 The first two attacks had been successful and as Allied commanders began to believe that a breakthrough was possible further attacks were made at Poelcappelle on 9 October and at Passchendaele on 12 October despite heavy rain that turned the ground into a muddy quagmire . Both attacks were ultimately doomed to failure , with heavy casualties , as the attacks foundered in the mud and as the battle petered out , it was decided that it was time for the Australians to be withdrawn from the line . This was completed by 14 November 1917 . Over the course of the eight weeks they had been involved in the fighting around Ypres , they had suffered 38 @,@ 000 casualties . 
