page_title: Finsbury Rifles
section_title: Ypres
hierarchical_section_title: Finsbury Rifles / World War I / 2/11th Battalion / Ypres
caption_attribution_description: English: The mud at Passchendaele slowed all movement to a crawl, and left advancing troops exposed to enemy fire for longer periods of time during attacks. Français&#160;: Terrain boueux et barbelés que les Canadiens ont traversés durant la bataille de Passchendaele
context_page_description: The Finsbury Rifles was a unit of Britain's Volunteer Force and later Territorial Army from 1860 to 1961. It saw action at Gallipoli, in Palestine and on the Western Front during World War I. In World War II it served in the Anti-Aircraft role during the Battle of Britain and the Blitz, then in North Africa, Sicily and Italy.
context_section_description: After a period of trench holding near Arras, the 58th Division moved to the Ypres Salient in late August 1917, with 2/11th Bn being one of the first units going into the line, taking over positions at St Julien. To minimise casualties, the line was held by a series of outposts.
  In the attack of 20 September (the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge), 2/11th Bn was in reserve with 175th Bde. 175th Brigade led the division's attack at the Battle of Polygon Wood (26 September), with 2/11th Bn in support. Afterwards the 58th Division went into reserve.
  The division returned to the line for the Second Battle of Passchendaele (26 October). As it arrived, the weather broke, and the division was forced to jump off from a line of flooded craters in the Poelcapelle area and struggle forward behind a barrage that advanced too quickly. 2/11th Battalion was one of those sent up immediately afterwards to relieve the exhausted attackers.
  By now the BEF was suffering a serious manpower crisis and roughly a quarter of its infantry battalions were disbanded. The 2/11th Bn was one of those chosen, and it was disbanded on 31 January 1918. The men were drafted to the 1/20th, 1/21st and 1/22nd Bns London Regiment in 47th (2nd London) Division).
caption: Passchendaele mud
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