Battle of Messines

The Battle of Messines was a battle which happened in the Western front of the First World War. It began on 7 June 1917 when the British Second Army, which was commanded by General Herbert Plumer, attacked near the village of Mesen (Messines) in West Flanders, Belgium. The attack was meant to capture a ridge which ran north from Messines village, past Wytschaete village. This ridge was a natural place where you could keep safe southeast of Ypres. One thing which happened during the battle which was unusual was that 19 mines were set off just before the infantry attack. This was a tactic which made German defences disorganised. This allowed the troops to do what they were supposed to do very quickly. The attack also came before the much larger battle, the Third Battle of Ypres, usually known as Passchendaele, which began on 31 July 1917.

Battle of Messines
Part of the Western Front of the First World War
Map of the battle. This shows the front on 7 June and all action until 14 June.
Date 7 – 14 June 1917 Location Flanders, Belgium Result Allied victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom Australia New Zealand	German Empire
Commanders and leaders
Herbert Plumer Alexander Godley Alexander Hamilton-Gordon Thomas Morland	Sixt von Armin
Strength
12 divisions 216,000 men total	5 divisions 126,000 men total
Casualties and losses
17,000	25,000