Current Information:

Age-25

38, Farrant Street, Queen's Park

In the Spring and early summer of 1918, the Germans launched four major offensives against the Allied line in France and Belgium which came close to ending the war in their favour. This was made possible by the end of the fighting on the eastern front after the Russian revolution, which allowed the German Army to bring its troops from there to France, where it was hoped a decisive effort would win the war in their favour before the Americans arrived in force. The Germans very nearly succeeded with their attacks. Their new tactics of a intense artillery barrage followed by groups of specially trained storm troopers forging swiftly ahead, by-passing any strongpoints, caused chaos among the defenders and remarkable gains in territory were initially seen. The old system of trench warfare soon became a thing of the past.  But in each case the Germans over extended themselves and without adequate supplies keeping up with their rapid advances, they could go no further. By late summer, the Germans were exhausted, the Allies had regrouped and were then able to begin their own series of offensives which led to the collapse of the German Army and victory before the end of the year.

The first of these attacks, Operation Michael, began on 21st March, 1918, when the German Army launched a major offensive, also known as the Kaiserschlacht (Kaiser's Battle) on the British line, running south from Arras to Chauny, close to the junction with the French Army. It was made by 63 specially trained divisions, attacking along a 60 mile front held by 26 British divisions, many of them in a weakened state. Aided by early morning mist during the opening days of the battle, the Germans made spectacular gains and within two weeks the British had been pushed back to the gates of Amiens. It was touch and go for the British Army who were in danger of being separated from the French and forced back to the Channel ports, but they rallied and with the agreement that Field Marshall Foch should co-ordinate all Allied movements, this worst case scenario was averted.

At 4.40am on 21st March, all along the 50 mile front, the German artillery opened up with the most ferocious and concentrated bombardment of the war, the likes of which the British had never experienced before. The Forward Zone, consisting mainly of individual posts was blown away. Very few of the men there made it back. Many were killed and many more were taken prisoner. The Battle Zone was also battered as were the British guns, firing from positions just to the rear. Brigade and Divisional HQs were also targeted and then, from out of the thick mist came the German storm troopers. Moving fast, they skirted round the few remaining strongholds and penetrated deep into the British lines, including those of the Battle Zone, causing the utmost confusion. There were many cases of heroic stands being made but the relentless pressure forced the British back everywhere and there then began a general retreat that went on for two weeks and which ceded to the Germans a huge amount of territory, including all of that that had been won at such great cost during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

During the winter of 1917/1918, 41st Division had been on the Italian front but arrived back in France in February, 1918. When the German Spring offensive kicked off on 21st March they moved up to Achiet-le-Grand and on 22nd March, 122 Brigade took up a position astride the Bapaume to Vaulx-Vraucourt road, in GHQ reserve. On 23rd March they moved to a position of readiness north-east of Sapignies forming a line covering Mory and the left flank of the rest of 41st Division. Throughout the next day the 12th East Surrey battalion remained in this position being shelled and attacked from the air and in the evening withdrew to a position to the east of the village. By now the German attack had broken through all of the forward defences and were fast approaching their positions. At dawn on 25th March they attacked. The three companies in front were very vulnerable, with both their flanks open and a bare upward slope of half a mile behind them, so A and B Companies were withdrawn, leaving only C Company to try to hold the position. Better to sacrifice one company rather than three. C Company held on in their forward posts for three hours by which time both their flanks had been turned and they were being fired upon from the rear. The order was given for those who could to retire but in the end only two men made it back. The rest were either killed , wounded or captured. Meanwhile the rest of 12th East Surrey retired to a new line in front of Bihucourt where they remained for over twelve hours. One of those who did not make it through this day was Ernest Moss.