The Defence of Festubert was an engagement on the Western Front early in the First World War when Indian and British battalions of the 7th (Meerut) Division of the Indian Army defended the village of Festubert against a German attack from 23 to 24 November 1914. It was one of the first actions in the war in which an attack was made against a prepared defensive position. The British and Indian regiments that took part were awarded the battle honourFestubert 1914.
The fighting around Ypres subsided in mutual exhaustion by 22 November and for about three weeks bad weather also inhibited operations apart from artillery-fire, bombing and sniping. At the end of the month the British made several night raids and on 23 November, the German Infantry Regiment 112 captured 800 yd (730 m) of trench east of Festubert in the Indian Corps area.[1] The Indians counter-attacked through the night and recovered the trenches. The Defence of Festubert was one of the first attacks on an organised trench system. Most notably a night attack also occurred, involving mainly the 129th Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis and the Mazhabi Sikhs of the 34th Royal Sikh Pioneers Regiment and the 1st Battalion Manchester Regiment. The battle was a costly British victory, the lost trench was recaptured but there were many casualties in the 129th Baluchis battalion and the 1st Manchesters.[2]
Der Herbst-Feldzug 1914: Im Westen bis zum Stellungskrieg, im Osten bis zum Rückzug [The Autumn Campaign 1914: In the West until Position Warfare, in the East until the Retreat]. Der Weltkrieg 1914 bis 1918: Militärischen Operationen zu Lande. Vol. I (Die Digitale Landesbibliothek Oberösterreich ed.). Berlin: Mittler & Sohn. 2012 [1929]. OCLC 838299944. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
Edmonds, J. E. (1925). Military Operations France and Belgium, 1914: Antwerp, La Bassée, Armentières, Messines and Ypres October–November 1914. History of the Great War Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence. Vol. II. London: Macmillan. OCLC 220044986.
Edmonds, J. E.; Wynne, G. C. (1995) [1927]. Military Operations France and Belgium, 1915: Winter 1914–15 Battle of Neuve Chapelle: Battles of Ypres. History of the Great War Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence. Vol. I (Imperial War Museum and Battery Press repr. ed.). London: Macmillan. ISBN0-89839-218-7.
James, E. A. (1990) [1924]. A Record of the Battles and Engagements of the British Armies in France and Flanders 1914–1918 (London Stamp Exchange ed.). Aldershot: Gale & Polden. ISBN0-948130-18-0.
Further readingedit
Corrigan, Gordon (2006). Sepoys in the Trenches: The Indian Corps on the Western Front 1914–15. Tempus. ISBN1-86227-354-5.
Jones, H. A. (2002) [1928]. The War in the Air, Being the Story of the Part played in the Great War by the Royal Air Force. Vol. II (Imperial War Museum and Naval & Military Press ed.). London: Clarendon Press. ISBN1-84342-413-4. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
Merewether, J. W. B.; Smith, F. E. (1919) [1917]. The Indian Corps in France (rev. ed.). OCLC 3774822. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
Seton, B. (1915). . London: War Office. IOR/L/MIL/17/5/2402. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
Willcocks, J. (1920). With the Indians in France. London: Constable. OCLC 1184253. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Defence of Festubert.
The Long, Long Trail, The Winter Operations 1914–15
Defrance, C. Indians, unheralded heroes
January 01, 1970
defence, festubert, also, winter, operations, 1914, this, article, about, engagement, 1914, british, attack, spring, 1915, battle, festubert, part, first, world, november, 1914date23, november, 1914locationfestubert, france50, 54417, 73750, 54417, 73750units, . See also Winter operations 1914 15 This article is about an engagement in 1914 For the British attack in spring 1915 see Battle of Festubert Defence of FestubertPart of First World WarDefence of Festubert 23 24 November 1914Date23 24 November 1914LocationFestubert France50 32 39 N 02 44 15 E 50 54417 N 2 73750 E 50 54417 2 73750Units involvedInfantry Regiment 1127th Meerut DivisionFestubertclass notpageimage Festubert commune in the Pas de Calais department and Nord Pas de Calais region of France The Defence of Festubert was an engagement on the Western Front early in the First World War when Indian and British battalions of the 7th Meerut Division of the Indian Army defended the village of Festubert against a German attack from 23 to 24 November 1914 It was one of the first actions in the war in which an attack was made against a prepared defensive position The British and Indian regiments that took part were awarded the battle honour Festubert 1914 Contents 1 Battle 1 1 23 24 November 2 Order of battle 3 Notes 4 Footnotes 