Current Information:

Age-22

33, Pember Road, Kensal Rise

With an end to the fighting on the Eastern Front after the Russian Revolution, Germany was able to bring its troops from there to France and launch a series of offensives in the Spring of 1918, designed to bring the war to a swift conclusion. Four times between March and July they attacked in strength and on each occasion they broke through the British and French lines and made spectacular gains but in each case they over extended themselves and without adequate supplies keeping up with their rapid advances, they could go no further.

The first of these attacks, Operation Michael, was made on 21st March by 63 specially trained divisions, attacking along a 60 mile front held by 26 British divisions, many of them in a weakened state At 4.40am 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 targeted as well 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.

On 27th March, by which date a great deal of territory had been lost to the relentless German advance, the enemy captured the town of Montdidier from French troops which in turn had an impact on 36th Division and beyond them, 30th Division, to the north of the the River Avre. They found themselves  under heavy attack and both were forced back. The 2nd Bedfordshire battalion of 90 Brigade, 30th Division started the day in a position along the Bouchoir - Rouvroy road, just north of the Roye - Amiens road but after being attacked on both of their flanks and in danger of being surrounded, they withdrew to the Arvillers - Folies road where they held up the enemy for the rest of the day and through the night. Their situation was not helped by the fact that no rations nor water was sent up to them. During the morning of the following day, 28th March, 2nd Bedfordshire were heavily shelled resulting in a number of casualties. Once again they were attacked on both flanks and the Germans captured the villages of Arvillers on their right and Folies on the left. It was not until 2.30pm, when the enemy were within one hundred yards, that the order to withdraw was received. This was immediately carried out but there were a number of casualties as they retired from enemy machine gun and shrapnel fire. Those who made it back formed up at Mézières and then marched through Moreuil on their way to billets at Rouvel. One of those who did not survive the day’s action was Frank Goldsmith.