Current Information:

Age-21

11, Murillo Road, Lee

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 4th May, 1917, 6th Royal Berkshire of 53 Brigade, 18th Division, moved into the front line opposite Chérisy in the southern part of the Arras battlefield where they remained until relieved on the night of 8th-9th May. On this part of the front the fighting associated with the Battle of Arras had all but ended and the normal routines of trench warfare were once again evident. Normal of course did not mean safe. They still had to contend with enemy shelling and snipers and they still had to send out patrols all of which were unpleasant and dangerous and men lost their lives. One of those who did not survive this tour was Arthur Shaw.