The battalion arrived at Le Havre on 6 March 1915 and was assigned to the Indian Corps in the Béthune sector of the Western Front. It joined 9th (Sirhind) Brigade of the 3rd (Lahore) Division at Robecq on 9 March and had a peripheral part in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle that began next day. This battle, the first serious attack by the BEF since Trench warfare had set in, was the preliminary for a planned offensive against the dominating height of Aubers Ridge. The Sirhind Bde was in corps reserve for the first two days, then on 12 March it led the Indian Corps' renewed assault, its leading battalions struggling forward against enfilade fire before getting held up. Further attacks that day were cancelled, and the offensive was halted next day.