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    Vimy Ridge
    Vimy Ridge
    Vimy Ridge
    Ebook364 pages4 hours

    Vimy Ridge

    By Nigel Cave

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    About this ebook

    This volume covers the battlefields of Arras around Vimy Ridge dealing with the activities of the French and the British and the start of the Battle of Arras. Vimy Ridge gives a balanced view of the fighting by detailed descriptions of various units and individuals.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOpen Road Integrated Media
    Release dateOct 20, 1995
    ISBN9781473820296
    Vimy Ridge
    Author

    Nigel Cave

    Nigel Cave is the founder editor of the Battleground Europe series; his association with the Company goes back some thirty years.

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      Book preview

      Vimy Ridge - Nigel Cave

      Battleground Europe

      ARRAS

      Vimy Ridge

      Battleground series:

      Stamford Bridge & Hastings by Peter Marren

      Wars of the Roses - Wakefield/Towton by Philip A. Haigh

      Wars of the Roses - Barnet by David Clark

      Wars of the Roses - Tewkesbury by Steven Goodchild

      Wars of the Roses - The Battles of St Albans by

      Peter Burley, Michael Elliott & Harvey Wilson

      English Civil War - Naseby by Martin Marix Evans, Peter Burton

      and Michael Westaway

      English Civil War - Marston Moor by David Clark

      War of the Spanish Succession - Blenheim 1704 by James Falkner

      War of the Spanish Succession - Ramillies 1706 by James Falkner

      Napoleonic - Hougoumont by Julian Paget and Derek Saunders

      Napoleonic - Waterloo by Andrew Uffindell and Michael Corum

      Zulu War Isandlwana by Ian Knight and Ian Castle

      Zulu War- Rorkes Drift by Ian Knight and Ian Castle

      Boer War- The Relief of Ladysmith by Lewis Childs

      Boer War- The Siege of Ladysmith by Lewis Childs

      Boer War - Kimberley by Lewis Childs

      Mons by Jack Horsfall and Nigel Cave

      Néry by Patrick Tackle

      Aisne 1914 by Jerry Murland

      Le Cateau by Nigel Cave and Jack Shelden

      Walking the Salient by Paul Reed

      Ypres - 1914 Messines by Jack Sheldon and Nigel Cave

      Ypres - 1914 Menin Road by Jack Sheldon and Nigel Cave

      Ypres - 1914 Langemark by Jack Sheldon and Nigel Cave

      Ypres - Sanctuary Wood and Hooge by Nigel Cave

      Ypres - Hill 60 by Nigel Cave

      Ypres - Messines Ridge by Peter Oldham

      Ypres - Polygon Wood by Nigel Cave

      Ypres - Passchendaele by Nigel Cave

      Ypres - Airfields and Airmen by Mike O’Connor

      Ypres - St Julien by Graham Keech

      Ypres - Boesinghe by Stephen McGreal

      Walking the Somme by Paul Reed

      Somme - Gommecourt by Nigel Cave

      Somme - Serre by Jack Horsfall & Nigel Cave

      Somme - Beaumont Hamel by Nigel Cave

      Somme - Thiepval by Michael Stedman

      Somme - La Boisselle by Michael Stedman

      Somme - Fricourt by Michael Stedman

      Somme - Carnoy Montauban by Graham Maddocks

      Somme - Pozières by Graham Keech

      Somme - Courcelette by Paul Reed

      Somme - Boom Ravine by Trevor Pidgeon

      Somme - Mametz Wood by Michael Renshaw

      Somme - Delville Wood by Nigel Cave

      Somme - Advance to Victory (North) 1918 by Michael Stedman

      Somme - Fiers by Trevor Pidgeon

      Somme - Bazentin Ridge by Edward Hancock

      Somme - Combles by Paul Reed

      Somme - Beaucourt by Michael Renshaw

      Somme - Redan Ridge by Michael Renshaw

      Somme - Hamel by Peter Pedersen

      Somme - Villers Bretonneux by Peter Pedersen

      Somme - Airfields and Airmen by Mike O’Connor

      Airfields and Airmen of the Channel Coast by Mike O’Connor

      In the Footsteps of the Red Baron by Mike O’Connor

      Arras Airfields and Airmen by Mike O’Connor

      Arras - The Battle for Vimy Ridge by Jack Sheldon & Nigel Cave

      Arras - Vimy Ridge by Nigel Cave

      Arras - Gavrelle by Trevor Tasker and Kyle Tallett

      Arras - Oppy Wood by David Bilton

      Arras - Bullecourt by Graham Keech

      Arras - Monchy le Preux by Colin Fox

      Walking Arras by Paul Reed

      Hindenburg Line by Peter Oldham

      Hindenburg Line - Epehy by Bill Mitchinson

      Hindenburg Line - Riqueval by Bill Mitchinson

      Hindenburg Line - Villers Plouich by Bill Mitchinson

      Hindenburg Line - Cambrai Right Hook by Jack Horsfall & Nigel Cave

      Hindenburg Line - Cambrai Flesquières byjack Horsfall & Nigel Cave

