Chapter I: Preface

This, the fourth volume of _The British Campaign in France and Flanders_, carries the story through the long and arduous fighting of 1917, which culminated in the dramatic twofold battle of Cambrai. These events are cut deep into the permanent history of the world, and we are still too near it to read the whole of that massive and tremendous inscription. It is certain, however, that this year marked the period in which the Allies gained a definite military ascendancy over the German forces, in spite of the one great subsequent rally which had its source in events which were beyond the control of the Western powers. So long as ink darkens and paper holds, our descendants, whose freedom has been won by these exertions, will dwell earnestly and with reverence upon the stories of Arras, Messines, Ypres, Cambrai, and other phases of this epic period.

I may be permitted to record with some thankfulness and relief, that in the course of three thick volumes, in which for the first time the detailed battle-line of these great encounters has been set out, it has not yet been shown that a brigade has ever been out of its place, and even a battalion has seldom gone amiss. Such good fortune cannot last for ever. _Absit omen!_ But the fact is worth recording, as it {vi} may reassure the reader who has natural doubts whether history which is so recent can also lay claim to be of any permanent value.

The Censorship has left me untrammelled in the matter of units, for which I am sufficiently grateful. The ruling, however, upon the question of names must be explained, lest it should seem that their appearance or suppression is due to lack of knowledge or to individual favour or caprice. I would explain, then, that I am permitted to use the names of Army and Corps Commanders, but only of such divisional Generals as are mentioned in the Headquarters narrative. All other ranks below divisional Generals are still suppressed, save only casualties, in connection with the action where they received the injury, and those who won honours, with the same limitation. This regulation has little effect upon the accuracy of the narrative, but it appears in many cases to involve some personal injustice. To record the heroic deeds of a division and yet be compelled to leave out the name of the man who made it so efficient, is painful to the feelings of the writer, for if any one fact is clearer than another in this war it is that the good leader makes the good unit.

The tremendous epic of 1918 will call for two volumes in its treatment. One of these, bringing the story up to June 30, 1918, is already completed, and should appear by the summer. The other may be ready at the end of the year.

ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE.

CROWBOROUGH,
_January_ 20, 1919.

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CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

THE GERMAN RETREAT UPON THE ARRAS-SOISSONS FRONT

Hindenburg's retreat--The advance of the Fifth and Fourth Armies--Capture of Bapaume and Peronne--Atrocious devastation by the Germans--Capture of guns at Selency--Definition of the Hindenburg Line--General survey

CHAPTER II

THE BATTLE OF ARRAS

April 9 to April 23, 1917.

Vast preparations--Attack of Snow's Seventh Corps--The Ibex Trench--Attack of Haldane's Sixth Corps--Attack of Fergusson's Seventeenth Corps--A Scottish Front--The splendid Canadians--Capture of Mouchy--Essex and Newfoundland--A glorious episode--The Chemical Works--Extension of the battle to the north--Desperate fight of the Australians at Bullecourt

CHAPTER III

OPERATIONS IN THE ARRAS SECTOR FROM APRIL 23 ONWARDS

Advance of April 23--Middlesex and Argyll--Grand fighting of the Fifteenth Division--H.A.C. at Gavrelle--Operations of May 3--The Gavrelle Windmill--Loss of Fresnoy--Capture of Rœux--The long fight at Bullecourt

CHAPTER IV

THE BATTLE OF MESSINES

Plumer's long vigil--The great mines--Advance of Australians--Of New Zealanders--Of the Twenty-fifth Division--Of the Irish {viii} Divisions--Death of Major Redmond--Advance of Nineteenth Division--Of the Forty-first Division--Of the Forty-seventh Division--Of the Twenty-fourth Division--General results

CHAPTER V

OPERATIONS FROM JUNE 10 TO JULY 31

Fighting round Lens--Good work of Canadians and Forty-sixth Division--Action on the Yser canal--Great fight and eventual annihilation of 2nd K.R.R. and 1st Northampton--An awful ordeal--Exit Russia

CHAPTER VI

THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES

July 31, 1917

Attack of July 31--Advance of the Guards--Of the Welsh--Capture of Pilkem--Capture of St. Julien by Thirty-ninth Division--Advance of Fifty-fifth Division--Advance of Jacob's Second Corps--General results

CHAPTER VII

THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES

August 1 to September 6

Dreadful weather--German reaction--Attack of August 16--Advance of Cavan's Corps--Capture of Langemarck--Dreadful losses of the two Irish Divisions--Failure in the south--Splendid field-gunners--The Forty-second Division upon September 6

CHAPTER VIII

THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES

September 6 to October 3, 1917

Engagement of Plumer's Second Army--Attack of September 20--Fine advance of Fifty-fifth Division--Advance of the Ninth {ix} Division--Of the Australians--Strong counter-attack upon the Thirty-third Division--Renewed advance on September 20--Continued rain--Desperate fighting

CHAPTER IX

THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES

October 4 to November 10, 1917

Attack of October 4--Further advance of the British line--Splendid advance of second-line Territorials--Good work of H.A.C. at Reutel--Abortive action of October 12--Action of October 26--Heavy losses at the south end of the line--Fine fighting by the Canadian Corps--Capture of Paschendaale--General results of third battle of Ypres

CHAPTER X

THE BATTLE OF CAMBRAI

First phase, November 20--Tanks _en masse_--Attack on the Tunnel Trench--Byng's great advance--Fine work of the Sixty-second Division--Hard fighting of Pulteney's Third Corps--Exploit of Fort Garry Horse--Second day of battle--Rally of Germans--Capture of Bourlon Wood by Fortieth Division--Attack by the Guards on La Fontaine

CHAPTER XI

THE BATTLE OF CAMBRAI.

Second phase of battle on November 30--Great German attack--Disaster to three divisions--Desperate fight of Twenty-ninth Division--Fine advance by the Guards--Capture and recapture of Gouzeaucourt--Hard battle in the Bourlon Sector--Heavy losses of the Germans--Retraction of the British line

INDEX

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MAPS AND PLANS

Fighting Line, February 24, 1917, and Fighting Line, March 1, 1917

The Arras Front

Chart of Order of Battle, Arras, April 9, 1917

Order of Battle, Messines, June 7, 1917

Line of Battle, August 16, 1917

The Ypres Front

Third Ypres Battle, September 26

Order of Battle, October 4, 1917

Fighting Line, November 20, 1917

Battle Line of Third Army, November 20, 1917

Fighting Line, November 30, 1917

Battle Order of Third Army, November 30, 1917

Map to illustrate the British Campaign in France and Flanders [Transcriber's note: this map was omitted from the etext because its size and fragility made it impractical to scan.]

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