9th May 1915

British bombardment of the German line took place at 5 am on 9th May 1915, followed by an assault which was repelled by machine guns. A second bombardment went ahead at 7.45 am, but a second assault was delayed due to the number of wounded and dead. Eventually, after further bombardment, it went ahead at 4 pm, with a similar result to the first attack.

The map below shows Aubers less than a mile from the Allied front (thick black line) after the gain in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle (shaded area), almost two months later, indicating the lack of progress.

As at Neuve Chapelle, 2nd Battalion Black Watch was part of the Bereilly Brigade. The battalion participated in the afternoon attack, but few soldiers made it further than 20 metres. Its war diary records 72 deaths, 161 wounded and 36 missing.

Death

Date	Surname	Forenames	Section	Rank/No.	Age	Address	Comments
9th May	Bell	David	2nd Black Watch	Private 3/3393		Kirkwynd