Broodseinde Ridge forms part of a low ridgeline known as the Gheluvelt Plateau, running generally north–south through the village of Broodseinde. Just 9 km from Ypres and only 3 km from Passchendaele, the ridge dominated the battlefield: whoever held it commanded clear observation and deadly accurate fire into Ypres.
Nearby landmarks include the town of Zonnebeke, the Gravenstafel Spur, and today, Tyne Cot Cemetery.
The plan of attack
On 4 October 1917, the Allies launched an assault to capture 13 km of German frontline trenches under the command of General Plumer of the British Second Army. This was part of the wider Third Battle of Ypres, often called Passchendaele.
- I Anzac Corps (1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th Australian Divisions) and II Anzac Corps (3rd Australian Division, New Zealand Division, and two British divisions) spearheaded the assault.
- Each division was tasked with advancing 1,500–2,000 metres.
- The battle was brought forward from 6 October to 4 October due to predicted heavy rain — a decision that proved crucial.
The aim was not to achieve a deep breakthrough but to employ the bite and hold strategy: seize limited ground, then consolidate and repel German counter-attacks.
The Australian role
The 3rd Australian Division’s task was to capture strongpoints near Tyne Cot. They assembled northwest of Zonnebeke, with the New Zealand Division on their left tasked with Abraham Heights and the Gravenstafel Spur.
The 11th Brigade divided its assault into four staged objectives:
- 43rd Battalion – first objective
- 42nd Battalion – second objective
- 44th Battalion – third and final objectives
This leapfrogging method ensured fresh troops attacked each successive objective, as soldiers who captured a line were often exhausted, out of ammunition, or carrying casualties.
The battle unfolds
- 3 October (night): Battalions moved into position under light rain. Troops lay in the open at their jumping-off tapes for hours in the dark, waiting for zero hour.
- 6:00 am, 4 October: The artillery barrage began. Australian and New Zealand troops advanced steadily, capturing hundreds of prisoners and overrunning German headquarters preparing for their own counter-attack.
- By 8:10 am: The Red Line (first objective) was secured.
- Between 8:45–9:30 am: The Blue Line (second objective) was reached. Positions were consolidated under artillery cover, despite sporadic counter-attacks.
Heavy rain set in during the afternoon, complicating the evacuation of wounded and foreshadowing the infamous mud of Passchendaele.
Success and significance
The Battle of Broodseinde Ridge was one of the most successful days for the British Army on the Western Front:
- Estimated 30,000 German casualties (dead, wounded, or captured)
- Several high-ranking officers taken prisoner
- Vital ground gained, bringing the line closer to Passchendaele
The foresight to bring the battle forward before the rain, and the disruption caused by the Germans preparing their own attack, both played heavily in the Allies’ favour.
However, the wider campaign took its toll. Successive battles — Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde — wore down both armies. When the Allies attacked Passchendaele on 12 October, the ground was bogged in mud, and little was gained.
Walk the ground today
In the sector where the Australians fought, Tyne Cot Cemetery now stands — the largest Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in the world. Visiting the site brings home the scale of the battle and the sacrifice made.
👉 Join Pathfinder Travel on a battlefield tour and stand where the Australians advanced across Broodseinde Ridge in 1917.