Current Information:

Age-28

34, Cole Park Road, Twickenham

Tigris Lane Cemetery, Wancourt, France

The Battle of Arras was a series of offensives by the British Army between 9th April 1917 and 16th May 1917. It had been planned in conjunction with the French who would attack in Artois and between them the Allies would force the Germans out of the large salient they had held since the line of trenches was first established. But the Germans had spoiled this plan by falling back to the new and very strong Hindenburg Line in January 1917 and the salient no longer existed.  For the want of an alternative plan the attack went ahead anyway. It all started well for the British who made substantial gains on the first two days but then the offensive ground to a halt and by the end their losses amounted to over 150,000.

On 9th April, 1917, the opening day of the battle, 14th Division attacked from in front of Beaurains, just to the south of Arras, with fourteen tanks in support. Their objective was Telegraph Hill and the southern part of the Harp, a formidable redoubt 1000 yards long from north to south with a single trench, the String, running down its length. At 7.34am, 43 Brigade on the right and 42 Brigade on the left launched their attack. On 43 Brigade’s front the strong redoubt half way to the Hindenburg Line was found to be undamaged. Three tanks helped 6th Yorkshire Light Infantry on the right break down the wire here but there were heavy casualties for 10th Durham Light Infantry on the left. Nevertheless this strongpoint was captured and both battalions then went on to take the Hindenburg Line where, after the ferocity of the British artillery barrage, many of the enemy were keen to surrender. One company from 6th Somerset Light Infantry, the support battalion of 43 Brigade,  had moved up behind the initial attack to “mop-up” the captured enemy trenches while the rest of the battalion made ready to leap-frog 6th Yorkshire Light Infantry and 10th Durham Light Infantry and carry the fight forward to the next objective, the Wancourt-Feuchy line. This began at 12.30pm, behind an artillery barrage but was not reciprocated by the units either to the right or the left of 6th Somerset Light Infantry. With both their flanks uncovered they set off and although they got to within 600 yards of their objective they were hit by enfilade fire and fell back 400 yards which was the limit of the advance for that day. Among the casualties sustained by 6th Somerset Light Infantry on this day was Arthur Abecasis.