Mont
Kemmel
29 July 1918
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The 4th headed north by train, and
arrived at Mont Kemmel, Belgium,the high ground between Ypres and the River
Lys. From there, the battalion could look south over Flander's broad valley
lost to the Germans in the offensive of last April. There was little activity
on the front line, though, interrupted only once by a random shell that
landed in the headquarters tent one morning, killing a popular officer.
What the battalion did not realize was they were on a mission of deception.
While British and Imperial forces to the south amassed for a major counter-strike,
the 4th C.M.R. plus some smaller units were sent to make the enemy think
the Canada Corps was in Belgium instead. On the 6th of August, the men
again piled into the train cars and traveled all night to rejoin the Corps
near Amiens. |
Boves
7 August 1918
|
Arriving early in the morning in Boves, 9 km south-east of Amiens,
it took nearly five more hours to reach their billets due to the traffic.
Twenty divisions including the 1st French Army, 4th British Army,
with the Canadians, Australians and Americans, were gathering in preparation
for an attack on the large German salient in the Somme and Oise valleys.
This would begin a new and final phase in the Canada Corps' contribution
to the Great War:
"From the commencement of the British counter-offensive to the armistice
became known as the Last Hundred Days. They were the days that every arm
of the service had been anticipating for four long years; glorious, wonderful
days; days full of action, and action which gave results. They were days
of real advancing, open fighting, big maneuvers, book-warfare. And the
battalion [4th C.M.R.] had it's share of the Canadian Corps's lion's share;
they were always with the vanguard of the most advancing army, starting
at Amiens and finishing at Mons. After almost four years of stationary
warfare and colossal struggles, after the experiences gained from the diminutive
results of battles organized and prepared and carried out on a titanic
scale, the story of the final blow of the Allies and its consequences reads
like fiction. No one expected the British Army to rise so suddenly from
all it had gone through since March and strike a blow which brought, as
Ludendorff said, 'the black day of the German army.'" (23)
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Battle of Amiens
8 August 1918 |
Using first their fastest mobile armour including 450 tanks and without
preceding bombardment, the Allies surprised the Germans south-east of Amiens
and pushed them back over six miles the first day. In the wake of the main
force of motor machine gun units and cavalry, George's unit marched 17
km south-east along the main Amien-Roye road toward Le Quesnel. Spent troops,
scores of German prisoners and captured equipment streamed back from the
front, and the men learned of the overwhelming success.
Imperial Troops at Bellicourt
On the morning of August 9th, the 4th C.M.R. entered the battle east
of Le Quesnel and the recently won Outer Amiens Defense Line. The men captured
Folies from the Germans and halted at day's end at the main north-south
road. The 4th sustained 74 casualties, and of the 12 killed was included
their beloved Padre Capt. W.H. Davis. While more troops pushed the battle
beyond them, George's battalion rested and remained in Folies for the next
week.
In the first four days of battle, the Allies had captured 21000 prisoners,
killed and wounded many, and at a cost of 20000 casualties. Many German
divisions collapsed completely, fleeing or surrendering. The Allied forces
did not press beyond their means, but stopped at the old 1916-front lines
by August 12th about 15 miles further from Amiens. The strategy of the
Allied leadership under General Foch was to strike hard in many places
to draw-in and exhaust the German reserves, and on August 19th, the 4th
received now familiar orders -- proceed to an unknown destination and await
further orders. |
En route
to Arras
20 August 1918
|
"In the evening of the 20th they climbed into forty-six charabancs
and started in the direction of Amiens. It was a beautiful night and the
ride was like a sight-seeing tour across the recently won ground. They
turned north from Amiens toward Doullens, rolling along the route-nationale,
singing the latest songs from the music-halls and in evident good spirits.
They had never left a recent battlefield in such splendid trim." (24)
After a moonlit march they were off in buses to Arras, near to the place
where George first joined the Mounted Rifles in February.
Arras was at the northern edge of the Somme salient. From here, the
Allies would launch their next 'hammer-blow' to the enemy. |
Feuhy
23 August 1918
|
In the small town of Feuhy, 5 km west of Arras, the battalion prepared
for the next battle. As the officers memorized plans and distributed maps,
the men would assemble their kit and go over their different maneuvers.
On the night of the 23rd, a German artillery attack landed amidst the billets.
One company suffered 116 casualties from the 'Yellow-cross' gas shells
and 'H.E. shrapnel', seriously crippling the battalion. Before they could
join the comming battle, they received reinforcement.
Map of the Front
during Battles of Arras &
Canal du Nord
26 Aug. - 11 Oct. 1918 |
The goal of the Canada Corps was to lead a push from Arras to the Hindenberg
line at the Canal du Nord, then continue on to Cambrai, thus destroying
the remaining German defense. At the same time the Belgian in the north,
and the French and Americans to the south would also commence attacking.
The Allies hoped to end The War by fall. In three days George's battalion
entered the Battle of Arras .
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