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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 Battles of Bullecourt, a village a few miles south-east of Arras, were a flanking attack designed to assist the main thrust at Arras and to capture parts of the Hindenburg Line. It was largely an Australian show, but British divisions were involved as well, including 58th Division, made up of second line London territorial units, that had arrived in France in February 1917. During the night of 12th-13th May, 1917, 2/3rd London  of 173 Brigade moved up to the front line trenches at Bullecourt to relieve a battalion of Australian 14 Brigade. On 14th May the Germans unleashed one of the fiercest bombardments of the war on all the positions, front line, support and reserve trenches, held by the Brigade and including a large number of gas shells. This lasted for more than 13 hours, culminating at 3.30am on 15th May with a determined infantry attack which was eventually repelled by the units holding the front line. According to the Battalion Diary the British artillery accounted for most of the enemy as they advanced in waves and that the few who made it across No-Man’s-Land were soon dealt with. A small detachment of 2/3rd London helped the brigade on their left regain some lost lost trenches. The Diary makes it sound easy but the casualty figures of over 160 tell a different story. They remained in these positions throughout 16th and 17th May under constant sniper and shell fire and sustaining more casualties, until relieved and moving back to support trenches. One of those who did not survive these four days in the front line was Edward Rainbird who was killed on 15th May.