Key Battles in the British Sector of the Western Front WW1 Flashcards
When was the Ypres Salient Battle?
October 9th to November 22nd 1914
What happened in the Ypres Salient Battle?
Allied forces fought the German advance to the Belgian coast. They kept control of Ypres through channel ports.
How many British troops died in the Battle of Ypres Salient?
50,000
When was the Battle of Hill 60?
17th April to the 7th May 1915
What happened in the Battle of Hill 60?
British soldiers dug under the hill and used 5 mines to explode it. They did this because the Germans were benefiting from having the higher ground.
Was Hill 60 a man made hill?
Yes
When was the second battle of Ypres?
22nd April to 25th May 1915
What is the 2nd Battle of Ypres known for?
First use of Chlorine gas
How many British men died approximately in the 2nd Battle of Ypres?
59,000
When was the Battle of the Somme?
1st July to 18th November 1916
What was the Battle of the Somme known for?
Enormous amount of death and casualties - By November, there were 40,000 casualties and 60,000 dead. It also was the first use of tanks.
What was the aim of the Battle of the Somme?
The British were trying to support the French at Verdun so they attacked the Germans at Somme in an aim to split the German army and take ground from the Germans.
What is a Salient?
Area of battle field that extends into enemy territory so it is surrounded on three sides by the enemy.
What is a creeping barrage?
Military tactic which involves using artillery to create a moving line of fire in front of the infantry (moving soldiers).
Did the British at the Battle of the Somme use the creeping barrage?
Yes
Did the use of tanks at the Battle of the Somme go well?
The tanks had technical problems and weren’t very successful.
When was the Battle of Arras?
April 9th to May 17th 1917
What was the Battle of Arras known for?
Old chalk tunnels found by the British and used to attack the enemy.
How many men in the Battle of Arras were sent down to attack in the tunnels?
24,000
What was the 3rd Battle of Ypres also known as?
Passchendaele
When was the 3rd Battle of Ypres?
31st January to 6th of November 1917
What was the 3rd battle of Ypres known for?
The heavy rain which made the clay ground become waterlogged. Many men fell in the mud and drowned.
What was the purpose of the 3rd Battle of Ypres?
For the British army to break out of the Ypres Salient.
How many miles did the British move the edge of the salient in the 3rd Battle of Ypres?
7
How many casualties were there in the 3rd battle of Ypres?
estimated 245,000
When was the Battle of Cambrai?
20th November to 6th December 1917
What was the Battle of Cambrai known for?
The first large scale use of tanks (500) and the first use of blood banks.
What changed in the Battle of Cambrai which gave the Germans less warning of an attack?
The artillery barrage was changed.
Was the use of tanks in the Battle of Cambrai effective?
Yes. They were able to move over the barbed wire.
What is an artillery barrage?
A sustained concentrated attack on the enemy position using artillery fire.
