9 April – 29 April 1918: the Battles of the Lys 1918. The third German offensive Operation Georgette takes place in Flanders with the objective of capturing key railway and supply roads and cutting off British Second Army at Ypres. After initial successes the German attack is once again held after British and French reserves are somehow found and deployed.

Phase: the Battle of Estaires, 9 – 11 April 1918

First Army (Horne)

XI Corps (Haking)

3rd Division

51st (Highland) Division

55th (West Lancashire) Division, which fought the defence of Givenchy

61st (2nd South Midland) Division

2nd Brigade of 1st Division

2nd Portuguese Division

3rd Brigade of 1st Portuguese Division.

XV Corps (Du Cane)

29th Division, less 88th Brigade

31st Division

34th Division, less 102nd Brigade

40th Division

50th (Northumbrian) Division

74th Brigade of 25th Division.

Phase: the Battle of Messines, 10 – 11 April 1918

Second Army (Plumer)

IX Corps (Gordon)

9th (Scottish) Division

19th (Western) Division

25th Division, less 74th Brigade.

62nd Brigade of 21st Division

88th Brigade of 29th Division.

100th Brigade of 33rd Division

102nd Brigade of 34th Division.

108th Brigade of 36th (Ulster) Division

147th and 148th Brigades of 49th (West Riding) Division.

Phase: the Battle of Hazebrouck, 12 – 15 April 1918

First Army (Horne)

I Corps (Holland)

3rd Division, fought in the defence of Hinges Ridge

4th Division, fought in the defence of Hinges Ridge

55th (West Lancashire) Division

3rd Brigade of 1st Division.

XI Corps (Haking)

5th Division, fought in the defence of Nieppe Forest

50th (Northumbrian) Division

61st (2nd South Midland) Division.

XV Corps (Du Cane) transferred to Second Army at noon on 12 April 1918

29th Division, less 88th Brigade, fought in the defence of Nieppe Forest

31st Division, fought in the defence of Nieppe Forest

33rd Division

40th Division

1st Australian Division, fought in the defence of Nieppe Forest

Composite Force, comprising personnel from Ii and XXII Corps Schools, 2nd New Zealand Entrenching Battalion, two companies of the 18th Middlesex Regiment and the XXIII Corps Reinforcement Battalion.

Phase: the Battle of Bailleul, 13 – 15 April 1918

Second Army (Plumer)

IX Corps (Gordon)

19th (Western) Division

25th Division

34th Division

49th (West Riding) Division, fought in defence of Neuve Eglise

59th (2nd North Midland) Division

71st Brigade of 6th Division

South African Infantry Brigade of 9th (Scottish) Division

88th Brigade of 29th Division

100th Brigade of 33rd Division, fought in defence of Neuve Eglise

108th Brigade of 36th (Ulster) Division.

Phase: the First Battle of Kemmel, 17 – 19 April 1918

Second Army (Plumer)

IX Corps (Gordon)

19th (Western) Division

25th Division

33rd Division

34th Division

49th (West Riding) Division

59th (2nd North Midland) Division

71st Brigade of 6th Division

88th Brigade of 29th Division

89th Brigade of 30th Division

108th Brigade of 36th (Ulster) Division

Wyatt’s Force.

XXII Corps (Godley)

9th (Scottish) Division

39th Division

62nd and 64th Brigades of 21st Division.

Phase: the Battle of Bethune, 18 April 1918

First Army (Horne)

I Corps (Holland)

1st Division, including the second defence of Givenchy

3rd Division

4th Division.

XI Corps (Haking)

61st (2nd South Midland) Division.

Phase: the Second Battle of Kemmel, 25 – 26 April 1918

Second Army (Plumer)

XXII Corps (Godley)

9th (Scottish) Division

21st Division

25th Division

39th Division

49th (West Riding) Division

71st Brigade of 6th Division

89th Brigade of 30th Division.

French Detachment d’armee du Nord (DAN) (de Mitry)

French II Cavalry Corps

French 3rd Cavalry Division

French 28th Division

French 39th Division

French 154th Division

French XXXVI Corps

French 2nd Cavalry Division

French 34th Division

French 133rd Division.

Phase: the Battle of the Scherpenberg, 29 April 1918

Second Army (Plumer)

XXII Corps (Godley)

6th Division

21st Division

25th Division

39th Division

49th (West Riding) Division

South African Infantry Brigade of 9th (Scottish) Division

89th Brigade of 30th Division.

French Detachment d’armee du Nord (DAN) (de Mitry)

French II Cavalry Corps

French 2nd Cavalry Division

French 3rd Cavalry Division

French 39th Division

French 154th Division

French XXXVI Corps

French 34th Division.

Subsequent: the action of La Becque, 28 June 1918

First Army (Horne)

XI Corps (Haking)

5th Division.

Second Army (Plumer)

XV Corps

31st Division, lent to XI Corps for this operation. XV Corps did not play a part.

Subsequent: the capture of Meteren, 19 July 1918

Second Army (Plumer)

XV Corps (de Lisle)

9th (Scottish) Division.

Links

Battles of the Western Front in France and Flanders

Sir Douglas Haig’s sixth Despatch (German spring offensives, 1918)

The Advance in Flanders

Books

Buy my original 2011 book, “The battle for Flanders: German defeat on the Lys”

Buy my two Battleground series books on the Battle of the Lys