A mysterious incident that occurred in 1917 in Belgium and dubbed the "mystery of the Celtic forest" is still hotly debated among historians and other researchers. But no specialist can substantiate his version and explain how during the largest battle at Paschendal during the First World War, more than 70 soldiers of the First Australian Division were missing! At the same time, various documents contain conflicting data on the number of soldiers. Nevertheless, they were not included in the number of prisoners of war or in the lists of the dead, in connection with which the disappearance of the soldiers was even associated with mystical reasons.
Failure at Paschendal
In early October 1917, Field Marshal Douglas Haig, who commanded British troops on the Western Front during World War I, was inspired after a series of successful battles of his army and felt that the German Fourth Army was at an end. Then he decided to capture the Paschendal mountain range. Haig's plans were not unfounded: the British army was preparing for battle with 200 tanks and 700 aircraft, while the enemy had few aircraft and no tanks at all. Confidence was reinforced by the number of British soldiers - 16 divisions went to Paschendal.
At the same time, various circumstances interfered with the field marshal's plans. He intended to advance the troops 6 km, in connection with which the German soldiers moved closer to the top of the mountain range and fired at the advancing from above. In addition, the British army found itself in the swamp area, and the constant rains made the mud on the terrain almost impassable, because of which the tanks often got stuck in it. Also rainy weather interfered with the use of aircraft. The quick and crushing victory that Haig had anticipated turned into five months of grueling battles. During the entire operation, the Allies lost more than 300 thousand people.
Rescue plan
To save the situation, the commander-in-chief of the British Expeditionary Forces decided to use a distraction. At that time, on the Western Front, the 10th Battalion of the 1st Australian Division was distinguished by outstanding combat training and courage. Two of its soldiers received Britain's highest military award - the Victoria Cross. For numerous services and high fighting spirit, this battalion received the nickname “Terrible tenth”.
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It was these Australian soldiers, as planned by Haig, were supposed to enter the Celtic Forest at dawn and blow up the German trenches so that the enemy thought that this was part of the main offensive. At the same time, it was planned that the second division would carry out an attack, defending the flank of the main attacking forces of Britain. So 7 officers and 78 soldiers of the legendary "Terrible Battalion" entered the Celtic forest, never to leave there.
It is still unclear what actually happened there. It is known that the maneuver failed and the German troops retreated only a week later, although the British media covered this attack as a victory. The battalion commander wrote the following in his report: "Then a desperate clash followed, during which heavy losses were inflicted on the enemy." He further noted: "I can only report on 14 non-injured members of the group." Apparently, on the basis of this report, it was concluded that 71 people were missing. At the same time, the number "37" is often found in official documents.
Versions
Charles Bean, Australian correspondent, commented on the incident as follows: “The operation ended disastrously. The missing were never heard of again. Their names were not on any list of prisoners of war received during the war. After that, the Commission on the Graves did not find any traces of their bodies."
It is noteworthy that the records of the Germans did not contain any information about the attack, in connection with which some historians put forward the version that the soldiers were killed and buried by the enemy in a mass grave. It was also assumed that when the commander of the Australian battalion divided it into 2 groups, he led one of them from the flank, while the second, which attacked the Germans, died in hand-to-hand combat with them. As a result, the first group of 37 people was unable to retreat and get out from under enemy fire.
Later, it also considered assumptions about incorrect reporting and clerical errors. It was believed that one of the surviving fighters could convey incorrect information.
Author: Lilit Sargsyan
