Chapter 5a – 1st Battle of the Scarpe

Arras Station

Historical Context The allied plan to launch an offensive on two fronts in the spring of 1917 had started to take shape the year before, but it was put in jeopardy by the…

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Footnotes

  1. It was not until the French advanced to compensate during the Battles of Arras that they encountered any German troops in the planned assault sector
  2. The two main squares in Arras are now called the Grand Place and Place des Héros
  3. 3rd Divn – was originally a regular army Divn, until 7th Bde replaced by 76th Bde. Comprised the 8th, 9th & 76th Bdes
  4. 12th (Eastern) Divn  was part of Kitchener’s 1st New Army - Comprised the 35th, 36th & 37th  Bdes
  5. 15th (Scottish) Divn was part of Kitchener’s 2nd New Army - Comprised the 44th, 45th & 46th Bdes
  6. Telegraph Hill: captured with the assistance of tanks on the 9th of April.  Neuville Vitasse Map: 10-51BSW1-6A - Ref: M.12.b.7.6
  7. The Harp:        Neuville Vitasse Map: 10-51BSW1-6A - Ref: M.12.b.7.6
  8. The 30th Divn was part of Kitchener’s ‘5th New Army’ Divn comprised of the  -  21st , 89th and 90th Bdes,
  9. The 56th (1/1st London) Territorial Divn – was comprised of the 167th, 168th and 169th Bdes
  10. The 14th (Light) was part of Kitchener’s ‘1st New Army’ Divn - comprised of the 41st, 42nd and 43rd Infantry Bdes
  11. The 21st Divnh  was part of Kitchener’s 3rd New Army comprised of 62nd, 64th & 110th Bdes
  12. 8 Coy, ‘C’ Battalion, Heavy Branch Machine Gun Corps employed tanks C21 (578), C22 (776), C23 (582), C26 (787), C27 (588), C28 (790), C29 (597), C36 (600), C39 (599)
  14. Hill 145 -
  15. Russian Saps were narrow tunnels dug towards the enemy line just below the surface so that there minimal, or no noticeable, disturbance on the surface. A sap trench enabled raiders to approach enemy lines as close as possible without being detected
  16. Observation Ridge – Ran north from Tilloy les Mofflaines towards Athies
  17. Hill 90 -    map reference
  18.  Falkenhausen commanded the German 6th Army at the Battle of Arras in April 1917. He failed to deploy correctly the newly-developed defence in depth to counter new British and Dominion tactics and was removed from field command by General Erich Ludendorff 
  19. [zotpressInText item="{K7ZVR4JR,192}"] 
  20. The battalion 1st line transport (1914) comprised five Small Arms Ammunition (SAA) and two water carts, two General Service (GS) limbered wagons for tools, one Maltese (Medical) cart, limbered wagon for machine guns, pack and spare animals; cooks wagon or four travelling kitchens (one per Coy) 
  21. The Arras Citadelle was one of several star-shaped fortresses designed by Vauban. In 1659, the town of Arras came under the authority of the King of France for good and was incorporated into Vauban’s "pré carré", a double line of fortified towns built to protect the north-eastern border of the kingdom. The citadel was one of Vauban’s first constructions and took from 1668 to 1670 to build 
  22.  Telegraph Hill was a German Redoubt captured with the assistance of tanks on the 9th of April. Neuville Vitasse Map: 10-51BSW1-6A - Ref: M.12.b.7.6 
  23. 41st Bde (14th Divn)
  24. Héninel, Wancourt and a 2000 yard length of the Hindenburg Line south of the Cojeul River were captured by troops from the 21st and 56th Divns
  25. Wancourt Tower ceased to exist as a landmark on the night of the 13th April.  Vis en Artois map: 51b SW2-7A. Ref: N.24.d.1.0. Lat Long 50°14.31N     2°53.03 E
  26. Telegraph Hill was a German Redoubt captured with the assistance of tanks on the 9th of April. Neuville Vitasse Map: 10-51BSW1-6A - Ref: M.12.b.7.6 
  27. 56th (1/1st London) Territorial Divn – Consisted of the 167th, 168th and 169th Bde
  28. Wancourt village -  Vis en Artois map: 51b SW2-7A. Ref: N.23.a 
  29.  N.7.a 
  30.  Lt Col. Francis Robinson was formerly a Coy commander in the 4th NF and believed to serving with 6th NF by this time 
  31. Capt. Wilfrid Bunbury is buried at Wancourt British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France 
  32. Pte John Mooney (235206) (b. Newcastle) (e. Newcastle) is buried in Wancourt British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France 
  33. The order to Stand-to was usually given an hour before dawn and dark. The men in the front line would man the fire step with fixed bayonets as this was considered to be the time the enemy was most likely to attack 
  34.  The French ‘Nivelle’ offensive was launched along 25 miles of the Aisne front on the 16th of April 
  35.  The Machine Gun Corps (MGC) was formed in October 1915 and was comprised of machine gun Coys. An Infantry MGC Coy was attached to every Infantry Bde, the men and guns originating from the battalion machine gun sections. 149th MGC was formed 6 Feb 1916 
  36. Pte Thomas Augustine Brady (4/3247, 235216) 1/7th Bn?  is commemorated on the Arras Memorial
  37. Cpl Matthew Winchester (4/7303, 203079) (b. Wooler) (e. Wooler), Northumberland. Matthew is buried in Wancourt British Cemetery
  38. Pte Henry Taylor (202216) (b. Acklington) (e. Newcastle). Non-Combatant Corps (1853) Pte. Northumberland Fusiliers (37603). Henry is commemorated on the Arras Memorial
  39. The Crossroads – west of Wancourt -   Map     Ref: N.22.a.7.4 
  40.  Hetsas Street communication trench -     Map:       51BNW3-6A            Ref: 34.d.8.8 
  41. The Factory, Ronville –       Arras Map:       51BNW3-6A      Ref: G.35.a.1.9