Gas attack at Hulluch

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Battle of Hulluch

Part of the Western Front of World War I

Date	April 27 - April 29, 1916
Location	Loos, France
Result	British victory

Belligerents

United Kingdom

Germany

Commanders

Major General John Hickie

Strength

1 Division of approx. 8000 men

Casualties and losses

538 dead, 1590 wounded

Less than 500

v • d • e Western Front

Frontiers – Liège – Antwerp – Great Retreat – Race to the Sea – Neuve Chapelle – 2nd Ypres – 2nd Artois – Hill 70 – 3rd Artois – Loos – Verdun – Hulluch – Mont Sorrel – Somme – Arras – Vimy Ridge – 2nd Aisne – Messines – Passchendaele – Cambrai – Michael – Lys – 3rd Aisne – Belleau Wood – 2nd Marne – Château-Thierry – Hamel – Hundred Days

The Battle of Hulluch was a conflict in World War I, April 27-29, 1916, involving the 16th (Irish) Division of the British Army's 19th Corps.

The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers on the night of the 27th suffered a heavily-concentrated German chlorine gas attack near the German-held village of Hulluch, a mile north of Loos. The Germans began an attack by first releasing smoke, followed by the gas 1½ hours later. This subterfuge caused the British Army troops to dispense with their Phenate-Hexamine Goggle helmets after the smoke was released, resulting in heavy casualties during the actual attack.

Other units of the 16th Division, including the Royal Irish Rifles, the Royal Munster Fusiliers and The Royal Dublin Fusiliers were called in to stem the German attack.

On the 29th, the Germans attacked with gas again, but this time the wind blew the gas back upon their own troops, crippling a great number.

Hulluch was one of the most heavily-concentrated gas attacks of the war.

[edit] References

Punch, Kieron. A Brief History of the 16th "Irish" Division. The Wild Geese Today. Retrieved on 2007-11-09.
Irish Battalions. Royal Dublin Fusiliers Association. Retrieved on 2007-11-09.
Jones, Simon (2002). World War I Gas Warfare Tactics and Equipment. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1846031516.