Ex Magpie Progress 25 - Messines Ridge

 The Messines Ridge runs North South from Hill 60 to south of Messines. It had been in German hands since 1914 and it’s capture was essential to the forthcoming offensive that would launch the Third Battle of Ypres.

The planning for the capture of the ridge began in August 1915 when the Royal Engineers began tunnelling under the German defences with the intent of mines filled with tons of explosives. 

Royal Engineer Tunnellers

Over a period of two years 25 mines containing 500,000 kilograms of explosive would be dug under the Messines Ridge prior to the battle.

On the eve of the Battle of Messines, General Sir Charles Harrington, Chief of Staff Second Army, remarked to press reporters;

  "Gentlemen, I don’t know whether we are going to make history tomorrow, but at any rate we shall change geography"      

Messines Mine Explosions

One of the largest mines was located at Spanbroekmolen. The 41,000 kgs of explosive at Spanbroekmolen left a crater 27 metres deep and a diameter of 76 metres which is now filled with water. 

Messines Ridge Spanbroekmolen Crater

Messines Ridge Spanbroekmolen Crater IJ

The assault on the Messines Ridge would be  conducted by the British Second Army, X Corps on the left, X Corps centre and II ANZAC Corps on the right. 

The capture of the village of Messines would be conducted by the New Zealand Division. 

Messines Ridge view towards New Zealand positions

New Zealand Division attack on Messines

The effect of the mine explosions coupled with the preliminary bombardment were devastating. Defences were destroyed or neutralised, many who survived were so traumatised they surrendered or ran away.  The creeping barrage successfully supported the infantry assault and the German defences were breached, the Messines was captured and the New Zealanders consolidated their position.  

Messines assault on Messines Ridge

The New Zealanders' success was replicated along the Messines Ridge which now lay in British hands. 

New Zealand Memorial Messines

Ypres 2020 - Hill 60

Hill 60 German bunker IJ

Hill 60 takes it's name from a spoil heap formed during the construction of the railway line from Ypres - Comines, which opened in opened in 1854. 

Ypres - Comines Rail Line

 Before World War One the mound left from the digging of a rail cutting was called "La Côte des Amants", Lovers Knoll.  The spoil excavated was piled either side of the railway cutting. On the west side, a 270 metre long ridge known as the Caterpillar resulted, on the east side,  a mound 60 feet high (18 metres) gave the feature it's name. Hill 60 would provide an excellent view of Ypres and Zillebeke. 

To the south west of Hill 60 is St Eloi and the Messines Ridge running 12 km south through the villages of  Wystsheate and Messines to Ploegstreet Wood.

The Hill was initially held by the French, however it was captured by the Germans in December 1914 during the First Battles of Ypres. The British took over from the French in the sector on the night of 1/2 February 1915.

The importance of the hill for artillery observation made the feature vital ground and the struggle for control would result in bitter fighting over the next four years. A tunnelling war developed with both sides blowing mines to destroy defences as part of the efforts to secure the feature.

In March 1915 tunnelling work commenced to place  five mines underneath Hill 60. These were blown on the morning of 17th April, their effect not only destroyed German defences, it blew the top off the hill reducing it's height to less than 20 feet (6 metres) metres, leaving prominent craters. The 1st West Kents and 6th Kings Own Scottish Borderers quickly overcame the defenders and consolidated their position.

Hill 60 Mine Craters

The hill was retaken by the Germans during the afternoon of 18th April after three attacks, however, by the evening a British counter attack regained the lost ground . An German attack on the 21st April, prior to the Second Battle of April was repulsed. It was during this action that Second Lieutenant Geoffrey H Woolley, serving with Queen Victoria's Rifles [9th (County of London) Battalion London Regiment], was awarded the Victoria Cross, the first VC to be awarded to a Territorial Officer.

Defence oh Hill 60 19-21 April

2.Lieiut Geoffrey Wooley Victoria Cross Action

Defence of Hill 60 Queen Victoria Rifles - 9th London Regiment

Hill 60 would once again fall to the Germans in May 1915. A A series of gas attacks starting on the 1st of May and bitter fighting finally resulted in the Germans regaining the hill on the 5th May. British counter attacks on the 7th May failed to remove the enemy defenders. 

Hill 60 Trench Map August 1916

Hill 60 Front Lines

British Front Line - German Front Line

Caterpillar

Hill 60

In August 1915 tunnelling operations began on two mines, one under the Caterpillar, the other under Hill 60 to prepare for a future campaign in Flanders. 

Hill 60 and the Caterpillar would remain in German hands for nearly two years. This gave the  Germans the opportunity to strengthen their positions including the building of strongpoints and bunkers.

German fortifications Hill 60

German bunker Hill 60

At 03:10 on 7th June 1917 following a the 12 day preliminary bombardment, mines under Hill 60 and Caterpillar were detonated. 

Battle of Messines Mines

The 23rd Division on the extreme left flank of Second Army's assault on the Messines Ridge were tasked with seizing Hill 60 and the Caterpillar. Leading the X Corps attack with axis an on Hill 60, were the 69th and 70th Brigades who were able to seize the shattered remains of the German defences. The 68th Brigade, which included the 10th and 11th Battalions Northumberland Fusiliers, and 12th and 13th Battalions Durham Light Infantry would follow on to consolidate the objectives.

