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Les Eparges - St. Mihiel

Les Eparges: the 34 mine craters on the ridge of the Les Eparges make this one of the most intensely mined areas of the Western Front.
When the Saint-Mihiel Salient was formed in September 1914, just to the east of Les Eparges, was the ridge that marked the northwest border of the Salient.
The French attacked the ridge on 17th February 1915, but the Germans clung to the spouthern slopes and mining began. On 9th and 10th April 1915, Eighth Infantry Regiment took the eastern spur of Les Eparges known as Point X -GR 0691412 5438042. On 24th April 1915, the Germans attacked on from the west and finally took the village. The ridge itself was very heavily mined and there are some 34 craters in total

© Mike St. Maur Sheil / westernfrontphotography.com

Bullecourt

Looking east towards Riencourt les Cagnicourt
Designed as a diversionary attack whilst the British attacked Srras on 9th April 1917, it was intended to catch assumed German retreat eastwards from Arras.
62/Div W. Riding to attack west of Bullecourt and 4/Aus. Div to attack to east with tanks supporting both attacks. Maj.Gen White of 1/Anzac Corps wanted Queant to the east attacked as well as was concerned about enfilading German artillery fire: was assured that this artillery would be destroyed though attack delayed until 12th to enable this process.
Initial success at Arras encouraged Gough to bring attack forward to 0430 on 10th. PLan was for 12 tanks to advance without artillery barrage with troops behind. In event tanks got lost and attack postponed for 24 hrs. On 11th only three tanks arrived and none reached the objectives being attacked: however Australians advanced nonetheless and by 0700 had taken all their assigned positions.
1000 Germans counter-attacked and thrua

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Fields of Battle - Vimy

Vimy Ridge Canadian National Memorial
On the opening day of the Battle of Arras, 9 April 1917, the four divisions of the Canadian Corps, fighting side by side for the first time, scored a huge tactical victory in the capture of the 60 metre high Vimy Ridge. After the war, the highest point of the ridge was chosen as the site of the great memorial to all Canadians who served their country in battle during the First World War, and particularly to the 60, 000 who gave their lives in France. It also bears the names of 11, 285 Canadian servicemen who died in France - many of them in the fight for Vimy Ridge - who have no known grave. The memorial was designed by W S Allward.
No. of Identified Casualties: 11169

© Mike St. Maur Sheil / westernfrontphotography.com