The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has launched a remembrance trail for visitors to the battlefields of Loos ahead of this week’s Centenary commemorations.
This Friday, September 25th, marks the centenary of the start of the British Army’s biggest Western Front offensive of 1915.
Known at the time as ‘the Big Push’, Loos saw Britain’s first use of poison gas and major deployment of volunteers who’d answered the call to enlist.
The CWGC Remembrance Trail guides people across the battlefields, visiting some of the cemeteries where many of those killed lie buried.
*Lieutenant John Kipling, son of author Rudyard Kipling, and Captain Fergus Bowes-Lyon, brother of the late Queen Mother and uncle of Queen Elizabeth are commemorated on the Loos Memorial at Dud Corner.
*Recent research suggests that a soldier believed to be the grandfather of Beatles guitarist George Harrison is among troops buried at St Marys ADS Cemetery, Haisnes. Private Henry Harrison was killed at the start of the Battle of Loos.
The CWGC’s Director of External Relations, Colin Kerr, explained: “The casualties on the first day, 25 September, were the worst yet suffered in a single day by the British army – including some 8,500 dead – and yet the Battle of Loos has largely been forgotten.”
“We believe that is not right and that these men, and the cemeteries and memorials where they are commemorated, deserve to better known and visited and that is why we have launched this fascinating and easy to follow remembrance trail.”
The Battle of Loos formed part of a combined British and French offensive to break the German lines in Artois and Champagne.
It was the final attempt to push the German Army out of France before the onset of winter in 1915.
The casualties on September 25th were the worst yet suffered in a single day by the British Army, including some 8,500 dead, the CWGC says. Soldiers from Scottish regiments suffered particularly heavy losses.
In total, the battle resulted in over 50,000 casualties, of whom some 16,000 lost their lives.
The CWGC Loos Remembrance Trail leaflet can be downloaded here.
Elsewhere on Centenary News:
*France hosts Loos Centenary events in Loos-en-Gohelle.
*Scotland’s Loos tribute in Dundee, attended by Prince Charles and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
*Centenary News will be reporting from Dundee.
Source: Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Images: Centenary News
Posted by: Peter Alhadeff, Centenary News