      HindenburgLine - Saint Quentin by Helen McPhail and Philip Guest

      Hindenburg Line - Bourlon Wood by Jack Horsfall & Nigel Cave

      Cambrai - Airfields and Airmen by Mike O’Connor

      Aubers Ridge by Edward Hancock

      La Bassée - Neuve Chapelle by Geoffrey Bridger

      Loos - Hohenzollern Redoubt by Andrew Rawson

      Loos - Hill 70 by Andrew Rawson

      Fromelles by Peter Pedersen

      The Battle of the Lys 1918 by Phil Tomaselli

      Accrington Pals Trail by William Turner

      Poets at War: Wilfred Owen by Helen McPhail and Philip Guest

      Poets at War: Edmund Blunden by Helen McPhail and Philip Guest

      Poets at War: Graves & Sassoon by Helen McPhail and Philip Guest

      Gallipoli by Nigel Steel

      Gallipoli - Gully Ravine by Stephen Chambers

      Gallipoli - Anzac Landing by Stephen Chambers

      Gallipoli - Suvla August Offensive by Stephen Chambers

      Gallipoli - Landings at Helles by Huw & Jill Rodge

      Walking the Italian Front by Francis Mackay

      Italy - Asiago by Francis Mackay

      Verdun: Fort Douamont by Christina Holstein

      Verdun: Fort Vaux by Christina Holstein

      Walking Verdun by Christina Holstein

      Zeebrugge & Ostend Raids 1918 by Stephen McGreal

      Germans at Beaumont Hamel by jack Sheldon

      Germans at Thiepval by jack Sheldon

      SECOND WORLD WAR

      Dunkirk by Patrick Wilson

      Calais by Jon Cooksey

      Boulogne by Jon Cooksey

      Saint-Nazaire by James Dorrian

      Walking D-Day by Paul Reed

      Atlantic Wall - Pas de Calais by Paul Williams

      Atlantic Wall - Normandy by Paul Williams

      Normandy - Pegasus Bridge by Carl Shilleto

      Normandy - Menille Battery by Carl Shilleto

      Normandy - Utah Beach by Carl Shilleto

      Normandy - Omaha Beach by Tim Kilvert Jones

      Normandy - Gold Beach by Christopher Dunphie & Garry Johnson

      Normandy - Gold Beach Jig by Tim Saunders

      Normandy - Juno Beach by Tim Saunders

      Normandy - Sword Beach by Tim Kilvert Jones

      Normandy - Operation Bluecoat by Ian Daglish

      Normandy - Operation Goodwood by Ian Daglish

      Normandy - Epsom by Tim Saunders

      Normandy - Hill 112 by Tim Saunders

      Normandy - Mont Pinçon by Eric Hunt

      Normandy - Cherbourg by Andrew Rawson

      Normandy - Commandos & Rangers on D Day by Tim Saunders

      Das Reich - Drive to Normandy by Philip Vickers

      Oradour by Philip Beck

      Market Garden - Nijmegen by Tim Saunders

      Market Garden - Hell’s Highway by Tim Saunders

      Market Garden - Arnhem, Oosterbeek by Frank Steer

      Market Garden - Arnhem, The Bridge by Frank Steer

      Market Garden - The Island by Tim Saunders

      Rhine Crossing - US 9th Army & 17th US Airborne by Andrew Rawson

      British Rhine Crossing - Operation Varsity by Tim Saunders

      British Rhine Crossing - Operation Plunder by Tim Saunders

      Battle of the Bulge - St Vith by Michael Tolhurst

      Battle of the Bulge - Bastogne by Michael Tolhurst

      Channel Islands by George Forty

      Walcheren by Andrew Rawson

      Remagen Bridge by Andrew Rawson

      Cassino by Ian Blackwell

      Anzio by Ian Blackwell

      Dieppe by Tim Saunders

      Fort Eben Emael by Tim Saunders

      Crete - The Airborne Invasion by Tim Saunders

      Malta by Paul Williams

      Bruneval Raid by Paul Oldfield

      Cockleshell Raid by Paul Oldfleld

      Battleground Europe

      ARRAS

      Vimy Ridge

      Nigel Cave

      Pen & Sword

      MILITARY

      TO MY MOTHER AND FATHER

      First published in Great Britain in 1996

      and reprinted in 1997, 2000, 2004, 2009 and 2013 by

      PEN & SWORD MILITARY

      An imprint of

      Pen & Sword Books Ltd

      47 Church Street, Barnsley

      South Yorkshire

      S70 2AS

      Copyright © Nigel Cave, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2009, 2013

      ISBN 978 0 85052 399 7

      The right of Nigel Cave to be identified as Author of this work

      has been asserted by him in accordance with the

      Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

      A CIP catalogue record for this book is

      available from the British Library

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or

      transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical

      including photocopying, recording or by any information storage

      and retrieval system, without permission from the Publisher in writing.

