Current Information:

Age-27

38, Earlsmead Road, Kensal Rise

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 30th November, 1917 the 1st Border battalion of 87 Brigade, 29th Division were holding the line at Marcoing, where the division had attacked on 20th November. The main focus of the German attack on 30th November came at the northern end of the Cambrai battle front but all other sectors came under shellfire and localised attacks, including Marcoing and 1st Border suffered some casualties, including Arthur Clements.