Battle of Arras

battle of arras

Wednesday, 11

April 1917

Wednesday 11

April witnessed both triumph and tragedy. South of the

river the hilltop village of Monchy-le-Preux was captured and held by the

British. Attacking between there and the river, the 15

Division played a

part in loosening the enemy’s grip on the village whilst the 37

Division

assaulted it directly from the west. When the cavalry went into action at

Monchy they came under heavy shell fire and were forced to seek shelter

in the village. The Germans then turned their guns on the village and their

shells caused carnage among the horses, many of which were cut to pieces.

On the north side of the river the 2

Seaforth Highlanders and the

Royal Irish Fusiliers attacked towards Greenland Hill, Roeux and the

Chemical Works but came under heavy rifle and machine-gun fire, much

of it coming from the railway embankment. The attack was a complete

failure but there was no lack of gallantry. It was here that Lieutenant

Donald Mackintosh of the Seaforths won the Victoria Cross for leading

his small band of men against the enemy. The award was conferred

posthumously, his body was later recovered and buried in what is now

Brown’s Copse Cemetery. His dying moments are immortalised in the

War Memorial at Fettes College in Edinburgh (his old school) which

features a statue of him, urging his men onwards, above the legend

“Carry on”. Of the 1,600 men who took part in this attack around 1,000

became casualties.

The following day the 9

Division attacked the same objectives and

again came under heavy shell and machine-gun fire. Our supporting

artillery barrage was inadequate and largely ineffective and the attack

proved to be another failure. The losses among the South African

Brigade, which formed part of the Division, were so severe that it had to

be withdrawn and it was even feared that it might have to be disbanded

altogether.

The 4

Battalion of the South African Brigade was also known as the

South African Scottish.