Walking Wounded-Neuve Chapelle
used without permission
The inspiration for this figure came from this photograph of British and Indian
wounded at Neuve Chapelle, on the way to the hospital base, 1915. sporting their war-trophies.
“On 10 March 1915, following a preliminary bombardment, the British attempted to capture
Neuve Chapelle, located midway between Bethune and Lille. As happened elsewhere on
the Western Front, the bombardment was largely ineffective, leaving intact much of the
barbed-wire entanglement in front of the German positions. As a result, the Allies sustained
very heavy casualties in the attack, particularly in The Duke of Cambridge’s Own
(Middlesex Regiment) and The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) of the British IV Corps.
The Meerut Division of the Indian Corps played a major role, and despite German
counter-attacks, succeeded in capturing the town. Unfortunately, there were delays
in sending further orders and reinforcements forward. At midnight on 12 March
General Sir Douglas Haig halted the offensive. The Allies had gained a small area
of land at a cost of over 12,000 casualties.”
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