Current Information:

North Finchley

Enlisted Armoury House, City Road

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.

On 28th April, 1917, the offensive was once again renewed when British and Canadian troops launched an attack on an eight mile front north of Monchy-le-Preux. The Battle of Arleux, so named because the Canadians captured the village of Arleux-en-Gohelle, lasted for two days with the British attacks being met with fierce and determined German counter-attacks. On 28th April, 1917, the village of Oppy and Oppy Wood, to the north-east of Arras were attacked by 63rd (Royal Navy) Division on the right and 2nd Division to their left. 188 Brigade of 63rd Division attacked with 2nd Royal Marines and 1st Royal Marines, with the objective of forming a flank on the right to protect the attack of 2nd Division. 2nd Royal Marines had some success and gained a good deal of ground. They beat off a succession of counter-attacks but suffered badly from hostile artillery fire and by dusk had been forced back almost to their original position with the exception of a party of about forty men who clung on at a windmill north of the railway where there was almost continuous fighting all that day and the next. 1st Royal Marines fared badly. Their advance was driven back by an enemy counter attack and they were almost annihilated by enfilade machine-gun fire from a strong point on the railway. The 1st Honourable Artillery Company of 190 Brigade then entered the fray and succeeded in  bombing and capturing this strongpoint but too late to be of any help to 1st Royal Marines. Later in the day 1st Honourable Artillery Company were themselves bombed out of this position. There were many casualties for 188 Brigade on 28th April, including Douglas Ebben of 1st Honourable Artillery Company.