Gas attack at Hulluch

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Hulluch


caption=
partof=the Western Front of World War I
date=April 27, 1916 – April 29, 1916
place=Loos, France
result=British victory
combatant1=flagicon|UK United Kingdom
combatant2=flagicon|German Empire Germany
commander1=Major General John Hickie
commander2=
strength1=1 Division of approx. 8000 men
strength2=
casualties1=538 dead, 1590 wounded
casualties2=Less than 500|The Battle of Hulluch was a conflict in World War I, April 27–29, 1916, involving the 16th (Irish) Division of the British Army's 19th Corps.

The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers on the night of the 27th suffered a heavily-concentrated German chlorine gas attack near the German-held village of Hulluch, a mile north of Loos. The Germans began an attack by first releasing smoke, followed by the gas 1½ hours later. This subterfuge caused the British Army troops to dispense with their Phenate-Hexamine Goggle helmets after the smoke was released, resulting in heavy casualties during the actual attack.

Other units of the 16th Division, including the Royal Irish Rifles, the Royal Munster Fusiliers and The Royal Dublin Fusiliers were called in to stem the German attack.

On the 29th, the Germans attacked with gas again, but this time the wind blew the gas back upon their own troops, crippling a great number.

Hulluch was one of the most heavily-concentrated gas attacks of the war.

References

*cite web
last=Punch | first=Kieron
url=http://www.thewildgeese.com/pages/16thdiv.html
title=A Brief History of the 16th "Irish" Division
publisher=The Wild Geese Today
accessdate=2007-11-09
*cite web
url=http://www.greatwar.ie/ire_batmb.html
title=Irish Battalions
publisher=Royal Dublin Fusiliers Association
accessdate=2007-11-09
*cite book
first=Simon | last=Jones | year=2002
title=World War I Gas Warfare Tactics and Equipment
publisher=Osprey Publishing
id=ISBN 1846031516