Current Information:

Born-Islington

Ste Catherine British Cemetery, Arras

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 First Battle of the Scarpe (9-14 April)

On 9th April, 12th Division attacked due east of Arras with 37 Brigade on the right and 36 Brigade on the left.  36 Brigade attacked at 5.30 am with 11th  Middlesex and 7th Sussex.  11th Middlesex were given the task of capturing Observation Ridge a powerfully defended position.  There were three distinct lines of German trenches to overcome, plus the Feuchy Switch and a number of strongpoints. At 5.30am they emerged from the caves beneath Arras where they had been sheltering from the German artillery and advanced behind an artillery barrage. They quickly reached their objective and waited for other battalions to pass through them. In the afternoon they again moved forward in support. A severe blow was dealt to 11th Middlesex when a dug-out near battalion HQ blew up, probably as a result of a delayed action mine.  The resulting explosion killed twenty of their number, including all the signallers. Among those killed on this day from 11th Middlesex was Albert Clarke.