      Printed and bound in England

      By CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon, CR0 4YY

      Pen & Sword Books Ltd incorporates the Imprints of Pen & Sword Aviation,

      Pen & Sword Family History, Pen & Sword Maritime, Pen & Sword Military,

      Pen & Sword Discovery, Pen & Sword Politics, Pen & Sword Archaeology,

      Pen & Sword Atlas, Wharncliffe Local History, Wharncliffe True Crime,

      Wharncliffe Transport, Pen & Sword Select, Pen & Sword Military Classics,

      Leo Cooper, The Praetorian Press, Claymore Press, Remember When,

      Seaforth Publishing and Frontline Publishing

      For a complete list of Pen & Sword titles please contact

      PEN & SWORD BOOKS LIMITED

      47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S70 2AS, England

      E-mail: enquiries@pen-and-sword.co.uk

      Website: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk

      CONTENTS

      Acknowledgements

      Introduction and how to use this book

      Advice to travellers

      Further Reading

      Index

      The road leading from Arras to Mont St Eloi, Winter, 1915.

      ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

      Many people have helped me in putting this book together. My first tribute is to the authors of all the various material which makes up the bulk of this book - the writers of Regimental Divisional and Official histories, the officers who maintained the War Diaries, the staff officers who wrote up reports and the men who have got their war experiences into print.

      I am most grateful to Richard Brucciani who took two days off work, flew me in his plane over the battlefields of Loos, Arras and the Somme and managed to perform without complaint all the aerobatic manoeuvres for which I asked in order to get some photograph or the other. Various friends on Battlefields Tours have spent longer than they might have expected on the Ridge and so I am grateful to Paul and David Fisher, Dr Graham Keech and Col Dick Burge for humouring me. On a mad dash to Arras over a weekend in January to finalize the photography I was accompanied by two past pupils from Ratcliffe, Sam Mudd and Barney Petty. Fortunately the ulterior motive (viz, pushing the car out of trouble) did not arise.

      Numerous people have helped by giving freely of their own knowledge of Vimy and its area. In particular I would like to single out Lt Col (Retd) Philip Robinson RE who conducted an underground survey for the Canadian Memorial Committee and who has deluged me with information and paper which has proved fascinating. Distance is the chief obstacle from my sitting at the feet of Tom Gudmestad who spends as much time as he can, when he can get away from Seattle, on the northern Arras battlefield and who probably knows more about it than anyone.

      Regimental Museums have once more proved to be a source of useful information. My chief debt in this regard is to Lt Col Pat Love, Worcesters, who has a deep respect for the achievements of his Regiment in the Great War and has been a fount of information. I have also received the assistance of the Regimental Museums of the Queen’s Lancashire Regt, of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and of the Queen’s Own Highlanders. I am also grateful to them for the loan of documents and photographs.

      Once more I am obliged to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for their assistance, most notably in the matter of the loan of registers. Any visit to the battlefields has to include time spent in cemeteries. Many of the cemeteries in the area of the Ridge are more than usually isolated - Petit Vimy, Zouave Valley and Givenchy-en-Gohelle to mention a few. All the more impressive then to find these returfed and Villers Station undergoing the same treatment; even lonely and neglected (by the visitors) Thelus Cemetery was having new turf laid. Visitors come and visitors go, but the CWGC is standing firm on the promises made in its charter.

      I am thankful to the following for allowing me to publish extracts, photographs or maps: Tom Gudmestad, The Worcestershire Regimental Musem, Col Philip Robinson, Dr MS Rosenbaum, Sono Nis Press (The Journal of Private Fraser), Lancelot Press (Gunner Ferguson’s Diary), the Crown Copyright Service, the Peter Taylor Photographic Library! author Mike Stedman, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the Museums of La Targette and Notre Dame de Lorette.

      I am indebted to those who have looked through earlier drafts of this book and have made suggestions and corrections. Both George Friendship and Paul Fisher have better things to do with their time, but manfully waded through the script. My father, Col Terry Cave CBE, did the same, came up with various source suggestions, let me lose on his Great War book collection, and of course came on tour with me. We have been doing these annually (more or less) since 1980. My mother never comes on a battlefield tour, and never complains when another week in France and Flanders looms and she is left to guard the house. I dedicate this book to them both.

