Current Information:

Age-20

91, Onslow Square, South Kensington

Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun, France

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 Second Battle of the Scarpe (23-24 April, 1917)

The British offensive at Arras was resumed on 23rd April, 1917, when they attacked eastwards along an nine mile front from Croisilles to Gavrelle on both sides of the  River Scarpe in what some came to consider was the hardest fighting of the war so far. At the same time and just to the north of this line, 5th Division attacked towards Avion on the southern edge of Lens.

On 23rd  April the 7th Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders and 4th Gordon Highlanders battalions of 154 Brigade, 51st Division, attacked between the Scarpe and the railway but were soon held up by machine-gun and frontal fire from Roeux and enfilade fire from south of the Scarpe. Advancing more cautiously, both battalions gradually worked their way forward supported by two tanks. 7th Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders made their way into Roeux and cleared the village while some of 4th Gordon Highlanders entered the Chemical Works but could not maintain their position there. The enemy counter-attacked and 7th Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders were forced back but, supported by some of the 9th Royal Scots, they managed to cling on to the western outskirts of the village. John Crombie of 4th Gordon Highlanders died from wounds on 23rd April but the exact day on which he was wounded is not yet known..