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Born-Blackfriars

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 night of 26th November, 2nd Division moved into part of the line between Bourlon Wood and the village Mouevres with 99 Brigade on the right and 1st King’s Royal Rifle Corps on the left  of the Brigade line. On 29th November, one and half companies were ordered to capture and consolidate a new line of 500 yards length, in order to strengthen the Brigade’s position and at 6.25am the attack was launched behind an artillery and trench mortar barrage. All went well until until they topped the crest of a ridge when they came under very heavy machine-gun fire and lost 75% of their number as casualties. The survivors took cover in a partially dug enemy trench, 150 yards short of their objective, which they consolidated with the help of two platoons who were sent up in support. One of those killed on this day was Arthur Read.