Hi all,

I am writing a large article on the German phosgene attack in december 1915 near Wieltje. It was the first time that phosgene was used against British troops (6th and 49th division). More than 1000 soldiers were affected, but only about 100 died. he attack was thus a failure and was not followed by and infantry attack.

Many questions remain in my head. I will post my major points of refelection here, feel free to give your thoughts.

- The british were warned that this attack was at hand. French took a german Sergeant Major prisoner a few weeks before the attack, near Steenstrate, and he gave a first warning. The day before the attack, another German prisoner informed the British of an attack at hand. Now all this is stated in the official history of the war, but I can find no refenrence to this in divisional, brigade or battalion war diaries. Am I looking in the wrong place? Also, what would the normal way be for such information to be dealt with? Would the prisoner first be taken to corps HQ, and the info than spread out to divisions?
I am extremely interested to find out how the British dealt with this info.

- German records. I'd be interested to find records of the units and HQ's of the 51st and 52nd Reserve Division. The regimental histories are very poor re the phosgene attack.

- I also wonder which gaspioneerregiment conducted the attack, and if there is a regimental history or war diaries.

- British lessons taken from this attack. Did any altering happened to gas masks or gas drills after the phosgene attack?

Any help/thoughts are more than welcome!

many regards,

Bert

I reposted this in the relevant place

Bert

According to LF Haber in his the book "The Poisonous Cloud" (p 61), it was Pioneer Regiment 36 who launched the attack. Although the prisoner informed them it was pure phosgene, it was apparently an 80:20 phosgene/chlorine mixture.

There had been concern for sometime that phosgene might be used, and although the French and Russians realized that addition of hexamine might give protection, the British never received the information in time. Although P helmets provided some protection, the P helmets were treated with sodium phenate-hexamine, resulting in the PH helmet,as a result of this attack. . The first batches of these were produced in early January 1916. Some notes on this attack, from the German point of view - again from Habers publication, - appear in WO 142/ 99, held at the National Archive.

Terry Reeves

Terry,

Thank you for all this information. An interesting point you raise there that the P.H. helmets after these events. Several British sources (regimental histories) state that the PH helmet was allready in use before the phosgene attack.

regards,

Bert

"New P.H. helmets had been issued to all the men in the battalion, but, as the available supply only admitted of one per man, a P helmet was still carried as a reserve." (BALES, P.G. The History of the 1/4th Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment, 1914-1919. London, 1920.)

Not sure if this is what you're looking for - from the war diary of RIR 238, 52nd division.
It tells about the preparations for the gas-attack in december 1915, especially the training and several canceled attacks in november.
I'll give you the original -German-text:
19.11.1915 - 24.11.1915 Das Bataillon in Ruhe. Gefechtsausbildung. Sonderausbildung der Spezialtrupps, Ausbildung am Pioniersubungswerk, Innendienst, Gestellung von Wach- und Arbeitskommandos. Am 19. abends 'erhohte Gefechtsbereitschaft', da bei gunstigem Wind Abblasen der in vorderster Stellung eingebauten Gasflaschen beabsichtigt ist. Der Gasangriff fand nicht statt, die zur Strassenabsperrung eingesetzten Leute kehrten am 20. morgens zuruck. Auch der fur den nachsten Tag angesetzte Gasangriff konnte nicht stattfinden. Die Gefechtsbereitschaft wurde aufgehoben. 21. november (Totensonntag) Trauerfeier auf dem Friedhof Vyfwege. Abends erneut erhohte Gefechtsbereitschaft. Der Gasangriff findet wiederum nicht statt. Die Absperrkommandos kehrten am 22. zuruck.

regards

Roel

I will prod my 49th Div. artillery refs. sometime to see what I can find. I know some of them were affected, I'll see what I can turn up. Maybe nothing pertinent to your questions, but maybe some good background.

I notice that the gas is still launched from gascontainers? I thought by end '15 using artillery for gas attacks was already common for both sides?

Erwin

Bert
Not the Divisions you have mentioned but the 6th Northumberland Fusiliers (50th Div.) were attached to the
26th Inf. Brigade (9th Division) 18th - 21st Dec 1915. I don't know the exact location of the attack but it sounds as though the 6th N.F. were not very near.

They arrived in CANADA HUTS (H 32a sheet 28) on the 18th Dec 1915.

6th Batt. N. F. War Diary
"19th December 1915
Heavy German Gas attack to North East of YPRES, which was distinctly felt in CANADA HUTS, but although men were ordered to have tube helmets ready, there was never any necessity to put them on."

Sounds as though there was some prior knowledge.

"1st February 1916
A quiet day. Every officer, NCO & man was supplied with an improved pattern Smoke helmet, called P.H. Helmet. "

"17th February 1916
Each officer, N.C.O. & man was issued with a 2nd P. H. Tube Helmet, making two in all for each"

Kate

I have moved this reply from the other thread

Hi Erwin,

Gas shells were common but only for tear gas. I think the first 'lethal' gas shells were fire early 1916. Despite this, Several gas attacks were made in 1916 near Ypres, including a very deadly one near Potyze in august 1916. Gas containers were always used during these attacks.

Bert

Click to view attachment

Bert, refs. to gas attack affecting 49th Div. artillery on 19th Dec. 1915 attached.