Current Information:

Born-Woolwich

Ste Catherine British Cemetery, Arras

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.

The First Battle of the Scarpe (9-14 April)

On 9th April, 1917,  12th Division attacked due east of Arras with 37 Brigade on the right and 36 Brigade on the left.  They emerged from the shelter of the Arras caves and at 5.30am the assault on the German line began behind an artillery and smoke barrage provided by the gunners and a machine gun barrage from 24 guns which kept the enemy firmly in their dug-outs. 6th Royal West Surrey (Queens) and 7th East Surrey led the attack and soon captured the first objective, the Black line.  There followed another two hour artillery bombardment of the German second line after which 6th East Kent (Buffs) and 6th Royal West Kent passed through on their way to the second objective, Observation Ridge on the Blue line which ran north from Tilloy up towards Feuchy and behind which was Battery valley which concealed many of the German guns. The attack on the Blue line was a much harder affair. Opposition had increased considerably and the two battalions had to contend with snipers and machine-guns firing on them from the flanks. After some fierce hand to hand fighting D Company of 6th Buffs got round the enemy’s left  flank , dealt with some concealed machine-guns and reached their objective on the Blue Line. There were bigger problems for C Company on the right. They were held up by a stronghold in the ruins of Estaminet Corner and it was only when they brought up some Lewis guns and rifle grenades that they eventually dealt with it and were able to move up to the Blue line where the battalion consolidated.  At 2.18pm, 35 Brigade passed through to their objective, the Brown line.  It had been a successful day for 12th Division but it came at a cost in casualties. One of these was Henry Cook of 6th Buffs.