20TH November 1917

 

The day dawned cold, damp and misty at first light. The critical part of the day would call for the crossing of the St. Quentin canal by the cavalry and this was impressed onto the 20 & 29TH Divisions of Pulteney’s III Corp that a crossing should be made and the bridges secured as early as possible.

 

III Corps

 

6TH Division

 

6th Division were on the right flank of III Corps.  Its task was to sweep NE as far as Noyelles on the left bank of the river Escaut.  It would protect the left flank of 29th Div once it had taken the bridges lower down over the canal.  Its 71ST Brigade was given Ribecourt as an objective (it had tanks in support).  16 Brigade, also supported by tanks, would attack on the right at the same time as 71ST Brigade heading for Marcoing and Noyelles.  

 

20TH Division

 

In the centre 20TH Division committed 60TH Brigade to the left with 61ST on the right; 59TH being in reserve. The 60TH faced strong initial resistance, assisted by 12 tanks attacking over Welsh ridge; the 2nd wave with 6 tanks in able to get into the 2ND line but again facing quite strong harassment forcing the brigade to dig in.

 

The 61ST fared better, their objective the fortified village of La Vacquerie, despite crossing open ground and attacking up hill, the brigade secures it objectives. Small hold ups occur but tanks crush wire allowing infantry to advance and elements of the Brigade are established close to Pam Pam Farm.

 

59TH Brigade pass through and continue the assault towards the canal, assisted by tanks the Brigade capture a bridge crossing the canal. Tank F22 attempts a crossing but the structure collapses into the water along with the tank; elements of the Brigade cross via a wooden bridge but find Masnieres heavily defended and fall back. In the meantime, without a crossing tanks assigned to 20TH Division begin shelling German positions from the British side of the canal. By the evening the British have possession of 2 additional bridges captured by 11/Rifles.

 

12TH Division

 

On the extreme right of the attack facing Banteux, they would attack between La Vacquerie and Banteux north-eastwards along the Gonnelieu Ridge towards Sonnet Farm and Bleak House. They would assault uphill being overlooked by German positions on the ridge and further on from Bonavis Ridge.

36TH Brigade would be on the division’s left flank with 35TH on the right and 37TH in reserve who would be deployed effectively in the centre of the other two brigades.

 

The 36TH would face the quarry which held a number of machine gun (M.G.) positions, early morning fighting would see the brigade capture the southern side of La Vacquerie village along with Bleak house which had escaped much of the artillery’s attention. Pushing onwards further waves capture the farm buildings at Bonavis and Le Quennet farm before arriving at Lateau Wood. Elements of the Brigade cross the canal to find Bantouzelle unoccupied but eventually retire; digging in around Lateau Wood.

 

35TH Brigade attack towards Sonnet Farm breaking through and advancing towards Zucker Farm before digging in during the afternoon.

 

The reserve brigade, the 37TH, attack around 09:00 capturing Le Pave and assist in the fighting around Le Quennet farm and later in the morning with the 36TH around Lateau wood; later in the afternoon advance elements were relieved by battalions from the 36TH division. No meaningful crossing of the canal is made on the extreme right but objectives are achieved by the division in securing the right flank looking down towards the canal and the surrounding villages.

29TH Division (Reserve)

 

The division would pass through the 12TH & 20TH Division continuing the attack over the canal and establishing a foothold on the German side of the bank allowing secure crossing for the cavalry. They would attack between Marcoing and Masnieres after a 7 mile march to reach their off positions.

 

86TH Brigade in the division’s left with the Guernsey battalion getting into Nine wood on the extreme left and the 16/Middlesex securing the division’s northern (left) flank without meeting determined resistance.

 

87TH Brigade in the centre would attack the southern part of Marcoing and the canal salient and continue towards Noyelles. The brigade attack and generally progress well, clearing the village by midday and arriving at the canal salient. The cavalry follow up later that afternoon and join the brigade (dismounted) in and around the canal.

 

Advanced elements of the brigade cross the canal and continue towards Flot Farm but with exposed flanks, the Masnieres-Beaurevoir (MB) line is found still heavily wired and in danger of being cut-off withdraw awaiting supporting artillery and tanks. By dusk the brigade is dug in around Marcoing village on the British side of the canal.

 

On the right the 88TH Brigade would attack towards Masnieres – on the brigade’s left the advance is delayed by flanking fire from remaining strongpoint on Welsh ridge. In the centre, elements cross the canal but are under heavy fire crossing. Reserves and Fort Garry Horse take fire trying to cross canal and are unable to progress past Les Rues Vertes.

 

On the left progress made after strongpoint taken and Newfoundland cross canal and advanced towards Rumilly but MB line wire intact and dig in awaiting developments on right. On extreme right elements of the brigade enter Masnieres and advance  and meet up with elements of 20TH Division during dusk.

