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Born-Peckham

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, 20th Division were holding the line from Masnières down to Lateau Wood with 59 Brigade on the right and 61 Brigade on the left. The two battalions in the front line, 10th and 11th King’s Royal Rifle Corps were taken by surprise by the ferocity of the attack and were practically annihilated. The same fate awaited the 10th Rifle Brigade battalion who were further back in support. Outflanked on their right  by the enemy advancing rapidly through the mist they too were overwhelmed although some did manage to fight their way out of the trap and join up with the reserve units of 61 Brigade. However many of them did not make it back including Alfred Banks who was killed.