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Born-West Ham

The German offensive of 21st March, 1918

With an end to the fighting on the Eastern Front after the Russian Revolution, Germany was able to bring its troops from there to France and launch a series of offensives in the Spring of 1918, designed to bring the war to a swift conclusion. Four times between March and July they attacked in strength and on each occasion they broke through the British and French lines and made spectacular gains but in each case they over extended themselves and without adequate supplies keeping up with their rapid advances, they could go no further. The first of these attacks, Operation Michael, was made on 21st March by 63 specially trained divisions, attacking along a 60 mile front held by 26 British divisions, many of them in a weakened state

At 4.40am the German artillery opened up with the most ferocious and concentrated bombardment of the war, the likes of which the British had never experienced before. The Forward Zone, consisting mainly of individual posts was blown away. Very few of the men there made it back. Many were killed and many more were taken prisoner. The Battle Zone was also battered as were the British guns, firing from positions just to the rear. Brigade and Divisional HQs were targeted as well and then, from out of the thick mist came the German storm troopers. Moving fast, they skirted round the few remaining strongholds and penetrated deep into the British lines, including those of the Battle Zone, causing the utmost confusion. There were many cases of heroic stands being made but the relentless pressure forced the British back everywhere and there then began a general retreat that went on for two weeks and which ceded to the Germans a huge amount of territory, including all of that that had been won at such great cost during the Battle of the Somme in 1916. 

On 21st March, 1918, 6th Division were in the line just to the south of Arras, facing the village of Quéant. In keeping with the new defensive arrangements adopted by the British Army there was a thinly held Forward Zone with the main defence situated in the Battle Zone. The division had all three brigades in line and 2nd Durham Light Infantry along with 1st West Yorkshire held 18 Brigade’s front with 11th Essex in reserve. The Forward Zone here was exposed to enemy view and direct fire and it took the less than an hour for resistance to crumble. The fight then fell back to the Battle Zone and  at 2.30pm, two companies of 11th Essex were sent forward to prolong the right flank which was coming under extreme pressure. Despite these efforts, by nightfall the defenders had been pushed back to the rear of this zone where 11th Essex dug-in and remained overnight. By 11am on 22nd March the enemy had broken through to the north of the village of Morchies and things were critical. By 6.30 pm they had penetrated on the right as well and 18 Brigade was isolated. At midnight what was left of the battalion withdrew to a position north-east of Achiet-le-Grand. 11th Essex now numbered seven officers and seventy seven men. The vast majority of the battalion had been either killed, wounded or captured. George Lashmar was among those killed.