'At Neuve Chapelle. Your Friends Need You. Be a Man'

Poster after artist Frank Brangwyn, 1915.

The village of Neuve Chapelle in France witnessed the first major British offensive of the war on 10 March 1915. Although the soldiers rapidly gained the German front-line trenches and Neuve Chapelle was eventually captured, there were delays in sending further orders and reinforcements forward. The initial gains were not exploited and a German counter-attack prevented further progress.

Reports on the battle had a major impact in Britain. Propagandists used it to encourage recruitment. It also had a political effect. After the battle, the British Commander-in-Chief, Field Marshal Sir John French, claimed the attack had failed due to a lack of shells. This led to the 'Shell Crisis' of 1915 and the collapse of Herbert Asquith's Liberal Government. A new coalition government was formed with Lloyd George as Minister of Munitions.