Battle of Arras

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battle of arras 5
Monday, 9th April 1917
There were two notable successes on 9th April; firstly, the capture of all but
a very small section of Vimy Ridge by the Canadian Corps, and secondly,
the advance along the north side of the Scarpe valley, including the
capture of the Point du Jour Ridge - the 9th (Scottish) Division’s Memorial
stands proudly on the Point du Jour Ridge.
The Germans still held the ground east of these positions but had
very little there in the way of organised defences or trench systems. This
raised the tantalising possibility of a breakthrough by cavalry in both
these areas of the battlefield and indeed three cavalry Divisions were on
standby. However, conditions south of the river proved unsuitable for
massed cavalry deployment that day as the barbed wire protecting the
third objective, the Brown Line, (sometimes referred to as the Wancourt-
Feuchy Line) remained largely uncut. By the time the cavalry was ordered
forward north of the river it was too late in the day.
Once the 9 th Division had reached its final objective (the Brown
Line), shortly after midday, Lieutenant-Colonel William Denman
Croft, commanding the 11th Royal Scots, informed Brigadier-General
Francis Aylmer Maxwell (27 Brigade) that the way ahead appeared
suitable for cavalry. He also requested permission to press on rather than
wait for the 4th Division to leapfrog ahead and continue the advance
(Arras was the first time in WWI that leapfrog tactics were used). Maxwell
was tempted but decided instead to stick with the original plan which
involved a delay of two hours. If an opportunity was missed that day, it
was this decision not to push on.
Opening
Day
Arras infantry l eaving the assembly trenches. 9th April 1917