Battle of Mont Sorrel

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Part of Ypres Salient, World War I

Image:MountSorrel1916.jpg
Battlefield map of the Battle of Mont Sorrel

Date	June 2 - June 14, 1916
Location	Mont Sorrel, southern shoulder of the Ypres Salient
Result	Tactical German Victory Strategic Canadian Victory

Combatants

Canadian Corps, Canada
K2 Army Group, United Kingdom

XIII (Wurttemburg) Corps, German Empire

Commanders

Lt. General Sir Julian Byng, Canadian Corps
Maj. General W. Douglas-Smith, 20th (Light) Division, UK

Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria, Germany

Strength

1st, 2nd, 3rd Canadian Divisions
20th (Light) Division

XIII (Royal Württemburg} Corps

Casualties

approx. 8,000

approx. 6,000

The Battle of Mont Sorrel (Battle of Mount Sorrel) was a conflict on the southern shoulder of the Ypres Salient, near Sanctuary Wood, between forces of the Canadian Corps, 20th Light Division of the United Kingdom, and the XIII (Royal Württemberg) Corps of Germany. The battle took place from June 2 to June 14, 1916.

[edit] The Battle

The 15th (48th Highlanders) Battalion Canadian Infantry, 1st Canadian Division led the charge up Mont Sorrel. Then Lieutenant Colonel C.E. Bent writes of the intense struggle in the midst of battle on 3 June, 1916:

Upon the signal being given the Officers and men behaved most courageously immediately getting out, forming line and rushed forward in the face of a perfect HELL of Artillery and Machine Gun fire. It did not seem possible that anything could live through it the right of the line was temporarily held up by a thick hedge and before away was made through it the first line were all shot down. 2nd and 3rd line came up and kept right on. [...] Machine Gun were enfilading us heavily from the Snotu and it soon became apparent the objective could not be reached. Accordingly our men fell back to the starting point and dug themselves in along the line. During the whole of the day the enemy maintained a heavy shell fire on our front line and communication trenches, increasing at 7:45 to an intense fire accompanied by heavy rifle and machine gun fire.^[1]