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0:00:38 > 0:00:43- The journey and the battles continue - as we leave Ypres in Belgium...
0:00:43 > 0:00:45- ..and cross the border into France.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47- By the second year - of the Great War...
0:00:47 > 0:00:52- ..the western front was a long - line of barbed wire and trenches...
0:00:52 > 0:00:55- ..stretching from the channel, - to the Swiss border.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58- There was also another battle - raging in Gallipoli.
0:00:58 > 0:01:03- On the Front, Neuve Chapelle near - Lille was the scene of bloodshed.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06- The linchpins of the British Army - still believed...
0:01:06 > 0:01:11- ..that the cavalry could storm - through German lines.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15- It was time the Generals realised - they should bury the sword...
0:01:16 > 0:01:18- ..and bring in the machine guns.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23- Barbed wire and artillery - would now rule the battlefield.
0:01:36 > 0:01:40- The Germans were fighting on two - fronts - in the west and the east.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44- Having failed to break through - in the west...
0:01:44 > 0:01:49- ..they decided to build very solid - defences in Flanders...
0:01:49 > 0:01:52- ..but the British - had very different ideas.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55- Lille was very important.
0:01:55 > 0:02:00- The city of Lille sat at the heart - of an industrial area...
0:02:00 > 0:02:03- ..in the north east of France, - and lay in German hands.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07- By the summer of 1915, France - was putting enormous pressure...
0:02:08 > 0:02:10- ..on their British Allies to launch - a fierce attack...
0:02:11 > 0:02:13- ..to stretch German reserves - and manpower.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17- The French Commander-in-Chief, - General Joffre...
0:02:18 > 0:02:23- ..asked Haig to attack - the German line near Loos.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27- While they did that, the French - would launch a fierce attack...
0:02:27 > 0:02:29- ..in the Champagne region.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33- The aim was to break through, - re-capture Lille...
0:02:34 > 0:02:35- ..and force the enemy to retreat.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47- There may have been widespread - condemnation...
0:02:47 > 0:02:52- ..of Germany's use of gas, but the - British weren't slow to follow suit.
0:02:52 > 0:02:58- This is Loos - a small town in the - industrial north east of France.
0:02:58 > 0:03:03- During the Great War, this was - a wasteland of mines and tips.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07- It's likely that many Welsh soldiers - would have felt at home.
0:03:09 > 0:03:14- British commanders were reluctant - to fight on such difficult terrain.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16- It was difficult to plan - battles on this land.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21- The French leaders - were keen to attack...
0:03:21 > 0:03:24- ..for the sake of morale, - if nothing else.
0:03:24 > 0:03:30- To make matters worse, Haig and - Sir John French hated each other...
0:03:30 > 0:03:35- ..and could not agree - on a strategy or tactics.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39- Where to attack, - when to use the reserves...
0:03:39 > 0:03:42- ..and how many of them to use.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46- In addition to all that, - they were short of artillery...
0:03:46 > 0:03:49- ..and too many soldiers - were inexperienced...
0:03:49 > 0:03:51- ..having never fought - in battle before.
0:03:53 > 0:03:59- As with most attacks, British - guns bombarded the Germans...
0:04:00 > 0:04:05- ..for four days, - firing over 250,000 shells.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09- But the Germans had dug in well - over the summer months...
0:04:09 > 0:04:12- ..and created solid defences - for themselves.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15- On the morning of September 25th, - 1915...
0:04:16 > 0:04:18- ..the British launched a gas attack.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22- Having checked that the wind was - blowing in the right direction...
0:04:22 > 0:04:27- ..officers issued the command - to open the poisonous gas cylinders.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37- The gas created havoc - amongst the Germans...
0:04:37 > 0:04:40- ..and with the Scottish soldiers - leading the way,...
0:04:40 > 0:04:44- ..the British broke through - the first line near Loos.
0:04:44 > 0:04:49- By mid-day, there were 10,000 men - attacking the second German line...
0:04:49 > 0:04:53- ..calling for more support - to press on with the attack.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56- But the reserves had been delayed.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00- The order to advance into position - came far too late.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04- The communication system - had been a complete failure.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07- The reserves joined the battle - the following morning...
0:05:08 > 0:05:10- ..in the fields and forests - around Loos.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15- German machine guns sliced through - the British troops...
