Arras (WD)

top The Battle of Arras 1917 30th March to 26th April 1917 (with the 50th Division)
Captain Albert Edward Odell, MC and Bar. 1886-1979.
ARRAS	.	BATTLES OF ARRAS Q6A Page 122 As usual the Divisional Artillery were in action first and the Division itself, now under VII Corps, relieved the 14th Division in a snowstorm on the 11th april South East of Arras and moved forward near Wancourt. Its part in the various phases of this battle were as follows: 11^th to 14^th April 1917… First Battle of the Scarpe. (XVIII. Corps until 11/4; then VII. Corps, Third Army) The Division only came in on the final day when 151 Brigade attacked near Wancourt Tower with the 56th Division on the right. The result was indecisive and fighting continues after 149 Brigade relieved 151. 13^th to 15^th April 1917… Capture of Wancourt Ridge. (VII. Corps).
.	.	WANCOURT TOWER-CROISELLES Q6A Page 125
.	12/13^th April 1917	On 12^th and 13^th April the 50^th Div 151^st Infantry Brigade attacked , and pushed across the Cojeul Valley, north of Heninel, and took Wancourt Tower. The enemy trenches were in Guemappe. 151^stInf Brig at Cemetery N7d4.4 and 149^th in reserve at N7b4.4. The 151^st was relieved by the 149^th Infantry Brigade on 14^th/15^th.
.	14^th/22^nd April 1917	From the 14^th to 22^nd April the 149^th repulsed five out of six attacks on the Tower by the enemy, and made two attacks themselves. The 7^th NF retaking the tower with very few casualties, under cover of a barrage, from five brigades of artillery. GOTO: Lieut Henry Stanley Tempest Bullen, D Battery, 251st Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Killed in action at Arras on April 14th 1917.
.	22^nd April 1917	The 149^th Infantry Brigade was relieved, in readiness for a major attack by the whole of the Third Army
.	.	23^rd to 24^th April 1917… Second Battle of the Scarpe. (VII. Corps, Third Army). This attack was forced on the british, beyond Haig's original intention, by the failure of the French and the need to increase pressure. 150 brigade led the attack but with little success. 4 E Yorks suffered heavy casualties, unfortunately some due to fire from our own guns, when they tried to go through the barrage. 4 Green Howards gained their objectives but were forced to retire due to heavy casualties. Capt. Hirsch was awarded a posthumous VC after this action. Another attack on the second day with 5 Border and 9DLI was successful.
Telegraph Hill	.	151^st Inf Brig plus 4^th NF. The Germans were pushed down the hill from the Wancourt Tower and Guemappe was taken. The 4^th NF reached Buck Trench, and the Divisional front was advanced to a point not far from the outskirts of Cherisy. HQ was at Telegraph Hill.
April 1917 Captain Francis Buckley of the 7th N.F. was working for Brigade as an observer, and did many drawings of the sections of front line that they found themselves on. This particular one was published in Buckley's book Q6a and other places.

Goto more detail on this attack
Third Army Panorama from O31 d O5 95 taken on 29th May 1917 Showing Cherisy Look carefully for the 'wiring Picketts' and barbed wire.

Letter stared on 25.4.17 and finished 16.5.117 describing a Barrage and Zero Hour From Bert Odell to his Brother George
.	.	50^th Division casualties over the period amounted to some 2300 for the 14 days. On 26th April the Division was relieved by the 14th Division and remained training until relieving the 18th Division South of Cherisy on 18th June. The next three months were spent in vigorous trench warfare until they handed over the line to the 51st Division on 6th October, but there were no major operations.
.	25^th April 1917	149^th moved to Ronville Sugar Factory (Harp) on relief by 42^nd Infantry Brigade (14^th Div)
.	26^th April 1917	BHQ 149^th moved to a fine Chateau at the West end of Arras.
.	27^th April 1917	149^th moved along the Arras-Doullens road from Arras by tactical train to Pommerra rest area.
	.	Lt Odell was billeted with Lt Francis Buckley 7th N.F. at BHQ at South End of Pommerra Village Q6a page 135
Souastre	1^st May 1917	149^th moved from Pommera and Mondicourt to Souastre and Fonquenvillers (Brig HQ at Souastre in French chateau)
.	2^nd May 1917	149^th moved N.E. to Mercatel.
.	4^th May 1917	Division Marched Southwards. 149^th to Souastre (HQ at Souastre)
.	5^th May 1917	149^th moved to Pommera. Letter to George Odell 16th May 1917 describing attack on The Wancourt Tower on the 12th/13th April 1917
Souastre	17^th May 1917	149^th moved to Souastre.
.		Medals awarded for fighting between 12^th April and 26^th April 1917
.	18^th May 1917 19^th May 1917	149^th moved to Moyenville, nr Croiselles. Signal Company took over Beaumetz Exchange.
.	20^th May 1917	The 149^th was temporarily placed under the orders of GOC 33^rd Div, VII Corps for an attack on the HINDENBERG LINE. 149^th holding line about Croiselles until 25^th May

