The Battle of Poelcappelle, 9 October 1917 Haig's decision to
prolong the Flanders offensive remains a source of controversy;
encouraged by the scale of German casualties at Broodseinde and
reports of lowered enemy morale he sought quickly to renew the
attack to secure the Passchendaele Ridge. Plumer's Second Army
would again be responsible for the main assault, supported by
simultaneous attacks by Fifth Army formations to the north.
Crucially, weather conditions were unfavourable and fatally
compromised both preparations and offensive operations. Aspects
of the ensuing fighting conformed to the classic imagery of
Western Front trench warfare in which the dominant elements of
mud and rain generated a degree of misery for participants which
is almost impossible to describe. On the evening of 8 October
assault troops, severely hampered by the heavy going and
drenching cold rain, laboured to their starting lines on the
eight mile attack frontage. At zero-hour, 5.20am the following
morning, exhausted and under st