The Cambrai Campaign 1917

by Andrew Rawson

Overview

Cambrai Campaign 1917 is an account of the British Expeditionary Force’s battles in November and December of 1917. It starts with the plan to carry out a tank raid on the Hindenburg Line at Cambrai. The raid grew into a full scale attack and Third Army would rely on a different style of attack. The preliminary bombardment would be done away with and the troops would assemble in secret.

Predicted fire had reached such a level of accuracy that 1,000 guns could hit targets without registration. Meanwhile, over 375 tanks would lead the infantry through the Hindenburg Line, ripping holes in the wire and suppressing the enemy. The study of the German counterattack ten days later, illustrates the different tactics they used and the British experience on the defensive.

Each stage of the battle is given equal treatment, with detailed insights into the most talked about side of the campaign, the British side. It explains how far the Tank Corps had come in changing the face of trench warfare. Over forty new maps chart the day by day progress of each corps on each day.

Together the narrative and the maps provide an insight into the British Army’s experience during this important campaign. The men who made a difference are mentioned; those who led the advances, those who stopped the counterattacks and those who were awarded the Victoria Cross.

Discover the Cambrai campaign and learn how the British Army’s brave soldiers fought and died fighting to achieve their objectives.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781526714374
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	03/13/2018
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Andrew Rawson is a freelance writer who has written over forty books covering many conflicts. They include eight books for Pen and Sword’s ‘Battleground Europe’ series and three reference books for The History Press’s ‘Handbook’ series. One covered all aspects of the British Army in the First World War. He has recently completed a ten part series on the British Expeditionary Force’s battles on the Western Front. He has a master’s history degree with Birmingham University.

Table of Contents

Regiments 6

Introduction 8

Chapter 1 Most Suitable for a Surprise Operation 13

Chapter 2 We Go Straight In and Sit on the Germans 21

Chapter 3 Straining like Dogs of War on the Leash 30

Chapter 4 This was No Time for Half Measures 42

Chapter 5 Black Monsters Moaning and Panting 55

Chapter 6 All the Usual War Problems Had Been Thought Out 64

Chapter 7 The Men Could See the Spires of Cambrai 76

Chapter 8 This Wipes Out Bullecourt, Sir! 88

Chapter 9 The Situation in Bourlon was Obscure 100

Chapter 10 A Dirty and Noisy Business was Bourlon 110

Chapter 11 Progress is Unknown, as Nobody Returned 118

Chapter 12 The Struggle was Hand-to-Hand, Obstinate and Desperate 129

Chapter 13 The Novel Experience of Killing Germans in Lumps 144

Chapter 14 Would Not Give Up Such a Rare Chance to Kill Huns 153

Chapter 15 The Ground was Frozen Solid for about a Foot or More 163

Conclusions 173

Index 180