The British Sector of the Western Front,
1914 – 1918
1) First Battle of Ypres.
October – November 1914.
British held onto Ypres, which was vital in maintaining access and control of the English
Channel ports, but Germans gained ground.
2) Battle on Hill 60.
April 1915.
British tunnelled into and under the hill, and exploded mines from the tunnel, enabling them
to take the hill.
3) Second Battle of Ypres.
April – May 1915.
Germans made slight gain towards Ypres. Chlorine gas used for the first time.
4) Third Battle of Ypres.
July – November 1917.
British used a creeping barrage to make small gains to break out of the Ypres Salient. Awful
weather left ground waterlogged and many drowned.
5) The Battle of the Somme.
July – November 1916.
High casualties on both sides. Creeping barrage and tanks used by British.
6) The Battle of Arras.
April – May 1917.
Underground tunnels used to launch battle, but ended with little progress and high numbers
of casualties on both sides.
, 7) The Battle of Cambrai.
November – December 1917.
Large-scale use of tanks, but weren’t backed up, so British were forced back.
8) Trench Design.
Trenches dug down into the ground, and their upper level was fortified with sandbags.
In wet areas, trenches were built upwards using sandbags full of clay (called breastworks).
Trenches were 6/7 feet deep.
9) Describe underground warfare.
Both sides tunnelled under no man’s land to reach enemy trenches. It was dangerous for
people in the tunnels, who could be buried, suffocated or meet the enemy, but it was less
costly than a normal infantry attack through no man’s land.
Used in the Battle of Arras and the Battles of Ypres.
10) Transport problems.
Difficult terrain meant only stretcher-bearers and horse wagons could be used.
Many roads and railway lines has been destroyed.
Constant shelling and artillery fire made recovery of the injury very difficult.
First, no ambulances were sent, and there were not enough horses to cope.
1914 – 1918
1) First Battle of Ypres.
October – November 1914.
British held onto Ypres, which was vital in maintaining access and control of the English
Channel ports, but Germans gained ground.
2) Battle on Hill 60.
April 1915.
British tunnelled into and under the hill, and exploded mines from the tunnel, enabling them
to take the hill.
3) Second Battle of Ypres.
April – May 1915.
Germans made slight gain towards Ypres. Chlorine gas used for the first time.
4) Third Battle of Ypres.
July – November 1917.
British used a creeping barrage to make small gains to break out of the Ypres Salient. Awful
weather left ground waterlogged and many drowned.
5) The Battle of the Somme.
July – November 1916.
High casualties on both sides. Creeping barrage and tanks used by British.
6) The Battle of Arras.
April – May 1917.
Underground tunnels used to launch battle, but ended with little progress and high numbers
of casualties on both sides.
, 7) The Battle of Cambrai.
November – December 1917.
Large-scale use of tanks, but weren’t backed up, so British were forced back.
8) Trench Design.
Trenches dug down into the ground, and their upper level was fortified with sandbags.
In wet areas, trenches were built upwards using sandbags full of clay (called breastworks).
Trenches were 6/7 feet deep.
9) Describe underground warfare.
Both sides tunnelled under no man’s land to reach enemy trenches. It was dangerous for
people in the tunnels, who could be buried, suffocated or meet the enemy, but it was less
costly than a normal infantry attack through no man’s land.
Used in the Battle of Arras and the Battles of Ypres.
10) Transport problems.
Difficult terrain meant only stretcher-bearers and horse wagons could be used.
Many roads and railway lines has been destroyed.
Constant shelling and artillery fire made recovery of the injury very difficult.
First, no ambulances were sent, and there were not enough horses to cope.
