RJP:62Div:Cambrai Latest
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8. The Battle of Cambrai (1917) (See Map 2.)
8.1 Background
This operation was first conceived as a one-day, tank-led raid on the
Hindenburg Line near Cambrai, where the ground was suitable for tracked
vehicles. But in the planning stage it developed into a full scale attack on a
two-corps front (10km). There was to be no preliminary bombardment and strict
secrecy was to be maintained during the preparatory stage. The operation was to
be called off after 48 hours if the situation did not look promising.
8.2 Order of Battle
The operation was conducted by 3rd Army with IV
Corps on the left of the line, III Corps on the right and V Corps in reserve.
Within IV Corps, 36 Div
were on the left to secure the left flank of the advance, 62 Div were in the
centre facing Havrincourt
and 51
Div on the right facing Flesquières.
8.3
62 Div
Operations
8.3.1 First Tour
On 20.11.17, the opening day of the battle, 62 Div broke
through both the Hindenburg Main and Support Lines, occupying Havrincourt and
Graincourt, and by the end of the day had crossed the Bapaume to Cambrai road (N30). This
represented an advance of 7 km in one day, an outstanding achievement at that
time. The next day the division took Anneux and the tanks entered Bourlon Wood,
but the infantry were too exhausted to follow them. That night the 48 hour
review point was reached and III Corps were ordered to establish a defensive
front while IV Corps attacked Bourlon Wood and village. Most of the remaining
serviceable tanks were now with IV Corps. On 22.11.17 German counter attacks
drove the front line back south of the Bapaume to Cambrai road, but later that
day 62 Div attacks restored the front to that reached on 21st. During
the night of 22/23.11.17 62 Div was relieved by 40 Div
and moved back to the area Neuville - Ruyaulcourt - Havrincourt Wood -
Bertincourt for rest and recuperation.
8.3.2 Interim
Between 23 and 24.11.17 40 Div captured most of Bourlon Wood
and entered Bourlon village, though without capturing it.
8.3.3 Second Tour
On
25.11.17 62 Div relieved 40 Div in the line. The next day a high level
conference was held, the C in C Sir Douglas Haig
presiding, to decide the next moves. The front line in the IV Corps sector now
lay in the low ground between Flesquières Ridge and Bourlon Ridge to the north,
a bad position in which to overwinter. So either Bourlon Ridge including the
village and wood, must be taken and held, or the British line must be pulled
back to Flesquières Ridge. It was decided to attempt the former. The attack was
made on 27.11.17 by 62 Div, with the Guards Div
on their right attacking Fontaine. 62 Div completed the capture of the wood and
about half of the village, but a counter attack later the same day forced them
back to their start line of that morning. At this point the British offensive
was virtually at an end, and it was decided to withdraw the line to Flesquières
Ridge for the winter. The 28.11.17 was a quiet day except for artillery
exchanges and on the night of 28-29.11.17 62 Div was relieved by 47
Div and moved to the Beaumetz - Lebucquière - Bertincourt area for rest.
This marked the end of 62 Div’s active participation in the battle. On 30.11.17
the main German counter attack began.
Picture courtesy of
Wikimedia Commons.
Two tanks believed to be in Bourlon
Wood after the Battle of Cambrai.
This
satellite photograph shows Havrincourt in the north with the bend of the
Canal du Nord in the north-western corner. The diagonal line near the canal is
the Autoroute, A2.
Havrincourt Wood lies in the south-west corner, while an arm of it extends to
the centre. The start line for 62 Div lay between a point just west of the bend
in the canal and the northern side of the
