In 1915 the British Army still suffered from lack of automatic weapons, of medium and heavy artillery and of ammunition. Successful offence for strategic results was not possible except by the French. During the year eight Service battalions of the Regiment joined the Army, as follows:

Battalion	Commanding Officer	Brigade	Division	Arrived France
7th	Lieut.-Colonel G. A. P. Rennie, D.S.O.	41st	14th0	May
8th	Lieut.-Colonel H. C. R. Green	41st	(Light)0	0
9th	Lieut.-Colonel C. Chaplin	42nd	0	0
10th	Lieut.-Colonel F. Douglas Pennant	59th	20th	July
11th	Lieut.-Colonel W. H. L. Allgood	59th	(Light)0	0
12th	Lieut.-Colonel A. I. Paine, DSO	60	20th	July-Nov
13th	Lieut.-Colonel R. Chester Brown	111	37th	July-Nov
16th	Lieut.-Colonel L. F. Wyld (ColdStream Guards)	100	33rd	July-Nov

The 14th and 15th Reserve Battalions were formed in this year, but were merged into the General Training Reserve in October, 1916.
In March Lieutenant-Colonel E. Northey was promoted to command the 15th Brigade and Major G. L. Shakerley succeeded to the command of the 1st Battalion. Lieutenant-Colonel C. Gosling was promoted to command the 7th Infantry Brigade in July, Major W. L. Long succeeding to the command of the 3rd Battalion.

Trench Warfare

The four Regular battalions all suffered heavy losses in the trench fighting in Flanders in terrible conditions during this winter. A noteworthy attack was that made by the 4th Battalion at St. Eloi, 1st March. This gallant attack, which was carried out as ordered, never had any chance of success. It gained a special mention from the G.O.C.-in-C. The strength of the Battalion was 300.

Losses: Officers: killed 3, wounded 3; Other Ranks: 108.

1st Bn. Givenchy, 10th March

The Regiment was not employed in the main battle of Neuve Chapelle, but the 1st Battalion took part in an expensive and unsuccessful holding attack at Givenchy on 10th March. The Battalion was the only one to enter the enemy trenches.

Losses: Officers: killed 6, wounded 2; Other Ranks: 239.

Second Battle Of Ypres - 22nd April to 14th May

The next fighting of importance in this year was at Ypres when the Germans used poison gas on 22nd April. Luckily it was used on a small front and so its surprise and moral effect were limited. Two divisions of French troops, however, disintegrated. The Canadians, though suffering heavily, prevented any serious penetration. A considerable readjustment of the line on the nights of lst/2nd and 3rd/4th May took place.

St. Eloi, 8th May.

The 3rd and 4th Battalions were seriously involved on 8th May. The Germans continued to try to break through and the fighting was severe. The enemy used gas on 24th April, and 1st, 2nd and 5th May; it was always accompanied by a heavy bombardment which completely destroyed our trenches. The Battalions were relieved on the night of 13th/14th May. Both received high praise from the Divisional and Corps Commanders and the thanks of the Commander-in -Chief.

Losses: 3rd Battalion (in 25 days): Officers 17; Other Ranks 525. 4th Battalion (8th to 10th May): Officers 15; Other Ranks 478.

The battle honours gained by the 3rd and 4th Battalions in the Second Battle of Ypres were YPRES, 1915; GRAVENSTAFEL; ST. JULIEN; FREZENBERG; and BELLEWAARDE.

Aubers and Festubert - 9th and 15th May

Aubers Ridge

The 2nd Battalion were in support at another 2nd Bn. expensive attack on the Aubers Ridge on 9th May.

Losses: Officers: killed 6, wounded 5; Other Ranks: 240.

Festubert

On 15th May at Festubert the 1st Battalion took part 1st Bu. in the first night attack of the war. The attack carried the three first lines of German trenches before daybreak on the 16th. The trenches taken were consolidated and retained in spite of the usual terrific volume of German machine-gun fire. Failure on our left caused heavier losses to the Battalion. The Commanding Officer, LieutenantColonel G. C. Shakerley, D.S.O., was killed.

Losses: Officers: killed 5, wounded 8; Other Ranks: 294.

On 23rd May Rifleman William Mariner, 2nd Battalion, was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Hooge - 30th June

In June, the 14th (Light) Division were sent straight to the Ypres Salient and soon were subjected to a severe trial. On 30th June at 3.30 a.m. the Germans attacked in force the trenches occupied by the 7th Battalion and 8th Rifle Brigade. The attack was accompanied by overwhelming shell and mortar fire, and flame-throwers were used for the first time. The Battalion was forced back to a line on the outskirts of Sanctuary and Zouave Woods, after heavy fighting. An immediate counter-attack at 2.45 p.m., ordered by VI Corps, was unsuccessful despite great gallantry shown by the 8th Battalion and 7th Rifle Brigade, tired and unfed and only just relieved. The 9th Battalion and 6th Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry also took part in the attack, the former regaining some of the lost trenches facing east. No time for reconnaissance or a proper fire plan was given. Brigadier-General O. Nugent's estimate that a division would be necessary was afterwards found to be correct. Lieutenant-Colonel C. S. Chaplin, 9th Battalion, was killed.

Losses to the three Battalions: Officers: killed 21, wounded 16; Other Ranks: 812

Loos - 24th September to 15th October

On 25th September the British army was involved in a major battle designed to relieve the pressure on the Russian front and drive the Germans out of their big salient in Champagne. To allow of this, the British First Army was ordered to support the French left in their attack on the Vimy Plateau and Douai Plains. In the British attack gas discharged from containers was used to compensate for our lack of guns and ammunition. The main attack was to be made by the I and IV Corps, in which were our 1st and 2nd Battalions. These attacks had some initial success, but the supporting divisions were too far away and had no previous experience of fighting. The reserve division was farther away still and was not at the Army Commander's disposal when wanted.
The gas in many places blew back over our own lines and added to the difficulty of the attack. The 1st Battalion was employed on 26th September in an unsuccessful attack on the Quarries. They dug in 300 yards short of the objective and repelled heavy attacks. They were also heavily engaged on 28th and 29th September and 3rd October, but held their ground. The 2nd Battalion, after heavy fighting, reached the Lens-La Bassde road and dug in by nightfall on the 25th. Both battalions were again employed, but not in major actions.

Rifleman George Peachment, 2nd Battalion, was awarded the Victoria Cross.

The 9th Battalion took part in an expensive holding attack at Bellewaarde; the 7th and 8th Battalions, though held in readiness for another holding attack, were not used, nor were the 10th and 11th Battalions of the 20th (Light) Division.

Casualties: 1st Battalion: Officers, killed 3, wounded 3; Other Ranks, about 400. 2nd Battalion: Officers, killed 7, wounded 6; Other Ranks, 496. 9th Battalion: Officers, killed 5, wounded 2; Other Ranks, 250.

The battle faded out about 15th October with a British loss of 50,000 and a German loss of 20,000. No strategic gain was made. No other fighting of importance occurred during the year. A few successful raids were recorded.

On 18th October the 3rd and 4th Battalions sailed with their division for Salonika.

On 8th December General Sir Douglas Haig succeeded General Sir John French as Commander-in-Chief, British Forces in France.