Messines Ridge: ‘Then and Now’ The Battle of Messines, fought on 7 June 1917 near Ypres, Belgium, was a major Allied offensive planned by General Herbert Plumer. British, Australian, and New Zealand forces aimed to seize the Messines Ridge — a vital German defensive stronghold. At dawn, 19 vast mines detonated beneath the German lines, shattering the ridge and heralding the assault. Supported by intense artillery fire and precise coordination, the New Zealand Division led the attack, capturing t

Soldiers walk in the crater left by one of the nineteen large mines blown beneath the Messines Ridge during the Battle of Messines, filmed from above the crater on 11 June 1917. Tunneling work beneath the Messines Ridge began in 1916. At zero hour - 3.10am on 7 June - 19 mines were detonated beneath the German positions in an explosion that killed or wounded thousands of German defenders. You can read more about the battle on our website: https://bit.ly/3YK9ZO9 Film: IWM 197 | Imperial War Museu