Passchendaele. Australian forces incurred 38,000 casualties

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Passchendaele by P Warner - new book

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This war book is the History of Battle of Passchendaele WW1 1917 ' book by Philip Warner.

The Battle of Passchendaele, or Third Battle of Ypres was one of the major battles of World War I. The battle consisted of a series of operations (later to become known by individual Battle names) starting in June 1917 and stopping in November 1917. These included, Menin Road Pilckem Ridge Langemarck Menin Road Polygon Wood Broodseinde Poelcappelle First Passchendaele Second Passchendaele. The final objective of the overall Battle was to gain control of the village of Passchendaele near the town of Ypres in West Flanders, Belgium.

Passchendaele has become synonymous with the misery of fighting in thick mud. Most of the battle took place on reclaimed marshland, swampy even without rain. 1917 had an unusually cold and wet summer, and heavy artillery bombardment tore up the surface of the land.

Australian forces suffered greatly during this Battle. The Australian Divisions participated in the battles of Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde, Poelcapelle and the First Battle of Passchendaele. In eight weeks of fighting Australian forces incurred 38,000 casualties. The combined total of British and Dominion casualties has been estimated at 310,000 (estimated German losses were slightly lower) and no breakthrough was achieved. The costly offensives, ending with the capture of Passchendaele village, merely widened the Ypres salient by a few kilometres.
There were over 65 Victoria Crosses awarded to British and Commonwealth soldiers during the 5 month Battle of Passchendaele.

Black and white photographic illustrations on plate paper.