attack (XVIII Corps) manage to capture all of its objectives at a cost of 2,000 casualties. German artillery fire and counter attacks later resulted in the Germans recapturing the northern half of the village of Poelcappelle.
The I ANZAC Corps had one of the most unique experiences of the war. When it was preparing to attack, a German artillery bombardment fell on it causing 1 in 7 of the attacking forces to become casualties. When the Australian forces started to attack, the cause of the German artillery fire became apparent, when they met the German 212th Infantry Regiment (from the 45th Reserve Division
) in no-mans land. The German attack was the result of concerns over the amount of ridgeline held near Zonnebeke and the desire to recapture as much of it as possible. Due to the superior numbers involved, the Australians quickly routed the Germans and continued the attack. Despite hard fighting to defeat the fortifications of the Flandern I line, the Australians reached the first objective (the "Red Line"—a line 100 to 200 yards short of the crest of the ridgeline) by 07:20. During the hour long halt at the first objective, parts of the 1st Australian Division had to fight German pillboxes positioned along the crest of the ridgeline (these turned out to be 2 Battalion headquarters).
The Australians consolidated just short of the second objective due to defensive fire from German positions along the edge of 'Daisy Wood'. This effort cost the Australian divisions approximately 4,500 casualties.
Initially, the II ANZAC Corps had an easier time than its neighbouring ANZAC units. During the advance to the second onjective (the "Blue Line"—a line 200 to 400 yards beyond the crest of the ridgeline), it had to advance through parts of the Flandern I line. Despite this, the second objective was reached by 09:00, at a cost of 3,500 casualties (including 1,853 New Zealanders).
The attack by the X Corps achieved most of its objectives (advancing 800 yards (731.5 m)), although unsubdued German artillery fire from behind the Ghevulelt Plateau caused large numbers of casualties (8,000 casualties in the three attacking divisions). The southernmost corps (the IX Corps) experienced the same problems as the X Corps and made little headway against the German defences.
After the attacking units reached their final positions, Allied artillery fired a standing barrage for an additional two and a half hours, allowing the attacking troops to establish defences (trenches, outposts, defensive wire entanglements, etc.). As a result, when the Germans counter-attacked, most attempts were dispersed by artillery fire.
The attack was a stunning attritional success, with an average advance of over 1000 yards (914.4 m), and the Australian 3rd Division advancing up to 1900 yards (1,737.4 m).Capture and retention of ground was varied, with limited (or no) advance maintained by the southernmost Corps, to moderate gains between Menin Road and Polygon Wood and all objectives at Broodseinde Ridge.
Had the artillery been closer, it would have been possible for the advance to have continued. However, as some of the artillery was already at its extreme range, the plan would have had to have been modified to address this possibility prior to the attack. As it was, there was discussion between Generals Godley (II Anzac Corps commander), Charteris (Head of Intelligence at BEF HQ), Plumer (Second Army commander) and Birdwood (I Anzac Corp commander) as to the possibility of further attacks on 4 October (with Godley and Charteris wanting to go on but Birdwood and Plumer arguing against). However, by mid afternoon it was decided that no further attacks would take place.
The capture of the ridgeline was a stunning success, with General Plumer calling the attack "the greatest victory since the Marne", and German Official History referring to the attack as "the black day of October 4".
The success of the battle masked the conditions that would have so much influence on the next battle (the Battle of Poelcappelle
). The wetness of the ground caused units to lose the protection of the creeping barrage, as well as causing shells to bury themselves in the mud before exploding (and so be less effective, although this applied to German shells too). Similarly the muddy terrain also caused great difficulty in moving artillery from its positions on the southern edge of the salient (where it supported the battle) to the eastern edge (where it would be used in the Battle of Poelcappelle).