      INTRODUCTION

      How many people come to Vimy Ridge, visit the Canadian Memorial Park and leave an hour or so later having admired the memorial, wandered over the preserved trenches and possibly gone underground in the Grange Subway? What impression do they have when they go? Perhaps they think that this was a battle fought in isolation for a notable landmark, which chiefly involved the Canadians and which was one of the great decisive battles of the war. They might be justified in thinking so.

      The capture of Vimy Ridge in April 1917 was an important event and was a considerable victory. One might question whether the heroic Canadian defence at St Julien against the first use of poison gas on the Western Front in the battle of Second Ypres might have a greater claim or the outstanding contribution of the Canadian Forces in the Hundred Days of 1918 which led to Germany’s defeat. Vimy Ridge was important because it saw the birth of a Canadian Army, and with it the greater realisation of national consciousness. That alone justifies the memorial; but the battle was a fine feat of arms in its own right.

      Lost in this understandable concentration on the Canadians is the contribution of the armies that stood in this sector prior to the arrival of the Canadian Corps in October 1916. There is very little left to indicate their achievement. The French army made great sacrifices in 1915 and the achievement of some of her divisions - most notably the Moroccan - stands with the greatest of wartime exploits. A visit to the Notre Dame de Lorette Cemetery overpoweringly shows the sacrifice that was made. A tour of the ground over which the battles of 1915 were fought will show just how difficult was the task that faced the French. In the spring of 1916 the French armies departed from the Arras region never to return during the Great War. In their place came British troops from an army which was expanding at a phenomenal rate. Whilst great things were planned on the Somme and were then carried out the troops here clung on to the unsatisfactory positions on Vimy Ridge whilst specialist Tunnelling Companies worked feverishly underground to overcome the German mining threat.

      Finally the Canadians arrived in the autumn of 1916, relieved from their hard fought battles around Courcelette and Regina Trench on the Somme. They played their role in the 1917 Battle of Arras, the British contribution to the grandiose schemes of General Nivelle.

      The region around Arras has seen many battles, and the dominant high ground of Vimy Ridge has played an important part in many of them. The Emperor Valentinian spent time here during his Gallic campaigns and the village of Etrun still shows signs of his fortifications. Men at arms involved in the Hundred Years’ War fought nearby; Charles V and his successors Philip II and Philip IV had armies battling nearby for European supremacy with their French counterparts. Vimy Ridge played a vital part in Marlborough’s campaign of 1711 - there is much more to the military history of Arleux and Monchy le Preux than their place in the battles of 1917. Some of the decisive fighting in the saving of the British Army in 1940 took place around Arras, when Frankforce struggled to hold up the encircling German Army. North European war does not seem to be able to avoid Arras.

      This book is a guide to aspects of the war around Vimy Ridge, most particularly as it affected the British Army. The biggest gap from the work is the contribution of the Germans to events. The book makes no claim to be all-encompassing, but aims to give the visitor a reasonably balanced tour of the battlefield and of the events, units and personalities that were involved in the war and of the memorials, cemeteries, museums and remains of battle that mark their work.

      The best way to use the book is to read the whole thing through and familiarise yourself with place names, events and the maps. Having done that, the tours are designed to take you over the whole of the area covered by the book, and each one, where appropriate, refers the tourer to the relevant chapters in the book. There is a section on further reading and advice on what the visitors should have with them. Much of the damage done to nature by shellfire and mine blast is disappearing; but with a little imagination and a willingness to learn it is possible to understand so much more by a visit to this battlefield than simply reading about it in books.

      Deserted trenches at Souchez, north of Arras.

      ADVICE TO TRAVELLERS

      Vimy Ridge is easily accessible from the Calais - Paris autoroute; take the Vimy/Arras Central exit and this comes out on the Arras - Lens road. There are considerable road works going on at the time of writing (January 1996) and this was one of the major reasons why the book was confined in scope to the crest of Vimy Ridge - the extent and consequences of this road programme on battlefield memorials and their access is not clear at the moment.

      The approach to Arras is slightly hair-raising on a first acquaintance so I would recommend arriving outside of rush hour times should you wish to go into the city. This is the obvious place to stay, and I would recommend the Hotel Univers, though after a recent refurbishment the prices have gone up. It is in the centre of Arras (as is the Ibis Hotel) and this gives plenty of options for shopping and eating as well as the pleasure of being able to stroll of an evening through the Grande Place and the Place des Heros. There is an underground car park under the Grande Place, and the Univers has limited car parking in its courtyard. By following the signs to Cambrai through Arras (not on the motorway!) the driver

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