LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Passchendaele: Battles
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The Battle of Passchendaele was one of the largest battles of the first World War , and became symbolic of the horrific nature of the WWI. The battle is commemorated at Tyne Cot Cemetery and Memorial (and the Menin Gate in Ypres), the largest cemetery for Commonwealth Forces in the world.
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[T]he Third Battle of Ypres or Passchendaele had been a very costly battle. For the sake of a few kilometres, the British had lost 310,000 men and the Germans 260,000. Haig was heavily criticised for the attack and for failing to modify his plans as the attack clearly was not going to be a success. There were some who rallied to Haig's defence. They argued that:
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The nature of the Passchendaele fighting precluded the honoured or normal burial for the majority of those who died in battle. German artillery was fierce even after the battle ended and prevented the collection of those already dead. Consequently, many dead remained where they fell, in shell holes, or were absorbed into the sucking mud. Only those who died of their wounds had the honour of a known burial. In 1919, when the battlefield clearances began, the bodies of 25,000 Commonwealth soldiers were found in the area north, south and east of Passchendaele. Most were found in solitary unmarked graves.
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In July 1917 the Battle of Passchendaele began on the Western Front. The deadly trench warfare dragged on for months and on October 4 New Zealand troops entered the fray with a successful attack on the Gravenstafel Spur. Encouraged by this success and believing that German resistance was weakened the British High Command ordered further attacks on October 9 and finally and disastrously on October 12 at Bellevue Spur.
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The First Battle of Passchendaele, on 12 October 1917 began with a further Allied attempt to gain ground around Poelkapelle. The heavy rain again made movement difficult, and artillery could not be brought closer to the front owing to the mud. The Allied troops were fought-out, and morale was suffering. Against the well-prepared German defences, the gains were minimal and there were 13,000 Allied casualties.
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The Passchendaele public programme ... includes the exhibition of a stunning series of images that capture the days surrounding the battle (as photographed by New Zealand servicemen). This exhibition will be presented in a slideshow format from October 6 – 14. On October 6 and 7 are a series of readings from War Dairies and Poetry written by soldiers from the front line (these will be held on the hour between 11am and 2pm). Finally there will be series of informative talks held from midday on October 13 and 14 concerning the Battle of Passchendaele.
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