Northumbrian Gunner: Ypres 2016 - Portuguese Cemetery Richebourg

Sunday 17 April 2016

Ypres 2016 - Portuguese Cemetery Richebourg

Adjacent to the Indian Memorial in Neuve Chapelle is the Portuguese National Cemetery Richebourg. It is the sole place of remembrance to the Portuguese Soldiers who fought on the Western Front during WW1.

Portuguese National Memorial Cemetery
Richebourg

At the beginning of WW1 Portugal was a neutral country. Tensions arose between Portugal and German grew as a result of the U-boat campaign (Britain was Portugal's main trading partner) and clashes in Angola. In February 1916 the British Government requested Portugal intern 36 Germans and Austro-Hungarian ships in Lisbon harbour, to which the Portuguese acquiesced. As a result Germany declared war on Portugal 9th March 1916, followed by Austria-Hungry 6 days later. Portugal in turn declared war on Germany.

Portuguese Declaration of War

In July 1916 the British Government formally invited Portugal to actively participate in the Allied war effort. The Portuguese accepted the invitation and began to raise an expeditionary force for the Western Front.

The first Portuguese troops of the Portuguese Expeditionary Corps (Corpo Expedicionário Português, CEP), arrived in Brest, France on February 2nd 1917.

Portuguese Troops arriving in Brest

The CEP came under the command of the British Expeditionary Force and joined the First Army. In April 1917 they deployed to the front for the first time and over the course of the year their strength increased to a full Corps of two Divisions. Over 57,000 Portuguese troops would serve on the Western Front.

Portuguese Troops in France

Portuguese troops in France

Portuguese Field Artillery in France

At the request of the French the Independent Heavy Artillery Corps (Corpo de Artilharia Pesada Independente, CAPI) was formed in January 1917 The CAPI consisted of three Artillery Groups, each with three Batteries equipped with Railway Guns. One Battery operated 320-millimetre (12.6 in) the other two 240-mm (9.5in) or 190-mm (7.5 in)railway guns. The first Portuguese Gunners arrived in October 1917 and under French command were designated Corps d'artillerie lourde portugais (CALP).

In November 1917, the CEP took over a 11 km sector of the front from Laventie to Festubert.

Portguese Soldiers in the Trenches

The area was very damp and muddy and the Portuguese soldiers did not adapt well to the inclement conditions during the winter 1917/18.

Portuguese Front - No Mans Land

In December 1918, a coup d'état in Portugal brought Sidonio Pais to power. He instituted a new system of extended leave for soldiers which resulted in fewer officers returning to France to lead the troops. The entry of America into the war meant British ships which were transporting Portuguese troops were prioritised to the Atlantic crossing, making it difficult for Portugal to reinforce the CEP. A long awaited third division did not materialise. The Portuguese troops were suffering from low morale and shortage of troops as they entered Spring 1918. Mindful of the situation of the CEP, the British replaced the Portuguese 1st Division with the 55th (West Lancashire) Division on the 6th April, the Portuguese 2nd Division would be replaced on the 9th by the 50th (Northumbrian) Division.

The planned relief did not happen. On the 9th April 1918 the Germans launched an attack to break through the Allied lines, which became the Battle of the Lys. In the Portuguese sector 10 German Divisions attacked the 2nd Divisions of the CEP and easily broke through the Portuguese lines, with only small pockets of resistance. The Portuguese Division was forced back to Estaires, it's losses included over 6,500 men taken prisoner.

The Portuguese Gunners fought valiantly, firing continually from the beginning of the attack at 07:00 till they were overrun 4 hours later.

The gap in the line was filled by the deployment of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division and the 51st (Highland) Division.

Battle of Lys 1918

For the CEP it was their last action as a formation, thereafter Brigades and Battalions would be part of British formations until the end of the war.

The total losses of the CEP on the Western Front in 1917-1918 amounted to 2,160 dead, 5,224 wounded and 6,678 prisoners.

The Portuguese National Cemetery Richebourg contains 1,831 graves of which 239 are unknown soldiers. The majority of the casualties are from the Battle of the Lys. The cemetery was opened in 1928.