Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2024
First exams 2026
The Context of the British Sector of the Western Front (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Zoe Wade
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Key Developments in the First World War - Timeline & Summary
In August 1914, Britain went to war with Germany with the aim of protecting Belgium from invasion. It was also an opportunity for Britain to reinforce their ally - France - who were already under serious threat of invasion. What followed was World War One, which resulted in over 37 million deaths. Although Europe had seen conflict before, the First World War became infamous for the sheer volume of casualties. There were also changes in the types of injuries due to new types of weapons. Study of the Western Front is crucial for an understanding of the medical developments within the 20th-century. Knowledge and understanding of X-rays, blood transfusions, plastic surgery, ambulances, and surgery techniques all developed rapidly. To fully understand the medical developments which took place, it is essential to have knowledge of the key battles as well as their significance. |
The Theatre of War
Britain went to war with Germany on August 4th 1914
The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) were sent to Northern France to stop the German advance through Belgium
The BEF faced a German army of 160,000 soldiers and this led to a retreat to protect Paris
By the end of 1914, Germany occupied much of Belgium and Northern France
Both sides built a series of trenches to protect their territory
Throughout the duration of the First World War, a number of key battles occurred, for example at Ypres and Arras
The line of trenches was not static, it moved when different battles led to advance or retreat for the two opposing armies
The Ypres Salient
1914: The First Battle of Ypres
The BEF moved to the town of Ypres to prevent the German advance along the coast
German forces launched an attack in October of 1914
The British defended Ypres but 50,000 soldiers died
British victory meant reinforcements and supplies could be delivered on the coast
However, German forces still surrounded Ypres
1915: The Second Battle of Ypres
A series of small battles took place between April and May 1915
Germany used chlorine gas for the first time in the First World War
British forces lost around 59,000 soldiers
Germany moved two miles closer to the town of Ypres
1917: The Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele)
British forces wanted to launch an offensive on the German troops who surrounded Ypres
The British launched their main attack in July 1917 near the town of Passchendaele
Constant rainfall caused the ground to become waterlogged and many soldiers drowned
Around 245,000 soldiers from British forces died
Despite gaining only seven miles of territory, General Haig considered it a success
The Battle of the Somme
Britain attacked near the River Somme to take vital ground after the attack on the French city of Verdun by German forces
The first day of fighting on the 1st July 1916 led to the deaths of 20,000 British troops
The British tried two new strategies:
Using a creeping barrage too late would leave British soldiers vulnerable to German gunfire. Too early and their own artillery would hit them
The tanks were new and untested. They suffered many technical problems
By November 1916, Britain had suffered 400,000 casualties
The battle was regarded as a failure even though the British gained six miles of territory
The Battle of Cambrai
British forces attacked German trenches in October 1917
Reduced artillery fire confused the German forces
The battle featured the first large-scale use of tanks:
There were around 450 British tanks used in the battle
Tanks moved across barbed wire and had machine guns
Land taken by British forces was quickly reclaimed by Germany
Battle | Significance to medical developments |
|---|---|
First Battle of Ypres | As the first major conflict on the Western Front, doctors learnt more about the impact of weapons such as bullet wounds, shrapnel and artillery |
Second Battle of Ypres | It featured the first use of chlorine gas on the Western Front, leading to treatments such as ammonia, and lime. Gas masks were also developed |
Battle of the Somme | Photographs of injuries sustained during the battle allowed plastic surgeons like Harold Gillies to perfect their techniques |
Third Battle of Ypres | Excessive rainfall led to thousands of cases of trench foot Surgeons like Harvey Cushing tested saline solution to prevent infection of wounds. |
The Battle of Cambrai | Oswald Hope Robertson stored 22 units of universal donor blood which saved 11 of 20 soldiers. The first time stored blood was used to treat soldiers. |
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Remember, the focus of the historic environment section is to understand the development of medicine within the historic environment (The British Sector of the Western Front). Use the table above. This will help you to remember the importance of each battle and how they link to medical developments. For example, The Battle of Arras was crucial for its use of a functioning, underground hospital.
Worked Example
Describe one feature of the Battle of the Somme
2 marks
Answers:
One feature of the Battle of the Somme was that it had a high casualty rate among British soldiers (1); by November 1916, it is estimated that Britain had lost over 400,000 soldiers (1).
Examiner Tips and Tricks
This question previously asked students to describe two features of a given event. This question was out of four marks. However, as of 2025, Edexcel will split this question into two subsections, asking you to describe a feature of two different events. Each subsection is worth two marks.
This answer would receive full marks because it identifies one main feature or characteristic of the Battle of the Somme. It supports the feature with relevant knowledge. There is no need to provide explanations or justifications.
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