Entrance to Cinder Track.

Ruelle Noirette translates as Cinder Track. It's about 6-7 minutes drive depending on traffic from Nuevelle Chapelle to the Cinder Track situated on the left side of Rue du Bois.

The 3rd infantry brigade were ordered to attack the German trenches in front of the Rue du Bois on the morning of May 9th 1915, with their right on the Cinder Track and the left on the West edge of the Orchard Redoubt. (Capt T. Filgate) 

 Further In On The Track.

View further along the Cinder  Track.  The 2nd Royal  Munster  Fusiliers and the 2nd Welch  Regiment were detailed as  assaulting battalions on the right  and  left, with the 4th Welch  Fusiliers as 2nd line battalion and  Gloucester Regiment and South  Wales Borderers as Brigade  Reserve

 The  surrounding farm fields  probably pockmarked with shell  craters was to be the scene of  bitter fighting on 9 May, loss of life  and great disappointment.

 Visitors To The Cinder Track.

The Bandon War Memorial group visit the Cinder Track during 2007.

Michel Knockaert left with Billy Good, group leader.

 The Ditch Mentioned In
Capt. T. Filgate's War Diary.

 The boundary between the 2nd  Royal Munster Fusiliers and the  2nd Welch Regiment was the ditch  that crossed the trenches about  300 yards to the left of the Cinder  Track.

 Farmland Around The Track.

This is a view from the German trench positions looking back to Rue du Bois with the Cinder Track on left side. 

There was no cover over the open ground for the advancing Munster, except  a 'creeping artillery barrage' and towards the end of the battle engagement, trapped the Munsters who had advanced with courage much further than was anticipated.  

  Farmland Around The Track.

Cinder Track on right-hand side. These photos give are an example of the flat elevation of farmland in the Neuve Chapelle-Richbourg area.

The battlefields around Neuve Chapelle is open, flat country. The ground here is cut by many small drainage ditches.

Sometimes in winter the fields were flooded. Because of the high groundwater level of only 60 cm. deep, the soldiers were not able to dig trenches in this area, but constructed instead above ground breastworks. In this country during the rainy days, trench foot would have been a concern for both Commanders and troops.

 
Credits: Entrance to Cinder Track Google Earth street view
             All other photos MIchel Knockaert.