Second Battle of Artois
Second Battle of Artois |
Part of the Western Front of the First World War |
Aftermath of fighting in Carency |
Date |
9 May – 18 June 1915 |
Location |
Artois, France |
Result |
Stalemate |
|
Belligerents |
France
United Kingdom
|
German Empire |
Commanders and leaders |
Joseph Joffre |
Unknown |
Strength |
9 French & British divisions (initial) |
Unknown |
Casualties and losses |
100,000 French
11,000 British |
75,000 |
|
|
The Second Battle of Artois, of which the British contribution was the Battle of Aubers Ridge, was a battle on the Western Front of the First World War, it was fought at the same time as the Second Battle of Ypres. Even though the French under General Philippe Pétain gained some initial victories, the battle ended in what was largely a stalemate. This was the final allied offensive of the spring of 1915, followed by a lull in the fighting until September 1915 which saw the Second Battle of Champagne, the Third Battle of Artois and the Battle of Loos.
Anecdotes
François Faber, winner of the 1909 Tour de France, died during the battle, on 9 May 1915.
The British order of battle
- I Corps : 1st Division and 47th (1/2nd London) Division
- IV Corps : 7th Division and 8th Division
- Indian Corps : 3rd (Lahore) Division and 7th (Meerut) Division
- First Wing, RFC [1]
See also
Battle of Festubert
External reference