Grave and marker for an unknown French soldier at Le Trou Aid Post Cemetery, Fleurbaix, France, a primarily British cemetery. © 2014 John M. Shea
Français InconnuMort pour la FranceUnknown FrenchmanDied for France
"With diminished expectations, Joffre insisted that the offensive on the Western Front should continue as long as weather permitted, and Robertson and Haig agreed. During the remainder of September and October [1916] the French attacked frequently but in the same fragmented fashion as the British. Sixth Army, after being increased to five corps, drove forward on September 25–27 and October 7, 12–13, 15, and 18. Tenth Army, still with three corps, attacked on October 10–11, 14, and 21–22. Despite several attempts, the French made only small gains, and the fighting gradually diminished."
The Anglo-French Somme Offensive began on July 1, 1916, and the attacks continued through the summer and autumn. French Commander in Chief Joseph Joffre coordinated plans and attacks with his British counterpart and commander of British forces on the continent Douglas Haig, but imperfectly. General William Robertson was Chief of the Imperial General Staff.
Pyrrhic Victory; French Strategy and Operations in the Great War by Robert A. Doughty, page 304, copyright © 2005 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College, publisher: Harvard University Press, publication date: 2005
1916-10-07, 1916, October, Joffre, Robertson, Haig,
