Battle of Neuve Chapelle

Battle of Neuve Chapelle
Part of the Western Front of World War I
Neuve Chapelle area, 1914–1915
Date 10–12 March 1915 Location Artois region, France 50°35′N 2°47′E / 50.583°N 2.783°E / 50.583; 2.783Coordinates: 50°35′N 2°47′E / 50.583°N 2.783°E / 50.583; 2.783 Result British victory
Belligerents
British Empire  India  United Kingdom	German Empire
Commanders and leaders
Field Marshal Sir John French	Crown Prince Rupprecht
Strength
4 divisions	2 divisions
Casualties and losses
British: 7,000 Indian: 4,200	9–20 March: c. 10,000

 British Empire

The Battle of Neuve Chapelle (10–13 March 1915) took place in the First World War. It was a British offensive in the Artois region of France and broke through at Neuve-Chapelle but the success could not be exploited. More troops had arrived from Britain and relieved some French troops in Flanders, which enabled a continuous British line to be formed, from Givenchy-lès-la-Bassée north to Langemarck. The battle was intended to cause a rupture in the German lines, which would then be exploited with a rush to the Aubers Ridge and possibly Lille. A French assault at Vimy Ridge on the Artois plateau was also planned, to threaten the road, rail and canal junctions at La Bassée from the south, as the British attacked from the north.

If the French Tenth Army captured Vimy Ridge and the north end of the Artois plateau, from Lens to La Bassée, as the British First Army took Aubers Ridge from La Bassée to Lille, a further advance of 10–15 miles (16–24 km) would cut the roads and railways used by the Germans, to supply the troops in the Noyon Salient from Arras south to Rheims. The French part of the offensive was cancelled, when the British were unable to relieve the French IX Corps north of Ypres, which had been intended to move south for the French attack and the Tenth Army contribution was reduced to support from its heavy artillery.

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