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Age-34

3, Prebend Place, Camden Town

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.

On 21st March 18th Division were in the southern part of the line held by the 5th Army with the village of Vendeuil in front of them and the Crozat Canal behind. 54 Brigade were in reserve and did not have to face the full fury of the initial German attack but by midday, 11th Royal Fusiliers had moved forward to Failloeuil Wood from where they crossed the canal and along with 6th Northamptonshire held a line of trenches running from Lizerolle to Montescourt. But the German onslaught was relentless and by the evening they had been pulled back to Jussy, where they took up defensive positions on the canal bank. At 10.50am the 7th Bedfordshire battalion, in brigade reserve. received orders to move in buses and rendezvous in Haute Tombelle Wood. The battalion arrived about 12 noon and at 3pm received orders to occupy and hold the Montescourt Switch, a defensive position from where they could lend support to 11th Royal Fusiliers and 6th Northamptonshire. They arrived at the Switch around 7.30 p.m. and became involved in the fighting there but at 11pm they received further orders to fall back and take up position south of Crozat Canal.

When day broke on 22nd March, 54 Brigade now formed the right of 14th Division. At 6pm the enemy rushed the Montagne railway bridge and drove back the defending company of 7th Bedfordshire there. Reinforced by two companies sent up by 6th Northamptonshire they counter-attacked and re-took the bridge. James Mortimer of 7th Bedfordshire was killed in action on this day.