Current Information:

Born-Brentford

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.

63 Brigade of 37th Division were in reserve on 9th April and the 4th Middlesex battalion moved forward through Arras to take up captured positions behind the other two brigades of the division that had attacked towards Monchy-le-Preux and by that evening they were digging in on Orange Hill. The following morning, 10th April, 63 Brigade began an advance on Lone Copse Valley. At first they were hit by a heavy German artillery barrage on Orange Hill and then machine-guns from Fampoux swept the ground over which they slowly advanced, dribbling forward small numbers from shell hole to shell hole. Eventually, after suffering many casualties, 4th Middlesex and the other battalions of the brigade consolidated a line running along the crest of the valley ridge. On 11th April, the day on which William Pickton was killed, 37th Division advanced to occupy Hill 100 to the east of Monchy. 111 Brigade attacked Monchy-le-Preux with 112 and 63 Brigades covering their flanks and 4th Middlesex moved forward in rushes of about 12 men at a time to establish posts on the Roeux and Pelves roads while the bulk of the battalion took cover in cellars. At 11pm, the battalion were relieved and moved back to Battery Valley.