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Age-39

145, Astonville Street Southfields

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 Second Battle of the Scarpe (23-24 April, 1917)

The British offensive at Arras was resumed on 23rd April, 1917, when they attacked eastwards along an nine mile front from Croisilles to Gavrelle on both sides of the  River Scarpe in what some came to consider was the hardest fighting of the war so far. 50th Division had two distinct objectives on 23rd April, the first a line running south of the Vis en Artois-Heninel and Chérisy-Guémappe crossroads, due north to the Cojeul stream and the second from 500 yards west of the northern edge of Chérisy to the Cojeul at St Rohart factory. They attacked with 4th East Yorkshire and 4th Yorkshire of 150 Brigade and helped by two tanks they soon took the first objective A party of Germans hung on in a copse until 8am when they were rooted out by 4th East Yorkshire. At this stage 5th Yorkshire and 5th Durham Light Infantry moved up to take the second objective but their attack was postponed until the Blue Line had been taken all along the front. However, at 11am, there came a German counter attack and with their right flank completely open and exposed, due to the failure of 30th Division to achieve their objectives, the four battalions of 150 Brigade were driven back with heavy losses, especially in officers, and within half an hour were back at their starting line. At 6pm 50th Division renewed their attack with 5th Border and 9th Durham Light Infantry both 151 Brigade in support of 5th Yorkshire and 5th Durham Light Infantry. The attack was successful. The whole of the objective was taken and consolidated. There were of course many casualties among the officers and men of 50th Division, one of whom was William Rainbow of 9th Durham Light Infantry who was killed.