Current Information:

Age-19

 "Sunrise," Canonbie Road, Honor Oak

Wancourt British Cemetery, 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.

56th (London) Division attacked at 7.45 on the morning of 9th April, 1917 with their objective being the Wancourt-Feuchy trench system, the Brown line. 168 Brigade attacked from Beaurains on the left of the divisional front with 13th London and 12th London in front and after their objectives, which included the strongly fortified village of Neuville-Vitasse were captured, 14th London were able to pass through and capture part of the Cojeul Switch. These positions were consolidated during the next day and the battalion was relieved on 11th April and withdrew to the original assembly trenches between the Beaurains-Neuville Vitasse and Beaurains-Mercatel roads where they spent a very cold night in open trenches. The following morning 14th London were sent back to the trenches they had vacated on the previous day and on 14th April the battalion moved forward to the Cojeul Switch and came under the orders of 169 Brigade. That night they relieved 5th London in the front line near the Wancourt Tower. C Company were ordered to take some enemy trenches by bombing up them but when they did so they found them empty and in 2 feet of water and were ordered to withdraw. Hopes of being relieved on 16th April were dashed when the enemy launched a series of counter attacks and captured Wancourt Tower from a battalion of 50th Division. 14th London spent the night anticipating further counter attacks but none came on their front despite some heavy shelling and they were finally relieved in the early hours of 17th April. There were of course casualties for the battalion during these opening encounters of the Battle of Arras and they included Donald Ferguson who was killed on 16th April.