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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 20th November, the opening day of the battle, 16 and 71 Brigades of 6th Division attacked towards Ribécourt and Marcoing. With the 2nd York & Lancaster and 8th Bedfordshire battalions leading , and twenty four tanks in attendance, 16 Brigade met little resistance and were soon in possession of the Hindenburg front system. The second wave consisting of one company each from the 1st East Kent (Buffs) and 1st Shropshire Light Infantry battalions, passed through to secure the first objective, the spur known as Highland Ridge flanking the lower part of Couillet Wood. The rest of 1st East Kent (Buffs) and 1st Shropshire Light Infantry then advanced to the second objective by 11am where the brigade consolidated. It had been a very successful operation but there had been casualties, one of whom was Henry Bishop of 1st East Kent (Buffs).