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksBattle edit23 24 November edit The fighting around Ypres subsided in mutual exhaustion by 22 November and for about three weeks bad weather also inhibited operations apart from artillery fire bombing and sniping At the end of the month the British made several night raids and on 23 November the German Infantry Regiment 112 captured 800 yd 730 m of trench east of Festubert in the Indian Corps area 1 The Indians counter attacked through the night and recovered the trenches The Defence of Festubert was one of the first attacks on an organised trench system Most notably a night attack also occurred involving mainly the 129th Duke of Connaught s Own Baluchis and the Mazhabi Sikhs of the 34th Royal Sikh Pioneers Regiment and the 1st Battalion Manchester Regiment The battle was a costly British victory the lost trench was recaptured but there were many casualties in the 129th Baluchis battalion and the 1st Manchesters 2 Order of battle editOctober 1914 7th Meerut Division a GOC Lieutenant General C A AndersonGSO1 Colonel Claud JacobDehra Dun Brigade GOC Brigadier General C E Johnson 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders 6th Jat Light Infantry 129th Baluchis 2 2nd King Edward s Own Gurkha Rifles The Sirmoor Regiment 1 9th Gurkha Rifles Garhwal Brigade GOC Major General Henry Keary 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment 1 39th Garhwal Rifles 2 39th Garhwal Rifles 2 3rd Gurkha Rifles Bareilly Brigade GOC Major General F Macbean 2nd Battalion Black Watch 41st Dogras 58th Vaughan s Rifles Frontier Force 2 8th Gurkha Rifles Divisional Mounted Troops 4th Cavalry Divisional Artillery IV Brigade Royal Field Artillery replaced V Brigade transferred to 3rd Lahore Division 17 October 1914 7th 14th and 66th Batteries IV Brigade Ammunition Column IX Brigade RFA 19th 20th and 28th Batteries IX Brigade Ammunition Column XIII Brigade RFA replaced XI Brigade transferred to 3rd Lahore Division 17 October 1914 2nd 8th and 44th Batteries XIII Brigade Ammunition Column 110th Heavy Battery Royal Garrison Artillery Heavy Battery Ammunition Column Meerut Divisional Ammunition Column Engineers 3rd and 4th Companies 1st King George s Own Sappers and Miners Signals Service Meerut Signal Company Divisional Pioneers 107th Pioneers Supply and Transport Meerut Divisional train Medical Units 19th and 20th British Field Ambulances 128th 129th and 130th Indian Field AmbulancesNotes edit All data from Edmonds Military Operations 1914 Part II 1925 3 Footnotes edit James 1990 p 6 Edmonds amp Wynne 1995 p 4 Edmonds 1925 pp 482 483 References editDer Herbst Feldzug 1914 Im Westen bis zum Stellungskrieg im Osten bis zum Ruckzug The Autumn Campaign 1914 In the West until Position Warfare in the East until the Retreat Der Weltkrieg 1914 bis 1918 Militarischen Operationen zu Lande Vol I Die Digitale Landesbibliothek Oberosterreich ed Berlin Mittler amp Sohn 2012 1929 OCLC 838299944 Retrieved 29 July 2015 Edmonds J E 1925 Military Operations France and Belgium 1914 Antwerp La Bassee Armentieres Messines and Ypres October November 1914 History of the Great War Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence Vol II London Macmillan OCLC 220044986 Edmonds J E Wynne G C 1995 1927 Military Operations France and Belgium 1915 Winter 1914 15 Battle of Neuve Chapelle Battles of Ypres History of the Great War Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence Vol I Imperial War Museum and Battery Press repr ed London Macmillan ISBN 0 89839 218 7 James E A 1990 1924 A Record of the Battles and Engagements of the British Armies in France and Flanders 1914 1918 London Stamp Exchange ed Aldershot Gale amp Polden ISBN 0 948130 18 0 Further reading editCorrigan Gordon 2006 Sepoys in the Trenches The Indian Corps on the Western Front 1914 15 Tempus ISBN 1 86227 354 5 Jones H A 2002 1928 The War in the Air Being the Story of the Part played in the Great War by the Royal Air Force Vol II Imperial War Museum and Naval amp Military Press ed London Clarendon Press ISBN 1 84342 413 4 Retrieved 30 July 2015 Merewether J W B Smith F E 1919 1917 The Indian Corps in France rev ed OCLC 3774822 Retrieved 31 July 2015 Seton B 1915 An Analysis of 1 000 Wounds and Injuries Received in Action with Special Reference to the Theory of the Prevalence of Self Infliction Secret London War Office IOR L MIL 17 5 2402 Archived from the original on 25 October 2023 Retrieved 30 July 2015 Willcocks J 1920 With the Indians in France London Constable OCLC 1184253 Retrieved 30 July 2015 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Defence of Festubert The Long Long Trail The Winter Operations 1914 15 Defrance C Indians unheralded heroes Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Defence of Festubert amp oldid 1206122008, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
