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Age-27

101, Downham Road, Kingsland

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 offensive began on 21st March, 24th Division were holding the line just to the north of St, Quentin. 72 Brigade held the  front south of the River Omignon and were soon overwhelmed at Pontruet and Berthaucourt. 17 Brigade were in the line north of the River Omignon where the 3rd Rifle Brigade and 8th Royal West Surrey (Queens) battalions were in front. They fought hard to stem the enemy advance but were unable to do so and like the other divisions of Fifth Army they were steadily pushed back, fighting rear guard actions all the while. By 27th March XIX Corps were holding a line from Rosières up to the River Somme, near Bray. Just to their south the Germans captured the town of Montdidier from French troops and then extended their attack to the north to take in the whole of XIX Corps. A severe and stubborn struggle took place throughout the rest of the day. 24th Division were on the extreme right of this line just to the north of the village of Rouvroy and they came under attack at 7.30am. 3rd Rifle Brigade were on the high ground to the west of Vrély and at 8.30am they were subjected to a heavy German artillery bombardment. They hurriedly dug in and remained in these positions for most of the day but with the enemy advancing around their flanks and in danger of being cut off, 24th Division were ordered to withdraw. Among the casualties suffered by 3rd Rifle Brigade during the course of the day was Albert Stamp.