The Passchendaele Offensive began on the 31st
July, 1917. The British artillery opened up and the Allied advance began. While
it gained ground, the artillery churned the earth into deep, thick mud, making
movement almost impossible. This was only the beginning for the months of tough
fighting that were ahead. The New
Zealand division, part of the II ANZAC Corps, fought in two battles; The Battle
of Broodeseinde on the 4th October, 1917 and the First Battle of
Passchendaele on the 12th October, 1917.
The autumn of 1917 had been the wettest in Belgium for 70 years and the flat landscape around Passchendaele was literally just mud. A 15 day preparatory bombardment before the Battle of Passchendaele began had seen the British artillery pound the German positions with 4.2 million shells, and this had completely destroyed the drainage system around Passchendaele.
The Battle of Broodseinde, launched by Field Marshal Herbert Plumer, was an operation aimed to complete the capture of the Gheluvelt Plateau and occupy Broodseinde Ridge, the last major obstacle before Passchendaele Ridge. The New Zealand division was called upon to fight in the Battle of Broodeseinde on October 4th, 1917. The Australians were making an assault on Broodeseinde’s Ridge and the New Zealand division was there to provide flanking cover. From the main ridge of Passchendaele, various small spurs ran out north-westwards, which were seperated from each other by streams. Two spurs faced the New Zealand division, one immediately in front of their trenches, the other behind it. The nearer one rose just over the small stream of Hanebeek, which lay immediately beyond the front line. This was called the Gravenstafel Spur and the New Zealand division’s objective. At 6am, an artillery barrage of field guns and howitzers opened up and the New Zealanders began their advance. In order to surprise the Germans, there had been no artillery bombardment before the attack, but the Germans had kept quiet too. A German division was down in the swamps of the Hanebeek stream and were silently moving into position for a dawn attack. Luckily however, the 6am bombardment beat them by about 10 minutes and cut the German division down. This also disrupted German organisation and they struggled to keep up with what was happening all day. The first 200 metres was easy for the New Zealanders. The 1st Auckland regiment and 3rd Otago regiment attacked on the left, the 1st Wellington regiment and the 3rd Auckland regiment on the right and the 2nd and 3rd Wellington regiments together with the 2nd Auckland and 3rd Canterbury regiments went through the middle. The artillery of the allies had destroyed the first two lines of the German three level defensive system and the third line fell to New Zealand bayonets. Many Germans surrendered and the New Zealanders were able to throw grenades into pillboxes. When the day was over the two ANZAC Corps had taken all their objectives, gained over a kilometre in territory at Gravenstafel, and taken over 5000 German prisoners. The New Zealanders alone captured 1100 prisoners and 60 machine guns. The victory came at a cost though, around 1700 New Zealand casualities, with 350 killed, including Dave Gallaher, the captain of the 1905 original All Blacks.
The autumn of 1917 had been the wettest in Belgium for 70 years and the flat landscape around Passchendaele was literally just mud. A 15 day preparatory bombardment before the Battle of Passchendaele began had seen the British artillery pound the German positions with 4.2 million shells, and this had completely destroyed the drainage system around Passchendaele.
The Battle of Broodseinde, launched by Field Marshal Herbert Plumer, was an operation aimed to complete the capture of the Gheluvelt Plateau and occupy Broodseinde Ridge, the last major obstacle before Passchendaele Ridge. The New Zealand division was called upon to fight in the Battle of Broodeseinde on October 4th, 1917. The Australians were making an assault on Broodeseinde’s Ridge and the New Zealand division was there to provide flanking cover. From the main ridge of Passchendaele, various small spurs ran out north-westwards, which were seperated from each other by streams. Two spurs faced the New Zealand division, one immediately in front of their trenches, the other behind it. The nearer one rose just over the small stream of Hanebeek, which lay immediately beyond the front line. This was called the Gravenstafel Spur and the New Zealand division’s objective. At 6am, an artillery barrage of field guns and howitzers opened up and the New Zealanders began their advance. In order to surprise the Germans, there had been no artillery bombardment before the attack, but the Germans had kept quiet too. A German division was down in the swamps of the Hanebeek stream and were silently moving into position for a dawn attack. Luckily however, the 6am bombardment beat them by about 10 minutes and cut the German division down. This also disrupted German organisation and they struggled to keep up with what was happening all day. The first 200 metres was easy for the New Zealanders. The 1st Auckland regiment and 3rd Otago regiment attacked on the left, the 1st Wellington regiment and the 3rd Auckland regiment on the right and the 2nd and 3rd Wellington regiments together with the 2nd Auckland and 3rd Canterbury regiments went through the middle. The artillery of the allies had destroyed the first two lines of the German three level defensive system and the third line fell to New Zealand bayonets. Many Germans surrendered and the New Zealanders were able to throw grenades into pillboxes. When the day was over the two ANZAC Corps had taken all their objectives, gained over a kilometre in territory at Gravenstafel, and taken over 5000 German prisoners. The New Zealanders alone captured 1100 prisoners and 60 machine guns. The victory came at a cost though, around 1700 New Zealand casualities, with 350 killed, including Dave Gallaher, the captain of the 1905 original All Blacks.
