History – Battle of Messines 7 to 14 June 1917
The Battle of Messines was an important attack before the major British offensive for 1917, the Third Battle of Ypres.
At the time,the Germans held Messines Ridge. This position formed a salient (bulge) into the British line on the southern flank of the planned Ypres attack. It also gave German artillery observers a good view of the ground west of Ypres, where the British planned to gather their forces for the attack. The ridge had to be captured before the Ypres offensive could start.
The plan was for 3 British corps to attack German positions on Messines Ridge, including II Anzac Corps at the southern-most point.
The battle commenced a few minutes after 3 am on 7 June. It started with the detonation of 19 mines under the German trenches, which tunnellers had secretly dug over the previous year. The explosions created enormous craters, some of which are still visible today.
The huge series of explosions obliterated the German front line and left the survivors stunned.
At first, the British advance was unopposed over much of the front. British forces easily captured the ridge and thousands of prisoners, and German counterattacks failed.
Over the next 2 weeks, further British advances were made. About 26,000 men were killed, wounded or captured on each side. The Australians were withdrawn in July, fought at Ypres from September, and then returned to garrison the Messines trenches through the winter of 1917 to 1918.