BRITISH SOLDIERS FROM THE SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS WITH A DOG IN A TRENCH AT LA....

British (Scottish) soldiers from the Seaforth Highlanders with a dog in a trench at La Gorgue near Loos, August 5, 1915.

Today 109 years ago, on October 13, 1914, the Battle of Armentières began on the Western Front, as part of the "Race to the Sea." 

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In September 1914 the First Battle of the Aisne was fought in which neither the Allies nor the Germans had broken through, resulting in a trench stalemate.

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Both sides then began maneuvering north towards the North Sea in an attempt to turn the northern flank of each other, known as the "Race to the Sea".

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The British took up positions in French and Belgian Flanders between Béthune and Ypres, north of the French Army's line. The British 2nd Army Corps was positioned on the La Bassée Canal, while further north the 3rd Army Corps was positioned near Méteren.

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On October 12, the Germans captured the city of Lille and broke through the French lines south of La Bassée, prompting the British 2nd and 3rd Army Corps to advance themselves.

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On October 13, the 3rd Army Corps attacked near Méteren towards Armentières and Lille, beginning the Battle of Armentières. The British met fierce German resisitance by the Meterenbecque river, but managed to cross it in a frontal assault at the cost of 708 casualties.

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The British captured Méteren by nightfall and forced the Germans to pull back. On October 14, the British advanced to capture Bailleul and crossed the Lys river on October 16. Armentières was captured and secured on October 18.

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On October 19, the Germans launched the First Battle of Ypres further north, forcing the British to halt their advance towards Lille. In conjunction with the fighting near Ypres, the Germans went on the counter-attack at Armentières in order to recapture it on October 20.

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The British repulsed the main attack on Armentières, but further south the villages of Ennetières and Prémesque were lost. Throughout the following days, the Germans kept attacking, capturing Le Maisnil on October 21 and Fromelles on October 23, but were again repulsed at Armentières.

The British lines were beginning to look dangerously thin, but the arrival of the Indian 3rd Lahore Division on October 24 stabilised the situation. 

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Following a final, failed attack at Armentières on October 29, the Germans re-directed their efforts to the First Battle of Ypres further north. The same was the case for the British and French, and fighting at Armentières had died down by November 2.

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In the Battle of Armentières, the British 3rd Army Corps had suffered some 6,500 casualties. The Germans had suffered 11,300 casualties.

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Armentières would remain in British possession until April 11, 1918, when the Germans captured it in their Lys Offensive. It was subsequently recaptured by the Allies on October 2, 1918.

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