Current Information:

Born-Chelsea

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)

Substantial progress was made all along the front during the first two days of the battle but by 11th April this advance had stalled and all future gains were small and costly. There were three main reasons for this: the logistical nightmare of bringing up all the supplies needed over battle-torn ground, the extra new troops that the Germans committed to the battle and the formidable defence system that was the Hindenburg Line, which although breached in places was a defence in depth. On 13th April, 29th Division moved up from reserve and took over the front line around the captured village of Monchy-le-Preux, to the south-east of Arras. Monchy-le-Preux stood on the east end of a spur projecting into the plain of Douai, a fine observational position but a salient inviting attack so it was deemed necessary to act first. 1st Essex of 88 Brigade were in position by the early hours of 13th April but the attacks planned for that day were cancelled for lack of preparation so they waited in their trenches while the German artillery pounded their positions, causing a number of casualties. One of these was Herbert Dorrington.