Third Army Panorama from O31 d O5 95 taken on 29th May 1917 Showing the corner of Fontaine Wood, in front of Fontaine les Croiselles.
.
.	.	MONCHY AU BOIS
Monchy Au Bois	28^th May 1917	149^th Inf Brig came under the orders of 50^th Div and moved via Moyenville to Monchy Au Bois. (Divisional Rest Area) Communication by telephone through 21^st Div exchange at Adinfer
	18^th June 1917	149^th moved from Monchy area to reserve Brigade area S17.
Monchy Au Bois		Training and Manoeuvres.
		During this time AE Odell and his signallers (29 men) were trained in the use of the rifle grenade as a potential messaging device. Q6a Page 139
VIS AND CHERISY	June to Oct 1917	TRENCH WARFARE-VIS AND CHERISY FRONT
.	.	The 50^th Division held the line of trenches running from The Hindenberg Line west of Fontaine Les–Croiselles to Cavalry Farm on the Arras-Cambrai Road. With heavy fighting going on in Flanders, this was a comparatively quiet part of the front, and the High ground around Wancourt Tower Hill gave excellent observation of the Enemy. Rest area was at Neuville Vitasse.

	.	**During this period Lt. Odell and his signallers and orderlies assisted Lt. Francis Buckley 7^th NF with salvage operations.** Q6A Page 145 *Odell also visited the old Somme battlefields with Lt Francis Buckley* Q6A Page 151 *(scene of the fighting at Hook Sap and Butte de Warlencourt), and ruined Abbey at Eaucourt.*
.	July 1917	149^th relieved the 151^st Inf Brig in left sector at S17a 9.4 Boislieux St Marc
.	1^st July 1917	149^th took over portion of front held by 150^th Infantry Brigade S17 a 9.4
.	11^th July 1917	149^th relieved in line by 150^th Infantry Brigade.
.	20^th July 1917	149^th Inf Brig relieved the 151^st in the Vis and Guemappe sectors
.	5^th Aug 1917	149^th relieved in line by 150^th Inf Brigade in Vis and Guemappe sectors.
.	13^th Aug 1917	149^th relieved the 151^st in Cherisy sector
25.8.17 Captain Francis Buckley of the 7th N.F. was working for Brigade as an observer, and did many drawings of the sections of front line that they found themselves on. This particular one was kept in the war diaries, and is dated 25.8.17 WO 95 2827 at the Public Records Office .
.	15^th Sept 1917	Double raid and Gas projection by 151^st Inf Brigade, with 149^th in trenches on left. Q6A pages 148/149
Map A 22.9.17 Captain Francis Buckley of the 7th N.F. was working for Brigade as an observer, and did many drawings of the sections of front line that they found themselves on. This particular one was kept in the war diaries, and is dated 22.9.17 WO 95 2827 at the Public Records Office .
Map B 22.9.17 Captain Francis Buckley of the 7th N.F. was working for Brigade as an observer, and did many drawings of the sections of front line that they found themselves on. This particular one was kept in the war diaries, and is dated 22.9.17 WO 95 2827 at the Public Records Office .
9.10.17 Captain Francis Buckley of the 7th N.F. was working for Brigade as an observer, and did many drawings of the sections of front line that they found themselves on. This particular one was kept in the war diaries, and is dated 9.10.17 WO 95 2827 at the Public Records Office .
.The 50th Division left for the Belgian Sector
Back to The Somme On to Houthulst Forest Click here for 7th NFshort history of the Regiment, see personalities and links to detailed acounts of important actions. Guy Smith e mail: guy@trenchmap.com Return to top of page Guy Smith e mail: guy@trenchmap.com