Messines Ridge Assault Opened
Haig opens the Messines operation after extensive mining and artillery preparation.
Role range: 1914-1918
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Douglas Haig Biography and Timeline — Page 4
Follow Douglas Haig through 289 dated historical records for Great Britain.
Douglas Haig, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
289Distinct records
4 of 8Page
1917–1918Years on this page
1917
Messines Success Exploited
Haig orders consolidation and exploitation after British Empire forces capture Messines Ridge.
Role range: 1914-1918
Pilckem Ridge Assault Opened
Haig launches the opening phase of the Third Battle of Ypres against Pilckem Ridge.
Role range: 1914-1918
Battle of Ypres, 3rd
Haig launches the Third Battle of Ypres.
Role range: 1914-1918 – 1915-1918
Flanders Offensive Final Planning Approved
Haig approves final preparations for the major offensive east of Ypres.
Role range: 1914-1918
Third Ypres Offensive Authorised
Haig authorises the main Flanders offensive intended to break through east of Ypres.
Role range: 1914-1918
Langemarck Operations Continued
Haig continues the Ypres offensive as British forces attack around Langemarck in difficult conditions.
Role range: 1914-1918
Battle of Cambrai
Approves the plan for the offensive on the plain of Cambrai
Role range: 1914-1918
Menin Road Ridge Attack Supported
Haig supports Plumer's limited-objective attack that gains ground along Menin Road Ridge.
Role range: 1914-1918
Polygon Wood Offensive Supported
Haig continues the step-by-step offensive as British and Australian troops attack Polygon Wood.
Role range: 1914-1918
Broodseinde Ridge Assault Supported
Haig supports the successful attack at Broodseinde during a drier period of the Ypres campaign.
Role range: 1914-1918
Battle of Passchendaele
Haig decides to capture Passchendaele
Role range: 1914-1918
Battle of Passchendaele
Orders the Canadian Corps to capure the Pascendale Ridge
Role range: 1914-1918
Poelcappelle Attack Continued
Haig continues offensive operations around Poelcappelle despite worsening mud and weather.
Role range: 1914-1918
Battle of Passchendaele
1st day of the Passchendaele Offensive
Role range: 1914-1918
First Passchendaele Attack Approved
Haig approves the first major assault toward Passchendaele after previous attacks fail to secure the ridge.
Role range: 1914-1918
Battle of Passchendaele
The Passchandale Offensive ceases after only advancing half a mile in 12 days
Role range: 1914-1918
Second Passchendaele Offensive Opened
Haig continues the campaign with Canadian-led attacks toward the village and ridge.
Role range: 1914-1918
Canadian Passchendaele Preparations Supported
Haig supports Canadian Corps preparations for renewed attacks on the Passchendaele ridge.
Role range: 1914-1918
Passchendaele Ridge Objective Retained
Haig keeps Passchendaele Ridge as an objective despite mud, casualties and worsening weather.
Role range: 1914-1918
Battle of Passchendaele
Although inflicting irreplaceable casualties on the Germans, the Allies had captured a mere 5 miles (8 km) of new territory at a cost of 140,000 combat deaths.
Role range: 1914-1918
Battle of Passchendaele
The Battle consisted of a series of Bite and Hold attacks to capture critical terrain and wear down the German army, lasting until the Canadian Corps took Passchendaele on 6 November 1917, ending the battle.
Role range: 1914-1918
Battle of Passchendaele
a ratio of roughly 2 inches (5 cm) gained per dead soldier.
Role range: 1914-1918
Passchendaele Village Capture Consolidated
Haig orders consolidation after Canadian troops secure Passchendaele village and nearby high ground.
Role range: 1914-1918
Battle of Cambrai
German reinforcements stop the Allied advance to Cambrai & regain lost land by Nov 30. 6 KM are gained
Role range: 1914-1918
Cambrai Mass-Tank Assault Opened
Haig supports the surprise Cambrai attack combining tanks, artillery, infantry and air power.
Role range: 1914-1918
German Cambrai Counterattack Reviewed
Haig reviews the German counterattack that recovers much of the ground gained earlier at Cambrai.
Role range: 1914-1918
Supreme War Council
Faces new Allied scrutiny through the council's strategic reviews.
Role range: 1914-1918 – 1915-1918
Battle of Cambrai
Authorizes the Allied attack by the BEF against the Hindenburg Line
Role range: 1914-1918
British Expeditionary Force (BEF)
Authorizes the Allied attack by the BEF against the Hindenburg Line
Role range: 1914-1918
1918
BEF Manpower Shortage Reviewed
Haig warns that reduced infantry strength leaves British armies vulnerable to a major German offensive.
Role range: 1914-1918
Operation Michael Opens against BEF
Haig confronts the opening German spring offensive against the British Third and Fifth Armies.
Role range: 1914-1918
Saint Quentin Defensive Crisis Managed
Haig directs emergency measures as German forces penetrate the Fifth Army front near Saint Quentin.
Role range: 1914-1918
Fifth Army Withdrawal Coordinated
Haig coordinates retreat and reinforcement as the Fifth Army falls back under intense German pressure.
Role range: 1914-1918
Bapaume Sector Withdrawal Reviewed
Haig reviews the retreat around Bapaume as Operation Michael continues westward.
Role range: 1914-1918
Doullens Allied Command Agreement Accepted
Haig accepts Foch's coordinating authority during the emergency conference at Doullens.
Role range: 1914-1918
Foch Allied Coordination Authority Supported
Haig supports unified Allied direction as the spring offensive threatens to divide British and French armies.
Role range: 1914-1918
Rosieres Defensive Fighting Directed
Haig coordinates resistance as German forces continue advancing during the Battle of Rosieres.
Role range: 1914-1918
Arras Defensive Battle Reinforced
Haig reinforces the Arras sector where British troops slow renewed German attacks.
Role range: 1914-1918
Avre Defensive Line Stabilised
Haig's forces help stop the German advance toward Amiens during the Battle of the Avre.
Role range: 1914-1918
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.