0:05:16 > 0:05:18- ..like a scythe.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23- British dead littered - the battlefield...
0:05:23 > 0:05:27- ..and hung on barbed wire - like rags on a line!
0:05:28 > 0:05:31- Over 8,000 men were lost - in less than an hour.
0:05:32 > 0:05:37- Even the Germans were horrified - by the effects of the battle.
0:05:37 > 0:05:43- They named it 'lichenfeld von Loos' - - the Loos field of corpses.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48- Just two months earlier, Haig had - told the British War Council...
0:05:48 > 0:05:51- ..that "the machine gun - is highly overrated".
0:05:57 > 0:06:01- One of the 8,000 men slaughtered - in this horrific battle...
0:06:01 > 0:06:07- ..was the son of English poet, - Rudyard Kipling - John Kipling.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13- He's remembered here - in the sad Loos graveyard.
0:06:18 > 0:06:23- Further north, towards La Basse, - the poisonous gas drifted...
0:06:23 > 0:06:26- ..between the two armies, - until the wind changed...
0:06:26 > 0:06:28- ..and blew it back - towards the attackers.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33- What happened next was - recorded in horrific detail...
0:06:33 > 0:06:38- ..by English poet Robert Graves, - a Royal Welch Fusilier.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41- In his biography, - "Goodbye To All That"...
0:06:41 > 0:06:46- ..Graves describes how 2,000 British - soldiers lost their lives...
0:06:47 > 0:06:48- ..to the toxic gas.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52- "It was a bloody balls-up."
0:06:52 > 0:06:57- "Among the wounded were a number of - men, yellow-faced and choking...
0:06:57 > 0:07:01- "..their buttons tarnished green - - gas cases!"
0:07:07 > 0:07:10- Loos was a complete disaster - for Britain.
0:07:10 > 0:07:14- Young, inexperienced men took - the first line of German trenches...
0:07:14 > 0:07:19- ..then came up against a network - of barbed wire, machine guns...
0:07:19 > 0:07:20- ..and experienced soldiers.
0:07:21 > 0:07:27- 75,000 British men were sent in - against 11,000 Germans.
0:07:29 > 0:07:34- Within two days, Britain had lost - 60,000 men - but for what?
0:07:35 > 0:07:39- Hywel, there was no choice but - to bring the attacks to an end.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42- It's just another horror story.
0:07:42 > 0:07:46- It seems that the doubters' fears - were all realised.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50- There was an initial leap forward...
0:07:50 > 0:07:54- ..but thanks to a total lack - of communication...
0:07:54 > 0:07:58- ..the reserves didn't get to the - battle to clinch the advantage...
0:07:58 > 0:08:02- ..after our boys secured the first - line of enemy trenches.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07- Battalions of young, - inexperienced soldiers...
0:08:08 > 0:08:11- ..all racing to battle were killed.
0:08:12 > 0:08:17- What lessons did the British - High Command learn?
0:08:17 > 0:08:20- How quickly did they learn them?
0:08:28 > 0:08:28- 888
0:08:28 > 0:08:30- 888- - 888
0:08:46 > 0:08:50- A twenty-minute drive from Loos - brings us to Arras.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53- Many of the buildings - in this pretty little town...
0:08:53 > 0:08:58- ..were built by the Flemish during - the 17th and 18th centuries.
0:08:59 > 0:09:05- In 1914 and 1915, the Germans - relentlessly shelled the town.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11- The attacks then seemed to ease off, - and during that time...
0:09:12 > 0:09:16- ..some of the town's inhabitants - were brave enough to return.
0:09:16 > 0:09:21- But, in April 1917, another great - battle was fought at Arras.
0:09:21 > 0:09:26- It was a bloody battle, - far too similar to that at Loos.
0:09:26 > 0:09:32- The aim was to support the French - offensive near the river Aisne...
0:09:33 > 0:09:37- ..by keeping the German reserve - soldiers occupied.
0:09:38 > 0:09:43- Once again, it was a complete - waste of lives.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48- There's fine drizzle falling - in Arras today...
0:09:48 > 0:09:52- ..but in April 1917, - the British Army had to attack...
0:09:52 > 0:09:56- ..in dreadful conditions, as sleet - and snow mercilessly lashed down.