 

 

21ST November 1917

 

3RD army to continue advance with zero hour to be set by Corp commanders – 09:00 for IV Corps with III Corps 2 hours later. Haig would learn that initial success would mean that two divisions earmarked for Italy would be released to him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

51ST Division

 

They would attack from Flesquieres between Fontaine and Cantaing villages with the 152ND to the north of 153RD Brigade, with 154TH in reserve.

 

The attack gets off at zero hour and the left makes good progress until the Brigades reach the Cantaing line which stops further advance with heavy MG fire obscured by the mist and rain. 154TH continue advance being stopped by wire and MG from Cantaing line. Around Midday, 6 tanks assist 154TH in breaking the line and capture the village – further advance is halted by fire from “The Mill” strongpoint. More tanks arrive and assist with the clearance of Anneux village but casualties from artillery high and village not completely cleared until 15:00. The attack is halted due to lack of reserves but Cambrai appears lightly defended and Rupprecht would later be surprised by failure to continue assault.

 

Small arms ammo (SAA) is running low and advance parties of 154TH relieved by 153RD overnight with the division holding the line from Anneux to in front of Cantaing. Remnants of a battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders were inside Fontaine village surrounded on three sides by the Germans.

 

29TH Division

 

Before zero hour a German counter attack towards Noyelles is repulsed by artillery and flank fire; this continues past zero hour and 86TH Brigade is driven from the village but halts further advance with reinforcements of unmounted cavalry on division’s left flank.

 

On the right the 87TH Brigade with 30 tanks would advance towards the MB line and take Flot Farm; advance delayed by an hour due to only having a single bridge-head with both tanks and infantry delayed crossing. The MB line’s uncut wire held up advance and the tanks did little wire cutting being harassed by artillery fire. The brigade withdrew across the canal and by dusk is back in its start line.

 

The 88TH Brigade was too exhausted to advance and consolidated its position in front of Masnieres.

 

Late afternoon, tanks arrive to assist 86TH and unmounted cavalry retake Noyelles village and the division could be relieved overnight by the 6TH, having made no progress.

 

20TH Division

 

Early morning attack by 10/Rifles to secure canal crossing at Les Rues Des Vignes fails, main attack goes in at 11:00 with assistance of tanks. By 13:00 no tanks arrive and 59TH Brigade advance towards Crevecoeur but heavy MG fire from MB line slows progress. 1 coy of 11/KRRC cross canal.

 

By 15:00 4 tanks arrive but only 1 canal crossing exists and tank commanders are sceptical if this could take the weight, so no crossing attempt and remaining British forces across canal retreat back to start lines.

 

By the end of the 21ST November CIC orders Byng to concentrate on the capture of Bourlon and the high ground. Byng would close operations on III Corps’ front on the southern sector concentrating efforts with IV Corps from 22ND November onwards. The southern sector would be turning into a defensive flank with limited, local operations to try and achieve better positions in the coming days, but largely III Corps would be on a defensive footing.

 

Divisions are not relieved and no further reinforcements are committed to cover losses in battalions, in contrast the Germans were reinforcing with divisions arriving into Cambrai overnight and 4 additional divisions promised; Rupprecht expects further attacks and plans to wear down the British prior to having the strength to conduct a counter offensive.

 

 

22ND November 1917

 

The morning dawned misty, with a biting wind turning to rain during the afternoon, Byng would close down the offensive in the south and concentrate his efforts in Bourlon with IV Corp. 1/5 Seaforth of 41ST Division held an exposed position in the centre of the battlefield at Fontaine surrounded in a salient.

 

On the far left of IV Corps’ front, 56TH Division is able to capture Tadpole Copse and hold against a fierce counter assault, whilst the 36TH enter Moeuvres in the morning and continue into the Hindenburg  line; by afternoon repeated counter attacks had driven the 36TH out of the village and by nightfall, they were back in their start positions.

 

41ST Division with advance positions in Fontaine village would come under German shelling from first light until around 09:00 when German counter attack commences; distress flares from 153RD Brigade not seen by artillery observers due to misty conditions and Germans enter the village. By afternoon, after fierce hand-to-hand fighting elements retire from the village, out of SAA with stragglers retiring after dark.

 

62ND Division would also face counter assaults in front of Anneux with shelling starting later supported by aircraft. The main assault began at 09:00 forcing the 185TH Brigade back over the Cambrai – Bapaume road. 187TH Brigade support their comrades and the advance is stopped at midday.

 

The only successful British operation would be capturing Tadpole Copse, already shattered battalions suffered further from local counter attacks. Rupprecht was still not in a position to launch an all-out counter assault, but approved local attacks; he also assumed correctly that the main British thrust would be towards Bourlon.

