Current Information:

Enlisted-Hounslow

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.

The First Battle of the Scarpe (9-14 April)

On 14th April, 151 Brigade of 50th Division attacked towards the Sensée River and the village of Chérisy with 56th Division on its right. There was considerable confusion regarding positioning for the attack, the end result of which was that the two brigades became intermingled  Most of 151 Brigade, which included men from the 6th, 8th and 9th Durham Light Infantry battalions attacked along a narrow front towards the Wancourt tower. Here they met fierce machine-gun fire from the village of Guemappe which resulted in many casualties among all the attacking units and the complete failure of the operation. Among those who did not survive was Reginald Parker of 9th Durham Light Infantry.