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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 at 6.20am, on the extreme right of the battle front with 35 Brigade and 36 Brigade. Their task was to capture the first objective and then form a defensive flank to the south east. On the left, 36 Brigade attacked with all four battalions. 7th Sussex and 9th Royal Fusiliers were in the lead and soon took the line of the first objective, which included the villages of La Vacquerie and Banteux. 8th Royal Fusiliers and 11th Middlesex followed closely and went on to capture the second objective which was essentially the Hindenburg Line. At this stage, 37 Brigade passed through their positions to successfully capture the final objectives. 12th Division had done all that had been asked of them but there were of course the inevitable casualties one of whom was David Maguire of 11th Middlesex, who was killed in action.