Artillery conquers, infantry occupies: British Artillery at 3rd Ypres

Published on 28 May 2021
Submitted by Simon Shephard

This presentation by Lt Col Simon Shephard was delivered 'live' to an online audience.

In this talk Simon seeks to assess the performance of the British Expeditionary Forces artillery during the preparation for, and conduct of, the Third Battle of Ypres in 1917.

To carry out this assessment, it uses a set of Principles of War which Col J F C Fuller published in the February 1916 edition of the RUSI Journal. These are often referenced as the start point for the way the British Army has subsequently developed its use of the Principles of War.

The presentation focuses on the conduct of the artillery battles at Army, Corps and Divisional level for:

Pilckem Ridge, 31 Jul - British Fifth Army;

Menin Road Ridge, 20 Sep - British Second Army; and

Second Passchendaele, 26 Oct to 10 Nov - Canadian Corps. 

'Artillery conquers, infantry occupies': British Artillery at 3rd Ypres
Key benefits of membership

Becoming a member of The Western Front Association (WFA) offers a wealth of resources and opportunities for those passionate about the history of the First World War. Here's just three of the benefits we offer:

Bulletin Magazine Icon
Bulletin Magazine

This magazine provides updates on WW1 related news, WFA activities and events.

Virtual Battlefield Tours Icon
Virtual battlefield tours

Access online tours of significant WWI sites, providing immense learning experience.

Podcasts Ebinars Icon
Podcasts

Listen to over 300 episodes of the "Mentioned in Dispatches" podcast.

Other Articles

18 Repairing Amara
19 March 2026

A photographic record of the names on the Amara War Cemetery Memorial Wall

Read more
Basra 1
11 March 2026

A photographic record of the names on the Basra Memorial

Read more
Leigh Roose (1) (1)
9 March 2026

Football in the Dardanelles

Read more
57 Baghdad Northgate Alternate
1 March 2026

A video record of the CWGC Cemeteries and Memorials in Iraq

Read more
Kut Cwgc Cemetery
28 February 2026

A Tour of Mesopotamian War Cemeteries in 2025

Read more