Current Information:

Age-20

Enlisted-Bloomsbury

Hermies Hill British Cemetery, France

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.

When the Germans attacked on 30th November, 1917, 56th Division were holding the line facing Moeuvres with Bourlon Wood on their right. On the left of the divisional front was 168 Brigade which was held by the 14th London battalion along with the 8th Middlesex battalion, attached from 167 Brigade. That morning the enemy artillery barrage increased until it reached a crescendo about 9.45am shortly after which their infantry attacked. 8th Middlesex in the Tadpole Copse sector were driven from their HQ but later regained it after a counter attack. 14th London were also under the same pressure and a company sent up from 13th London was sent up to support them. Despite this assistance the brigade’s front line was pushed further back until it took up and stabilised a position in the old German front line.  Albert Savage of 13th London died from wounds on this day but he might have been wounded on an earlier date.