24368: Battle of Loos

A British offensive on the Western Front during the First World War, with massive casualties.

The Battle of Loos formed a part of the wider Artois-Loos Offensive conducted by the French and British in Autumn 1915, sometimes referred to as the Second Battle of Artois. The Loos offensive began on 25 September following a four day artillery bombardment in which 250,000 shells were fired and the action was finally called off in failure on 28 September. Presided over by Douglas Haig, the British committed six divisions to the attack. Haig was persuaded to launch the Loos offensive despite serious misgivings. Casualties were put at 50,000 British and 25,000 German.