Current Information:

Age-34

35, Cadogan Place, Knightsbridge

Villers-Faucon Communal Cemetery, France

The Battle of Cambrai

This was a major British offensive on the Western Front that was launched on 20th November, 1917 and lasted through to the beginning of December. As the name suggests it was an attack towards the city of Cambrai and the important German railhead there, which it was hoped would be captured. The battle was notable for two things: the massed use of tanks for the first time and the success of the first day’s fighting when the formidable Hindenburg Line was breached and gains of five miles were made in places. In celebration the church bells throughout Britain were rung. However this success was short lived. The tanks were not reliable and the German defence stiffened as the fighting progressed and when they counter attacked in force on 30th November, the British came under so much pressure that they were forced to withdraw from many of the positions they had captured earlier on. Both sides suffered around 45,000 casualties during the course of the fighting.

When the German attack was launched on 30th November, 1917, 12th Division were holding the line south of the Cambrai-Péronne road. 35 Brigade were on the right of the divisional front and their HQ at Villers-Guislaine had to be hastily evacuated and moved back to Gauche Wood to seek cover from air attacks. The enemy continued their attacks throughout the day, pushing the infantry back along a wide front resulting in further withdrawals. In the afternoon the 5th Cavalry Division entered the fray when a squadron from 8th Hussars of the Ambala Brigade, galloped for Gauche Wood only to be driven back by artillery and machine-gun fire . One of their casualties was Robert Ryder.