0:09:56 > 0:10:00- They also intended to use - a new attacking technique.
0:10:00 > 0:10:05- The heavy artillery would fire - a barrage of shells...
0:10:05 > 0:10:08- ..and creep slowly forward - towards the enemy.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13- The British soldiers would follow - and take control of the land.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16- Naturally, there would be - an accident or two...
0:10:16 > 0:10:19- ..and a few would lose - their lives....
0:10:19 > 0:10:22- ..in what's known today - as 'friendly fire'.
0:10:22 > 0:10:27- But, in First World War terms, what - were a few losses among friends?
0:10:33 > 0:10:37- This is the village of Gavrelle, - just a few miles north of Arras.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41- It's difficult to imagine the scenes - of slaughter and destruction here.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44- Words like destruction - and demolition...
0:10:44 > 0:10:46- ..barely resemble the reality.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50- If you spoke of beastliness in - terms of the bear and the wolf...
0:10:51 > 0:10:53- ..you would only be doing - those animals an injustice.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57- Gavrelle was the cornerstone - of the German defence.
0:11:00 > 0:11:04- If the British could take the - village and the high ground...
0:11:04 > 0:11:07- ..to the north of Gavrelle, - they would have the opportunity...
0:11:07 > 0:11:09- ..to hurtle down the hill and - attack the plains near Douai...
0:11:09 > 0:11:12- ..destroying the German front.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16- They did succeed in taking - what remained of the village...
0:11:17 > 0:11:19- ..but at a huge cost.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23- Thousands of lives were lost - - and all for nothing...
0:11:23 > 0:11:26- ..since the British - failed to break through.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31- British and German pilots fought - constant battles...
0:11:31 > 0:11:35- ..in the wide, blue skies - above Arras.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39- High above the trenches, the losses - were just as devastating.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47- This is Vimy Ridge.
0:11:47 > 0:11:51- The Germans had held this - high ground since October 1914...
0:11:51 > 0:11:53- ..and had turned it into a fortress.
0:11:53 > 0:11:58- The French bravely tried to capture - the ridge in 1915, without success.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01- They suffered 150,000 casualties.
0:12:02 > 0:12:07- At 5.30am on Easter Monday, - 9th April 1917...
0:12:07 > 0:12:09- ..as part of the Arras offensive...
0:12:09 > 0:12:12- ..four Canadian Infantry - Divisions attacked.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18- It was one of the most successful - assaults of the war.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34- The Canadians made careful - preparations prior to the attack.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38- They targeted the exact - locations of German defences.
0:12:38 > 0:12:43- Every soldier was fully aware - of the task he faced.
0:12:45 > 0:12:50- Fifteen mines were dug - under German positions.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56- The Germans sheltered deep - in their dug-outs...
0:12:57 > 0:13:02- ..similar to this one, knowing - that an attack was imminent...
0:13:02 > 0:13:06- ..but not knowing when it would - come or the strength of the attack.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11- They were confident they would be - able to defend the ridge.
0:13:12 > 0:13:18- By 4.00am on the 9th April 1917, - tens of thousands of soldiers...
0:13:18 > 0:13:21- ..has assembled along - the front at Vimy.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25- Sleet and snow fell, - covering the attackers...
0:13:25 > 0:13:28- ..who were already - frozen to the bone.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32- The forming up of the leading - attack companies...
0:13:32 > 0:13:34- ..was undertaken with - great care and precision.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37- In some places, they were within - 100 yards of the German lines...
0:13:38 > 0:13:40- ..without them noticing a thing.
0:13:40 > 0:13:45- Then at 5.00am, all hell - broke loose on the German lines.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48- Two huge mines exploded beneath - the German front line...
0:13:48 > 0:13:51- ..as heavy guns blasted - their defences.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56- They were paralysed by shock - and the Canadians were upon them...
0:13:56 > 0:13:58- ..before they could escape - from the trenches.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10- Here on Hill 145, the highest - part of the Vimy ridge...
0:14:10 > 0:14:12- ..they encountered the strongest - German positions.
0:14:12 > 0:14:16- But the Canadians were unstoppable - and the ridge was captured.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20- Further attacks were made - along the ridge...
0:14:20 > 0:14:24- ..by British and Canadian soldiers - in the following days.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27- A German withdrawal - became inevitable.
