The zenith of siege warfare campaign alexander turner, peter dennis on. The enemy must not get the messines ridge at any price so read the orders to german troops defending the vital high ground south of ypres. British forces put careful planning into the battle of messines ridge. Battle of messines 1917 the battle of messines 714 june 1917 was an offensive conducted by the british. New zealanders played a prominent role in this successful action but paid a heavy price. The battle for the possession of the villages of messines ridge, messines, wytchaete, st. A smashed up german trench on messines ridge, 7 june 1917. It began on 7 june 1917 when the british second army under the command of general herbert plumer launched an offensive near the village of mesen messines in west flanders, belgium. Between 714 june 1917, the british second army under general sir herbert plumer planned.
The 1917 battle of messines was preceded by 19 giant mine explosions and was the biggest military mining effort in history. Plumer intended to smash the german defences on the ridge, facilitating a subsequent advance to passchendaele ridge, where the allies planned to have the third battle of ypres or passchendaele. Battle of messines, 714 june 1917, british victory during world war i. Vcs of first world war vcs of the first world war s. Battle of messines 1917 the battle of messines 714 june 1917 was. The 1917 messines mines detonation was probably the largest planned explosion in history prior to the trinity atomic weapon test in july 1945 and the largest nonnuclear planned explosion before the british explosive efforts on the heligoland islands in april 1947. Tank in badly shelled mud area, battle of passchendaele dates. On 7 june 1917, the british second army launched its attack on messines ridge, detonating 19 giant mines beneath the german frontline positions. At 0310 hours on 7 june 1917, the predawn gloom on the western front was shattered by the pillars of fire the rapid detonation of 19 huge mines, secreted in tunnels under the german lines and containing 450 tonnes of explosives. Preempted by the detonation of 19 enormous mines containing one million pounds of ammonal, the assault was launched by three corps under general herbert plumers second army. Plumer intended to smash the german defences on the ridge, facilitating a subsequent advance to passchendaele ridge, where the allies plann. Battle of messines 1917 wikipedia republished wiki 2. The battle of messines 714 june 1917 was an offensive conducted by the british second army, under the command of general sir herbert plumer, on the western front near the village of messines in belgian west flanders during the first world war. Australian troops were in belgium in june 1917 for a major push.
Precipitated by the detonation of 19 enormous mines under the german front lines made famous in the australian feature film beneath hill 60, the battle of messines has historical significance for the australian imperial force aif as it was the first time that the 3rd australian division saw service on the western front. Before dawn on 7 june 1917, 19 mines were blown, obliterating the german positions. The battle of messines in june 1917 was an important attack that sought to seize the strategically important heights of the messineswytschaete ridge in southern belgium. The battle of messines, june 1917 village of wytschaete captured on 7th june 1917 by the 16th irish and 36th ulster division. Battle of messines map nzhistory, new zealand history online. The battle of messines 714 june 1917 was an attack by the british second army general sir herbert plumer, on the western front near the village of messines in west flanders, belgium, during the first world war. In order to allow a more general offensive, it was imperative that the germans be driven off the messines ridge, which dominated the ypres salient. The western front of 191418 is characterised by a continual series of bloody stalemates, but the battle of messines was a relatively rare example of a successful offensive. In the summer of 1917 the british launched a major offensive to capture the messines ridge, a salient. Duke of connaught saluting new zealand troops after the battle of messines. I would appreciate any contributions to this and preferably the source of the information for any. The zenith of siege warfare campaign turner, alexander, dennis, peter on. This third volume of a miniseries covering the german forces in world war i 19141918 examines the troops that fought during the climax of the war on all fronts. Official first world war photographer, henry armytage sanders, took this photograph on 26 june 1917.
Hear about the british high commands plans in early 1917 to seize control of the area once and for all. Battle of messines simple english wikipedia, the free. By 1515, the entire messines ridge, fought over so bitterly for two years, was in the hands of australian, british, and new zealand troops. Battle of messines ridge, 7 june 1917 successful british attack during the first world war. Battle of messines 1917 ww1 world war one ieper 1917. For the first time since gallipoli, the new zealanders attacked alongside the australians at messines on 7 june 1917. There are also some german companies for the front trenches. For years, tunnellers had dug mines beneath german trenches in the area and packed them with explosives. Artillery operations of the ninth british corps at messines.
The first shipment loaded by wheelbarrow was sent in 1799 to bengal. The media for this item are free to reuse for noncommercial purposes under the iwm non commercial licence and can be downloaded or embedded with the code we offer here. At the start of the battle of messines 714 june 1917 during the first world war, a series of underground explosive charges were detonated by the british army beneath german lines near the village of mesen messines in french, historically used in english, in belgian west flanders. By the end of the day, one of the strongest positions on the western front had fallen, a place of such importance that the germans had pledged to hold it at any cost. Artillery operations of the ninth british corps at messines, june 1917. At 03h10 the newzealand forces go over the top and attack their objective.
What the british know as the battle of the mines or the battle of messines. Home battle of messines, battle of ypres, world war i. The battle of messines was a prelude to the much larger third battle of ypres, better known as passchendaele. It began on 7 june 1917 when the british second army, which was commanded by general herbert plumer, attacked near the village of mesen messines in west flanders, belgium. Battle of messines 1917 new zealanders capture messines. Battle of messines nzhistory, new zealand history online. The battle of messines ridge is a comprehensive study of the world war i battle at messines. This image might not be in the public domain outside of the united states.
