Current Information:

Age-19

107, Lady Margaret Road, Tufnell Park

With an end to the fighting on the Eastern Front after the Russian Revolution, Germany was able to bring its troops from there to France and launch a series of offensives in the Spring of 1918, designed to bring the war to a swift conclusion. Four times between March and July they attacked in strength and on each occasion they broke through the British and French lines and made spectacular gains but in each case they over extended themselves and without adequate supplies keeping up with their rapid advances, they could go no further.

The first of these attacks, Operation Michael, was made on 21st March by 63 specially trained divisions, attacking along a 60 mile front held by 26 British divisions, many of them in a weakened state At 4.40am the German artillery opened up with the most ferocious and concentrated bombardment of the war, the likes of which the British had never experienced before. The Forward Zone, consisting mainly of individual posts was blown away. Very few of the men there made it back. Many were killed and many more were taken prisoner. The Battle Zone was also battered as were the British guns, firing from positions just to the rear. Brigade and Divisional HQs were targeted as well and then, from out of the thick mist came the German storm troopers. Moving fast, they skirted round the few remaining strongholds and penetrated deep into the British lines, including those of the Battle Zone, causing the utmost confusion. There were many cases of heroic stands being made but the relentless pressure forced the British back everywhere and there then began a general retreat that went on for two weeks and which ceded to the Germans a huge amount of territory, including all of that that had been won at such great cost during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

When the German attack was launched on 21st March, 30th Division were in the line opposite St Quentin. The 2nd Bedfordshire battalion of 90 Brigade were in the Battle Zone to the rear of the Forward Zone between Savy and Etreillers. When the enemy broke through the Forward Zone they came in contact with A Company who were then reinforced by B Company but between them they were unable to dislodge the German storm troopers who had established themselves firmly astride the Savy road. These positions were maintained throughout the day but things became more critical on 22nd March, when, in the early hours, some of the enemy worked their way into C Company’s support position from a sunken road just in front of the wire and when they attacked in force at 2pm, this position was captured. Meanwhile the two companies in front  were subjected to a fierce artillery bombardment and were eventually surrounded. Despite their gallant efforts only a few made it back to Battalion HQ at Steven’s Redoubt. By 4pm the enemy could be seen advancing on either side of this redoubt and at 5pm, orders were received to withdraw. This was immediately carried out but there were a number of casualties as the withdrawal had to be made across open country and the enemy machine gun and shrapnel fire was very heavy. The Battalion withdrew to Verlaines where they billeted for the night. The casualties suffered by 2nd Bedfordshire were many and included William Christiansen who was killed in action.