Gas attack at Hulluch

Battle of Hulluch
Part of the Western Front of World War I
Date 27 April 1916 – 29 April 1916
Location Hulluch, France
Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom Germany
Commanders and leaders
Major General John Hickie
Strength
1 Division of approx. 8000 men
Casualties and losses
538 dead, 1590 wounded under 500

The Battle of Hulluch was a conflict in World War I, 27–29 April 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 German began preparing for the attack during April when they placed about 7,400 cylinders along a 3 km front. The Germans began an attack by first releasing smoke, followed by the gas 1½ hours later from 3,800 cylinders. This subterfuge caused the British Army troops to dispense with their Phenate-Hexamine Goggle helmets after the smoke was released, resulting in 486 casualties during the actual attack. Of these 135 died.[1]

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.

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

References

  1. ^ Haber, Ludwig Fritz. The Poisonous Cloud. Oxford University Press. pp. 88–89. ISBN 978-0-19-858142-0.