Jun 07, 20 battle of messines 1917 posted on june 7, 20 by ww1ieper1917 on june 7, 1917, the british 2nd army had a crushing victory over the germans at messines ridge in belgian west flanders, marking the successful prelude to an allied offensive designed to break the grinding stalemate on the western front in ww1 i. Anniversary of the battle of messines 7 14 june 2017. The zenith of siege warfare campaign 20140307 fe 2bd vs albatros scouts. Ships queued outside newcastle harbour to load hunter valley coal for expor t december 2006. The battle of messines, june 1917 officers of the 11th battalion, royal inniskilling fusiliers 109th brigade, 36th division after the capture of wytschaete, 12 june 1917. Battle of messines in june 1917 and the two battles of ypres in october 1917. Months in planning, zero hour for the battle of messines was scheduled for dawn on 7 th june. Gentlemen, we may not make history tomorrow, but we shall. The battle of messines was a battle which happened in the western front of the first world war. Pdf examples of the influence of groundwater on british military. The battle of messines was the most successful local operation of the first world war on the the western front. Heres what happened in a minute by minute overview of that morning. The battle of messines was a battle of the western front of the first world war. In contrast to the eventual disaster at passchendaele, the carefully prepared attack on messines was a striking success.
Accordingly, after months of planning by general sir herbert plumer 17day bombardment began. The enemy must not get from messines ridge at any priceread so the orders to the german troops defending the essential on the high ground south of ypreson 7 june 1917, the british second army launched its attack with an opening unlike any otherin the greatest secret of the first world war operation, the british and commonwealth mining companies placed more than one million tons of. Commanding officers at messines 1917 soldiers and their. The forgotten wwi victory that changed the british army. By the end of the day, one of the strongest positions on the western front had fallen, a place of such importance that the germans had pledged to hold it. Episode the ypres salient was one of the most intensely fought over sections of the western front. Gentlemen, we may not make history tomorrow, but we shall certainly change the geography the mines of messines, 1917.
In preparation for the allied summer offensive in flanders, the messines salient had to be eliminated. Canadian tunnellers at messines ridge 19161917 scholars. The messines detonation is historys deadliest nonnuclear manmade explosion. The battle of messines, june 1917 imperial war museums. The germans had held messines ridge, a key vantage point, since 1915. The battle of messines nzhistory, new zealand history online. Between 714 june 1917, the british second army under general sir herbert plumer planned an offensive to take the messines ridge to the south east of ypres. The creator and year of publication are essential information and must be provided. The capture of messines ridge was a preliminary operation that took place just prior to.
On the whole, author ian passingham is able to write in a clear, accessible manner but there are moments where the writing seems dull and too focused on the small details. Eloi, took place in 191417, and the final battle for messines in 1918. On 7 june 1917, general plumers 2nd army targeted messines ridge, southeast of ypres, a german salient since 1914. Meticulously planned, the action started on the 7 th of june with the detonation of huge underground mines that rattled the teacups in london and killed 10,000 german soldiers the new zealanders secured their objectives and. The battle of messines during the first world war was a prelude to the much larger third battle of ypres. Messines 1917 the zenith of siege warfarealexander turnerillustrated by peter dennis osprey publishing.
Messines ridge belgium 1917 the greatest mining attack in history. Meticulously planned, the action started on the 7 th of june with the detonation of huge underground mines that rattled the teacups in london and killed 10,000 german soldiers. On june 7, 1917, the british 2nd army had a crushing victory over the germans at messines ridge in belgian west flanders, marking the successful prelude to an allied offensive designed to break the grinding stalemate on the western front in ww1i. There are two rules books standard rules that are 5 pages and messines. The battle of messines 1917 part two australian army. The mines, secretly planted by british tunnelling units, created 19 large craters and are estimated to have. The enemy must not get from messines ridge at any priceread so the orders to the german troops defending the essential on the high ground south of ypreson 7 june 1917, the british second army launched its attack with an opening unlike any otherin the greatest secret of the first world war operation, the british and commonwealth mining companies placed more than one million. Artillery is the centerpiece of the game with four.
The capture of messines ridge was a preliminary operation that took place just prior to the battle of passchendaele third battle of ypres. Carried out by the british second army, commanded by general herbert plumers it was launched on 7 june 1917 with the detonation of 19 undergr. Australian soldiers at messines in july 1917, standing in german trenches demolished by the mine blasts. Admitted by the germans to be a masterstroke, the devastating blasts caused 10,000 soldiers to later be posted simply as missing. Precipitated by the detonation of 19 enormous mines under the german front lines made famous in the australian feature film beneath hill 60, the battle of messines has historical significance for the australian imperial force aif as it was the first time that the 3rd australian division saw service on the. On 7 june 1917, the british second army launched its attack with an opening like no other. Companies of the british royal engineers in developing mine warfare in flanders from 19151917, culminating in the battle of messines in june 1917. Commemorating the centenary of the battle of messines, 7 june 1917. After the charge had gone up and the mine was reported free from gas, an explosion. Scale is 240 yards per hex and each unit is a battalion or regiment. The attack was meant to capture a ridge which ran north from messines village, past wytschaete village. Pdf the success of military mining is inherently controlled by subsurface conditions. The 5,547 deaths among new zealand military personnel in 1917 was more than. Hi, i am searching for the names and rank of various commanding officers who lead their companies and battalions in to action at messines in june 1917.
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