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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.

On the opening day of Cambrai, 20th November, 1917, 12th Division attacked on the extreme right of the battle front. 35 and 36 Brigades led the attack and when they had secured their objectives, which included the villages of La Vacquerie and Banteux as well as parts of the Hindenburg Line, 37 Brigade moved forward and shortly after 9am continued the attack with 7th East Surrey in the vanguard. They met heavy rifle and machine-gun fire and pushed forward with a series of short rushes, capturing enemy positions one by one. This progress was greatly assisted by the attached tanks that effectively crushed the wire and silenced the machine-gun fire coming from Le Pavé. Once they had gained their objective, the Hindenburg Support Line, the other battalions of the brigade passed through and continued the attack. Their attack had been a success but there were of course casualties for 7th East Surrey, one of whom was Sidney Fletcher who was killed in action.