Battle of Hill 60 (Western Front)

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The Battle of Hill 60 was a British assault that was subsidiary to the Battle of Neuve Chapelle. Hill 60 was a low rise on the southern flank of the Ypres salient at 50°49′17″N 2°55′54″E / 50.82139, 2.93167 (Hill 60)Coordinates: 50°49′17″N 2°55′54″E / 50.82139, 2.93167 (Hill 60) and was named for the 60 metre contour which marked its bounds. The hill had been captured by the Germans on December 10, 1914 from the French forces. After the race for the sea, it was obvious the Hill had to be retaken. A great deal of the fighting around Hill 60 was underground. The British immediately began tunnelling a number of mines beneath the hill. By April 1915 twenty one mines had been completed. At 19:00 on April 17, 1915 the mines were detonated, demolishing a large part of the hill and killing many German soldiers occupying the trenches. The British battalions suffered only 7 casualties in capturing the hill.

A German counter-attack succeeded in recapturing the hill but the British regained possession on April 18. Fighting continued until April 22.

Hill 60 was eventually taken by the Germans following a gas attack on 5th May, 1915. The results were devastating. The front trenches were overrun when the forward companies were almost wiped out. Only 2 officers and 70 men from one battalion remained.

It was due to a stout defence by a platoon of the Devon and Dorsets and the Battalion Headquarter Staff of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment that a major breakthrough was prevented.

[edit] See also

Sanctuary Wood Museum Hill 62

Hill 60 was also the sight of a desperate battle between the Germans and A company of the 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers in May 1940. The memorial plate to the Australian miners bears the scars of this battle.