Scots on the Western Front Battle of Loos. Trench System Conditions had improved and the trench system on both sides became relatively sophisticated and.

Scots on the Western FrontScots on the Western Front

Battle of LoosBattle of Loos

Trench SystemTrench System

Conditions had improved and the trench system Conditions had improved and the trench system on both sides became relatively sophisticated on both sides became relatively sophisticated and reasonably habitable.and reasonably habitable.

The might have been basic, occasionally The might have been basic, occasionally insanitary and frequently verminous but they insanitary and frequently verminous but they offered safety to their inhabitants with a offered safety to their inhabitants with a complicated system of underground shelters, complicated system of underground shelters, support and communication trenches supported support and communication trenches supported by breastworks and barbed wire. by breastworks and barbed wire.

BreastworksBreastworks

Above ground trench. Earth, rocks, sandbags, masonry, Above ground trench. Earth, rocks, sandbags, masonry, tree trunks and any other material that could be found in tree trunks and any other material that could be found in the area was used to provide cover for 7 to 8 feet high the area was used to provide cover for 7 to 8 feet high trenches trenches

Allied AimsAllied Aims

Break the German Trench lineBreak the German Trench lineForce the enemy to fall back on their lines Force the enemy to fall back on their lines

of communication.of communication.Return fluidity to the fightingReturn fluidity to the fightingThe British would attack in Flanders and The British would attack in Flanders and

ArtoisArtoisFrench forces would attack ChampagneFrench forces would attack Champagne

For the British this would involve them in For the British this would involve them in

battles at Neuve Chapelle, Aubers Ridge battles at Neuve Chapelle, Aubers Ridge and Festubert and Loos.and Festubert and Loos.

All failed to achieve the Allies’ objectives All failed to achieve the Allies’ objectives and all produced large numbers of and all produced large numbers of casualties.casualties.

As a result the reality of trench warfare As a result the reality of trench warfare was brought home to the people of was brought home to the people of Scotland, especially at Loos where two of Scotland, especially at Loos where two of the Six British assault division were the 9the Six British assault division were the 9thth and 15and 15thth (Scottish) divisions of the New (Scottish) divisions of the New Army.Army.

FailuresFailures

At Neuve Chapelle and Aubers Ridge, the At Neuve Chapelle and Aubers Ridge, the artillery bombing failed to rip up or destroy artillery bombing failed to rip up or destroy the German Barbed wire defence. This the German Barbed wire defence. This caused high British causalities as they caused high British causalities as they crossed no-mans land.crossed no-mans land.

22ndnd Scottish Rifles suffered high casualties Scottish Rifles suffered high casualties at Neuve Chapelle.at Neuve Chapelle.

Scots Involved at Neuve Chapelle Scots Involved at Neuve Chapelle and Aubersand Aubers

22ndnd Scots Guard Scots Guard 22ndnd Royal Scots Fusiliers Royal Scots Fusiliers 11stst Highland Light Infantry Highland Light Infantry Glasgow HighlandersGlasgow Highlanders 11stst Black Watch Black Watch Seaforth HighlandersSeaforth Highlanders Cameron HighlandersCameron Highlanders Gordon HighlandersGordon Highlanders

All lost Substantial numbers of men in the fightingAll lost Substantial numbers of men in the fighting

Battle of LoosBattle of Loos

25 September - 14 October 1915 25 September - 14 October 1915 Historians and soldiers agree that the Historians and soldiers agree that the

Battle of Loos was both unnecessary and Battle of Loos was both unnecessary and an unwanted battlean unwanted battle

Strategically it was meaninglessStrategically it was meaninglessThe Scottish loses were so appalling that The Scottish loses were so appalling that

scarcely any part of the country was scarcely any part of the country was unaffected as the casualty figures rose unaffected as the casualty figures rose inexorably. inexorably.

DundeeDundee So high were the So high were the

casualties in casualties in Dundee that each Dundee that each year on 25year on 25thth September, the first September, the first day of the battle of day of the battle of Loos, the light still Loos, the light still shines from the shines from the city’s war memorial city’s war memorial on the Law to on the Law to remember the city’s remember the city’s war dead.war dead.

The BattleThe Battle Started at 5.15amStarted at 5.15am After a 4 day bombardmentAfter a 4 day bombardment Gas attack released despite uncertainties over Gas attack released despite uncertainties over

wind direction.wind direction. This was the first gas attack for the British, This was the first gas attack for the British,

forty minutes after the gas released the forty minutes after the gas released the assaulting infantry divisions climbed out of assaulting infantry divisions climbed out of their trenches.their trenches.

The gas was largely a failure on the left and The gas was largely a failure on the left and centre, with the gas drifting back across the centre, with the gas drifting back across the British trenches in several places.British trenches in several places.

99thth & 15 & 15thth (Scottish) Divisions (Scottish) Divisions

This was 9This was 9thth’s first major battle’s first major battle It captured the formidable defences of the It captured the formidable defences of the

Hohenzollern Redoubt, Fosse 8 and the Hohenzollern Redoubt, Fosse 8 and the Dump, breaking into the German second Dump, breaking into the German second position near Haisnesposition near Haisnes

1515thth took Loos Village. took Loos Village. The attack on Loos had been carried out in an The attack on Loos had been carried out in an

exemplary fashion by men who only 9 months exemplary fashion by men who only 9 months earlier had been civilians unversed in warfare. earlier had been civilians unversed in warfare.

Counter-offensiveCounter-offensive

Slow transmission of movement orders, Slow transmission of movement orders, and congestion on the approach roads and congestion on the approach roads delayed the reserve troops arrival.delayed the reserve troops arrival.

German counterattacks soon recaptured German counterattacks soon recaptured many of the British gains, including the many of the British gains, including the Hohenzollern Redoubt.Hohenzollern Redoubt.

OutcomeOutcome

The autumn fighting in Artois generated yet The autumn fighting in Artois generated yet more grim statistics with British casualties over more grim statistics with British casualties over 50,000. 50,000.

For the British there had been a few For the British there had been a few encouraging signs early in battle, notably the encouraging signs early in battle, notably the performance of the two Scottish New Army performance of the two Scottish New Army divisions.divisions.

Control of the BEF was transferred from Sir John Control of the BEF was transferred from Sir John French (who was blamed) to Sir Douglas Haig French (who was blamed) to Sir Douglas Haig as commander in chief of the BEF..as commander in chief of the BEF..

Scots Impact and reputationScots Impact and reputation

The casualties figures at Loos were high The casualties figures at Loos were high and for the Scots even higher.and for the Scots even higher.

Hardly a community in Scotland was left Hardly a community in Scotland was left unaffected by the action at Loos. unaffected by the action at Loos.

Newspapers were thick with the casualty Newspapers were thick with the casualty lists and heroic descriptions of the fighting.lists and heroic descriptions of the fighting.

Press reporting of the war was constrained Press reporting of the war was constrained by DORA.by DORA.

Feelings of bloody-mindedness ran deeply Feelings of bloody-mindedness ran deeply amongst the Scots in the two new army amongst the Scots in the two new army divisions, who ‘seem to have shrugged off divisions, who ‘seem to have shrugged off casualties and taken the setback only as a casualties and taken the setback only as a stimulus to renewed aggression. stimulus to renewed aggression.

The Scots again showed their bravery and The Scots again showed their bravery and skill in battle, enhancing their reputation in skill in battle, enhancing their reputation in the British Armythe British Army