THE BATTLE OF BAPAUME which, turning the flank of the German positions on the Somme, compelled the enemy to withdraw to the east bank of the river. His new positions were then turned from the north by
26th Aug.–3rd Sept.
7 Divs. defeated 13 German Divs.
THE BATTLE OF ARRAS by which the Drocourt-Quéant line was broken and the enemy was forced to fall back on the outer defences of the Hindenburg line. As the direct result of these battles
The LYS Salient was evacuated by the enemy and we regained Lens-Merville-Bailleul-Kemmel Hill and freed Hazebrouck and the important railways there. Then came
18th Sept.–19th Sept.
14 Divs. defeated 15 German Divs.
THE BATTLE OF EPEHY which broke through the outer Hindenburg defences and brought us into position for attack on the main line in
27th Sept.–10th Oct.
35 Inf., 3 Cav. and 2 American Divs. defeated 45 German Divs.
THE BATTLE OF CAMBRAI-ST. QUENTIN which in ten days of victorious fighting broke through the last and strongest of the enemy’s fully prepared positions, opening the way to a war of movement and an advance on the German main lines of communication. These great assaults fell into three main phases:—
1. The storming of the Canal du Nord on the left of our attack and the advance on Cambrai, followed immediately by
2. THE GREAT BLOW WHICH SHATTERED THE HINDENBURG LINE AND TURNED THE DEFENCES OF ST. QUENTIN.