Artillery began moving from IV Corp front but terrain made movement difficult and 40TH Division would relieve 62ND at Graincourt after a long march from Bapaume. Re-supply of men difficult due to weather, congestion, terrain and movement of tanks.

 

During the morning CIC visited the battlefield and informed Byng that any delay in capturing Bourlon would be “unsatisfactory”.

 

 

23RD November 1917

 

The attack would concentrate on capturing Bourlon and the woods whilst providing a protective flank from the west, the attack front would be approximately 10,000 yards.

 

On the extreme left 56TH Division from Tadpole Copse would attack towards Inchy, on their right the 36TH would cross the Canal Di Nord and continue to Sains-les-Marquion, next to them the 40TH (replacing the 62ND) would capture the woods and continue into Bourlon village with the 51ST recapturing Fontaine village and the eastern edge of the wood. Zero hour was set for 10:30 with artillery barrage beginning 20 minutes before.

 

56TH Division advanced as fair as the Waton line but is held-up and dig in outside Inchy village.

 

36TH Division was able to break through the Waton line with 107TH Brigade assisted by 12 tanks; 108TH Brigade captured Moeuvres village in the morning. Consistent counter assaults force 108TH from the village in the afternoon with exposed flank on their left, where 56TH Division should have been.

 

The main focus of the assault would be 40TH Division in the centre supported by 29 tanks. The division was fresh to the battlefield and neither knew the terrain or had trained with tanks and had endured a heavy march the following night in wintery conditions. The division is harassed by artillery forming up for the morning assault and would attack over open ground.

 

121ST Brigade on the left with 119TH on their right; by mid-morning the assault appears to be operating well – 119TH had made it into the woods with comparatively light losses and 121ST made the outskirts of the village and with 7 tanks began making their way through, but are halted by artillery and MG fire from housing.

 

During early afternoon German counter attacks had removed the 121ST from the village only to be regained with tank assistance and further assaults are only repelled with assistance from 119TH reserve battalion. Shattered elements of 121ST Brigade hold a line on the northern edge of the village with 119TH having advanced into the eastern edge. The 121ST Brigade would be supplemented overnight with the 13/E. Surrey battalion.

 

51ST Division would attack from Cantaing NE towards Fontaine assisted by 24 tanks and advance towards Fontaine but are stopped by heavy MG fire which the female tanks are unable to suppress. Elements of 1/5 Seaforths enter the village but by midday German counter assaults have removed them and division digs in around the edge of Bourlon Wood and Fontaine. The division has at its disposal the cavalry division but are unable to utilise and it would be assigned to 40TH Division from 24TH onwards.

 

Misleading information passed back to Corp HQ that Bourlon and Fontaine villages were both in British hands, whereas only thinly held lines existed around Bourlon and 51ST division had not taken Fontaine but were dug in in front of village. Bourlon Wood would mostly be in British hands but that was the only real success and the British only held a tentative hold on Bourlon village.

 

 

24TH November 1917

 

The two divisions originally diverted to the Italian front arrive in Bapaume and are marched to the Cambrai area during a day of heavy rain and driving winds. The Guards division would also enter the battle for the first time with a Brigade taking up a section of the line from 40TH Division. The Germans continue to flood the area with reinforcements but Rupprecht continues to play the waiting game expecting further British assaults continuing the wearing down process.

 

56TH Division consolidates around Tadpole Copse but counter attacks drive forward elements out of the Hindenburg support line and the division is heavily engaged all day.

 

To its south the 36TH held its position around the Canal Du Nord at Lock 5 and would assist with support on the extreme left for 40TH Division assault on the village, the division is not involved in offensive action and spends much time consolidating its position.

 

The main battle again would be around Bourlon with 40TH Division and 12 tanks with an artillery bombardment of 1 hour to proceed an assault at 15:00. In the morning 119TH Brigade would repulse a German raid, and assault waves begin moving forward at midday but are spotted and shelled whilst conducting this movement. At zero hour the attack enters the village with varying resistance, a HE & gas barrage force a withdrawal and it’s not until 15:30 that tanks arrive in the east of the village but these are repulsed and 8 are lost.

 

Continued counter attacks continue until dusk and 121ST withdraw leaving the 14/HLI isolated in the village; reports of light losses at HQ and 120TH Brigade in support is assigned to 121ST command. During the evening 2/Scots Guards capture the highest part of Bourlon Wood and the British (except the 14/HLI) are in control of the woods but the village still remains in German hands.

 

Byng would plan to resume the assault with 40TH Division assisted by the Cavalry Division and tanks in capturing the village and joining with 14/HLI; Haig issues special order congratulating commanders on the successful capture of Bourlon – “a most successful operation” despite this being very much from the truth, showing how communication was so wanton through the war.

