Battle of Hulluch
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Hulluch was a conflict in World War I
, 27–29 April 1916, involving the 16th (Irish) Division of the British Army's 19th Corps.
The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
on the night of the 27th suffered a heavily-concentrated German chlorine gas attack near the German-held village of Hulluch, a mile north of Loos
.
The German began preparing for the attack during April when they placed about 7,400 cylinders along a 3 km front. The Germans began an attack by first releasing smoke, followed by the gas 1½ hours later from 3,800 cylinders. This subterfuge caused the British Army troops to dispense with their Phenate-Hexamine Goggle helmets after the smoke was released, resulting in 486 casualties during the actual attack. Of these 135 died.
Other units of the 16th Division, including the Royal Irish Rifles, the Royal Munster Fusiliers
and The Royal Dublin Fusiliers
were called in to stem the German attack.
On the 29th, the Germans attacked with gas again, but this time the wind blew the gas back upon their own troops.
Hulluch was one of the most heavily-concentrated gas attacks of the war.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, 27–29 April 1916, involving the 16th (Irish) Division of the British Army's 19th Corps.
The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers was a Irish infantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 27th Regiment of Foot and the 108th Regiment of Foot...
on the night of the 27th suffered a heavily-concentrated German chlorine gas attack near the German-held village of Hulluch, a mile north of Loos
Loos-en-Gohelle
Loos-en-Gohelle is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A former coal mining town, three miles northwest of the centre of Lens, at the junction of the D943 and the A21 autoroute. Its nearest neighbours are Lens to the south, Grenay to the...
.
The German began preparing for the attack during April when they placed about 7,400 cylinders along a 3 km front. The Germans began an attack by first releasing smoke, followed by the gas 1½ hours later from 3,800 cylinders. This subterfuge caused the British Army troops to dispense with their Phenate-Hexamine Goggle helmets after the smoke was released, resulting in 486 casualties during the actual attack. Of these 135 died.
Other units of the 16th Division, including the Royal Irish Rifles, the Royal Munster Fusiliers
Royal Munster Fusiliers
The Royal Munster Fusiliers was a regular infantry regiment of the British Army. One of eight Irish regiments raised largely in Ireland, it had its home depot in Tralee. It was originally formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of two regiments of the former East India Company. It served in India and...
and The Royal Dublin Fusiliers
The Royal Dublin Fusiliers
The Royal Dublin Fusiliers was an Irish infantry Regiment of the British Army created in 1881, one of eight Irish regiments raised and garrisoned in Ireland, with its home depot in Naas...
were called in to stem the German attack.
On the 29th, the Germans attacked with gas again, but this time the wind blew the gas back upon their own troops.
Hulluch was one of the most heavily-concentrated gas attacks of the war.