Current Information:

Enlisted-Finsbury

During February and March, 1917, the Germans made a strategic withdrawal to a new and very strong line running from Arras to Soissons. By doing this they eliminated two large salients and greatly reduced the number of troops needed to man the new defences. As they pulled back to the Hindenburg Line (Siegfriedstellung) they adopted a ‘scorched earth’ policy, systematically destroying everything in their path so as to leave nothing behind that would assist the enemy. Railways and roads were dug up, wells poisoned and even trees chopped down. Mines and booby traps were set to further hinder the British and French troops who followed up behind them until they reached the new formidable defences where one again trench warfare was established.

8th Division which was one of the units involved in pursuing the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg line and on 11th April, 1917, the 2nd Devonshire battalion of 23 Brigade, moved forward to Guyencourt from where C and D Companies were sent forward to the main defence line and came under the orders of the 2nd West Yorkshire battalion. On 14th April, the day on which Charles Schofield was killed, these two companies attacked Villers-Guislain but a combination of uncut wire and heavy machine-gun fire meant that the attack was unsuccessful.