All Ranks of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division.
The first tour of the 50th Division in the Battle of ARRAS has been
completed.
The 151st Infantry Brigade took WANCOURT TOWER on the night of 12/13th
April, and we handed over a front line, one mile further East on the night 25/26th April.
On April 14th the 151st Infantry Brigade, with the object of protecting
the left flank of the Division on our right. All attacks failed, and the 151st Infantry
Brigade, who advanced a considerable distance, were forced to withdraw.
The 149th Infantry Brigade then took over the line on the night of
14/15th April.
From that night until 150th Infantry Brigade took over on the night of
21/22nd, the enemy made six attacks on the Tower, any one of which was successful.
Of these attacks the 6th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers repulsed four, and
the 5th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers one.
The 149th Infantry Brigade carried out two attacks on the Tower, both of
which were successful. One attack was made by the 6th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers
and one by the 7th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers.
The 150th Infantry Brigade took over the line on the night of 21/22nd in
preparation for a big attack by the whole of the Third Army on the 23rd April.
The attack by the 150th Infantry Brigade was excellently carried out,
and some 500 prisoners and 3 guns were captured. Owing, however, to the failure of
the Divisions on both flanks, two heavy counter -attacks from the S.E. and along the
Cojeul Valley drove our men back, and by noon we were back again in our original trenches.
A counter-attack was ordered by the VII Corps to take place at 6. 0 p.m.
This was carried out by two Battalions of the 151st Infantry Brigade, and was completely
successful, in spite of the fact that the Divisions on either flank again failed. Another
200 prisoners were captured in this attack, and many of our men wounded in the first
attack were recovered. The enemy left on the ground at least three times as many dead as
we did.
We captured three guns, 15 machine guns, two medium trench mortars, and
12 fish tail trench mortars. The 50th Division, as it did during the Somme battle, kept
just ahead of the rest of the British line, in spite of the fact that the enemy's
artillery is ever so much more severe than it was on the Somme.
During the period 12th to 26th April our total casualties have been
about 2,300.
During the fight on April 23rd we captured 700 unwounded prisoners and
some 200 wounded, and the enemy dead on the ground is certainly not less than 300. It is
not too much to assume that the enemy wounded amount to at least 1,000.
The total enemy casualties opposite the 50th Division therefore on April
23rd amounts to at least 2,200 as oppose to our 2,300 for the whole period of 14
days, including the fighting on April 23rd.
The Divisions opposed to the 50th Division were the 35th Division and
part of the 3rd Bavarian Division.
Prisoners of the 141st, 61st, and 176th Infantry regiments of the 35th
Division were captured during this period, and of the 17th and 18th Bavarian Infantry
Regiments of the 3rd Bavarian Division.
The net result of our fight have been that we have soundly beaten the
35th German Division, who fancied themselves, and judging by the numbers of Iron crosses
worn by all ranks they must have fought well in previous battles.
The above record speaks for itself without any further commend.
You have all done splendidly.
P.S. Wilkinson Major-General
Commanding 50thDivision
27th April 1917.