Hill 60 destroyed German bunker

In April 1918 the German Army launched the second of it's Spring Offensive operations, Operation Georgette. The British were pushed back to the River Lys and once again Hill 60 changed hands and it was back under German control. On the 11th April 1918 Field Marshall Haig issued his 'backs to the wall' message urging no further retreat of British Forces, and the German advance faltered. Despite further German attemps to breakthrough, notably on the River Aisne, the Spring Offesive failed.

In August 1918 the Allies went on the offensive forcing the Germans into a retreat. An Army Group commanded by King Albert of the Belgians launched an offensive in Flanders in September, and on the 28th September Hill 60 was regained by the Aliies, and would remain in their hands till the Armistice, November 11 1918.

A memorial plaque on Hill 60 records the fight for control over four years of war.

Hill 60 Commemoration Stone

Hill 60 Commemoration Stone

Hill 60 had seen many major actions over the four years of war resulting in thousands of casualties, many of whom remain buried in the ground of the hill as it was pulverised by artillery and mine explosions. 

Hill 60 WW1

The site is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and regarded as a war grave as remains  of those killed during the bitter fight still lie beneath the land. 

Hill 60 2020

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Hill 60 Donkeys

Ypres 2020 - Messines Ridge NZ Division Memorial

The New Zealand Division Memorial is situated on the western edge of the village of Messines. A stone obelisk records it's purpose; 

‘In honour of the men of the New Zealand Division. The Battle of Messines 7th to 14th of June 1917′

The memorial It overlooks the battlefield on which the Kiwis fought and is inscribed with their exploits;

'The New Zealand Division on the 7th of June captured this ridge and advanced 2000 yards through Messines to their objective on the Eastern side‘.

New Zealand Division Memorial Messines

On the outbreak of World War One, New Zealand formed an expeditionary force consisting of two brigades, the New Zealand Infantry Brigade and the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade. The brigades became part of the New Zealand and Australian Division fighting in the Gallipoli Campaign from April 1915 to December 1915. Following their evacuation from Gallipoli the division withdrew to Egypt. 

The New Zealand Division was formed Egypt in in March 1916 ,moving to France the following year. They fought in the later stages of the Battle of the Somme, their first major engagement being the Battle of Flers-Courcelette in September 1916.

New Zealand Division

The NZ Division was part of 2nd ANZAC Corps in the Battle of Messines. It was tasked with the capture of the village of Messines.

Messines - New Zealand Division objective

The 2nd ANZAC Corps was on the right of Second Army's assault on the Messines Ridge with its axis on the village of Messines. To their left, in the centre IX Corps would attack Wytschaete and the left flank was allocated to X Corpswith an axis on an old Roman Road, the Dammstrasse.

The New Zealanders were at the centre of the three division assault, 25th Division left, 3rd Australian Division right, with the 4th Australian Division in reserve. 

The NZ Division would attack uphill towards German fortified positions. Within the memorial gradens a panorama of the battlefield overlooks the ground over which the Kiwi's would attack. The remains of two German bunker show the defences they would need to overcome.

New Zealand Division Battlefield Panorama

New Zealand Division Battlefield Panorama

German Bunkers 

New Zealand Memorial

German Bunkers overlooking New Zealand Division Battlefield

A preliminary bombardment lasting from  26th May to 6th June preceeded the assault. Royal Engineer Tunnelling Companies had placed 25 mines with 542,542 kg of explosives along the Messines Ridge to destroy German strongpoints at Zero Hour. 

At 03:10 7th June 1917, nineteen of the mines detonated along the Messines Ridge destroying German defences, shocking and disorientating the defenders, inducing panic.  A creeping barrage commenced and the infantry left their trenches. 

Infantry Assault Messines Ridge

Two brigades lead the attack with a pincer movement on Messines, the 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade right, the 2nd New Zealand Infantry Brigade right, with tanks in support.  The 1st New Zealand Infantry Brigade was in reserve for the initial attack. 

Battle of Messines 7th June 1917 New Zealand Division Assault

The effect of the preliminary bombardment, the mines and the creeping barrage meant the leading troops quickly secured the forward German positions and advanced on Messines, fighting through the ruins clearing the village by 07:00. 

New Zealand Division Messines

Messines Village

The 1st New Zealand Brigade leapfrogged the two assault brigades to exploit beyond Messines and consolidate on the ridge line. The Phase 1 objectives had been achieved.

1st Otago Battalion after Battle of Messines

Messines Kiwi Soldier Statue

During the fighting Lance Corporal Samuel Frickleton won the Victoria Cross singlehandedly taking out two machine gun posts pinning down his section.

L/Cpl Samuel Frickleton VC

L/Cpl Samuel Frickleton VC

In support of the New Zealand infantry were the Divisional Artillery, together with attached Army Artillery Brigades and Heavy Artillery Groups. 

New Zealand Field Artillery on the move 

The Divisional Artillery consisted of the 1st and 3rd Brigades New Zealand Field Artillery, each Brigade consisting of three 18 pounder batteries and a 4.5inch howitzer battery. 

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New Zealand Division Memorial Messines

The New Zealand Division Memorial at Messines is one of four obelisks instituted to remember the New Zeland soldiers who died on the Western Front. The others are located at Passchendaele, Le Quensoy and Longueval on the Somme. The memorials all bear the inscription "From the Uttermost Ends of the Earth"

The memorial was unveiled by King Albert I of Belgium on the 1st of August 1924.

New Zealand Division Memorial Messines

Opening 1st August 1924