Defence of Festubert

The Defence of Festubert was an engagement early in the Great War when Indian and British battalions of the 7th (Meerut) Division, Indian Army defended the village of Festubert against a German attack from 23–24 November 1914. It is notable for being one of the first actions in the war in which an attack was made against a prepared defensive position, thus foreshadowing the years of trench warfare which were to come.

The British and Indian regiments that took part were awarded the battle honour Festubert 1914.

23–24 November
The fighting around Ypres subsided in mutual exhaustion by 22 November and for about three weeks bad weather also inhibited operations apart from artillery-fire, bombing and sniping. At the end of the month the British made several night raids and on 23 November the German 112th Regiment captured 800 yd of trench east of Festubert in the Indian Corps area. The Indians counter-attacked through the night and recovered the trenches. The Defence of Festubert was one of the first attacks on an organised trench system. Most notably a night attack also occurred, involving mainly Mazhabi Sikhs of the 34th Royal Sikh Pioneers regiment and the 1st battalion Manchester Regiment. The battle resulted in a British victory with lost trenches retaken, although at a heavy cost from the Mazhabi Sikhs and the Manchesters.

(The engagement should not be confused with the Battle of Festubert which took place in the following spring for which the honour Festubert 1915 was awarded.)