0:14:27 > 0:14:33- Only some 11,000 Canadian lives - were lost during the attack.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37- Perhaps 'only' is not - the term to use...
0:14:38 > 0:14:41- ..but compared with other losses - during the First World War...
0:14:42 > 0:14:44- ..it was a comparatively light blow.
0:14:45 > 0:14:50- The monument here is spectacular - - as the Canadian Government...
0:14:50 > 0:14:52- ..pays a fitting tribute - to their brave soldiers.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00- This place is incredible, Hywel.
0:15:00 > 0:15:06- It's almost terrifying - the way - the tenches have been preserved.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11- The scarring on the landscape - is the thing that struck me most.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14- Shells must have poured down here.
0:15:14 > 0:15:15- Shells must have poured down here.- - Exactly.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20- They've used electric fences - to cordon off areas everywhere.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24- That means there are still live - shells lying in the ground...
0:15:24 > 0:15:28- ..and that, almost 90 years on, - it's still too dangerous...
0:15:29 > 0:15:31- ..to walk in those areas.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35- For me, the most frightening legacy - are these tunnels.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38- They dug fifteen of them, - filled them with explosives...
0:15:38 > 0:15:40- ..and fired nine of them.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44- They've found and diffused - a further two since then...
0:15:45 > 0:15:48- ..but that means there - are four more here, somewhere.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53- They suspect that one of them - might lie beneath our feet here...
0:15:53 > 0:15:57- ..near the area - where the visitors flock.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00- There's talk that they might - have to prevent the coaches...
0:16:00 > 0:16:02- ..from driving over this part - of the ridge.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06- Some researchers suspect - that one of these mines...
0:16:07 > 0:16:10- ..lies beneath the motorway - which runs alongside the ridge.
0:16:12 > 0:16:13- Time to move, I think.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15- Time to move, I think.- - I think so.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34- We're barely a mile away - from the General's post...
0:16:34 > 0:16:36- ..mentioned in Cynan's poem, - 'Mab y Bwthyn'...
0:16:36 > 0:16:39- ..but for these soldiers, - it was mile back.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43- No matter how hard - the British attacked...
0:16:44 > 0:16:46- ..the Germans held on - to their land...
0:16:46 > 0:16:48- ..and chose their moment - to strike back.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53- The French attack near the river - Aisne was a failure.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59- Conditions were brutal for - British soldiers in Arras.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02- The scale of the losses would break - the hearts of even the bravest men.
0:17:02 > 0:17:07- They lost almost 4,000 men - every day for 40 days.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10- That's a total of over - 150,000 men...
0:17:10 > 0:17:14- ..enough bodies to fill - 67 enormous cemeteries.
0:17:29 > 0:17:34- Just a few miles down the road - from Arras, we reach Cambrai...
0:17:34 > 0:17:38- ..a relatively large town - with an enormous cobbled square.
0:17:38 > 0:17:43- A reflection of past wealth from the - textile and agricultural industries.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46- There was an effective - rail system here...
0:17:46 > 0:17:51- ..and in 1917, it became an - important German headquarters.
0:17:54 > 0:17:59- The mighty Hindenburg line - lay in front of the town.
0:18:00 > 0:18:05- Belts of barbed wire, deep trenches - and concrete emplacements.
0:18:05 > 0:18:11- These fortifications were so strong - that the decimated German units...
0:18:11 > 0:18:14- ..from the battles of Passchendaele - were sent here to recuperate.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18- The British planned to attack - and take Cambrai.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21- This attack was going - to be different.
0:18:33 > 0:18:38- At 6.20am on 20th November 1917...
0:18:38 > 0:18:41- ..the Germans heard - unfamiliar rumblings...
0:18:42 > 0:18:44- ..approaching in the distance.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46- The tanks were attacking.
0:18:46 > 0:18:51- 450 tanks arrived to smash - their way through the barbed wire.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54- Many German defenders fled - in terror!
0:18:55 > 0:18:59- As usual, the attack was - supported by artillery guns.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03- At last, an opportunity - for the British to break through!
0:19:04 > 0:19:07- They had a few setbacks, - such as failing to capture...
0:19:08 > 0:19:10- ..this village - Flesquieres.
0:19:10 > 0:19:16- The Royal Flying Corps failed to - spot German artillery positions...
