Current Information:

Born-Brentford

Hermies Hill British Cemetery, France

The Battle of Cambrai

This was a major British offensive on the Western Front that was launched on 20th November, 1917 and lasted through to the beginning of December. As the name suggests it was an attack towards the city of Cambrai and the important German railhead there, which it was hoped would be captured. The battle was notable for two things: the massed use of tanks for the first time and the success of the first day’s fighting when the formidable Hindenburg Line was breached and gains of five miles were made in places. In celebration the church bells throughout Britain were rung. However this success was short lived. The tanks were not reliable and the German defence stiffened as the fighting progressed and when they counter attacked in force on 30th November, the British came under so much pressure that they were forced to withdraw from many of the positions they had captured earlier on. Both sides suffered around 45,000 casualties during the course of the fighting.

The Labour Corps was formed in February, 1917 and brought under its command the existing labour and pioneer battalions. They operated in many different areas; some units remaining in the United Kingdom, others employed at the various channel ports where all supplies were landed and some worked close to the front line

Their ranks were made up from labourers and skilled and semi-skilled workers and although they were trained to fight as infantrymen, their role was one of trench construction, road making and building. However this did not mean that they were not in danger. Their work often brought them within range of the German artillery and when their division was under extreme pressure, they could be used as fighting battalions as a result of which there were a number of casualties among their ranks. They were not obliged to keep unit diaries so it is often very difficult to trace their movements and activities.

Arthur Beal of the 133rd Company of the Labour Corps was killed on 30th November at during the Battle of Cambrai but as yet there is no further information concerning his death.