Map of the plan for the Allied Offensive in France showing the situation on September 24, the eve of the infantry assault. An Anglo-French would attack eastward in Artois (with the British at Loos) as the French attacked northwards in Champagne. From 'Military Operations France and Belgium, 1915, Vol. II, Battles of Aubers Ridge, Festubert, and Loos' by Brigadier-General J.E. Edmonds.
Situation, 24th September 1915Showing direction of the Allied offensive
"At 4.25 a.m. on the 15th of August [1917] the Canadian Corps attacked on a front of 4,000 yards southeast and east of Loos. The objectives consisted of a strongly fortified hill known as Hill 70, which had been reached, but not held, in the battle of Loos on September 25, 1915, and also the mining suburbs of Cité Ste. Elizabeth, Cité St. Emile, and Cité St. Laurent, together with the whole of Bois Rase and the western half of Bois Hugo. The observation from Hill 70 had been very useful to the enemy, and in our possession materially increased our command over the defenses of Lens.Practically the whole of these objectives were gained rapidly at light cost, and in exact accordance with plan."
Excerpt from General Sir Douglas Haig's account of the Third Battle of Ypres, begun on July 31, 1917. The attack at Loos was subsidiary to his main assault at Ypres. The Battle of Loos in September, 1915 had been intended as a 'big push' to victory. The 1914 and 1915 First, Second, and Third Battles of Artois, and the Battle of Vimy Ridge in April, 1917, were all fought over the same high ground of Artois.
The Great Events of the Great War in Seven Volumes by Charles F. Horne, Vol. V, 1917, p. 277, copyright © 1920 by The National Alumnia, publisher: The National Alumni, publication date: 1920
1917-08-15, 1917, August, Loos, Canadian Corps