0:19:16 > 0:19:18- ..on the outskirts of the village.
0:19:19 > 0:19:24- As a result, 39 tanks were destroyed - and seven of them by one man...
0:19:24 > 0:19:29- ..Unteroffizer Kruger, who fired his - gun relentlessly until he was shot.
0:19:29 > 0:19:33- Did you know that Kruger - was the only German soldier...
0:19:33 > 0:19:39- ..of the First World War to be - named in British military reports?
0:19:39 > 0:19:41- He was quite a soldier, - no doubt about it.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44- But the British won the day.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49- They captured around 8,000 prisoners - and 100 artillery guns.
0:19:49 > 0:19:55- Victory bells were rung in London - since winning any battle...
0:19:55 > 0:19:58- ..along the Western front was - such a difficult thing to do.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01- But the story soon changed.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06- The fierce battle raged on - during the following wintry days.
0:20:06 > 0:20:10- The majority of the tanks were lost, - many completely destroyed.
0:20:11 > 0:20:15- The battle for Bourlon Wood - near Cambrai was devastating.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18- Since its high ground location - was so advantageous...
0:20:19 > 0:20:22- ..the woods had to be captured - at any cost.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26- Welsh units of the 119th Brigade - fought viciously through the wood...
0:20:27 > 0:20:29- ..and the thick undergrowth.
0:20:29 > 0:20:34- Supported by many other divisions, - the wood was finally captured.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39- But the retreating Germans bombarded - the captured wood with such force...
0:20:40 > 0:20:44- ..that most of the British units - holding the wood were annihilated.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48- At the end of November, - the Germans counter-attacked...
0:20:48 > 0:20:53- ..and, quite literally, caught - the British troops napping.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57- The Germans even used captured - British tanks.
0:20:58 > 0:21:03- By the 5th December, the Germans had - regained most of what was lost...
0:21:03 > 0:21:08- ..and even gained ground - to the south of Cambrai.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11- Losses on both sides - were horrendous...
0:21:11 > 0:21:13- ..a total of around 40,000 men.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16- Another wasteful outcome.
0:21:22 > 0:21:27- Well, Iolo, there's a rather - special 'what if' story...
0:21:27 > 0:21:30- ..about the village of Marcoing, - south of Cambrai.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32- It was the scene of much fighting.
0:21:33 > 0:21:39- In 1918, Private Henry Tandy won - a Victoria Cross from bravery.
0:21:39 > 0:21:43- He captured and knocked out an enemy - machine gun emplacement...
0:21:43 > 0:21:49- ..then led a successful bayonet - attack, despite being outnumbered.
0:21:49 > 0:21:55- As the fighting wound down, - Tandy found himself faced...
0:21:55 > 0:21:59- ..with a German soldier - on his knees...
0:21:59 > 0:22:01- ..and was about to shoot him.
0:22:02 > 0:22:06- He decided to show some mercy - and let him go.
0:22:06 > 0:22:11- As he crawled away, - the German bent his head...
0:22:12 > 0:22:14- ..in gesture of thanks.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18- It was customary - to paint portraits...
0:22:18 > 0:22:22- ..of the brave men who won VCs.
0:22:23 > 0:22:27- An Italian artist, by the - name of Fortunino Matania...
0:22:27 > 0:22:32- ..painted Henry Tandy's portrait - when he won the VC.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35- But that's just the beginning - of the story...
0:22:35 > 0:22:39- ..because in 1938, Prime Minister - Neville Chamberlain...
0:22:40 > 0:22:44- ..made a futile journey - to meet Adolf Hitler in Germany.
0:22:44 > 0:22:50- He was astounded to see, amongst the - German paraphernalia on the wall...
0:22:51 > 0:22:55- ..Matania's portrait of Henry Tandy.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58- He asked Hitler about the - significance of the portrait...
0:22:59 > 0:23:04- ..and Hitler replied, "That man - came so close to killing me...
0:23:05 > 0:23:09- "..I thought I'd never see - my beloved Germany again."
0:23:10 > 0:23:13- Adolf Hitler was that - beleaguered soldier.
0:23:13 > 0:23:17- For me, that's one of - the worst examples...
0:23:18 > 0:23:20- ..of the devil - looking after his own.
0:23:20 > 0:23:21