The success of the battle also caused relief in the BEF HQ (believing that the Germans were close to collapse), while anxieties about the weather increased, resulting in the time between attacks being further reduced (meaning less time for preparatory artillery and artillery moves)—which would have a deleterious effect on the next two battles (the Battles of Poelcappelle and First Passchendaele). Had note been made of the fact that the attacking units of the Second Army was subjected to 10 German counter attacks on the same day as the attack then a more accurate appreciation of German morale might have resulted. The effectiveness of German counter-attacks after 4 October was not uniform. The New Zealand Official Historian wrote,
The weather now began to influence British offensive preparations,
es awarded during the Battle of Broodseinde. These were awarded to:
Background
The Battle of Broodseinde was the third of Plumer's more limited form of "bite and hold" battles of the Passchendaele campaign (3rd Battle of Ypres) following the Battle of Menin Road on 20th September and the Battle of Polygon WoodBattle of Polygon Wood
The Battle of Polygon Wood took place during the second phase of the Battle of Passchendaele in World War I. The battle was fought near Ypres, Belgium, in an area named the Polygon Wood after the layout of the area...
on the 26th, with the intention of capturing the Gheluvelt Plateau. The Gheluvelt Plateau ran along the southern edge of the Ypres Salient
Ypres Salient
The Ypres Salient is the area around Ypres in Belgium which was the scene of some of the biggest battles in World War I.In military terms, a salient is a battlefield feature that projects into enemy territory. Therefore, the salient is surrounded by the enemy on three sides, making the troops...
and formed a formidable barrier to further eastward attacks, obstructing Field Marshal Haig's
Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig
Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig, KT, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCIE, ADC, was a British senior officer during World War I. He commanded the British Expeditionary Force from 1915 to the end of the War...
advance out of the salient. Haig believed that the Germans were on the edge of collapse and had ordered exploitation forces (infantry, tanks and cavalary, (as well as XV Corps on the Belgian coast and the amphibious force) readied to follow up in case of a general withdrawal by the Germans. At least 24 German counterattacks (nine were conducted immediately after the Battle of Menin Road, as well as more on 30 September and 1 October) were made, it should have been apparent that German morale was still strong. Gough and Plumer wrote to Haig that an exploitation was premature. Haig replied that he wanted advanced guards supported by field artillery ready, to operate in conditions similar to open warfare should the occasion arise and that the arrangements would provide the means if the opportunity occurred.
Once the Gheluvelt Plateau was captured, Haig believed that two further attacks, planned for 10 October (the Battle of Poelcappelle
Battle of Poelcappelle
The Battle of Poelcappelle marked the end of highly successful British attacks during the Battle of Passchendaele. Pitting the attacking forces against relatively intact German defences in rain and muddy conditions like those in August, the main attack was a failure and only the diversionary attack...
, moved forward to 9 October) and 13 October (the First Battle of Passchendaele
First Battle of Passchendaele
The First Battle of Passchendaele was a World War I battle that took place on 12 October 1917 in the Ypres Salient area of the Western Front, outside the Belgian village of Passchendaele, during the Third Battle of Ypres...
, moved forward to 12 October) might result in a German withdrawal. The subordinate Army commanders (General Plumer
Herbert Plumer, 1st Viscount Plumer
Field Marshal Herbert Charles Onslow Plumer, 1st Viscount Plumer, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, GBE was a British colonial official and soldier born in Torquay who commanded the British Second Army in World War I and later served as High Commissioner of the British Mandate for Palestine.-Military...
commanding the British Second Army and General Gough
Hubert Gough
General Sir Hubert de la Poer Gough GCB, GCMG, KCVO was a senior officer in the British Army, who commanded the British Fifth Army from 1916 to 1918 during the First World War.-Family background:...
commanding the British Fifth Army) doubted that the breakthrough was imminent, since the limited advances made meant that most German artillery was intact.
German defences
German defences consisted mainly of mutually supporting pillboxes, protected by barbed wire entanglements. While they were scattered across the terrain, lots were concentrated along the crest of the Gheluvelt Plateau (where they were used by artillery observers and staff headquarters), as well as part of the Flandern I line on the forward slope of the Passchendaele Ridge. In addition to the pillboxes, there were numerous artillery positions behind the Gheluvelt Plateau. By 25 September around Terhand German artillery had been increased to 20 heavy and 44 field batteries, nearly four times the amount for a division, where (protected from direct observation) they could fire in support of German troops on the plateau.British objectives
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
were involved in the attack over a 14000 yards (12,801.6 m) front.
