Current Information:

Age-34

1, Rockhall Road, Cricklewood

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.

During the night of 10-11 May, 1917, the 4th London battalion of 168 Brigade, 56th Division moved forward to the new front line from reserve positions in the Wancourt Line. The next day along with 14th London, they carried out a successful attack against a German position called Tool Trench. To maintain surprise the attack was made at 8.30 pm without an artillery barrage. The ruse worked . The men from 168 Brigade were in among the Germans before they had time to call for artillery support and Tool Trench was captured along a one mile front. Lewis gun posts were established fifty yards in front of new line and a new communications trench was dug up to these new positions. Overnight two companies were withdrawn back to the original line leaving sufficient troops to man the new positions. Throughout the following day, 12th May, the enemy retaliated by shelling the support and reserve lines. During this operation, 4th London suffered a number of casualties one of whom was Frederick Howell.