Loos has always fascinated/ appalled me - my great uncle (4/Grenadier Guards) was wounded at Hill 70. A very coherent and easily understood explanation, supported by great maps. Well done!
When Churchill was disciplining the men in his battalion, he'd ask them if they'd fought at Loos. And if they said yes, he'd dismiss the charges, That illustrates what a horror it was! We all appreciate your great uncle.
Great talk, graphically outlining the complete confusion following the initial attack on Sept 25th. The battle of Loos was a terrible fiasco from start to finish. The gas was mishandled and communications completely broke down almost immediately and the 21st and 24th were totally inexperienced. Other units of the initial attacking divisions, 7th, 1st and 15th also attacked with the 21st and 24th Divs and the 2nd Welsh of the 1st Division reputedly broke into the German second line at Hulluch. Also the Crassier on the map shown is the Loos Crassier and not the Double Crassier which is just off the map south. Loos was the baptism of fire for Kitchener's Army on the Western Front, they displayed incredible bravery and were very badly let down by French, Haig and others.
My Great Grandfather died at the Battle of Loos (Lance Corporal John Richard Jones 12686 King's Own Scottish Borderers 6th Bn.) on 25th September 1915. He is commemorated at Loos Cemetary Panel 53 - 56. He worked as a Coal Miner in Pendleton Salford Manchester UK leaving a wife and 6 children, one of which my grandmother. Would anyone be able to advise where on the battlefield the KOSB's were on this fateful day along with any other information which would give me and the wider family some idea of what he was probably doing and how he probably died. I understand that John joined along with his pals in the same street, one of which managed to survive and explained to John's wife that he had seen John hanging from barbed wire but could not intervene or stop as he would probably have been shot by his own people......Thank you for the excellent presentation - keep up the good work.
Wonderful account of the battle. I wonder whether any account of the part played by the North Staffs exists. My Great uncle Arnold Lewis was among those killed and who is commemorated at the Dudd Corner memorial.
The revisionist argument has never been that no mistakes were ever made by British commanders in WW1. The argument is that mistakes were inevitable given the rapid expansion of the BEF, the scale of the conflict and the opponent.
It's usually as well to avoid sloganeering on these issues. As this very discussion points out, certainly Haig thought that an attack in this area was a bad idea, and so too did French. They were overruled by Kitchener on (IIRC) 21 August. "The Donkeys" in this instance were the political considerations involved - most obviously in being seen to be supporting Joffre. That consideration aside, of course the issue of the handling of the reserves - 21st and 24th Divs - was (probably rightly) involved in French's downfall, along with the Shell Scandal.
We have to get the word out about these videos! What better way to honour the men who went through this hell? And they are very good!
Awsome. My GG grandfather fought with the 9th KOYLIS.
I’m going to loos in two weeks to walk in his footsteps.
Thankyou.
Loos has always fascinated/ appalled me - my great uncle (4/Grenadier Guards) was wounded at Hill 70. A very coherent and easily understood explanation, supported by great maps. Well done!
When Churchill was disciplining the men in his battalion, he'd ask them if they'd fought at Loos. And if they said yes, he'd dismiss the charges, That illustrates what a horror it was!
We all appreciate your great uncle.
Great talk, graphically outlining the complete confusion following the initial attack on Sept 25th. The battle of Loos was a terrible fiasco from start to finish. The gas was mishandled and communications completely broke down almost immediately and the 21st and 24th were totally inexperienced. Other units of the initial attacking divisions, 7th, 1st and 15th also attacked with the 21st and 24th Divs and the 2nd Welsh of the 1st Division reputedly broke into the German second line at Hulluch. Also the Crassier on the map shown is the Loos Crassier and not the Double Crassier which is just off the map south. Loos was the baptism of fire for Kitchener's Army on the Western Front, they displayed incredible bravery and were very badly let down by French, Haig and others.
My Great Grandfather died at the Battle of Loos (Lance Corporal John Richard Jones 12686 King's Own Scottish Borderers 6th Bn.) on 25th September 1915. He is commemorated at Loos Cemetary Panel 53 - 56. He worked as a Coal Miner in Pendleton Salford Manchester UK leaving a wife and 6 children, one of which my grandmother. Would anyone be able to advise where on the battlefield the KOSB's were on this fateful day along with any other information which would give me and the wider family some idea of what he was probably doing and how he probably died. I understand that John joined along with his pals in the same street, one of which managed to survive and explained to John's wife that he had seen John hanging from barbed wire but could not intervene or stop as he would probably have been shot by his own people......Thank you for the excellent presentation - keep up the good work.
Wonderful account of the battle. I wonder whether any account of the part played by the North Staffs exists. My Great uncle Arnold Lewis was among those killed and who is commemorated at the Dudd Corner memorial.
The use of the maps was excellent even a fool like me could follow them
My great grandfather was there 14 DLI. 64 Brigade .. survived but somehow ended up In the 2nd bat Lincs
The section commanders should have had gumshin to say to their commanders we are not moving without artillery or fire support
All the revisionists tend to avoid the Battle of Loos. Lions led by Donkeys.
The revisionist argument has never been that no mistakes were ever made by British commanders in WW1. The argument is that mistakes were inevitable given the rapid expansion of the BEF, the scale of the conflict and the opponent.
It's usually as well to avoid sloganeering on these issues. As this very discussion points out, certainly Haig thought that an attack in this area was a bad idea, and so too did French. They were overruled by Kitchener on (IIRC) 21 August. "The Donkeys" in this instance were the political considerations involved - most obviously in being seen to be supporting Joffre. That consideration aside, of course the issue of the handling of the reserves - 21st and 24th Divs - was (probably rightly) involved in French's downfall, along with the Shell Scandal.
That's not the "Double Crassier" east of Loos. Tower Bridge is on " Loos Crassier", source NLS.
1915 was a lot of effort for little success.