Current Information:

Age-27

Born-Fulham

Enlisted-Croydon

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.

On the opening day of Cambrai, 20th November, 1917, 12th Division attacked on the extreme right of the battle front. 5th Royal Berkshire of 35 Brigade, seized the spur above Banteux while 9th Essex cleaned up the German outpost zone here. Following behind, 7th Suffolk with one company of 7th Norfolk passed through and with the help of tanks took the Hindenburg front and support trenches. The only serious opposition came from Bleak House on the Péronne-Cambrai road, a stronghold that had not been targeted by the artillery but tanks and the infantry eventually dealt with this. At this stage 37 Brigade took over the attack. There were of course casualties for all the battalions involved in this attack and one of them was Frederick Moody of 7th Norfolk, who was killed in action.