Headstone of an unknown officer of a Canadian regiment at High Wood Cemetery, Longueval, France. © 2013 by John M. Shea
A Soldier of the Great WarUnknown OfficerA Canadian RegimentKnown Unto God
"But the defence of even the strongest positions relies upon the men behind the guns, and during the days immediately following the arrival of the Canadians on the northern hinge of the Line, opposite Arras, it became increasingly evident that morale was not very high amongst the Germans holding it. Artillery bombardments from the guns still in position 'to guard the coalfields behind Béthune' caused a certain amount of damage to the wire belts, but even more to the fighting spirit of the defenders, for during August 28th the Canadians broke through the belts and into the line, and by the 29th they had killed or captured the majority of the occupants and driven the survivors either south into the main Siegfried Position or straight back into the Drocourt—Quéant Switch."
The Third Battle of the Scarpe was fought from August 26 to 30, 1918. The town of Monchy-le-Preux was taken on the first day. The Scarpe River flows by Arras. Drocourt is north of the river, and northeast of Arras, Quéant is south and southeast.
1918, the Last Act by Barrie Pitt, page 220, copyright © 1962 by Barrie Pitt, publisher: Ballantine Books, Inc., publication date: 1963
1918-08-28, 1918, August, Canadians, Canada, unknown Canadian officer High Wood
