<P> The Battle of Messines ( 7 -- 14 June 1917 ) was conducted by the British Second Army ( General Sir Herbert Plumer ) , on the Western Front near the village of Messines in West Flanders , Belgium , during the First World War . The Nivelle Offensive in April and May had failed to achieve its more ambitious aims , had led to the demoralisation of French troops and dislocated the Anglo - French strategy for 1917 . The offensive at Messines forced the Germans to move reserves to Flanders from the Arras and Aisne fronts , which relieved pressure on the French . The tactical objective of the attack at Messines was to capture the German defences on the ridge , which ran from Ploegsteert ( Plugstreet ) Wood in the south , through Messines and Wytschaete to Mt . Sorrel , to deprive the German 4th Army of the high ground south of Ypres . The ridge commanded the British defences and back areas further north , from which the British intended to conduct the Northern Operation , an advance to Passchendaele Ridge and then capture the Belgian coast up to the Dutch frontier . </P>
<P> The Battle of Messines ( 7 -- 14 June 1917 ) was conducted by the British Second Army ( General Sir Herbert Plumer ) , on the Western Front near the village of Messines in West Flanders , Belgium , during the First World War . The Nivelle Offensive in April and May had failed to achieve its more ambitious aims , had led to the demoralisation of French troops and dislocated the Anglo - French strategy for 1917 . The offensive at Messines forced the Germans to move reserves to Flanders from the Arras and Aisne fronts , which relieved pressure on the French . The tactical objective of the attack at Messines was to capture the German defences on the ridge , which ran from Ploegsteert ( Plugstreet ) Wood in the south , through Messines and Wytschaete to Mt . Sorrel , to deprive the German 4th Army of the high ground south of Ypres . The ridge commanded the British defences and back areas further north , from which the British intended to conduct the Northern Operation , an advance to Passchendaele Ridge and then capture the Belgian coast up to the Dutch frontier . </P>
where did the battle of messines take place
where did the battle of messines take place
Messines in West Flanders , Belgium
Messines in West Flanders , Belgium