Name/Title
28 September 1918 - Drawing of a Map of the attack 87th Battalion (CGG) during the Battle of the Canal du Nord (Sept. 27 - Oct.1, 1918) in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of FranceDescription
A Framed drawing of a Map of the Attack by the 87th Battalion, (Canadian Grenadier Guards) during the Battle of the Canal du Nord (Sept. 27 - Oct.1, 1918) in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France
Artist / Publisher: un-attributed
Who Presented the Map: un-attributed
Markings: None
Frame Measurements:
Condition or need for preservation: (Dis-colouring paper yellowing / no staining / no tears)
**** 87th Battalion Canadian Grenadier Guards role in the Attack on Bourlon Woods, September 27th, 1918 ****
ASSEMBLIGN FOR BATTLE:
Under the Command of Lt-Col Perry, the battalion prepared for battle on the 22nd of September with an objective tod rive the two German Infantry Divisions off the ridge and out of Boulon Wood. To Accomplish this, the Canadian 1st and 4th Divisions (of which 87th Bn CGG was a part of) would attack along a 2,500-yard front with Bourlon Woods directly in the path of the Canadian Grenadier Guards.
DAY OF THE BATTLE:
An opening barrage and Zero hour started at 05:20hrs (am) as the 87th Battalion advance shoulder to shoulder along a 700-yard front with C, D, and A Companies in advance and B Company in reserve.
At exactly 08:30hrs, 50 Artillery guns fired on the CGG objective and began engaging hidden German machine gun placements. Several Sr NCOs leading platoons engaged the enemy with great success and by 09:00hrs the Battalion's first objectives were secured.
By 13:20hrs (1:20 PM), Lt-Col. Perry reported up to Brigade Head Quarters that the 87th Bn with 21 Officers and 456 Men were ready to continue the advance. A second attack was launched at 7pm to secure the embarkment beyond the woods with several German machine gun defenses in position. Again, CGG Lieutenant Preston) leading his advanced platoon engaged the enemy with grenades and put the crews out of action, driving off the rest of the German machine gunners. The embarkment was cleared by 21:00hrs (9pm) and orders were given to consolidate into a defensive position.
September 27th OUTCOME:
The 87th Bn CGG casualties for the day were 146 Men and 4 Officers, however fifty (50) Germans had been taken Prisoner, 11 Enemy Field Guns and 8 Machine Guns had been captured, and CGG had driven the enemy back 4 miles beyond Boulon Wood.
September 28th-29th - The Assault Continues:
Although the 87th Bn was withdrawn and spent the day west of Bourlon Wood, by Sept 29th, they were ordered to continue their advance north towards Cambria. The attack did not go well and orders were changed so that the 87th Battalion CGG would now swing across some open fields for 3 miles and seize the village and canal bridge located at Eswars, France. The attack began at 06:05hrs and the enemy swept the whole front of the 87th Battalion with observed artillery fire to great effect. Major Robert Bickerdike (Assault Commander) reported back to Brigade that "the battalion had been pretty badly cut up"' and that many of the Officers (Including Captain Hannaford, MC & Bar) and men had become casualties.
By the end of the third day, only 4 Officers and 124 men remained, however, the advance was continued and by September 30th at 5:30hrs, the Battalion had reached the road of Ramilles-Cuvillers and had a good view of the valley below towards Cambria.
German counterattack 29th September - CGG Holds their ground:
As the Germans began their counterattack on the 30th of September, the caught the 3rd Canadian Division off balance and through enfilade fire forced the 3rd Division out of the 3 villages they had previously liberated. The 87th Bn CGG saw this critical withdrawal and held their line until relieved the next day by the 22nd Battalion (Vandoos) of the 2nd Division at 04:00hrs (4am) the following day.
For the outstanding efforts by members of the 87th Battalion, Lieutenant-Colonel Perry won a Bar to his DSO and several other leaders of the Battalion were awarded Military Crosses and Bravery Medals.Context
***WILL REVIEW AGAIN***
The Battle of Canal du Nord played part in the Hundred Days Offensive of the First World War (1914-1918) and involved the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand against Germany on the Western Front. The battle took place between the 27th of September 1918 and the 1st of October 1918 and was situated in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France, along an incomplete portion of the Canal du Nord and on the outskirts of Cambrai. The aim of the battle was to prevent the Germans from sending reinforcements against one attack along the Western Front.
The Canadian Corps, placed on the British First Army front, was in charge of leading the attack and was directed by Arthur Currie. They had the objectives of taking the Canal du Nord and Bourlon Wood, as well as taking the bridges at Canal de l’Escaut and “high ground near Cambrai”.
Twelve Victoria Crosses were awarded following the battle:
Acting Lieutenant-Colonel John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort of the 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards.
Captain John MacGregor, 2nd Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles.
Captain Cyril Hubert Frisby, 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards.
Lieutenant Graham Thomson Lyall, 102nd (North British Columbia) Battalion, CEF.
Lieutenant Samuel Lewis Honey, 78th Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers), CEF. KIA
Lieutenant George Fraser Kerr, 3rd Battalion (Toronto Regiment), CEF.
Lieutenant Milton Fowler Gregg, Royal Canadian Regiment.
Sergeant William Merrifield, 4th (Central Ontario) Battalion, CEF.
Sergeant Frederick Charles Riggs, 6th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment. KIA
Corporal Thomas Neely, 8th Battalion, The King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster). KIA
Lance-Corporal Thomas Norman Jackson, 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards. KIA
Private Henry Tandey, 5th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding).
The Canadian participation in the Battle of the Canal du Nord is commemorated at the Canadian Bourlon Wood Memorial, located southeast of the town of Bourlon.Created By
Bertille L. HurelCreate Date
July 6, 2022Updated By
Zarina CarlevarisUpdate Date
July 29, 2024