Preparation
The battle was originally planned to start on 6 October but was moved forward to 4 October. The original more limited "bite and hold" battle (the Battle of Menin Road) allowed three weeks of preparation. Due to the increasing chance of rain affecting the battle (as occurred earlier during the Battle of LangemarckBattle of Langemarck
Battle of Langemarck can refer to :* Battle of Langemarck : part of the First Battle of Ypres* Battle of Langemarck : part of the Third Battle of Ypres...
), the interval between attacks was shortened. This had a negative effect on the battle as it allowed less time to prepare (resulting in more German artillery escaping counter-artillery fire and less damage done to defensive barbed wire and pillboxes).
Similarly, the pre-battle artillery barrage was also shortened. For the Battle of Menin Road, a week long artillery barrage was used and for the Battle of Polygon Wood
Battle of Polygon Wood
The Battle of Polygon Wood took place during the second phase of the Battle of Passchendaele in World War I. The battle was fought near Ypres, Belgium, in an area named the Polygon Wood after the layout of the area...
, a 24 hour long artillery barrage was used. No pre-battle artillery bombardments were used for the Battle of Broodseinde. As an alternative, a series of "practice" barrages were unleashed, beginning on 27 September. The practice barrages increased to two barrages a day from 1 October onwards. Despite the ruse of using "practice barrages", through the use of "a very reliable agent", the Germans were aware that an attack was coming from as early as 1 October.
The battle was almost called off, with rain starting on 2 October(2.7 mm on the first day, 1.2 mm on 3 October and 4.6 mm on 4 October). This had the effect of turning parts of the artillery-damaged ground into a morass
Marsh
In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, other herbaceous plants, and moss....
.
Battle
The main attack was conducted by the I AnzacI Anzac Corps
The I ANZAC Corps was a combined Australian and New Zealand army corps that served during World War I.It was formed in Egypt in February 1916 as part of the reorganisation and expansion of the Australian Imperial Force and the New Zealand Expeditionary Force following the evacuation of Gallipoli...
(composed of the 1st
1st Division (Australia)
The 1st Division is the main formation of the Australian Army and contains the majority of the army's regular forces. Its headquarters is in Enoggera, a suburb of Brisbane...
and 2nd Australian Divisions) and II Anzac Corps
II Anzac Corps
The II ANZAC Corps was an Australian and New Zealand First World War army corps formed in Egypt in February 1916 as part of the reorganization of the Australian Imperial Force following the evacuation of Gallipoli in November 1915, under the command of William Birdwood...
(composed of the New Zealand Division
New Zealand Division
The New Zealand Division was a World War I infantry division formed in Egypt in January 1916 following the evacuation of Gallipoli. At the outbreak of war the New Zealand Expeditionary Force contained a single infantry brigade which was combined with the unattached Australian 4th Infantry Brigade...
and 3rd Australian Division) (part of the Second Army) and XVIII Corps (comprising the 11th and 48th Divisions) (part of the Fifth Army), with flanking attacks supporting the main attack conducted by the X Corps
X Corps (United Kingdom)
The X Corps was a British Army formation in the First World War and was later reformed in 1942 during the North African campaign of the Second World War as part of the Eighth Army.- First World War :...
(comprising the 7th, 21st and 5th Divisions) and IX Corps (comprising the 37th Division
37th Division (United Kingdom)
The 37th Infantry Division was a unit of the British Army during World War I. The divisional symbol was a gold horseshoe, open end up.Formed as part of the New Army, the division was established at Andover as the 44th Infantry Division in March 1915...
) (Second Army) and XIV Corps (comprising the 29th and 4th
4th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)
The 4th Infantry Division is a regular British Army division with a long history having been present at the Peninsular War the Crimean War , the First World War , and during the Second World War.- Napoleonic Wars :...
