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Portugal in WW1 — Battle of the Lys, 1918 (Part I)

Portugal’s involvement in World War I, though often less highlighted than that of other Allied nations, carried substantial weight and tragic costs, particularly at the Battle of La Lys on 9 April 1918. Portugal entered the war as a response to German colonial ambitions that threatened its African territories, including Angola and Mozambique, where skirmishes had already erupted by 1914. However, the Portuguese Expeditionary Corps (CEP), the main force deployed to Europe, would come to bear the heaviest losses on the Western Front, notably in Flanders, where their role was both politically motivated and strategically influenced by Allied demands.

From left to right:

1) Embarkation of the Portuguese Expeditionary Corps (CEP) to the Flanders, after Portugal's entry into the war, at the Santa Apolónia pier, Lisbon (February 12, 1917). Photograph by Joshua Benoliel;

2) General Norton de Matos, Portuguese Minister of War, in the Portuguese trenches in France, 1917 during World War I (Unknown author);

3) Etching depicting the Battle of La Lys on April 9, 1918 by Adriano Sousa Lopes* (personal collection);

4) Aspect of the La Lys battlefield in 1918 (private archive);

5) Image of Christ Crucified on the La Lys battlefield, offered to Portugal in 1958 (private archive);

6) Postcard illustrated with the grave of a Portuguese soldier in the First World War (personal collection).

*portuguese painter who went to the Western Front in 1917, as an official artist with the rank of captain, to record the exploits of the Portuguese Expeditionary Corps

(quando o prato do dia é carne para canhão, glutona a morte repete sempre a iguaria)

#dinis moura #batalha de la lys #bataille de la lys #battle of the lys #grande guerra #world war 1 #world war i #portugal #la lys #ww1 #wwi

Portugal in WW1 — Battle of the Lys, 1918 (Part II)

The Portuguese Expeditionary Corps (CEP), formed during World War I, sent approximately 50,000 soldiers, mostly of young and inexperienced, to France. This contingent included two main divisions that were integrated into the British XI Corps. The CEP began its deployment in early 1917 and saw combat beginning in June of that year. By 1918, particularly during the Battle of the Lys, around 20,000 Portuguese troops were actively engaged at the front lines. The CEP was organized into two infantry divisions, stationed alongside British forces, primarily in the areas around Neuve-Chapelle and other sectors in Flanders. The trenches daily life of these troops was incredibly harsh, exacerbated by inadequate supplies and the difficult adaptation to the cold, wet Flanders climate, which was unlike anything most Portuguese soldiers had experienced.

Even though they fought with the intention of bolstering the Allied front, the situation was complicated. Communication issues and a general lack of mutual understanding made relations with their British allies challenging. Many British officers saw the CEP as under-resourced and inexperienced, leading to limited logistical support and occasional prejudice. This friction, combined with the isolation of the Portuguese troops and a restrictive leave policy that allowed only officers to visit home, heightened feelings of abandonment and demoralisation among the Portuguese soldiers as the months wore on. In the end, the logistical challenges, including the lack of reinforcements and high casualty rates, ultimately diminished the effectiveness of the CEP.

From left to right:

1) CEP soldiers on the Portuguese Front, in 1917, photo by Arnaldo Garcez (Military History archive, Lisbon);

2) CEP soldiers moving in the trench, on a battlefield, in 1918 (private archive);

3) CEP soldiers in the trenches, on the battlefield, in 1917 (private archive);

4) CEP soldiers in the trenches between Neuve-Chapelle and Ferme-Du-Bois (private archive);

5) CEP soldier using a periscope in the trench, in 1917 (private archive);

6) CEP and Allied soldiers on the battlefields in Flanders on the clayey mud, in 1918 (private file).

Portugal in WW1 — Battle of the Lys, 1918 (Part III)

The Battle of the Lys, also known as the Fourth Battle of Ypres, was fought from 7 to 29 April 1918, and it was a pivotal engagement in World War I’s Western Front, notable for both its strategic objectives and, in particularly, the heavy toll it took on Portuguese forces. Known in Portugal as the Battle of La Lys, it was part of the German Spring Offensive, specifically the Georgette Operation (Operation George), intended to break through Allied lines in Flanders and ultimately disrupt British operations. Germany, led by General Erich Ludendorff, launched this offensive in an effort to capitalise on the recent influx of troops from the Eastern Front after Russia’s withdrawal from the war, seeking to make substantial territorial gains before American forces arrived in full strength on the battlefield.

The battle began on 9th of April, with an intense artillery barrage followed by a powerful German assault, primarily targeting sectors held by the British army and the Portuguese Expeditionary Corps (CEP). Positioned around Neuve-Chapelle, the Portuguese 2nd Division—comprising around 20,000 soldiers—faced the brunt of the attack. Critically, this division was both physically and mentally exhausted after extended periods on the frontlines. Despite earlier promises from British command to replace them, the Portuguese forces remained on the line, severely undermanned, with many soldiers undertrained and lacking essential supplies. This vulnerability left them poorly equipped to counter the German onslaught, which was executed with superior tactics, coordination, and firepower.

As German forces advanced, the CEP faced a swift and devastating rout. Within hours, the Portuguese suffered significant losses: thousands were killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. The division's collapse led to a rapid breach in the Allied lines, creating an opening that the Germans exploited. Despite attempts by British and French forces to stabilise the front, the Portuguese losses were substantial, with estimates indicating that as many as 1,300 Portuguese soldiers were killed, alongside thousands more wounded or captured.

From left to right:

1) Trench environment identical to that experienced during the Battle of the Lys, on April 9, 1918 (private archive);

2) Allied soldiers on the battlefield carrying a comrade injured in combat (private archive);

3) Soldiers lurking in the trenches on a muddy field, in 1917/18 (private archive);

4) CEP troops on the battlefield facing barbed wire, in 1918 (private archive);

5) Soldiers on the battlefield during the First World War, in 1918 (private archive);

6) CEP prisoners of war after the Battle of the Lys, in 1918 (private archive).