Following the successful attacks on October 4th, the British High Command mistakenly concluded that the number of German casualties, around 35,000 including 5000 prisoners, meant the enemy resistance was faltering. They decided to make another attack immediately on October 9th. Made by British and Australian troops, this was supposed to open the way for II ANZAC Corps to capture Passchendaele on October 12th. However, they didn’t have proper preparation and were faced with strong German resistance and this caused the plan to collapse, and with heavy casualties.
However, despite this, the Allied advance began on the 12th October. The New Zealanders were involved in the Battle for Bellevue Spur, the second of the two small rises leading to the Passchendaele Ridge. They began their advance on the 12th October at 5.25am. Their main objective was Goudberg Spur. The mud meant that the opening artillery barrage was largely ineffective. It was almost impossible to bring the guns forward due to the mud and, if they did manage to get them into position, they had trouble stabilising them. This meant the artillery barrages were weak and so were unsuccessful, some shells that dropped short even caused death and injuries to our own soldiers. It was a dark, cold and rainy morning and the New Zealanders were told to lie down and wait. They couldn’t even see Goudberg Spur, they just knew that Australian and British troops were in their areas also waiting. Ahead of them on Bellevue Ridge, Germans were protected by pillboxes left undamaged from the failed artillery barrage earlier. There were hidden machine gun posts and entanglements of barbed wire. Struggling through the waist deep mud in the rain, advancing New Zealanders were killed by German snipers. Many soldiers who fell in the swamp at Ravebeek stream drowned. The New Zealanders were unable to get through the barbed wire as artillery had failed to cut it. Because of the waist deep mud and uncut barbed wire, soldiers were exposed to German machine gun fire from both the front and the flank, so were pinned down in shell craters, they had no choice but to wait. Communication between the front line and leaders was failing and the orders for another push at 3pm were first postponed, and then cancelled. By full daylight, surviving soldiers knew they had lost the battle. They eventually fell back to positions close to their start line. Badly wounded soldiers lay out in the mud and many died before stretcher bearers found them. The cost of this failed battle was disastrous. 846 New Zealanders were killed in the first four hours. There were over 3700 New Zealand casualties and not a single objective was taken. The total death toll when those who died later from injuries was taken into account exceeded 1000. For two days after the battle New Zealanders struggled to collect and bring in the wounded. The regimental aid posts were overflowing and many of the wounded had to suffer a 4.5km journey to a dressing station. Survivors of the 2nd and 3rd New Zealand rifle brigades were withdrawn on October 16th and the remaining infantry a week later. New Zealand gunners remained on the line until the 2nd - 3rd of November, supporting the Canadian Corps who had relieved II ANZAC Corps. By the 10th of November, the Canadian Corps finally cleared the ridge and captured the ruined village of Passchendaele, but at a cost of 16,000 casualties.
However, despite this, the Allied advance began on the 12th October. The New Zealanders were involved in the Battle for Bellevue Spur, the second of the two small rises leading to the Passchendaele Ridge. They began their advance on the 12th October at 5.25am. Their main objective was Goudberg Spur. The mud meant that the opening artillery barrage was largely ineffective. It was almost impossible to bring the guns forward due to the mud and, if they did manage to get them into position, they had trouble stabilising them. This meant the artillery barrages were weak and so were unsuccessful, some shells that dropped short even caused death and injuries to our own soldiers. It was a dark, cold and rainy morning and the New Zealanders were told to lie down and wait. They couldn’t even see Goudberg Spur, they just knew that Australian and British troops were in their areas also waiting. Ahead of them on Bellevue Ridge, Germans were protected by pillboxes left undamaged from the failed artillery barrage earlier. There were hidden machine gun posts and entanglements of barbed wire. Struggling through the waist deep mud in the rain, advancing New Zealanders were killed by German snipers. Many soldiers who fell in the swamp at Ravebeek stream drowned. The New Zealanders were unable to get through the barbed wire as artillery had failed to cut it. Because of the waist deep mud and uncut barbed wire, soldiers were exposed to German machine gun fire from both the front and the flank, so were pinned down in shell craters, they had no choice but to wait. Communication between the front line and leaders was failing and the orders for another push at 3pm were first postponed, and then cancelled. By full daylight, surviving soldiers knew they had lost the battle. They eventually fell back to positions close to their start line. Badly wounded soldiers lay out in the mud and many died before stretcher bearers found them. The cost of this failed battle was disastrous. 846 New Zealanders were killed in the first four hours. There were over 3700 New Zealand casualties and not a single objective was taken. The total death toll when those who died later from injuries was taken into account exceeded 1000. For two days after the battle New Zealanders struggled to collect and bring in the wounded. The regimental aid posts were overflowing and many of the wounded had to suffer a 4.5km journey to a dressing station. Survivors of the 2nd and 3rd New Zealand rifle brigades were withdrawn on October 16th and the remaining infantry a week later. New Zealand gunners remained on the line until the 2nd - 3rd of November, supporting the Canadian Corps who had relieved II ANZAC Corps. By the 10th of November, the Canadian Corps finally cleared the ridge and captured the ruined village of Passchendaele, but at a cost of 16,000 casualties.