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Age-24

45, Dinsdale Road, Blackheath

Arras-28th March, 1918

On 28th March, 1918, a week after the Germans had begun their devastating Spring offensive on the Somme where the British were still in full retreat, they attacked again. Operation Mars was launched astride the River Scarpe at Arras by their Seventeenth Army with the full weight of the powerful German artillery behind it. The tactics were basically the same as on 21st March; an overwhelming artillery barrage followed by infantry attacks by storm troopers penetrating as far as possible the British defences causing maximum confusion. But this time things were different. There was no early morning fog to hide the German advance and the British, having learnt from the events of a week earlier and knowing that the attack was coming, concentrated their troops in the Battle Zone rather than the Forward Zone where the copious use of barbed wire and stubborn resistance prevented the enemy from penetrating further. Despite all this there were many casualties among the defenders faced with such a powerful assault, but the Germans also lost heavily and Operation Mars was soon called off.

The 56th (London) Division, in the line around Gavrelle just to the north of Arras, were one of the divisions that met the full force of the German attack. Along with 4th Division on their right they were confronted by seven enemy divisions some of whom were able to penetrate the shallow valley that lay between the two British divisions. Immediately to the left of this valley was 169 Brigade of 56th Division with 16th London on the right and 5th London on the left and when their flanks were turned both fell back to their reserve line in the Forward Zone where they were able to take a heavy toll of the enemy as they advanced, shoulder to shoulder through Gavrelle. Under increasing pressure by mid morning both battalions had fallen back to the Battle Zone. Here they were joined by 2nd London, the reserve battalion of 169 Brigade and the line was stabilised with the enemy unable to advance any further despite repeated attacks during the afternoon. That night both 16th London and 5th London were relieved and moved back to Roundhay Park to reorganise and count the cost of their successful defence. One of the many from 5th London who did not survive the action was Grant Gore.