Current Information:

Age-33

31, Montpelier Square, Knightsbridge

Wancourt British Cemetery, France

The Battle of Arras was a series of offensives by the British Army between 9th April 1917 and 16th May 1917. It had been planned in conjunction with the French who would attack in Artois and between them the Allies would force the Germans out of the large salient they had held since the line of trenches was first established. But the Germans had spoiled this plan by falling back to the new and very strong Hindenburg Line in January 1917 and the salient no longer existed.  For the want of an alternative plan the attack went ahead anyway. It all started well for the British who made substantial gains on the first two days but then the offensive ground to a halt and by the end their losses amounted to over 150,000.

On 9th April, 1917, the 12th Lancers of 5 Cavalry Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division started the day at Grincourt a few miles to the south-west of Arras from where they moved towards the battle arriving in Arras at 4.30pm. From there they moved forward to Telegraph Hill but as the infantry were then held up at Feuchy la Chapel which prevented them from exploiting earlier successes, they retired to Wailly where they slept in an open field and woke up covered in snow. That afternoon they moved forward through Tilloy and over the hill to Wancourt where they came under shell fire. Another bitterly cold night was spent in the open and as soon as dawn broke on 11th April they came under very heavy artillery fire until they were withdrawn two hours later having sustained nearly fifty casualties. One of these was Montagu Yeatherd.