Current Information:

Age-22

High Road, East Finchley

Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, France

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.

At the start of the battle on 9th April, 37th Division was in VI Corps reserve. The plan was that after the three leading divisions had taken the 3rd objective, 37th Division would pass through and take the final objective, a line 1000 yards east of Monchy-le-Preux. In accordance with this plan, the 13th Royal Fusiliers battalion of 111 Brigade moved off and reached Blangy at 11.30am. That afternoon they moved further forward to take up positions in Battery Valley along the line of Fred’s Wood and in the evening moved up to the point from which they would start the attack on Monchy-le-Preux. It was at this point that they met opposition. They managed to cross the Blue Line but were then brought to a halt by machine-gun fire just east of the Feuchy to Feuchy Chapel road. An accompanying tank dealt with this problem but was then immediately put out of action itself and 13th Royal Fusiliers dug in and prepared themselves for their attack the following morning. One of the casualties they suffered on 9th April was William Burt.