The Western Front July–December 1917

Captured German officers guarded outside a recently taken concrete bunker near Langemarck, October 1917
(© Imperial War Museum: Q 3013)

The Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) (31 July–10 November 1917):

310,000 British casualties (c.66,000 killed), 8,500 French casualties, 260,000 German casualties. Includes:

the Battle of Pilckem Ridge (31 July–2 August);
the Battle of Langemarck (16–18 August);
the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge (20–25 September);
the Battle of Polygon Wood (26 September–3 October);
the Battle of Broodseinde Ridge (4–9 October);
the Battle of Poelcapelle (9 October);
First Passchendaele (9 October);
Second Passchendaele (26 October–10 November: the fall of Passchendaele).

“Exciting news – offensive began 3.50 this morning ‘on a wide front north of the Lys’: in conjunction with French troops on [the] left: all first objectives obtained: satisfactory results reported since: considerable number of prisoners.”

“The offensive has practically straightened out the Ypres salient. Our casualties not very heavy […].”

(C.C.J. Webb, Diary entries, 31 July and 1 August 1917)