Scots on the Western Front Battle of Loos

Trench System Conditions had improved and the trench system on both sides became relatively sophisticated and reasonably habitable. Conditions had improved and the trench system on both sides became relatively sophisticated and reasonably habitable. The might have been basic, occasionally insanitary and frequently verminous but they offered safety to their inhabitants with a complicated system of underground shelters, support and communication trenches supported by breastworks and barbed wire. The might have been basic, occasionally insanitary and frequently verminous but they offered safety to their inhabitants with a complicated system of underground shelters, support and communication trenches supported by breastworks and barbed wire.

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

Allied Aims Break the German Trench line Break the German Trench line Force the enemy to fall back on their lines of communication. Force the enemy to fall back on their lines of communication. Return fluidity to the fighting Return fluidity to the fighting The British would attack in Flanders and Artois The British would attack in Flanders and Artois French forces would attack Champagne French forces would attack Champagne

For the British this would involve them in battles at Neuve Chapelle, Aubers Ridge and Festubert and Loos. For the British this would involve them in battles at Neuve Chapelle, Aubers Ridge and Festubert and Loos. All failed to achieve the Allies’ objectives and all produced large numbers of casualties. All failed to achieve the Allies’ objectives and all produced large numbers of casualties. As a result the reality of trench warfare was brought home to the people of Scotland, especially at Loos where two of the Six British assault division were the 9 th and 15 th (Scottish) divisions of the New Army. As a result the reality of trench warfare was brought home to the people of Scotland, especially at Loos where two of the Six British assault division were the 9 th and 15 th (Scottish) divisions of the New Army.

Failures At Neuve Chapelle and Aubers Ridge, the artillery bombing failed to rip up or destroy the German Barbed wire defence. This caused high British causalities as they crossed no-mans land. At Neuve Chapelle and Aubers Ridge, the artillery bombing failed to rip up or destroy the German Barbed wire defence. This caused high British causalities as they crossed no-mans land. 2 nd Scottish Rifles suffered high casualties at Neuve Chapelle. 2 nd Scottish Rifles suffered high casualties at Neuve Chapelle.

Scots Involved at Neuve Chapelle and Aubers 2 nd Scots Guard 2 nd Scots Guard 2 nd Royal Scots Fusiliers 2 nd Royal Scots Fusiliers 1 st Highland Light Infantry 1 st Highland Light Infantry Glasgow Highlanders Glasgow Highlanders 1 st Black Watch 1 st Black Watch Seaforth Highlanders Seaforth Highlanders Cameron Highlanders Cameron Highlanders Gordon Highlanders Gordon Highlanders All lost Substantial numbers of men in the fighting All lost Substantial numbers of men in the fighting

Battle of Loos 25 September - 14 October September - 14 October 1915 Historians and soldiers agree that the Battle of Loos was both unnecessary and an unwanted battle Historians and soldiers agree that the Battle of Loos was both unnecessary and an unwanted battle Strategically it was meaningless Strategically it was meaningless The Scottish loses were so appalling that scarcely any part of the country was unaffected as the casualty figures rose inexorably. The Scottish loses were so appalling that scarcely any part of the country was unaffected as the casualty figures rose inexorably.

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

The Battle Started at 5.15am Started at 5.15am After a 4 day bombardment After a 4 day bombardment Gas attack released despite uncertainties over wind direction. Gas attack released despite uncertainties over wind direction. This was the first gas attack for the British, forty minutes after the gas released the assaulting infantry divisions climbed out of their trenches. This was the first gas attack for the British, forty minutes after the gas released the assaulting infantry divisions climbed out of their trenches. The gas was largely a failure on the left and centre, with the gas drifting back across the British trenches in several places. The gas was largely a failure on the left and centre, with the gas drifting back across the British trenches in several places.

9 th & 15 th (Scottish) Divisions This was 9 th ’s first major battle This was 9 th ’s first major battle It captured the formidable defences of the Hohenzollern Redoubt, Fosse 8 and the Dump, breaking into the German second position near Haisnes It captured the formidable defences of the Hohenzollern Redoubt, Fosse 8 and the Dump, breaking into the German second position near Haisnes 15 th took Loos Village. 15 th took Loos Village. The attack on Loos had been carried out in an exemplary fashion by men who only 9 months earlier had been civilians unversed in warfare. The attack on Loos had been carried out in an exemplary fashion by men who only 9 months earlier had been civilians unversed in warfare.

Counter-offensive Slow transmission of movement orders, and congestion on the approach roads delayed the reserve troops arrival. Slow transmission of movement orders, and congestion on the approach roads delayed the reserve troops arrival. German counterattacks soon recaptured many of the British gains, including the Hohenzollern Redoubt. German counterattacks soon recaptured many of the British gains, including the Hohenzollern Redoubt.

Outcome The autumn fighting in Artois generated yet more grim statistics with British casualties over 50,000. The autumn fighting in Artois generated yet more grim statistics with British casualties over 50,000. For the British there had been a few encouraging signs early in battle, notably the performance of the two Scottish New Army divisions. For the British there had been a few encouraging signs early in battle, notably the performance of the two Scottish New Army divisions. Control of the BEF was transferred from Sir John French (who was blamed) to Sir Douglas Haig as commander in chief of the BEF.. Control of the BEF was transferred from Sir John French (who was blamed) to Sir Douglas Haig as commander in chief of the BEF..

Scots Impact and reputation The casualties figures at Loos were high and for the Scots even higher. The casualties figures at Loos were high and for the Scots even higher. Hardly a community in Scotland was left unaffected by the action at Loos. Hardly a community in Scotland was left unaffected by the action at Loos. Newspapers were thick with the casualty lists and heroic descriptions of the fighting. Newspapers were thick with the casualty lists and heroic descriptions of the fighting. Press reporting of the war was constrained by DORA. Press reporting of the war was constrained by DORA.

Feelings of bloody-mindedness ran deeply amongst the Scots in the two new army divisions, who ‘seem to have shrugged off casualties and taken the setback only as a stimulus to renewed aggression. Feelings of bloody-mindedness ran deeply amongst the Scots in the two new army divisions, who ‘seem to have shrugged off casualties and taken the setback only as a stimulus to renewed aggression. The Scots again showed their bravery and skill in battle, enhancing their reputation in the British Army The Scots again showed their bravery and skill in battle, enhancing their reputation in the British Army