Current Information:

50, Ormsby Street, Hoxton

Born-Kilburn

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.

The First Battle of the Scarpe (9-14 April)

On 9th April, 1917, the opening day of the battle, 62 Brigade were in reserve when 21st Division attacked on a 2,700 yard front on the right of the British line and it was not until two days later that the 1st Lincolnshire battalion joined the action. By then, along with the 10th Yorkshire battalion, they had moved forward to positions on the Croiselles-Henin road. Here they were in support of 64 Brigade which, on 9th April had successfully attacked the Hindenburg Line south of Heninel, only to be driven out during the evening of 10th April. In response, at 6am on 11th April, the two battalions of 62 Brigade attacked the Hindenburg Line but were unable to achieve anything. With only five gaps in the wire, all of which were swept by machine-gun fire from low concrete casements, the attack failed completely and between them the 1st Lincolnshire and 10th West Yorkshire battalions suffered 280 casualties. One of these was Walter Johnson of 1st Lincolnshire.