 

 

25TH November 1917

 

In contrast to the previous 5 days, the 25TH was calm and bright after a stormy night; focus would fall upon the capture of the village and linking up with 14/HLI around the train station in Bourlon village.

 

On the extreme flank of IV Corp 56TH Division would attempt one final time to recapture parts of the Hindenburg support line which is initially successful but counter-attacks force them back.

 

The worn-out 40TH Division would have another attempt to capture Bourlon village with the assistance of 12 tanks, however no tanks would be available for the assault due to refitting. During the night the 13/ E. Surreys arrive but are gassed during the process of forming up to attack due to commence at 06:15; the attack commences and is successful in linking up with the HLI, who are informed to prepare secure the remainder of village at 09:00. However, heavy German assaults are experienced by both battalions and numbers are quickly dwindling; by late morning the Germans start pushing elements back but the Surreys make contact with 119TH Brigade on their right, but lose contact with HLI who again are isolated.

 

Counter assaults would be beaten-off by the Surreys and the 119TH during the afternoon and elements of the Guards Division (GD) in their position at the eastern edge of Bourlon Wood (line stretches to Cantaing) these cease around dusk and the 40TH Division would be relieved by the 62ND who themselves had suffered heavily during the opening days. During the evening Byng would impress on Woollcombe that Bourlon and Fontaine must be captured “no later than the 27TH”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

27TH November 1917

 

Winter continues with snow turning to ice making movement and resupply difficult with troops fighting the weather alongside the shells. Byng’s assault is scheduled for 06:20 without any prior bombardment, this would be Byng’s final attempt to capture Bourlon and Fontaine.

 

62ND Division would assault from in front of the woods towards the village with 187TH on the left of 186TH Brigade and a creeping barrage in front of infantry beginning at 06:20. 19 tanks available to assist in the hope of relieving 14/HLI in Bourlon. 77mm field artillery and MG fire inflict casualties. 187TH get into the village but no sign of HLI whilst 186TH veer left and are eventually forced to withdraw from the village closely followed by 187TH back to start positions.

 

The GD move up from 03:00 and some battalions suffer from artillery fire, at zero hour the 12 promised tanks have not arrived but the attack goes forward. The assault wave has mixed fortunes with 1/Coldstream only managing to get into Fontaine village but are isolated; right hand advance not possible due to fire from La Folie Wood.

 

Reinforcements sent to assist 1/Coldstream in village with tank support; elements get in to assist but other coys unable too; 3 out of 8 tanks lost. German counter attack eventually forces withdrawal from village and the advance is back in its start positions before midday. Reserves are deployed to stabilise line against counter offensives.

 

By 16:00 Byng is aware of the failures of both divisions and calls the cessation to the offensive; tanks will be withdrawn to Bapaume and the two divisions assaulting on the 27TH would be relieved (62ND by 47TH and Guards by 59TH). The Germans are still receiving divisions but do not yet have sufficient artillery and shells to begin their mass counter offensive.

 

 

28TH November 1917

 

The offensive had been ceased with three fresh divisions now deployed around Bourlon, GHQ’s expectation would be small scale offensive around Bourlon from the Germans but intelligence suggests no major counter offensive as the Germans were exhausted after the 1917 campaign.

 

Divisions around Bourlon and Fontaine begin wiring and improving trench systems, the Germans began gas shelling around Bourlon Wood using phosgene but not mustard gas; experienced soldiers became weary with mustard gas being an area denial weapon. VII Corps to the south report increased troops movements to Byng who is not duly concerned, promising its Lt. General D’Oyly Snow the Guards division as reinforcement, later giving this to Pulteney.

 

 

29TH November 1917

 

The weather had become milder and again another day of relative calm with wiring and trench preparation taking place, the RFC now largely occupied a reconnaissance role reported a build-up of supplies and troops behind German lines confirming D’Oyly-Snow’s reports but Byng again seems confident 3RD army would withstand German counter assaults. Brigadier Elles and tanks began their departure to the Somme with Haig assuming the Germans would assault the following spring but made preparations for a withdrawal to a more advantageous winter line (WL).

 

On the opposite side, Rupprecht was putting into place his final pieces and the last divisions arrived today; 3 army groups would be at his disposal having Gruppe Arras in the north commanded by Von Mouser with 5 divisions – in the centre 5 divisions made up Gruppe Caudry with Lt. General Watter and the southern sector commanded by von Kathen was Gruppe Busigny made up of 7 divisions.

 

The attack would begin on the 30TH at 07:00 with the overall goal of capturing Metz, the attack would come in two distinct waves; the first against the southern sector pushing northwards followed by a massive northern assault encircling and wiping out 3RD army.