Current Information:

Born-Deptford

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.

2nd Division had been in the line near to Vimy Ridge which the Canadians had attacked on 9th April and they had moved forward to capture the small village of  Bailleul, near Thélus, without meeting much opposition. On 11th April the 24th Royal Fusiliers battalion of 5 Brigade moved into the new front line near Roclincourt and then on 13th April they advanced under heavy artillery fire to reach first the railway line and then a line from the eastern edge of Willerval to Bailleul. The following day, they advanced 500-600 yards from the Arleux-en-Gohelle – Oppy line to a point where they dug new front and support trenches while under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. A number of casualties were sustained, doing this, including William Smith.