Battle of Messines (1914)

Battle of Messines (1914)
Part of the Race to the Sea on the Western Front (First World War)

Messines area, 1914
Date12 October – 2 November 1914
Location50°46′00″N 02°54′00″E / 50.76667°N 2.90000°E / 50.76667; 2.90000
Result Inconclusive
Belligerents

 British Empire

 France
 German Empire
Commanders and leaders
Edmund Allenby Crown Prince Rupprecht
Messines is located in Belgium
Messines
Messines
Mesen (Messines in French, historically used in English) in the Belgian province of West Flanders

The Battle of Messines was fought in October 1914 between the armies of the German empire against the British empire and France, as part of what came to be called the Race to the Sea: reciprocal attempts by the German and Entente armies to attack beyond the northern flank of their opponent. The attempts to turn the northern flank led to several meeting engagements until the North Sea left neither side with a flank to aim at. The battle was fought between the river Douve and the Comines–Ypres canal.[a]

  1. ^ Edmonds 1925, pp. 125–126.


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