Battle of Arras

19 / 36

battle of arras 17
T he F inal P hase
Thursday, 3rd May 1917
On 3rd May 1917 the British launched a last attempt to secure remaining
objectives and to assist the French in salvaging something from their
disastrous offensive on the Aisne. The 9th Division was one of 14 Divisions
that carried out the attack at 3.45 a.m. along a 16 mile front. The Scots’
objective was again Greenland Hill, Roeux and the Chemical Works.
When the attack began it was still dark and many of the initial units that
went over the top that morning became mixed up and disorientated.
As attacks broke down, small groups pressed on but were soon cut off.
Inevitably, once they ran out of bombs and ammunition they were heavily
counter-attacked. Those Scots who did manage to work their way as
far as the Chemical Works suffered the same fate as the men of the 51st
(Highland) Division two weeks earlier and none of the captured positions
could be retained. The only real achievement on 3rd May was the capture
of Fresnoy on the northern part of the battlefield by the Canadians.
Friday, 11th May 1917
Roeux was subjected to further attacks by the 4 th Division and the 17th
(Northern) Division on 11th and 12th May, and on the following night the
51st (Highland) Division relieved the 4th Division along the western edge
of the village, only to find that the enemy had already evacuated it. Four
days later the fighting at Bullecourt came to an end; after 39 days, the
Battle of Arras was finally over.