Medicine - Western Front

Question 1

How long was the Western Front?

Answer 1

• More than 644km (400 miles)
• From North Sea, through Belgium and north-eastern France to the border of Switzerland
• British responsible for 150km, stretched from Ypres (Belgium) to River Somme (France)

Question 2

Describe and explain the significance of the First Battle of Ypres

Answer 2

• Oct-Nov 1914
• British fail to capture the town (50,000 casualties)
• The terrain at Ypres included heavy soil, which was easily waterlogged and flooded. This presented problems for stretcher bearers when they needed to remove the wounded from the battlefields.

Question 3

Describe and explain the significance of the Second Battle of Ypres

Answer 3

• April 1915: British troops capture Hill 60 using mines (7 casualties)
• April-May 1915: Germany counter-attacks and recaptures Hill 60 with the use of poisonous gas (59,000 casualties)
• The terrain at Ypres included heavy soil, which was easily waterlogged and flooded. This presented problems for stretcher bearers when they needed to remove the wounded from the battlefields.

Question 4

Describe and explain the significance of the Battle of the Somme

Answer 4

• July-Nov 1916
• 20,000 casualties on the first day, over 400,000 overall
• The high number of casualties led to the medical services needing to work quickly and under pressure. Small, experimental and unsuccessful use of tanks created uneven ground, which made it difficult for the wounded to be transported for treatment after the battle.

Question 5

Why was Ypres an important sector for the British?

Answer 5

• It was on route to the channel ports of Calais and Dunkirk. The British needed to defend this route and ensure that the troops could still receive supplies (eg equipment and food) and reinforcements of men.
• It was a vulnerable area of British occupation. The Germans were on the higher ground so they were able to see the British defences and movement of troops.

Question 6

Describe and explain the significance of the Battle of Arras

Answer 6

• April-May 1917
• Before this battle, British + New Zealand troops added a tunnel network with rooms and fitted them with running water and electricity. These tunnels were used as accommodation for the soldiers. An underground hospital was added with operating theatres.
• Chalk tunnels, caves and quarries are used to hide 24,000 British troops, who launch a surprise attack on the Germans. (160,000 casualties)

Question 7

Describe the Third Battle of Ypres and explain its significance

Answer 7

• June 1917: nearly one million pounds of explosives are detonated ahead of the Battle of Messines, explosion can be heard in London
• July-Nov 1917: Third Battle of Ypres. British attacks the ridge surrounding the Ypres salient and suffers 245,000 casualties.

Question 8

Describe the Battle of Cambrai and explain its significance

Answer 8

• Nov-Dec 1917: The Battle of Cambrai. (45,000 casualties)
  Tanks were used during the attack after being used on a smaller scale during the Battle of the Somme. The British forces used over 450 tanks.
• Initially, the attack on the Germans was effective. However, the tanks did not have enough infantry support and could not defend the area.
• As a consequence, the British lost almost all of the ground that they had taken.

Question 9

What is the order of battles in WW1 and their dates?

Answer 9

Ypres (Oct-Nov 1914)
Ypres (April-May 1915)
Somme (July-Nov 1916)
Arras (April-May 1917)
Ypres (July-Nov 1917)
Cambrai. (Nov-Dec1917)