Divisions) (Fifth Army). The original plan was to have the I ANZAC Corps replaced after the Battle of Polygon Wood. As the I ANZAC Corps had emerged from the battle with less than expected casualties, it instead remained in the front line. The II ANZAC Corps replaced the V Corps
V Corps (United Kingdom)
V Corps was an army corps of the British Army in both the First and Second World War. It was first organised in February 1915 and fought through World War I on the Western front...
.
Additionally, small forces of tanks were also used—with four tanks providing aid to the 21st Division and 10 tanks aiding the 11th Division (all tanks were from the Tank Corps D Battalion
4th Royal Tank Regiment
The 4th Royal Tank Regiment was an armoured regiment of the British Army until 1993. It was part of the Royal Tank Regiment, itself part of the Royal Armoured Corps...
).
The attack was timed to start at 0600 hours. The northernmost corps (XIV Corps) encountered a bog during its advance—resulting in it losing the protection of the creeping barrage. The XIV Corps encountered machine gun fire from defences along the edge of Houlthulst Forest and suffered 1,700 casualties whilst gaining very little ground. The northern corps of the main attack (XVIII Corps) manage to capture all of its objectives at a cost of 2,000 casualties. German artillery fire and counter attacks later resulted in the Germans recapturing the northern half of the village of Poelcappelle.
The I ANZAC Corps had one of the most unique experiences of the war. When it was preparing to attack, a German artillery bombardment fell on it causing 1 in 7 of the attacking forces to become casualties. When the Australian forces started to attack, the cause of the German artillery fire became apparent, when they met the German 212th Infantry Regiment (from the 45th Reserve Division
45th Reserve Division (German Empire)
The 45th Reserve Division was a unit of the Imperial German Army in World War I. The division was formed in August 1914 and organized over the next two months. It was part of the first wave of new divisions formed at the outset of World War I, which were numbered the 43rd through 54th Reserve...
) in no-mans land. The German attack was the result of concerns over the amount of ridgeline held near Zonnebeke and the desire to recapture as much of it as possible. Due to the superior numbers involved, the Australians quickly routed the Germans and continued the attack. Despite hard fighting to defeat the fortifications of the Flandern I line, the Australians reached the first objective (the "Red Line"—a line 100 to 200 yards short of the crest of the ridgeline) by 07:20. During the hour long halt at the first objective, parts of the 1st Australian Division had to fight German pillboxes positioned along the crest of the ridgeline (these turned out to be 2 Battalion headquarters).
The Australians consolidated just short of the second objective due to defensive fire from German positions along the edge of 'Daisy Wood'. This effort cost the Australian divisions approximately 4,500 casualties.
Initially, the II ANZAC Corps had an easier time than its neighbouring ANZAC units. During the advance to the second onjective (the "Blue Line"—a line 200 to 400 yards beyond the crest of the ridgeline), it had to advance through parts of the Flandern I line. Despite this, the second objective was reached by 09:00, at a cost of 3,500 casualties (including 1,853 New Zealanders).
The attack by the X Corps achieved most of its objectives (advancing 800 yards (731.5 m)), although unsubdued German artillery fire from behind the Ghevulelt Plateau caused large numbers of casualties (8,000 casualties in the three attacking divisions). The southernmost corps (the IX Corps) experienced the same problems as the X Corps and made little headway against the German defences.
After the attacking units reached their final positions, Allied artillery fired a standing barrage for an additional two and a half hours, allowing the attacking troops to establish defences (trenches, outposts, defensive wire entanglements, etc.). As a result, when the Germans counter-attacked, most attempts were dispersed by artillery fire.
Aftermath
Had the artillery been closer, it would have been possible for the advance to have continued. However, as some of the artillery was already at its extreme range, the plan would have had to have been modified to address this possibility prior to the attack. As it was, there was discussion between Generals Godley (II Anzac Corps commander), Charteris (Head of Intelligence at BEF HQ), Plumer (Second Army commander) and Birdwood (I Anzac Corp commander) as to the possibility of further attacks on 4 October (with Godley and Charteris wanting to go on but Birdwood and Plumer arguing against). However, by mid afternoon it was decided that no further attacks would take place.
