Battle of Polygon Wood

The Battle of Polygon Wood (26 September to 3 October 1917) was fought during the second part of the Third Battle of Ypres in the First World War. The battle was fought near Ypres in Belgium, from the Menin road to Polygon Wood and thence north, to the area beyond St Julien. Much of the woodland had been destroyed by the huge bombardments from both sides since 16 July and the area had changed hands several times.

General Herbert Plumer continued the British general attacks with limited objectives. Lines of skirmishers advanced ahead of small infantry columns in depth (as had been adopted by the Fifth Army in August) with a vastly increased amount of artillery support, five layers of creeping barrage on the Second Army front. An advance of 1,000–1,500 yd (910–1,370 m) was planned, to stop on reverse slopes, which were easier to defend, enclosing ground which gave observation of German reinforcement routes and counter-attack assembly areas.

Preparations swiftly to defeat German counter-attacks were made, by mopping-up and consolidating the captured ground with defences in depth. The attack inflicted a severe blow on the German 4th Army, causing many casualties and capturing a large part of Flandern I Stellung, the fourth German defensive position, threatening the German hold on Broodseinde ridge.

The drier weather continued to benefit the British attackers by solidifying the ground and causing early morning mists that obscured British infantry attacks at dawn. The mist cleared during the morning and revealed German Eingreif (counter-attack) formations to air and ground observation, well in advance of their arrival on the battlefield. German methodical counter-attacks (Gegenangriffe) from 27 September to 3 October failed and German defensive arrangements were changed hastily after the battle to try to counter British offensive superiority.