(By 4^th October 1917) the Allied line had been pushed a considerable distance east, north-east and north of Ypres, large numbers of prisoners had been taken from the enemy, great numbers of his troops had been killed, much material captured or destroyed, and the new German system defence - his pill boxes - had been brought to naught, by the successful methods adopted by both French and British Commanders. Nevertheless, the northern portion of the Passchendaele Ridge still remained in the enemy's hands, and so long as it was in his possession the uncaptured portion was a menace to the security of the British line.

But the time had come when Sir Douglas Haig had need to reconsider his position, the "general situation" had to be studied and, indeed, at this period the Allies were in a none too favourable position. The failure of the Russian offensive in July had resulted in the Russian Armies ceasing to be a fighting force: Russia was proclaimed a Republic by the Provisional Government on 15th September, 1917. Internal troubles had affected very seriously the fighting capacity of the French Armies, the situation on the Italian front was disquieting, large numbers of German forces were being transferred from the Eastern Front (set free by the Russian collapse) to France and Flanders, and America, at this period, was unable to lend any assistance on land. The British Army was the only Allied Army capable of conducting serious offensive operations, and if that offensive ceased the enemy would regain the initiative and be free to attack where he knew the Allied line was weakest. It therefore followed that Sir Douglas Haig must continue to attack until the coming of Winter prevented, for the time being, the danger of a German counter-attack.

The decision to continue the attack having been made, the next combined operation (the Battle of Poelcappelle) was ordered to take place from a point east of Zonnebeke to a point opposite Draaibank, the British front stretching from east of Zonnebeke to the junction of the Allied line north-west of Langemarck, a distance of over six miles. "Z" day was to be 9th October and "Zero" hour 5-20 a.m.

Overview, early October

The eve of Poelcapelle

Day of battle, 1/5th West Yorkshires

The view from the guns

'From our man at the Front'

Aftermath