Nicholson Map 12: The Battle of Arras 26 August - 5 September 1918
Map Upgraded October 15, 2007

This is also described in Nicholson Chapter XIV
Nicholson Chapter XIV: Through the Hindenburg Line to Cambrai

August 1918 brought the request of the General Staff in London to keep the pressure on the Germans. They were being "outlasted and beaten" and any period for recovery would be unacceptable. General Haig's reputation was in a similar unstable situation. The Canadians entered the battle on August 26, 1918 without the period of rest that would normally follow such an offensive as they experienced at Amiens.

Currie's Canadians had to move east along the Arras-Cambrai road through the Drocourt-Queant (D-Q) Line to the Canal du Nord, through the area of the Artois Hills (100 m) which was pot marked with old trenches and German fortifications. The Canadians had to overcome a strong German defensive position in the Monchy area. The battle was intense and the 2nd and 3rd Canadian Divisions casualties were 254 Officers and 5,547 other ranks. The 22nd (French Canadians - Van Doos) lost all of their officers. Major Georges Vanier (later to be Governor General of Canada) took over command of the 22nd but lost his leg in the battle.

The move to take the heavily fortified D-Q Line and Buissy Switch commenced on September 2, 1918, at which time they overran 7,000 yards. Both the Switch and Cagincourt came into Canadian hands. Now it was on to the Sensee River and the Canal du Nord. The Canadian success opened the front for the British 3rd Army - truly a remarkable feat. They held the line, despite higher than expected daily loses, as they planned for the attack on the Canal du Nord, set for September 27,1918.