Battle of Broodseinde - Aftermath

Aftermath

As news arrived of the great success of the attack, Brigadier-General Charteris, head of General Headquarters Intelligence, went from Haig's Advanced Headquarters to the Second Army Headquarters to discuss a possible exploitation. Plumer declined as eight fresh German divisions were behind the battlefield with another six beyond them; Plumer preferred to wait until the expected German counter-attacks had been defeated, as Haig had directed. German artillery fire was heavy and the defences of Flandern II and III lay ready to be garrisoned by German divisions behind the attack front. An attack on these fortifications would need artillery support, which would be limited, given that the British field artillery was behind a severely battered strip of muddy ground two miles deep, firing close to the limit of their range.

Later in the day, Plumer had second thoughts and ordered I Anzac Corps to push on to the Keiberg spur, with support from II Anzac Corps. Lieutenant-General Godley the II Anzac Corps commander, wanted to advance north-east towards Passchendaele village but Lieutenant-General Birdwood of I Anzac Corps wanted to wait, until artillery had been brought up and supply routes improved. The X Corps commander, Lieutenant-General Morland proposed an attack north from In de Ster into the southern flank of the Germans opposite I Anzac Corps, which was opposed by Major-General Shoubridge of the 7th Division due to uncertainty and the many casualties in the 21st Division on his right flank. At 2:00 p.m. Plumer decided that exploitation was not possible. Gough told his Fifth Army corps commanders to push on at 10:30 a.m. and ordered another attack at 5:00 p.m., when reports arrived of a repulse of the 4th Division at 19 Metre Hill, at the junction of XVIII and XIV Corps which led to the order being cancelled.

The capture of the ridges was a stunning success. Plumer called the attack "the greatest victory since the Marne" and the German Official History referred to "the black day of October 4".There had been an average advance of over 1,000 yards (910 m) and the 3rd Australian Division moved forward up to 1,900 yards (1,700 m). The X Corps divisions had managed to take most of their objectives set approximately 700 yards (640 m) forward, gaining observation over the Reutelbeek valley but had relinquished ground in some exposed areas. After the attacking units reached their final positions, Allied artillery fired a standing barrage for two and a half hours, allowing the attacking troops to consolidate by preparing trenches, outposts and wire entanglements undisturbed. Most German counter-attacks had been dispersed with artillery fire.

Wet ground caused some units to lose the protection of the creeping barrage, as well as reducing the effect of shells, many landing in mud and being smothered, although this affected German artillery equally. Muddy terrain caused great difficulty in moving artillery and ammunition forward from positions at the west end of the Gheluvelt plateau to the eastern edge facing Passchendaele. The closest field guns were 5,000 yards (4,600 m) from Broodseinde; for the battle of Messines, 6,200 yards (5,700 m) for the 18-pdrs and 7,000 yards (6,400 m) for the