The success of the battle masked the conditions that would have so much influence on the next battle (the Battle of Poelcappelle
Battle of Poelcappelle
The Battle of Poelcappelle marked the end of highly successful British attacks during the Battle of Passchendaele. Pitting the attacking forces against relatively intact German defences in rain and muddy conditions like those in August, the main attack was a failure and only the diversionary attack...
). The wetness of the ground caused units to lose the protection of the creeping barrage, as well as causing shells to bury themselves in the mud before exploding (and so be less effective, although this applied to German shells too). Similarly the muddy terrain also caused great difficulty in moving artillery from its positions on the southern edge of the salient (where it supported the battle) to the eastern edge (where it would be used in the Battle of Poelcappelle).
The success of the battle also caused relief in the BEF HQ (believing that the Germans were close to collapse), while anxieties about the weather increased, resulting in the time between attacks being further reduced (meaning less time for preparatory artillery and artillery moves)—which would have a deleterious effect on the next two battles (the Battles of Poelcappelle and First Passchendaele). Had note been made of the fact that the attacking units of the Second Army was subjected to 10 German counter attacks on the same day as the attack then a more accurate appreciation of German morale might have resulted. The effectiveness of German counter-attacks after 4 October was not uniform. The New Zealand Official Historian wrote,
- His shelling was light and scattered all over the 2nd Army Front, indifferent local counter-attacks, the lack of cohesion no less than the mixture of units for thickening up the line, clearly betrayed his straits.
The weather now began to influence British offensive preparations,
- "In view of the results of three step-by-step blows, what will be the result of three more in the next fortnight?" But on the very day on which this prospect opened, the weather broke.(Australian Official Historian)
Victoria Crosses
There were nine Victoria CrossVictoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
es awarded during the Battle of Broodseinde. These were awarded to:
- Acting Sergeant-Major James OckendonJames OckendonJames Ockendon VC, MM was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross , the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
, from the 29th Division; - Acting Captain Clement RobertsonClement RobertsonClement Robertson VC was born at Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, and was a South African recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Early Life:Clarence's father, a captain...
, of the Royal Tank RegimentRoyal Tank RegimentThe Royal Tank Regiment is an armoured regiment of the British Army. It was formerly known as the Tank Corps and the Royal Tank Corps. It is part of the Royal Armoured Corps and is made up of two operational regiments, the 1st Royal Tank Regiment and the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment...
; - Sergeant Charles Harry CoverdaleCharles Harry CoverdaleCharles Harry Coverdale VC MM was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, from the 11th Division - Acting Corporal Fred GreavesFred GreavesFred Greaves VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, from the 11th Division; - Private Arthur HuttArthur HuttArthur Hutt VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces...
, from the 48th Division; - Sergeant Lewis McGeeLewis McGeeLewis McGee VC was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces...
, from the Australian 3rd Division; - Lance-Corporal Walter PeelerWalter PeelerWalter "Wally" Peeler VC, BEM was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces. He was decorated following his actions during the Battle of Broodseinde in...
, from the Australian 3rd Division; - Acting Lieutenant Colonel Lewis Pugh EvansLewis Pugh EvansBrigadier General Lewis Pugh Evans VC, CB, CMG, DSO & Bar, DL was a Welsh recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Early years:Lewis Pugh Evans was born at Abermadd to Sir...
, from the 21st Division; and - Private Thomas Henry SageThomas Henry SageThomas Henry Sage VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
from the 37th Division37th Division (United Kingdom)The 37th Infantry Division was a unit of the British Army during World War I. The divisional symbol was a gold horseshoe, open end up.Formed as part of the New Army, the division was established at Andover as the 44th Infantry Division in March 1915...
.
External links
- Battle of Broodseinde — a brief description of the battle
- Battle of Broodseinde Ridge — a brief description of the main attack
- The Ypres Salient — Battle of Broodseinde
- Order of Battle - France and Flanders 1917, Battle # 97 — Order of Battle for the Battle of Broodseinde